Date: Monday, December 12, 2011
Starts: 4:00 pm (GMT-5) Eastern Time (US)
To participate in the webinar, go to http://www.instantpresenter.com/edweb3 on December 12. (No pre-registration required.)
The best
educational curriculum seamlessly integrates content, interaction, and
assessment into meaningful learning experiences built upon
inquiry-based, student-centered, and authentic problem-solving
instructional strategies. As it happens, that is exactly what many
commercial games do, making their use for education an obvious choice.
But this is easier said than done. In our community’s next webinar, the
University of North Dakota’s Richard Van Eck will provide a practical
overview of how to integrate commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) games into
the classroom. Richard will provide an overview of the NTeQ technology
integration model, which is compatible with inquiry-based curriculum
that COTS games. He will discuss how this model has been used by
elementary, middle, and high school teachers to integrate games into the
curriculum while meeting the requirements of real-world classrooms.
Join Richard for an interactive, one-hour webinar on December 12th for
this model and other practical tips for integrating COTS games into the
classroom.
The Impact on Pedagogy and Professional Development
December 8, 2011
1:00 EST
Sponsored by: ClassLink
Bring Your Own technology initiatives are top of mind with school administrators everywhere this year. Whether big or small, schools across the nation want to leverage the benefits of student and teacher owned technology devices in the classroom. Specifically, schools expect BYO to improve learning and better prepare 21st century citizens. When surveyed, schools that had successfully implemented BYO programs universally agree that improvement to classroom instruction (pedagogy) is an "essential element" for success.
Learn from the panelists on how the BYO movement is transforming classroom instruction and professional development.
Many parents are concerned that their children are spending way too much time on video games as it is. What happens when those video games are brought into the classroom? Many parents have expressed objections. "I don't send my kids to school to play video games," says Sara Sroka,
who has three video-game loving boys in her Iowa home. "There are better
ways to learn."
However,research is showing that videos games in the classroom open many opportunities for reaching today's digital student. Katie Salen, professor of design and technology at Parsons the New School for Design and executive director of the Institute of Play, talked about many positive social aspects of gaming, just like Snehal did in the webinar entitled "How Can Games Create Social Learning Opportunities for Students? presented by edWeb.net.
She noted that "The trick to using gaming in the
classroom is not forcing a lesson into the game, but drawing from the
natural lessons the game offers."
Games are becoming a pervasive part of everyday life, and our notions of what constitutes a game are changing as fast as the applications of games themselves. These games have defined learning outcomes. Generally they are designed in order to balance the subject matter with the game play and the ability of the player to retain and apply the subject matter in the real world.
Online games for single users are also popular, though access to them is often blocked in the K12 environment. There are many free games designed for K-12 students that are accessible via a web browser and require no installation, such as The Potato Story (http://www.thepotatostory.co.uk), a UK-based game that teaches kids where food comes from
Open-ended, collaborative games also play out as alternate reality games (ARGs), in which players find clues and solve puzzles in experiences that blur the boundary between the game and real life. Recent examples of large-scale ARGs include the educational games World Without Oil and Superstruct, and the promotional game I Love Bees. The Tower of Babel, an ARG designed by the European ARGuing Project, was used in schools as well as by learners of all ages. It was developed to engage students in learning languages other than their own.
According to the 2010 Horizon Report: K12 Edition, another promising area is thedevelopment ofeducational Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games. As yet, there are few examples of these games designed specifically for education. Early efforts include Mithril, a multiplayer online role-playing game developed by students at Stanford University. Mithril draws on the look and feel of MMOs but is math-based. Students must master mathematical concepts in order to cast spells, defeat foes, and progress in the game.
Software in corporate training and higher education
According to there website, "In a Virtual Heroes world, textbooks and lectures are replaced with complete interactivity, excitement and serious fun! Our Advanced Learning Technology (A.L.T.) platform has re-invented the way medical, military and corporate professionals can enhance performance and unleash potential. Our technology facilitates the linkage of learning objectives to measurable performance outcomes."
Founded in 1998, BreakAway, Ltd. is a leading developer of entertainment games and game-based technology products. We create entertainment experiences that enable people to master skills and concepts in virtual worlds, and transfer this expertise to develop tools that provide game-based solutions for real world problems. Their platform, the mōsbē™ desktop development studio, is a strategy-based platform designed to enable military, homeland security, medical, and corporate customers solve real-world problems with the situational realism and experiential engagement of game-based simulation.
Edutainment
The term "edutainment" describes an intentional merger of computer games and educational software into a single product. The term describes educational software whose primary focus entertainment, but can be used for educational purposes as well. "Software of this kind is not structured towards school curricula, does not normally involve educational advisors, and does not focus on core skills such as literacy and numeracy" (Wikipedia).
These are games which were originally developed for adults or older children and which have potential learning implications. For the most part, these games provide simulations of different kinds of human activities or historical recreations, allowing players to explore a variety of social, historical and economic processes.
For example:
City-building games such as the SimCity series (1989–2003) and Caesar (video game) (1993–2006) invite players to explore the social, practical and economic processes involved in city management;
Empire-building games such as the Civilization (video game) series (1991–2005) and the Europa Universalis series (2000–2007) help players to learn about history and its political, economic and military aspects;
Railroad management games such as Railroad Tycoon (1990–2003) and Rails Across America (2001) illuminate the history, engineering and economics of railroad management.
Geography games such as PlaceSpotting (2008–2009) help players to find locations on earth according to some hints.
Last week Google and Pearson announced that they were entering the learning management system marketplace with a totally innovative product stating, "OpenClass is a new kind of learning environment that goes beyond the LMS, stimulating social learning and the free exchange of content. It’s open to everyone, easy to use, and completely free." There is no hardware to install, no licensing fees, and no hosting costs. That right there would make it a totally new way of approaching how we look at online education. However, Pearson and Google weren't content to stop there. They wanted to reinvent course interactions and activities to reflect the modern world.
