Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Module 5

The Interactive Classroom
Discuss how the interactive classroom (and interactive lessons, like flipcharts) relate to the following criteria (Make at least one connection (1 - 3 sentences) to each. Be sure to bold and italicize these headings so that they are recognizable.):

21st Century Skills for Students and Teachers, including the ICT Competency Framework for Teachers (p. 21)
When teachers use technology in the classroom such as an interactive classroom lesson, it incorporates the skills that are important in life and the workforce. According to figure 1.3, curriculum and instruction, learning environments, and professional development are the support systems that are essential for achieving these 21st century skills (p 22). The ITC competency framework is designed to help teachers teach their students using the three different levels of human development in technology. 

Technology use based on problem solving (p. 25 - 26)
Just like interactive lessons, using technology for problem solving also helps prepare students for the future. Besides helping to prepare them for the future, it also helps motivate and support learning needs p 25).  When using technology for problem solving, it is best to combine variables to help teach students (p 25).

Constructivist vs. Objectivist
In chapter 2, Objectivist (Directed) and Constructivist teaching strategies are discussed. Decide if the use of interactive classroom components and flipcharts more closely align with constructivist or objectivist learning theories. Briefly justify your rationale (2 - 5 sentences).

I believe that the interactive classroom components align more closely with objectivist learning theories. Interactive lessons offer structured, direct, and step-by-step instruction with reinforcement, which follows the objectivist teaching and learning theories.

Here is a video of a teacher using technology in her classroom which I believe is linked more closely to the objectivist teaching approach. She is giving direct instruction with reinforcement and helping her students all throughout the lesson. She gives them chances to practice on their own, but goes over the answers and checks to see what areas she needs to reinforce and reteach to her students.

Flipchart
Finally, find at least one flipchart that you like on the Promethean Planet website. Include a link to your chosen flipchart and discuss why you liked it and why you think it would be beneficial to your classroom and student learning. Make connections to information from both chapters 1 & 2.

Punnett Squares Lesson

This flipchart teaches how to predict the outcome of an offspring using the Punnett square. I believe it reflects the objectivist teaching theory because it first explains the meaning of some terms and then gives direct, step-by-step instructions as well as drill and practice problems with reinforcement at the end of the lesson. I like this flipchart because of the direct and step-by-step instruction and the reinforcement. Because of the direct instruction, it makes it easy to understand and learn. On page 40, it is argued to direct instruction is more efficacious than teaching students the bare minimum and letting them go off and be self-guided. The fact that this lesson gives reinforcement after answering the practice problems can help students improve their study skills (p 40). Curriculum and instruction are one of the support systems needed for students to achieve skills for the future and when they do not receive direct instruction, they overload their working memory and learning does not stay in long term memory (p 21). Hirsch (2002) stated that “one minute of explicit (direct) learning can be more effective than a month of implicit (exploratory) learning”. This quote does a good job of summing up how direct instruction is more effective than minimally guided instruction.


3 comments:

  1. Using interactive activities inside the classroom helps with time management. Using problem solving activities such as drill and practice(Doering Roblyer 2002) can help in a setting such as science class. I agree that the interactive classroom aligns with the objectivist side of things, when it comes the teacher being the director.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Personally I felt like the interactive classroom fell more into the constructivist category because of the whole notion of the participation metaphor Roblyer and Doering mentioned (p 35). It's interesting that you chose to view it as more objectivist due to the inclusion of directed activities. I suppose ideally an interactive classroom ought to include the best of both theories in order to have the most significant impact.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love your video! Using activities helps keep the kids engaged and helps time go by instead of feeling like they are bored and get side tracked.

    ReplyDelete