From my reading this week, I see technology being used to do the same thing in a different way. However, the virtual field trips do offer a way to do things differently (Thornburg, 2008). I want to do things differently. I want my ELL students to create their own virtual field trip about reservation life next year. Let’s see if I can pull it off.
Now, back to what I am supposed to be writing about. There were several good strategies that I intend to implement next year. As I explore the cognitive learning that takes place in my room, I have to admit that area of teaching is not as strong as I thought it was. But, I am growing. As Dr. Orey says, “Integrating multiple senses in presentations improves learning, but only if the images are relevant.” (Laureate, 2008). We used many pictures this year, some chosen by me, others by my students. We discovered Photo Story 3 and explored all that it has to offer. Now, it is time to take their learning to a deeper level by adding an advance organizer. The perfect one can be found in our text and I will recreate it in Inspiration. I have a unit on Child Labor in which I ask the students to create a photo story as the final project. A problem/solution template would have expanded their thought processes and helped them see the connections to child labor as it exists today. All of my students made the historical connections, but only a few realized that the problem continues today, with very little change from the past. Using a concept mapping tool, either on paper or on the computer, would have allowed my students to elaborate their thought processes, thus moving more information with stronger connections to their long term memory.
One question remains from all of my reading this week. Isn’t an advanced organizer, as defined by our text to include video and pictures, just another way of addressing Madeline Hunter’s anticipatory set?
Hunter, Madeline. Mastery Teaching. Tip Publications: University of California. 2008.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Program five. Classroom management to promote student learning. Baltimore: Dr. Michael Orey.
Thornburg, D. (2008). Emergence of Educational Technology. Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society. Laureate Education, Inc.
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3 comments:
To be honest, I think it is a great idea for you to have your students make their own virtual field trip. It could be quite a beneficial tool for your students to learn not only about the life on the reservation, but also how to communicate their ideas, plan out a project, collaborate with each other and a whole variety of skills they will need later in life. Keep us all informed on how well it goes next year.
As far as the question you posed at the end of your blog, I feel that there is a slight difference between a visual graphic organizer and Hunter's anticipatory set. Although they do have a lot in common, I think that you can use the graphic organizer throughout the lesson, whereas the anticipatory set is more for a "hook" or assessment of prior knowledge.
Thanks Travis, for reminding me that the advance organizer continues to be used throughout the unit.
If I can put it together, my students wouldn't be learning about life on the reservation, they would be sharing and teaching others about how they live now. The school population is 60% Navajo and my classes have a higher percentage on the average. My ELL classes are 99+% Navajo. (Sometimes I will get a Hispanic or Indian in the ELL classes.)
The idea of having your students create a virtual field trip is excellent. The experience will help them make it real to them because they can focus on what interests them.
The idea of using a concept map to help the students understand that child labor is still a problem today is excellent. They will be able to see how different ideas connect and are still a reality for today.
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