OpenClass integrates seamlessly with Google Apps for Education, enabling easy setup and single sign-on and includes tools that support the automatic import of content from external sources. Users can launch OpenClass directly from within their Google Apps experience and access their Google applications through OpenClass.
Features
Collaborative spaces for students to interact with coursework
Ability to create and edit course content directly from within the platform
Deep integration to Gmail, Google Docs and Calendar
Data access requirements
Calendar (Read/Write)
Docs (Read/Write)
Email, new messages (Read only)
User Provisioning (Read only)
Just the beginning
Out of the box, OpenClass has all the LMS functionality needed to manage courses. But that’s just the beginning. OpenClass actually advances education by leveraging modern social technology to encourage collaboration and communication for students, faculty, institutions, and administrators around the world.
The following are tidbits I pulled from Tom Kuhlmann's Blog post: 9 Ways to Encourage Adult E-Learning. I too have written about learning being an iterative process and that we need alternate ways of demonstrating learning.
Recently I spent the day at the beach watching people learning to surf. One of the people learning to surf was a blind girl. It was very inspiring as she learned to balance on the board. She probably fell off of the surfboard a few dozen times before she successfully stood and balanced on it. And when she finally succeeded she let out a cry of joy.
Learning is a funny thing. It’s not something that can always be neatly packaged. Real learning isn’t a one-time event (like many elearning courses) where it’s just a matter of getting new information. Instead it’s an iterative process where you do something, get feedback to evaluate, make adjustments, and do it again.
Adult Learners Don’t Like to Fail
As learners, our culture conditions us to avoid failure. Typically our grading systems reward successful test taking more than successful learning. Because of this, we’re motivated to pass tests and getting good scores and not always focused on the learning process.
Going back to the blind surfer, it takes a lot to fall down and continue getting up. I saw plenty of other surfers give up after a few tries. Few people like to fail and then do so publicly. This is especially true of adult learners. The blind surfer was motivated to learn and willing to risk failure as she kept falling of the surf board. She might not have been as inclined to do so if she was only allowed two attempts and then notified that she failed.
The main point in all of this is that elearning presents a unique opportunity to compress time and offer repeatable events where people can practice and get feedback. But we need to craft an environment that encourages learning (which is not the same as exposure to information).
Summary of Seven Principles of Learning (Based on the Cognitive Science of How People Learn) National Research Council
1. Learning with understanding is facilitated when new and
existing knowledge is structured around the major concepts and
principles of the discipline. Knowing disconnected facts is insufficient to produce deep
learning or develop expertise. Expert strategies for thinking and
problem-solving are linked to the expert’s understanding of important
core concepts of “big ideas”. This suggests that courses should be
organized around helping students understand these big concepts and
instructors should focus on helping students understand, explain, and
apply these concepts rather than focusing on memorizing large amounts of
content. 2. Learners use what they already know to construct new understandings.
Learners construct interpretations of new information and problems in
ways that agree with their own prior knowledge and misunderstandings.
Effective teaching involves engaging what learners already know about a
subject and finding ways to build on that knowledge. It also involves
detecting student misconceptions and addressing them. 3. Learning is facilitated through the use of metacognitive
strategies that identify, monitor, and regulate cognitive processes.Metacognitive
strategies include: a) connecting new information to former knowledge,
b) selecting thinking strategies deliberately; and c) planning,
monitoring and evaluating one’s own thinking processes. Students need
to reflect on what they already know and what they need to know for
situations. They must consider both factual knowledge and strategic
knowledge (how and when to use what procedures to solve the problem).
Instructors should provide explicit instruction in the use of such
skills and opportunities for students to observe others solving problems
(including experts) and by making their thinking available to
observers. 4. Learners have different strategies, approaches, patterns
of abilities, and learning styles that are a function of the interaction
between their heredity and their prior experiences. Useful concepts here include Gardner’s model of Multiple
Intelligences, different learning styles, deep vs. surface approaches to
learning, etc. One size does not fit all. Some students respond
favorably to one approach, others to another. Educators should be alert
to these differences and match curricular material to students’
developing abilities, knowledge bases, preferences, and styles.
Students with different learning styles need a range of ways to
demonstrate their knowledge and skills. One form of assessment will
advantage some students and disadvantage others; multiple measures of
learning will provide a better picture of how well individual students
are learning what is expected of them.
5. Learners’ motivation to
learn and sense of self affect what is learned, how much is learned, and
how much effort will be put into the learning process. Internal and external factors motivate people to learn.
Learners’ level of motivation strongly affects their willingness to
persist in learning difficult material or challenging assignments. When
students perceive learning tasks as interesting and personally
meaningful, and presented at an appropriate level of learning, they
develop intrinsic motivation. Tasks too difficult are frustrating;
tasks that are too easy are boring. There are strong connections
between learners’ beliefs about their own abilities in a subject area
and their success in that area [attribution theory]. Instructional
strategies should encourage conceptual understanding; this tends to
increase students’ interest and enhance their confidence about their
abilities to learn.
6. The practices and activities in which people engage while learning shape what is learned. The way people learn a particular area of knowledge and skills
and the context in which they learn it becomes a fundamental part of
what is learned. This means that when students learn a subject in a
limited or narrow context, they often miss seeing the applicability of
using that information to solve new problems encountered in other
situations. Course assignments and tasks that ask students to encounter
the same concept in various situations, help students develop a deeper
understanding of the material. Coursework should engage students in
learning experiences that draw on real-world applications or exercises
that foster problem-solving skills and strategies that are used in real
situations. Two examples of this approach are problem-based and
case-based learning strategies.
