A.
The Mini-Research eBook Activities are based on meaningful learning
Information below from: Educational Technology Open
Source Textbook by sean on Fri, 06/29/2007
http://integratetech.net/book
1. What is Meaningful Learning? (http://integratetech.net/tech_for_meaningful_learning)
Meaningful learning is basically when prior learning and prior
experiences are tied into current lessons. Meaningful learning occurs
when complex ideas and information are combined with students’ own
experiences and prior knowledge to form personal and unique
understandings. Learning is meaningful when the student comprehends the
relationship of what is being learned to other knowledge. This is in
direct contrast with rote learning, which is simply memorizing content
but not necessarily learning or understanding the content.
The main characteristics of meaningful learning are that it is
active, constructive, intentional, authentic, and cooperative. These
terms are defined as follows:
- Active – learning occurs through interactions with and
manipulations of the environment; not sitting passively in desks.
- Constructive – learning occurs when we reflect on our
learning activities in order to assign meaning to them.
- Intentional – learning occurs when students can identify
the learning goals and are aware of their progress toward actively
achieving the goals. Providing an advance
organizer to
students can help to provide students with learning objectives being
taught.
- Authentic – learning occurs when context-based, complex,
and relative to real-life. Authentic learning is more likely to be used
in future contexts.
- Cooperative – learning occurs through working with
others
and participating in a learning community (Grabe & Grabe, 2007);
technology is particularly helpful for cooperative learning. (Grabe,
M., & Grabe, C. (2007). Integrating technology for
meaningful learning. (5th ed.), New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company)
“Children derive greater meaning in their school-based academic work
from three sources.
First, when they are actively engaged in the
attempt to make sense of things they experience in school, they are
encouraged to be meaning makers.
Second, they derive meaning from
seeing the relationship of parts to the whole, rather than being left
with only parts. Opportunities to connect one concept or one skill to
another increase students’ conceptual grasp of what they are doing,
whether it involves communication, problem solving, appreciation of
artwork, or carrying out projects.
Third, they find meaning by
connecting new learning experiences to their existing body of
knowledge, assumptions, and meanings, much of which is rooted in their
upbringing and cultural roots. We refer to teaching that seeks to
maximize these three things as ‘teaching for meaning’”
(Knapp and
Associates, 1995, ¶ 2)
Knapp, M. S. & Associates.
(1995). Teaching for meaning in high-poverty classrooms. New York:
Teachers College.
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B. The Real-World Activity is developed from the learning process of
Problem Based Learning
(Information below from: Educational
Technology Open Source Textbook by sean on Fri,
06/29/2007
http://integratetech.net/book)
1. What is
Problem Based Learning?
Problem-based learning is
a total approach to education; a learner-centered educational method.
It is based on real-world problems. Students are involved in active
learning; the problems are real-world and are seen as important and
relevant to their lives.
These problems are carefully
designed and
selected for the learner to help build critical knowledge, problem
solving skills, self-directed learning strategies and teamwork skills.
The learners encounter a problem that they must solve. They solve these
problems first with information that they already possess and then they
will need to fill in what they don’t already know.
Learners may turn to
information resources such as books, journals, information found
online, and interviews with experts. They will have to identify what
they need to learn to understand the problem and how they are going to
resolve it. Problem-based Learning prepares students to think
critically and analytically. It also teaches students to find and use
appropriate learning resources.
What is the Role of the teacher?
The teacher has a unique
role in Problem-based Learning; they act as a facilitator, coach and/or
tutor. The teacher helps to guide the students in their problem solving
efforts by providing materials, guidance and evaluation. The teacher is
the guide on the side, not the sage on the stage in Problem-based
learning.
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C. Page 6: Real-World
Activity (for
lesson plans) is a real-world
activity where
students will apply the knowledge gained in your Mini-Research
eBook. The students'
products will illustrate their achievement of your selected standard
and Primary
Learning Outcome. To include:
a. At top of page, title of activity and picture (can be a digital or
clipart picture).
b. Real-World Activity
is designed from the problem-based learning process with a real-world
activity. This activity will assist your elementary students to
demonstrate that they have
gained the knowledge and skills to satisfactory achieve your listed
Primary Learning Outcome. The evidence of this achievement is the
student's product.
c. List directions for your activity,
the directions should be written for the students.
d. Your directions should include one
or more links to you previous eBook pages and/or
websites that students will need to complete your activity.
You will teach your eBook activity for two lessons. Your two
lessons will use the same activity, but the students will present their
eBook activity products using two different methods.
Need to list two different methods that your students will use to
present
their products for each of your two lessons. Some examples of
methods that students could implement to present their products from
the eBook lessons could include:
- MS Word
- MS Paint software
- MS Excel
- SMARTboard
- Graphic Organizer
- Inspiration
- Kidspiration
- Drawings (using
crayons or
markers)
These are some
suggestions, and there many other possibilities of ways
your
students could present their eBook activity products.
Examples of previous students' Real-World
Activities