Instructional strategies described in this week’s resources included the use of rubrics, grouping, and discussions to produce a more constructionism assignment. "Constructionism supports the constructivist viewpoint-that the learner is an active builder of knowledge (Orey, 2001)." The benefit of the use of constructionism is the ability to allow students to make a more personal and therefore lasting artifact of learning. Everyone can remember that object that we made in art class, or the science project that we had to be creative with to get that good grade. Constructionism encourages the lessons that we introduce to our students involve a project-based culmination.
PowerPoint was mentioned often. The benefits of such a tool when trying to deliver a constructionism approach is the ability to create, present, and research information. There is the option to add music, pictures, and personal embellishments. I think that I have always used this tool because it offers so much flexibility that each year I am surprised at how my students use it.
References
Orey, M. (Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved January 26, 2011, from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Main_Page
Hi Dreanna,
ReplyDeleteI too find PowerPoint a really helpful tool for the classroom.
It is easy enough to learn for even younger students--and offers so many opportunities to be creative in the context of the content.
I like the limitations it puts on text--that is, students need to sift through their knowledge bases to pull out key ideas--they need to reflect on what is important because they can't fit that much text on a slide in an effective presentation.
A Power Point project works well in a group or as an individual activity. If you like Power Point you are going to love next week's Voice Thread.
Thanks for posting,
Susan
Rubrics are authentic in nature and used as an assessment tool to rate a student on a range of criteria.. Tiered rubrics are a great way to assess a heterogeneous group of students. This allows the teacher to set criteria and performance behavior expectations based on the readiness of the individual student. Each student has a clear understanding of their expectations.
ReplyDeleteHere are some resources: http://www.foridahoteachers.org/strategies.htm and http://otal.umd.edu/instructional-resources.
Dreanna,
ReplyDeleteI have never used powerpoint as a tool for my students to use in my mathematics classroom. What are some of the issues that come up with using this tool? How much time do you spend teaching students how to use it?
Thanks,
Bryan
Dreanna,
ReplyDeleteIs there a point where the students would think of PowerPoint as commonplace and thus less engaging? Are they excited each time you present them with a PowerPoint assignment?
Amy
Hi Dreanna,
ReplyDeleteI also use PowerPoint with my students. Each year we do a project on the men's NCAA basketball tournament and their final project is PowerPoint presentation. They love putting it together. Also, our technology teacher provides support in her classroom as well. During February she begins working with students on the basics of PowerPoint so by March when they begin the project they are ready.
Judith
Thanks for commenting everyone! Susan, thanks reminding me about the focus skills students need when using PowerPoint. Jeremie, thanks for the rubric websites. Bryan, this is one tool that my students end up teaching each other. I try to dedicate at least three hours for a class to complete an assignment because they would have already gathered and researched most of their ideas. Amy, I have had students become sedentary with using this tool, but I am glad to say that they often challenge each other with the visuals and music that they present. Judy, thanks for the cool idea for a project. I am going to consider using it.
ReplyDeleteDreanna