7. Learning is enhanced through socially supported interactions. Learning is enhanced when students can interact and
collaborate with others on learning tasks. Learning environments that
encourage collaboration, similar to those of real-world scientific,
mathematical, clinical, or business work, gives students the chance to
test their ideas and learn by observing others. By providing
opportunities for students to express their ideas to their peers and
hear and discuss others’ ideas, learning can become particularly
effective. Social interaction is also critical to development of
expertise, metacognitive skills, and enhancing the learner’s sense of
self.
Summarized by the Utah Valley University Faculty Center from: National Research Council
(2003). Evaluating and Improving Undergraduate Teaching: In Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The National Academies
Press: Washington, DC.
As
I reviewed my EDU 271 course as well as other courses that I have
developed, I started writing down my reflections. I've posted some of
the more cogent lessons below. I would welcome comments and other
reflections.
I have learned that my students are
not as technologically literate and savvy as we might think. One
student commented that she had never thought to evaluate the information
that she found on the Internet until she had an assignment to do so in
my class.
We need to provide more technology
"how-to" support (within the course) if we want to have students utilize
Web 2.0 and other emerging technologies to demonstrate knowledge.
Several students were still not even familiar with the basic Office
Suite of programs--much less blogs and wikis. If we assign technology
related projects, then we need to make sure that we provide handouts,
videos, tutorials, etc. to help students learn the technology as well.
We also need to consider that the students are also learning the
technology as well as demonstrating their understanding of the
concept/topic.
A single course is not enough time to
not only expose students (and faculty) to new technologies but to also
help them learn how to use the technology and then develop activities
and assignments that utilize that technology. Breaking the course into
several courses has been suggested; however, the
technology component needs to be incorporated across the curriculum.
Right now, the students seem to get a smattering of technology depending
on who they have as instructors. Therefore, their exposure is uneven.
I have also learned that not only do we
have to change our teaching paradigm, we need to get students to change
their learning paradigm. All too often they expect to be spoon-fed the
information (as in lectures) and then to simply regurgitate it on an
exam. They have no expectations of ever using the information--even when
they are studying to become teachers.
Finally, we need to evaluate how we are
teaching our teachers to teach. If we expect them to integrate
technology in their teaching practices, if we expect them to use
collaborative learning in their classrooms, if we expect them to teach
their students how to become digital citizens--then shouldn't we be
modeling this type of teaching?
Early Education and Technology for Children (EETC) is an annual
conference that brings researchers, policy makers, administrators,
educators, and practitioners together to present and discuss research
and applications in the areas of preschool through elementary education.
EETC welcomes visitors from around the globe who come to learn from
other’s expertise and share their own insights on applications that will
help make a difference in the education of young children.
Teachers are increasingly using Twitter for professional development and collaboration, according to the New York Times blog post by Kathleen Schulten. Each week, thousands of teachers participate in scheduled Twitter “chats” around a particular subject area or type of student. Math teachers meet on Mondays, for instance, while science discussions happen on Tuesdays, new teachers gather on Wednesdays and teachers working with sixth graders meet Thursdays. (Jerry Blumengarten, Twitter’s @cybraryman1, posts this helpful list of educational chats.)
By using hashtags — that is, words or phrases preceded by the # symbol, like “#Scichat” for science educators — users can organize, search and find messages on a particular topic all in one place.
Anyone can participate, and joining is easy: just go to Twitter, search for the hashtag of the chat that appeals to you, and start to read the stream of messages. When you’re ready to add your own thoughts or share resources, just append that same hashtag to your Twitter message. (For more tips, visit The Times' “Nuts and Bolts” and “Resources” lists.)
The blog post also features an interview with the founders of the Edchat, SSchat and Engchat Twitter streams, who talk about the power of the medium.
Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes, has died at the age of 56 after an 8 year battle with pancreatic cancer. In 2005, Jobs provided the following comments to the graduating class at Stanford.
Goodbye, Steve. Your creativity and vision will be missed.
Online instructors and course developers face the challenge of reflecting on a philosophical and methodological shift from behavioral to cognitive perspectives and then from objectivist to constructivist perspectives.
The familiar teaching paradigm primarily derived from objectivist and behaviorist learning perspectives considers learning as a passive process in which the teacher’s expert knowledge is transferred to the students, who are empty vessels waiting to be filled. This view assumes that being knowledgeable is determined by the accumulation of a large number of facts. Students are classified by grade levels and then sorted into ability groups. The standard classroom features the teacher at the front of the room with her back to the class, writing information on the chalkboard. The students are arranged in straight rows and work individually to complete worksheets and questions from the textbook. They are to sit silently, passive and in competition with each other. Another scenario has the teacher, again standing at the front of the class, yet this time he is pontificating and dispensing his vast knowledge base to his students. The assumption is that anyone with expertise in his/her field can teach. Standardized tests with multiple choice, short answer, and true/false options provide quantitative measures of learning.
Research into how the brain works and theories which state that we construct knowledge from our social interactions and experiences challenge the traditional approach. The constructivist paradigm represents a student-centered approach that entails a shift in roles both for the teacher and for the student. Knowledge is actively constructed, discovered, transformed, and extended by the students. According to Piaget, learning is more than the accumulation of content; learning involves different kinds of activity to help learners construct links between new content and their prior knowledge. The teacher’s role is to support and develop students’ competencies and talents. Vygotsky asserted the importance of social interactions in learning—engaging and dialogue with others and gaining assistance from others. Instead of impersonal relationships among students and between teachers and students, education should be a personal transaction among students and between students and teachers as they work together. Instead of an individualistic and competitive learning environment, cooperative learning in the classroom and cooperative teams among faculty should be the norm. Learners construct their own knowledge by being actively immersed in a situation that provides social interactions, tools, content, and other information allowing them to explore, invent, create, and synthesize in an increasingly autonomous manner. Therefore, assignments represent more authentic, real-world applications such as case studies, problem-based or project-based learning, simulations, and cognitive apprenticeships. There is acknowledgment that teaching is a complex application of theory and research that requires considerable training and continuous refinement of skills and procedures.
