Testing Hypotheses…
I really like the idea of giving the students the privilege of setting the goal(s) and desired outcomes of a unit/lesson/activity. Allowing them to have that control helps them develop a higher interest level in the activities and process, as well as for having a higher sense of accountability to accomplish the set goal(s). Younger students would need a bit of practice doing this, but reviewing how to set learning goals and set learning objectives would be something that all students should review each year. Reflection will also be a huge part of this process so that students can see what worked or didn’t work and be expected to look at what the causes may have been, as well as what changes may be needed for future success. Understanding and having a purpose for what they are doing is a driving force for successful learning.
Homework and Practice…
Many schools are changing the way that both students and teachers use homework. The validity of traditional homework is being questioned. Homework at the higher grades is being used in the way that homework for primary grades has been being used for years…as effort and extra practice. Homework can provide inconsistent and inaccurate feedback of a student’s understanding. Factors of a student’s home life can also be contributors to poor homework performance, which isn’t always a fault of the student. Simple, interactive homework opportunities, that could even be done at school during study halls, seem to be much more fulfilling and provide a much better picture of student understanding. One great example would be to have students complete blog posts on a topic or on a choice of questions, similar to the homework we have for our courses, and expect interactions among peers by commenting requirements. This would allow for students to contribute their thoughts and to have dialogue with each other, without a teacher directing it.
Similarities and Differences…
Discussion of similarities and differences occur constantly, sometimes formally, while others are informal. Organizers are often used in the younger grades, where higher grades may be expected to submit more written responses. Using metaphors is something that I introduce to my students, but it can be a bit difficult for them to use as a tool to compare until late in the school year. One tool that I really find useful for them to use is analogies. We constantly use analogies to compare the similarities between things. It really helps students understand the concept we are learning about or the function that is happening. One example I use in my class is to have students look at the levels of the human, and ask them how they levels of our school compares (ie: cells = students, tissues = classes, organs = grades, systems = schools, human body = district).
