This week we learned about the importance of relating our content to the real world and developing lessons that force out students to think more deeply and applicably about the content.
Problem based learning “encompasses rethinking of the entire curriculum so that teachers design whole units around complex, “ill-structured” problematic scenarios that embody the major concepts to be mastered and understood” (Bellanca & Brandt, 2010). The idea of problem based learning is to have the students investigating, thinking critically, and finding conclusions. A few key elements of problem based learning are: thinking about real-world problems, choices, collaboration, reflection. Problem based learning is important for developing 21st century skills by allowing students to create their own connects and use a variety of technologies to enhance these ideas and connections. Some technologies that have been found useful in problem based learning are the internet for research, images from the internet and books, collaborating through blogs, instant messaging, and Skype, and social media. These technologies allow students to learn more on their own and invent their own ideas. They allow students to collaborate with other people all around the world.
Research based instruction is important to ensure student development because it allows students to come to their own conclusions. Students who research the material at hand find their own connections with what they are reading and will then come to their own conclusions in their own terms. I also think that when students discover these conclusions on their own they are more meaningful and they will understand the material better.
What are hooks? “The Hook is the open-ended “big idea” question that grabs students’ attention and takes them into the problem to be explored and discovered” (Coffman, 2013). Hooks are important because they make students look at prior knowledge, grab their interest, give them ideas, and give the students a place to start the activity.
After the hook is presented, students will do research. What is important about good data for students to discover, explore, sift through, and make decisions from? Students can use the internet to explore real-world problems and find sources that support their opinion. They will need to analyze their data and find answers as well as learn the process of finding and using data. It is important for them to find good data and be able to sift through it because this will help them understand the initial problem.
“Telecollaboration provides opportunities for students to practice inquiry learning through the process of questioning, reflecting, and manipulating information using the Internet by collaborating and communicating with others” (Coffman, 2013). I think that using telecollaborative elements in lessons can improve students’ learning because it can broaden their ideas. They can gather information and ideas of other people from around the world. They can share and discuss ideas with people all over the world and incorporate their views into their own. I previously talked about students using social media, Skype, instant messaging, and other types of communication to collaborate with others. I think this is important because the learning is more in the hands of each student and allows them to make their own connections.
I think the most important thing to take from this weeks lesson is that encouraging students to take learning into their own hands is great, but providing them with tools and setting up lessons that force students to do this is even better.
Reference:
Bellanca, J. & Brandt, R. (2010). 21st Century Skills: Rethinking How Students Learn. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press
Coffman, T. (2013). Using Inquiry in the Classroom. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education
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