The rewards and challenges of teaching adult learners are similar to those of teaching traditional students; however, the adult learners' needs in an online environment may vary slightly due to age, life experiences, and technology skill set. Effective instructors initiate and maintain a positive student-teacher relationship and seek ways to present course content that is meaningful to all learners. In the words of Daniel Willingham, Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, "Good teaching is teaching." Adult learners may need a little more consideration, especially in the online learning environment, in order to be academically successful and to achieve their academic goals.
Present information in chunks instead of one entire piece. Chunking reduces cognitive load and allows the learner to process the information more efficiently.
Make sure students can move through the material at their own pace. Remember, adult learners like to feel that they are controlling the education process.
Students need access to past materials so they can review on a regular basis. Therefore, don’t limit access to prior week’s modules and materials.
Students may not always see the "big picture," so help them understand how each chunk will help them progress toward their overall goal.
Provide timely feedback. Let the adult learner know what is being done correctly, as well as what needs improving. Grade assignments in a timely manner so the adult student receives feedback before the next assignment is due. This will give them an opportunity to make any needed corrections or ask questions.
State each assignment's purpose and its relevance to the course. If you can relate an assignment to a job the student may have when she graduates, even better!
Give the learners options and flexibility in assignments.
Keep the course requirements in perspective. Remember, adult learners have commitments outside your course. Make sure each activity is used to judge fulfillment of a course objective.
Make sure the adult student has the necessary technical skills to succeed in the course. Include detailed instructions related to any technology-related tasks. These same instructions can be used in other classes, as well.
Bend the rules when necessary. Empathize with the adult learner.
Make sure you demonstrate clarity and articulate well with adult learners. They have high expectations, and you will lose credibility if you communicate with slang.
Remember, adult learners sometimes have physical limitations. Use easy to read fonts and a clear organizational structure. Sans serif fonts such as Ariel and Tahoma are easier to read on the computer. Serif fonts such as Times Roman are easier to read in printed materials.
Use a variety of strategies to present concepts, such as graphic organizers. For more information on graphic organizers visit this Web site: Write Design Online
When possible, present the material in different formats to accommodate different learning styles. These modes can include text, graphics, audio, and/or video.
As the economy worsens, and employers concern about the lack of skilled workers increases, adult learners are flocking to community colleges. Most of these adults were taught in a traditional and passive classroom, and the online learning environment is a new realm for them to explore. They can be successful but need your help.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, “nontraditional” students have several traits in common. These traits can include:
Attend college part time
Work full time even while taking college classes
Are financially independent
Have a family and other commitments
May be a single parent
Lack standard high school education
Delayed enrollment into college
Even though most adult learners are voluntarily entering the education process, their responsibilities (families and jobs) and situations (transportation, child care, and the need to earn an income) can create obstacles in their progress. The aging process itself may present another obstacle for the adult learner. Psychomotor skills are acquired more slowly than younger students. It may be harder for the adult student to manipulate the mouse or to spend time reading material online. Images and text may be more difficult to see on the computer screen. The adult learner may also have emotional barriers to online education. Many adult learners did not grow up with computers, so the technology is new and different, which presents an added obstacle to learning the actual content of the course. However, it isn’t all gloom and doom! Most adult learners are highly motivated and task-orientated which helps them overcome some of these obstacles.
Pedagogy vs. Andragogy or Directed vs. Facilitative Learning
Most of us have heard the term pedagogy, the art or science of teaching. More specifically, pedagogy refers to the art or science of teaching children. However, the techniques and strategies used to teach children do not always lend themselves to teaching adults. Therefore, we employ the term andragogy, the methods or techniques used to teach adults.
As you plan to meet your learners’ needs and educational objectives you will broaden the range of teaching methods and learning strategies that you can offer them. In considering which teaching method to use, you will be asking yourself the following questions:
What am I trying to achieve, what are my objectives?
What are the learners’ objectives?
Is this the best way of achieving them?
What other ways are there of achieving them?
What are the strengths of the way I have chosen?
What are the potential weaknesses that I will have to be on the guard for as facilitator?
How will I know that this way is the most appropriate way – for me and my learners?
How will I assess whether the objectives have been achieved?
Some teaching styles fit better than others with the various approaches to teaching and methods of learning.
Although you may initially build the class around the techniques that you have determined best fit your teaching and learning styles, you are never committed to using just those styles. If you determine that your students are not responding well to your style, then don’t be afraid to try something new. Remember the best teaching style is one that accommodates the student’s needs and makes them successful learners.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
According to Anthony Grasha, there are five primary teaching styles that describe the prevalent approaches in the classroom.
Expert – This style is common known as the “Sage on the Stage” model. The expert possesses knowledge and expertise that the students need. This style of teacher seeks to maintain his status as expert with his students. He is primarily concerned with disseminating knowledge and making sure that the students are well-prepared.
As with the Formal Authority style of teaching, the Expert has little inclination to develop relationships with his students. He is more interested in maintain his status as experts with his students. He also does not feel that developing relationships among his students is necessary to their acquisition of the knowledge he is transmitting.
Advantage: The information, knowledge, and skills such individuals possess. Disadvantages: If overused, the display of knowledge can be intimidating to less experienced students. May not always show the underlying though processes that produced answers.
Formal Authority – The formal authority style of teaching is also teacher-centered and focuses heavily on content. Teachers using this teaching method are more concerned with providing and controlling the flow of content than interacting with their students. These teachers are concerned with providing positive and negative feedback and the structure they need to learn. They emphasize learning goals, expectations, rules of conduct, and correct/acceptable ways to do things.
Teachers using this teaching style are not as concerned about having relationships with their students or building relationships between students. These teachers rarely require student participation in class.
Advantage: The focus on clear expectations and acceptable ways of doing things. Disadvantages: A strong investment in this style can lead to rigid, standardized, and less flexible ways of managing students and their concerns.
