Extras from week 12

Last week we were asked about instructional plans and materials we've used.  I am a huge fan of problem-based learning and love Dr. Shelagh Gallagher's work with gifted learners.  I had the opportunity to attend an educator conference sponsored by the Duke TIP program several summers ago.  I attended two of her sessions - one on problem-based learning and one on effective questioning.  Both were excellent!  I purchased her middle level problem-based learning units and have tried (unsuccessfully) to get my teachers to use them.  I think that I am finally going to get an opportunity to facilitate one of her units at the end of the school year (after state testing has completed.)  I am so excited and can't wait to share that experience.

Extras from week 12

So this video showed up today based on my previous searches and views.  "What if every child had their own teacher?"  Take a look at this view of blended learning and the limitations of America's current education system.

Extras from week 10

Our discussion board this week - “Research since the early 1980’s confirms that the choice of media for delivering instruction does not make a difference in how much students learn or in their attitudes about what they are learning; rather, it is the design of the instructional experience- the instructional strategy- that makes the difference.” (Chapter 9)

I agree whole-heartedly.  The same multi-media presentation can be shown by two different teachers and there will be two different results.  The content might have been delivered in the same way, but it is the teacher's use of effective instructional strategies that engage the learner and progresses the learning.  The same is true of our students.  We know that they do not all learn the same way, yet somehow there is a perception that there is a one-size fits all prescription for teaching.

Dick, W., Carey, L. & Carey, J., (2015).  The systematic design of instruction.  (8^th ed.).  New

     York:  Pearson.

Extras from week 10

Chapter 5 introduced me to Summit Public Schools.  The video clips are not available on my kindle book :(  But I found this clip on YouTube.  I love this idea of blended learning with personalized learning time and project mode instead of a traditional school day schedule.  I would love to see this model in South Carolina!