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Showing posts from July, 2016

6.8.4 Web Quest assessment

To start with, I do not think a summative assessment of my learners is necessary after I have employed an all comprehensive rubric. Largely because the analytical rubric I designed seems to cover all of the relevant areas from which information about learners level of achievement can be got. In my experience in this lesson, a new dimension of assessment has been gradually unlocked. I have for long leaned on summative assessment; looking forward every now and again to literally ambushing - if you may - my learners with tests, exams, and spot exercises at scheduled and at impromptu events. These assessments, nevertheless, have on a number of occasions failed to hit their mark; leaving a lot of effort put in place for very little benefit at the end of it all. Little did I know that the process of learning itself could be gauged during the time the tasks are being carried out. We can assess learners while they are : acting, answering, assessing, calculating, collecting, composing, computi

Project Based Learning ideas 6.74

As a teacher, my view of the learning process is further moving away from teacher centred. Of course this does not mean I have been 100% teacher centred; on the contrary I had in me the feeling that my teaching was actually learner centred until I met with Project Based Learning (PBL) which is as learner centred as it can be. Comparing this method with those I have been using, made me fall short of the paradigm I thought I had. The methodology of PBL, using webquest in this case, draws the learner from a classroom environment and plants her/him into real situations; enabling her/him to engage with real life scenarios that prompt a learner to apply and stretch abilities s/he and go on to appreciate what classroom learning has done to prepare them for the "outside world".  In engaging learners in these real life situations, they are placed in appropriate groups that go on to allow them create and build their own knowledge in new and engaging ways - making the learner more

6.6.4 Pros and cons of pre - researched material

It is now more evident that teachers have begun to use the Internet as an instructional tool. When considering the pro’s and con’s of doing a Webquest in your classroom, many things come to mind. While there is a wide variety of benefits, there are also some quite substantial downfalls. Benefits may include among others that: This technique helps introduce students to units by presenting necessary background and determining students' prior knowledge. WebQuests create opportunities to provide this background. This type of activity motivates students to learn concepts in the unit as it provides a point of reference for their understanding. Students can learn from one another, and by interacting solidify the concepts of the lesson. A WebQuest is a way to develop cooperative learning opportunities and allows for interaction among the students. To complete the quest, students must work together and can use each other as resources to accomplish the objectives of the WebQuest. Th

6.5.4 Reflect: Role playing in PBL

It is in this lesson of the course that I have eventually come to fully comprehend what Project Based Learning is all about. Its about applying all the skills the teacher has learnt to ensure that there is full engagement of the learner during the teaching-learning process.  In order to engage learners we have to be creative, imaginative, and innovative. We strive to: Draw in the students' interest to the topic,Capture their imagination in the real-life scenario of the task, Engage them cognitively through real-life responsibilities and role playing. This is a very exciting teaching - learning experience in which both the learner and teacher are highly enthused in the process. It is needless to mention that the entire project will give the learner an early exposure into applying the skills, so far built in their school life, in real "work-like" experiences. For instance, a learner may get engaged in a real debate to pass a controversial law; participate in a human rights

6.4.4 The WQ challenge phase

I have kind of dragged in this phase; not getting the idea at first but as always, I have not given up. I need to do more reading, consultation and more practice - even when I am done with this section of the course/lesson. Coming up  with a clear introduction and task that captivates learners from the word go seems to be much more challenging that I imagined it would be. Despite the fact that I have put in a lot to come up with a world class WQ (that is webquest), the picture I envisaged doesn't seem to be coming. I push on and surely hope that I will be in position to see this section added to the list of those I have comprehended and am becoming more proficient in. Watch this space for more updates!!!!!