However, these types of lessons/projects cause me tension. I'm not sure if it's because I have to give up 'power' (the transition from instructor to facilitator) or the unknown of allowing my students freedom. Han & Bhattacharya (2001) concur that "instructors should also encourage learners to find answers independently from resources rather than simply 'feeding' them information." The benefits outweigh the challenges, but as with anything new, those are difficult to overcome.
The following reasons should be the encouragement I need:
* Increased motivation
* Increased problem-solving ability
* Improved media research skills
* Increased collaboration
* Increase resource management skills
(Han & Bhattacharya, 2001).
I hope that with this course and the resources I have read so far, I will take on the new challenge of planning more constructivist lessons. This week use your comments to offer advice or tips to get me going! THANKS!
As if I need more encouragement, I found this visual (I live for dual-coding!)
Han, S., and Bhattacharya, K. (2001). Constructionism, Learning by Design, and Project Based Learning. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved May 27, 2009, from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt.
As a teacher who gave up the control 10 years ago, I say JUST DO IT! Your students will love you for it and will remember the lessons where you let them pave the way for the learning forever. I have former students who are now adults who still remember the things they did in my classroom and speak fondly of those days.
ReplyDeleteThis learning style won't fit everyone right off the bat so don't think it's all going to be easy but you will find that when instead of automatically answering their question with your version of the 'right' answer, you instead begin asking them questions to get them headed in the right direction, you will increase the learning unbelievably and the creativity you will see from your students will absolutely blow you away.
It's going to take a LOT of work on your part because the planning and directions are the most important part but it is so worth it!
Hi Jenelle,
ReplyDeleteI commend your honesty. Sometimes no matter how well we know something is good for our students, it can be hard to take those first steps. This can be especially true when talking about giving up some of our control in the classroom over to our students. However, once you get started, I think you will see that it is not so much giving up the power, as sharing it. Instead of teaching the facts to the students, you are teaching them how to find the facts.
As for tips to begin, you can start out small. Not every constructivist learning experience has to be a huge undertaking. For example, if your students are studying averages, and enjoy baseball, you can create an Excel spreadsheet template that the students can play around putting numbers into.
Hope that helps!
Shannon Eno
Hi Jenelle,
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading your posts and I really like the use of images on your blog.
I would like to share an article I found online. http://www.4teachers.org/testimony/webb/
This a teacher's testimony. Carol Webb discusses how constructivism and the implementation of technology in her classroom helped shift from teacher to facilitator.
I hope you find it interesting. I look forward to your comments.
Miriam
Shannon, that visual was great! I have some of the same feelings as you about giving up the power. I currently have two former athletes of mine observing in my classroom and one of the things I have been trying to pass along is the idea of student-centered learning, including project based and learning by design. I tell them that the easiest lesson in the world to create and perform is to lecture about the content and spit all the information the students need directly to them; but what do the kids get out of that? Have the students accepted any ownership over their learning? The answer is no. Students need to accept that ownership over their learning to be truly successful and retain the content and skills that are necessary to be successful.
ReplyDeleteThe tip you give about starting small is also fantastic. I think sometimes when there is something new and exciting, teachers (at least me) want to use that exclusively, while forgetting about what the other things that have brought the students success as well. Students and teachers alike are sometimes resistant to change, so by starting small, you can be more successful together!
Jenelle,
ReplyDeleteAs you mentioned, it is sometimes difficult for educators to “give up the power” and turn the projects over to the students to manage. One of the greatest challenges I have faced when assigning an open ended project is that the students are all at different stages and have very different projects. While this is where a lot of the excitement comes from, as an elementary teacher, I feel as though I need to always keep things moving along in order to maintain an appropriate pace. I am very excited to try out many of the resources and ideas that we have been studying about in the class. My biggest push to try out these projects is similar to yours; increased student engagement, and stronger 21st century technology skills essential for success in the corporate world.
Kevin Richstad