February+9+homework

media type="file" key="2012-02-08_1410.mp4" width="300" height="300"

~Question #2 on page 40

In this chapter the reader learns a lot about different instructional methods that would be helpful in dealing with a classroom of students who are diverse in their learning styles. One of the instructional methods that was talked about was differentiated instruction. Differentiated instruction is when the teacher changes the pacing, methods of presentation, and the degree of complexity in their classes. This allows the teacher to set up a more tailored plan for each student depending on their learning styles. The teacher does this by making sure that materials are used effectively, context is offered in a variety of ways, and that their ideas stay organized and are expressed effectively. Students in this setting can also be split up into small groups depending on their ability and work together to understand a concept. In these small groups students demonstrate what they have learned by teaching each other the concept and by how well they work together to complete the project. The goal of this method is to keep all of the learners engaged and challenging themselves. Another instructional method that would be good for working with students who have diverse learning styles is cooperative learning. Cooperative learning is when students work in small groups and complete assignments by working together. Sometimes students stay in these groups for up to four to six weeks. The article talks about how there are many advantages for teaching students with learning disabilities like this. Some of the advantages are increase social interaction, increase attention to task, decreased behavioral needs, and increase physical engagement with the task. It also talks about putting students who all have the same learning style in groups. It goes on to talk about how in groups teachers pick different people in the group to do different tasks like being a recorder, reporter, time keeper and manager. When teachers assign individuals to do different tasks in the group then the teacher can really see how well each student understands the assignment. They can also see what the students' individual strengths are so they can understand what role is best for each student. These two instructional methods show how to work in a classroom with students who have different learning abilities.

~Popplets

One of the popplet that I viewed was called NY Notes. The context in this popplet was mostly about food and places in New York. There were a lot of pictures which caught your eye, but the organization got lost a little bit. It was hard to find a good flow to the popplet, because there was almost too much going on. I think it is a great way to get people's attention; but you definitely need someone to talk you through their work and explain it to you. The next popplet that I viewed was called Cabin Project: Mood. I liked all of the pictures but I would have liked a few more textboxes. I think it would have made a great visual presentation but it was difficult to figure it out without an explanation.