Demonstrator –The demonstrator’s class is also teacher-centered. The demonstrator believes in “teaching by personal example.” Teachers using this method see themselves as role models and will demonstrate the skills needed to complete the learning objective(s). This teaching style puts emphasis on demonstrations or providing models. When helping the student to learn the new skills, they will coach or guide students in developing or applying the required skills. Their focus is on showing the student how to master the skill and encouraging the students to participate in the learning process.
Although this style is still teacher-centered, instructors with this style encourage student participation and adapt their presentation to address different learning styles. The demonstrator expects students to take responsibility for learning what they need to know and to seek assistance when they don’t understand something.
Advantage: An emphasis on direct observation and following a role model. Disadvantage: Some teachers may believe their approach is the best way leading some students to feel inadequate if they cannot live up to such expectations and standards.
Facilitator – This student-centered style of teaching emphasizes the personal nature of teacher-student interactions. She guides and directs students by asking questions, exploring options, suggesting alternatives, and encouraging students to develop criteria to make informed choices. This teacher focuses on activities with more of the responsibility for learning is placed on the student. The teacher often develops group learning activities which require active learning, student-to-student collaboration, and problem solving. The activities designed by the teacher often require the student to apply the course content in an original way to solve the required activity. The goal of the teacher is to develop in students the capacity for independent action, initiative, and responsibility. The teacher’s role is to provide as much support and encouragement as possible.
Advantage: The personal flexibility, the focus on students' needs and goals, and the willingness to explore options and alternative courses of action. Disadvantage: Style is often time consuming.
Delegator – In the delegator’s classroom, the primary responsibility for learning is placed on the students. The goal of the teacher is to develop the students’ capacity to function autonomously. The teacher often creates a project and then gives the students choices in the design and implementation of the learning activity needed to complete the required activity. Student may work independently or in groups. This style requires that students be able to maintain motivation and focus for complex projects as well have the necessary interpersonal skills to work in group situation. The delegator’s style is to act as a consultant or resource person, providing direction only at the request of the students.
Advantage: Helps students to perceive themselves as independent learners. Disadvantage: May misread student's readiness for independent work. Some students may become anxious when given autonomy.
Grasha-Riechmann Teaching Style Survey Do you know what style you prefer? If you know what your preferred teaching style is, you should be more aware as to whether it suits the learning style and needs of your learners. Then you should be able to adapt your teaching style to engage with them more effectively.
Although there is no one “right way” to teach our students, we do determine how we will facilitate and what we believe are best practices for teaching based on how we view our students. So, what do teaching and learning styles have to do with it? Our personal teaching and learning styles influence the way we facilitate our courses although most of us adjust our styles depending on the instructional environment.
What has helped us develop our attitudes about learning and teaching? How are our attitudes made evident in the way we teach? Why do we teach the way we do? Apart from the learning environment, the students, and our teaching styles, can we still accommodate the various learning styles of our students?
Have you ever had students in your class who seem to be uncomfortable, who demonstrate problems in learning, or who do not want to participate? Could it be that your teaching style has an impact on the students' ability to learn? Although we don't realize it, we have a tendency to prefer a particular teaching style which may also reflect our own learning style. If we limit our teaching to fit our own learning style, we may inadvertently alienate students with a different learning style. By recognizing our preferences in teaching and learning, we can work toward creating more effective learning opportunities for our students.
We all have preferences for how we teach and learn. But based on the situation, these preferences can be modified and adapted to produce a better outcome. It is important for you to understand your teaching style and how that may affect your students’ learning before you go into the classroom or begin an online class. Furthermore, understanding your style will help you to adapt to the learning needs of your students.
How we were taught is often reflected in how we teach. But no matter how engrained our preferences, they can be modified based on our teaching successes. The successes influence our attitudes toward teaching and the methods we embrace when seeking information and attempting to identifying our personal skill level. Just as with teachers, these methods also vary significantly among learners. Luckily, just as teachers can adapt their teaching style, students can adapt their learning style. Therefore, the first step is to identify both your teaching and learning styles.
In additional to understanding your students and your own learning styles, it is helpful to be aware of current research related to multiples intelligences. Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory is a relatively recent influence on education. Traditional views of intelligence favored particular cognitive processes, including certain types of problem solving (mathematical-logical intelligence) and language abilities (linguistic intelligence). According to Gardner (1983), however, these are just two types of intelligence. Five other intelligences—musical, visual-spatial, bodily kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal—must be considered. Gardner later added two additional intelligences, naturalist and existential.
The following definitions describe each intelligence and the related occupations and directions an intelligence might take. These are by no means the only examples, nor does the development of any one intelligence suggest the exclusion of others. All healthy people possess all the intelligences, which they blend in various ways when they create products or perform meaningful roles or tasks. Gardner also asserted that although each individual possesses all eight intelligences, she may excel in some areas and struggle in others. Gardner identified cultural and gender differences in the expression of the intelligences. Therefore, teachers should plan activities that address all areas of learning so that each student has an opportunity to show his or her abilities.
Verbal-Linguistic intelligence—This intelligence type is one of the most favored in schools. Linguistic intelligence involves the ability to communicate and use language in a variety of ways—through speaking, writing, and reading. They are also fond of rhymes and have an enhanced sensitivity to sounds. Solving word puzzles, role playing and storytelling are also a favorite pastime activity. These learners learn best when saying, hearing, seeing words. Students who enjoy playing with language, telling stories, and who quickly acquire foreign languages exhibit linguistic intelligence. People with this intelligence type often seek out careers such as editors, journalists, politicians, teachers, writers, or actors. Logical-Mathematical intelligence—Schools also favor this intelligence type. Logical-mathematical intelligence is involved when we order objects, assess their quantity, and make statements about the relationships among them. Logical-mathematical learners use reason, logic, and numbers to make connections with information. These learners are inquisitive and will use experimentation to arrive at the answer. They are problem-solvers who can work through abstract concepts to categorize and classify information. Performing mathematical calculations and arranging geometric shapes helps them to figure out the relationships between information. Scientists, mathematicians, and philosophers all display strength in these areas. You can observe this intelligence in students who can carry out complex calculations in their heads, enjoy finding patterns in shapes and numbers, and excel at making logical arguments. Career paths for these people include computer programmers, scientist, researchers, engineers, and accountants.
