This week we will explore learning from the inside through deep, active, constructivist strategies. We will explore how learning from the inside is made visible to the outside through the design of contextual and learner-centered projects. We’ll examine what makes learning active, effective and engaging.
Learning, on the inside is an active process of making meaning and building connections. Engaging prior knowledge is an essential first step. Linking new ideas to concepts already in the mind is part of the constructivist process. Students learn best when the prior knowledge is engaged and new concepts are scaffolded within their ‘zone of proximal development’.
Learning, on the inside is an active process of making meaning and building connections. Engaging prior knowledge is an essential first step. Linking new ideas to concepts already in the mind is part of the constructivist process. Students learn best when the prior knowledge is engaged and new concepts are scaffolded within their ‘zone of proximal development’.
Active Learning |
Our collaborative thought collection is located in this shared Google slide space. Jot point form notes that you or anyone in this class can use when we blog about our thinking.
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What is active learning? How do you engage learners and teaching colleagues in the active use of technology in classroom programs?
One factor to making learning active is ensuring time for students to talk about the topics, engage in meaningful discourse around ideas and bring their thinking to clarity by mirroring and comparing concepts to others. Applying a ‘think, pair, share’ strategy is an effective mechanism to allow time to talk. Another factor is creating something that has personal meaning and then sharing it with a specific audience. This can be done individually or in groups. A variety of creative strategies are applied in the classroom. Concept mapping is one such tool that provides a window into thinking. Video production is another tool used to capture process and product. Digital tools can be applied to these creative endeavours. Active, engaging and meaningful learning are elements of the theory of constructivism that is integrated into current educational practices and processes. |
Let’s begin with this video clip of a PREZI presentation. Although the context is college or university classrooms, we’ll discuss how this applies to the elementary classrooms in which you will teach.
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Designing - lessons, units, learning events
Connecting to Bloom’s Taxonomy
Benjamin Bloom explored thinking processes and developed a framework to explain these behaviours. This model, first developed in the 1940’s encompassed the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains. The taxonomy has been redesigned for today’s learning environments. Each level of the taxonomy outlines thinking behaviours for a specific learning objective. These relate to methods of instruction and can inform teaching practices when integrating digital technologies.
Further investigation of these domains, practices and concepts can be explored in these related sites:
1. Andrew Churches pdf document
2. Andrew Churches wiki site
3.Bloom’s Taxonomy wiki
4. Bloom’s Taxonomy action verbs – chart for action verbs related to categories
5. Bloom’s Taxonomy pinwheel – blog post written by an educator with a pinwheel image of the taxonomy
Benjamin Bloom explored thinking processes and developed a framework to explain these behaviours. This model, first developed in the 1940’s encompassed the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains. The taxonomy has been redesigned for today’s learning environments. Each level of the taxonomy outlines thinking behaviours for a specific learning objective. These relate to methods of instruction and can inform teaching practices when integrating digital technologies.
Further investigation of these domains, practices and concepts can be explored in these related sites:
1. Andrew Churches pdf document
2. Andrew Churches wiki site
3.
4. Bloom’s Taxonomy action verbs – chart for action verbs related to categories
5. Bloom’s Taxonomy pinwheel – blog post written by an educator with a pinwheel image of the taxonomy
The Surprising Truth about what Motivates Us
Autonomy, mastery and purpose underly our motivation to create, collaborate, communicate and critically think. This is true about teaching and learning when applying digital technology. It is an underlying truth in education, at all levels of learning. Kindergarten students strive to master tying their shoes or creating the perfect picture in KidPix. Grade six students need compelling purpose to communicate information they have mastered, be it the perfect basketball lay-up or the digital presentation about electrical circuits they have created. |
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