I think I'm one step away from the suggestions of Pitler, Hubble, Kuhn, and Malenoski in their book Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works. I got it all but the technology. In the book, the authors suggest using a program which will simulate an actual battle or war from history (p. 213). The web resource the authors give is awesome and I will be using it in my class in the future.
Back to my point...I already do this, just without technology. I thought a few years back that a game I have and play at home, "Axis and Allies" would work great as a group activity to teach World War II. For most folks, Axis and Allies is a complicated,boring, long board game. I saw it as a awesome learning resource. So I talked the school into buying me a half dozen games. I had the students play the game from the perspective of the five major powers in the war...USA, USSR, Great Britain, Germany, and Japan for those who struggled in History class :) The students loved it and learned a lot more than standard lecture, note-taking, and reading.
I found out recently that this game comes in a computer based version. Boy would that save a lot of setting up...this game has about 1 million pieces :)
The program as described in the book and my Axis and Allies program are the perfect complement to the constructivist learning theory. Constructivist believe we learn something based on the process in which we learn it. Reading, lecture, notes means one thing to students: boredom. Most information learned in this way goes in one ear and out the other. Providing information to students in a hands on way such as these programs will enable students to learn the information as they will remember the information along with the process in which they learned it. Just as the name implies, constructivism is based on the process of learning. Just like building a house, it takes many parts to reach the completed project. Education works in much the same way. A foundation must be built and the various other pieces of information are needed to construct a framework of knowledge to the learner.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., Kuhn., Malenoski, K., ( 2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Denver, CO: Mid Continent Research for Education and Learning.
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Hi Rob,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that students "learn something based on the process in which [they] learn it". I recall many English lessons when I was a secondary student. Many times we went through those grammar items and most of them I just forgot after school and yet there were some lessons which we 'experienced' it differently. Like you put it the "process" of it is different. It changes the whole story!
So I guess it is true that at the end of the day, it's what experience (process) we offer our students in order for true learning to happen.
Thanks for sharing!
Sarah
Hi Rob,
ReplyDeleteI think anything beyond lecture, note-taking, and reading is a plus to student learning. When we allow students to create, build, and be actively engaged in the learning process, we are building a bigger, grander foundation. One that is based on the love and desire to learn. A foundation that promotes continuing in the learning process so they can achieve and succeed in their life, in their community.
Thanks for the comments!!!
ReplyDeleteSarah and Rebekah,
I try to create an atmosphere that is different for each lesson to help my students learn. It may be as simple as dressing up in character or bring in a piece of coal when discussing the industrial revolution. It gives students something to remember the situation with the bookwork. I think it helps as students will often remember the gimmick when trying to recall the information.
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Rob,
ReplyDeleteWe all can probably agree that even with our courses at Walden, when we have to construct wikis, podcasts, blogs, concept maps, etc, we learn and retain the information. I love the activity you discussed with your class, and thanks for the refresher on the five major powers! You are exactly right about engaging your students in a way that they will remember the material. You also made a good point about how the computer based version would save a lot of time for the setup of the game as well. I don't know if you have researched too much of it, but does the computer version allow the students to interact with one another? I am for the technology, but I also think that the students learned a lot through interacting with one another. Regardless, they are actively building a product, which definitely increases the amount of information they retain.
Thanks,
Shannon
Hi Rob,
ReplyDeleteYou are right that students need to be able to connect before they can retrieve learned information. And technology does serve this purpose and create the learning experience for students to relate and recall later.
Sarah
Rob,
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you found a way to teach the students in a fun manner without lecturing them. I know for me in school, history class was not the most fun for me, but that's because my teachers never made it fun. Using a game to learn about war would have been much for interesting than reading from text books and hearing my teacher lecture about it. Technology and games and also makes it so that students are able to make a connection to what they they are learning. If students are simulating war through either a board game or through a video game, they get a greater feel for it than they would from just reading it in a book. You are allowing for your students to make the connections that they need in order to make their learning meaninful and useful to them.
Tanika
I think this weeks topic constructivism is all about building. Be it connections with knowledge already learned or connections with other students, our students are always finding ways to interact.
ReplyDeleteHistory is fun. It can be one of the funnest subjects and it is too bad many history teachers don't make the classes enjoyable for their students.
I agree about the video games taking some of the interaction away from the learning process. Nothing like a good old fashioned board game to really get people talking...some of my greatest memories in college were staying up all night playing Risk and watching movies with some friends. Great interaction time. I'm gonna check the online version of the game to make sure students can still interact before going completely digital.
Have a good week!!!
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