Musical intelligence—We put into practice musical intelligence when we create and perceive sound patterns. These learners understand and process patterns and relationships between sounds. They are very aware of pitch, tone, melody, rhythm and other auditory information. They may be heard humming, singing, or taping their foot to a beat. These learners learn best through spoken instruction and other auditory means. They may use jingles or rhymes to help them remember information. Students who sing well, enjoy making rhythmic sounds, and can distinguish between notes are displaying musical intelligence. Composers, singers, conductors, and musicians exhibit this intelligence, as do poets and others who use word sounds and rhythms in their writing.
Spatial/Visual intelligence—We use spatial intelligence when we perceive a form or object (either visually or through touch), when we remember visual or spatial information, and when we recognize and imagine objects from different angles (Gardner, 1985). Spatial ability is often assessed by having people copy shapes or match one visual image with another. Spatially intelligent learners excel at reading maps, completing jigsaw puzzles, repairing machinery, and drawing diagrams. These learners often have good visual memory for details and are good at visual problem solving. Spatial intelligence can be observed in students who understand and can create visual images of their understanding— like charts, diagrams, or maps—as well as students who are drawn to the visual arts. Architects, mechanics, and engineers possess strong spatial abilities.
Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence—Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence is visible when people use their bodies to create products or solve problems. Students strong in bodily-kinesthetic abilities show good coordination and gross motor skill—on the stage or playing field—or the fine motor skills involved in making models or sculptures. They learn best by using their tactile sense and movement as part of the learning process. They prefer direct contact with what they are learning rather than reading about the process. These learners remember more of what they are exposed to when they can use it in an active way. Athletes, surgeons, dancers, choreographers, and craftspeople display competency in this area.
Interpersonal intelligence—People exhibit interpersonal intelligence when they display an awareness or sensitivity to others’ feelings and intentions. Students exhibit this intelligence when they collaborate well, when they show thoughtfulness and sensitivity toward their friends, and when they interact with ease with others of all ages. They learn best when using their people skills as part of the learning process. Interaction with others through committees, group projects, and other interpersonal communication is preferred by the interpersonal learner. Teachers, parents, politicians, psychologists, and salespeople rely on interpersonal intelligence in their work.
Intrapersonal intelligence—Intrapersonal intelligence helps individuals to “distinguish among their own feelings, to build accurate mental models of themselves, and to draw on these models to make decisions about their lives” (Kreshevsky & Siedel, 1998). Self starters, independent workers, inwardly focused, and following their on instincts is a good description of this learner. Students who understand their strengths and weaknesses have an awareness of their own emotional states, and are thoughtful when they make decisions about their lives are displaying intrapersonal intelligence. The learning environment that best engages this intelligence style uses tutorials; self paced courses; and interactive computer games. They enjoy self-reflection, higher order reasoning, and are good at analyzing their own strengths and weaknesses. Therapists, philosophers, poets, and religious leaders may exhibit strength in this intelligence.
Naturalistic intelligence—Naturalistic intelligence allows people to recognize and classify species and other aspects of their environment. These learners have keen sensory skills that keep them more in touch with the natural world. They have the ability to notice things in the environment that others may miss. Their interest focuses around plants and animals and they often keep scrapbooks and journals about what they have observed around them. They enjoy observing nature and find it easy to learn and remember characteristics and names of animals and plants. They learn best when they are actively involved with plants and animals. Farmers, veterinarians, gardeners, botanists, geologists, florists, and archaeologists all exhibit this intelligence.
Existential Intelligence – These learners look at life’s “big picture,” focusing on the meaning of life and questioning who else may live in the galaxy. They focus on their existence and how to make their lives meaningful. “Does God exist?” and “Is there life after death?” would be some of the questions that you would hear these learners ask. These learners learn best when they can manage their own learning. They work well independently, and are good at evaluating their own performance. They will sometimes have difficulty accepting their mistakes and adapting to others expectations. Psychiatrists, philosophers, ministers, and counselors all exhibit this intelligence.
Multiple intelligences theory shows promise in developing appropriate instructional strategies for students who do not fit the traditional mold or do not excel in the math or linguistic areas. This theory also provides insight into how we can better meet the different learning styles of the Net Generation.
This
webinar series, based on the new book Technology for Learning: A
Guidebook for Change, provides information about the process of creating
effective, robust technology initiatives based on real-life
practitioners’ successes. The three webinars will focus on the issues
that help educators to transform today’s schools into thriving digital
learning environments. The goal is to help you to identify and plan for
key success factors and strategies that will help you get started,
expand your existing program, or take your program to the next level.
2nd in three-part series Tuesday September 27, 2011 | 1 pm PST / 4 pm EST
Using digital media and web-based content has tremendous potential to transform teaching and learning. It offers students engaging learning opportunities that provide the right level of challenge. In order to get do this effectively, teachers need ongoing, collaborative, and integrated professional development that builds their capacity to transform classrooms, raise student achievement and create high performing schools. As part of the process, educators must assess student performance carefully and adjust instruction to meet learning needs. When all elements are in place, the result is a transformation in teaching and learning. This webinar will focus on using digital content and web-based tools, providing effective professional development, and assessing the impact of change. Leaders from districts that have shown success will discuss how they got to this point and where they intend to take their strategy in the future.
Presenters Marianthe Williams, Director of Technology, River Dell Regional School District, NJ Leslie Wilson, CEO, One-to-One Institute
Most people develop their learning styles as children and continue to prefer that style as adults. An assessment of a person’s learning style will give us, as teachers, clues as to how that person will best take in information. Understanding a person’s learning style helps to identify the best conditions for that person to achieve an optimal learning outcome. Additionally, learning styles describe how a person will best process information and the most effective way for them to retain that information.
As with teaching styles, there is no “best” learning style. Most people use a combination of learning styles although they may prefer one style over another. Different approaches to learning are personal and it becomes a part of who that person is. When teaching, it is important for the teacher to understand a student’s learning style. Understanding how a student best processes information allows the teacher to capitalize on that student’s strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses. A person’s learning styles just identifies their various learning habits.
It has been suggested that teachers should assess their students learning styles and then adjust their teaching methods to best fit those styles. Although not all authorities agree that this is important, a large number of studies do suggest that teaching to a student’s style is beneficial. If a student is not being taught using his/her preferred style, she/he may not perform at the optimum level and could be mistakenly labeled as an underachiever. The majority of learners typically possess portions of all three learning styles. To engage the largest number of students, a multi-sensory approach works best most of the time.
According to the VAK Model, there are three basic learning styles; Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic.
Visual learners are learners who need to see what they are learning.These students need pictures, charts, and other visual images to help them comprehend what they are studying. These students relate to words such as see, observe, and imagine and may use a phrase such as “I see it this way.” To help visual learners retain what they learn, the instructor will need to help them create mental images of the information. The visual learner needs written instructions to help them master the required skills. By reading and following directions and by using charts, diagrams, and other visual images, visual learners are able to be successful in their studies.
Auditory learners need to hear the information.These learners prefer to hear a lecture or have someone talk them through the steps needed to complete a science lab. They are often associated with phrases such as “I hear you or I hear what you are saying.” It is not uncommon for auditory learners to talk to themselves as they go through the steps to complete a task. Auditory learners prefer to do the task themselves while having someone else read the instructions to them.
Kinesthetic learners are hands-on learners.They prefer to do something to aid in their learning.These learners learn through movement and often do well as performers or athletes. The kinesthetic learner is associated with phrases that incorporate the word “feel.” They work well with their hands and are typically well coordinated and have a strong sense of timing. They prefer learning a physical skill or doing something that requires practice. Simulations, lab sessions, and outside fieldwork allow kinesthetic learners to work with the material.
Much research supports the idea that when students’ learning preferences match their instructor’s teaching style, student motivation and achievement usually improves. David Kolb, who is credited with initiating the learning style movement, notes that it is more effective to design curriculum so that there is some way for learners of every learning style to engage with the topic, so that every type of learner has an initial way to connect with the material, and then begin to stretch his or her learning capability in other learning modes.
According to Valve, "One
of the biggest challenges in teaching science, technology, engineering,
and math is capturing the students’ imaginations long enough for them
to see all of the possibilities that lie ahead. Using interactive tools
like the Portal series to draw them in makes physics, math, logic,
spatial reasoning, probability, and problem-solving interesting, cool,
and fun which gets us one step closer to our goal—engaged, thoughtful
kids!"
Valve is offering the Mac and PC versions of Portal, the 2007 physics-based
puzzle game that took the world by storm, for free via Steam until
September 20. Valve is giving the game away in honor of its Learn with Portals program. The educational program hopes to leverage the way video
games are increasingly playing a role in education by using Portal and
Portal 2 to teach physics and critical thinking skills to students.
Ellen Finkelstein is hosting a free
webinar series--learn how to eliminate Death by PowerPoint and make
your presentations come to life. Listen to guest experts share their
best techniques and answer your questions!
There will be seven sessions on Wednesdays at 11am PT/2pm ET
beginning today, September 6, 2011 and running through October 26th (no session on September 21st). Each webinar lasts 1 hour but may run over slightly. Each webinar will be recorded so you can view it later (up to 2 weeks after the session). Register for the webinars now! You must register, even to view the recordings.
Each
week, you'll hear from an amazing lineup of guest speakers who will
reveal their secrets and strategies on presenting and speaking
effectively. Visit the PowerPoint blog to see the list of speakers. Or visit the OutstandingPresentationsWorkshops.com website. Register here.
The second annual Global Education Conference, a week-long event bringing
together educators and innovators from around the world, will be held Monday, November 14
through Friday, November 18, 2011. The entire conference will be broadcast online for free using
the Blackboard Collaborate platform (formerly known as Elluminate/Wimba).
The Global Education Conference, a collaborative and world-wide community effort organized by
the Global Education Collaborative and Classroom2.0, is aimed at increasing opportunities for
globally-connecting education activities and initiatives. Last year’s conference featured 387
sessions and 60 keynote addresses from 62 countries with over 15,000 participant logins.
Sessions were held in multiple time zones and multiple languages over the five days, and are
currently archived as a standing educational resource at http://globaledcon.weebly.com/recordings.html.
The Call for Proposals for the 2011 event is now open at http://globaleducation.ning.com/page/call-for-proposals. Presenters can submit proposals for
general sessions focused on one of four possible tracks: Teacher Track; Student Track;
Curricular Track; and Policy and Leadership Track. Proposals should focus on ideas, projects,
and initiatives that promote global understanding and collaboration. The deadline for submissions
is October 15 and participants will be notified of acceptance by October 30. Keynote
presentations are by invitation only.
Session proposals are to be non-commercial. Interest in commercial sponsorship or
presentations should be directed to Steve Hargadon at steve@hargadon.com.
For further information, please join our network at http://globaleducationconference.com and follow us on Twitter (@GlobalEdCon) and using the hashtag #GlobalEd11.
I am currently participating in a discussion with the ISTE LinkedIn Group. The discussion started out with asking for ideas for integrating Google Maps into Learning Activities; however, a side discussion lead to a conversation regarding designing learning activities/courses. The following is my response, which references my previous post/presentation Course Design for Learning.
All too often I've seen Education faculty require their students to create
lesson plans and/or activities out of context. However, when the
students get into the "real world" they will need to consider a lot
more. I like to have my students essentially develop a case study
scenario in which they define the state standards and learner
characteristics for their classroom--then build a thematic unit plan
(rather than a series of individual learning activities) so they see how
to integrate technology (and multiple disciplines) throughout the unit.
I'm a great believer in metacognition--understanding WHY you do
something. Therefore, I see the course design process as a reflective
process. What I try to get my students (and faculty) to understand is
that your goals and objectives drive the activities and ultimately
assessment. You have to think through which concepts need to be
"covered" and what you want the students to be able to do/understand
first. That means you have to know what your state/county/district wants
you to teach as well as what your students know/don't know. (The ISTE standards (NETS) are another consideration.) Knowing your students is as
important as knowing your objectives. You also have to consider your
learning environment--what kinds of technology do your students have
access to--at school and at home? What kind of support will they
need--you provide? Then you need to consider the teaching and learning
process--teacher-centered/student-centered or a combination. Teachers
need to have a toolbox of instructional strategies that fit their
teaching philosophy and think about the materials/resources that can
support those strategies (be they low tech or high tech or no tech).
NOTE: Course design is an iterative--not linear--process. Although I
listed assessment last, it actually needs to be considered throughout
the process (formative vs. summative).
The following related Chronicle of Higher Education article was recently shared on LinkedIn Updates: Planning a Class with Backward Design Mark Sample referenced the book, Understanding by Design, by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTigh. Wiggins and McTigh call the process of designing courses around learning goals “the backward design process.” They offered a three-stage diagram of the backward design process:
Identify desired results (What should students
know, understand, and be able to do? What is worthy of understanding?
What enduring understandings are desired?
Determine Acceptable Evidence (How will we know if
students have achieved the desired results and met the standards? What
will we accept as evidence of student understanding and proficiency?)
Plan Learning Experiences (With clearly
identified results (enduring understandings) and appropriate evidence of
understanding in mind, educators can now plan instructional activities.)
Just as I outlined in my LinkedIn post, during the first stage, consider your goals, examine established content standards (national,
state, and district), and review curriculum expectations. Imagine the first stage as a series of concentric circles or nested rings. The first stage allows us to prioritize what you need to teach. The outer ring represents knowledge “worth being familiar with” for
students. This
area represents the field of possible content (topics, skills, and
resources) that might be examined during the unit or course. The middle ring encapsulates knowledge and skills “important
to know and do.” In this area, we begin to set priorities by identifying important knowledge (facts, concepts, and principles) and skills (processes, strategies, and methods) that are essential for students to master. Another way of looking at this area is this is where we specify the prerequisite knowledge and skills needed for students to successfully accomplish key performances. Finally, the smallest ring, the inner ring, represents
“enduring understandings”—the fundamental, "big" ideas you want students to
remember days and months and years later, even after they’ve forgotten
the details of the course. These understandings should anchor the course or unit.
ALPS, Active Learning Practice for Schools, developed by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Project Zero defines the enduring understandings as Throughlines. Throughlines are overarching describe the most important understandings that students should develop during an entire course. The understanding goals for particular units should be closely related to
one or more of the throughlines of the course.
The enduring understandings, the throughlines, should be the target for developing our course/unit/learning activity. In developing the enduring understanding goals, ask yourself, "When my students leave my class at the end of the course, what are the most
important things I want them to take away with them?" You may have to review several learning units to find common themes or skills/knowledge that seem to resurface each time you teach. Sometimes it is easier to phrase the overarching goals as questions rather than statements.
I recently uploaded a presentation I created as an overview of the course design process--iterative steps/considerations (to both authorSTREAM and to SlideShare.) The authorSTREAM version below maintains the custom animations.
According to their website, "Mendeley is a free reference manager and academic social network that can help you organize your research, collaborate with others online, and discover the latest research." Here’s some background from Wikipedia:
Mendeley was founded in November
2007 and is based in London. The first public beta version was released
in August 2008. The team comprises researchers, graduates, and open
source developers from a variety of academic institutions. The company’s
investors include the former executive chairman of Last.fm, the former
founding engineers of Skype, and the former Head of Digital Strategy at
Warner Music Group, as well as academics from Cambridge and Johns
Hopkins University.
Mendeley is a free desktop tool that indexes and organizes all of your PDF
documents and research papers into your own personal digital library.
Import from your computer, EndNote™, Papers, or Zotero. Mendeley also looks up PubMed, CrossRef, DOIs and
other related document details automatically, importing papers quickly
and easily from resources such as Google Scholar, ACM, IEEE and many
more at the click of a button.
Mendeley gathers document details from your PDFs allowing you to effortlessly
search, organize and cite. Generate citations and bibliographies in Microsoft Word, Open Office, and LaTeX. You can capture your thoughts with highlighting and annotations using sticky notes. You can then share your papers, thoughts, and annotations with your colleagues.
Mendeley (Lite) for the iPhone and iPad syncs seamlessly with your Mendeley research
collection. This means that you can now carry your personal digital
library with you wherever you go. The iPhone app keeps your documents
organized in just the same way as your online collection, with easy
access to all your collections, recently added items and favorites.
Combined with search over titles and abstracts you can get to the paper
you need quickly. If there is a paper that you want to let your colleagues know about, you can share the citation to that paper from within the app
via email. No more copying and pasting citations, it all gets taken
care of at the touch of a button. You can even download a paper and read it offline later. NOTE: To use the Mendeley (Lite) for iPhone you need to have an account with
Mendeley Web, and you need to add to your library either
through Mendeley Web or via Mendeley Desktop.
Learn Central Webinar (if you miss the session, it is archived)
Fri August 26, 2011, 2:30am-4:00am, US/Eastern
ree
webinar series--learn how to eliminate Death by PowerPoint and make
your presentations come to life. Listen to guest experts share their
best techniques and answer your questions!
