Introduction-LC

ETAP623 : Introduction This page last changed on Jan 23, 2008 by wikiadm1. The Jasper Challenge Series: an example of learning communities Goals: In this introduction you will start to explore learning communities and the Jasper site. Some questions will be asked and your comments are welcome as a feedback. The main goal is that you will be interested in this new educational method and you will start appreciating its benefits and challenges. This introduction is the preparation for unit 1. This image is a representation of the relationship that supports individual and group success. Sharing ideas and findings will provide to the individual new experiences and enrichment, fomenting individual and group learning and growth. Introduction and topic bibliography This video will give you a first impression of a school that is the perfect example of a community of learners. Once you have watched it, take time to keep reading this introduction. The Jasper Challenge Series are a group of videos designed to foment all the values that are explained in the video. It is a resource that can be used in math class to stimulate communication, relationships and that will help to approach the student to an example of a real learning environment. We are teaching our students to prepare them to be successful in their future social environment. Our actual world is growing in complexity; communications are becoming faster and easier, and the information load is growing exponentially.This is why we should focus our attention in trying to simulate a professional environment in the classroom; we call this teaching strategy a learning community. You can find more information about learning communities if you click this link. (Melaville et alt., 2006) Challenges in our classrooms Following the goal of the learning communities, simulating the characteristics of the work place inside the classroom will be beneficial for students and will improve their preparation for their future role as a member of the society. Such characteristics are: Projects vs. lessons and collaboration and distributed expertise Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and connectedness to a broad community of audiences Frequent opportunities for formative self-assessment and the use of tools to improve efficiency We will be analyzing all of them: Projects vs. lessons and collaboration and distributed expertise: In the future our students will be challenged by the market competition and they will have to be able to look for the correct information and apply their new knowledge in order to solve challenges and situations that will make them successful in their work place. The Jasper series facilitates this goal. Please go to the Jasper site and read: What is the Jasper Series? and How is the Jasper Series different from other "educational" videos? After you have read both sections please leave a comment below. Do you think that the series really are project oriented? Do you think that they encourage students' communication and collaboration? Why? Why not? Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and connectedness to a broad community of audiences: Some of our students may be motivated during math class because of personal interests, but the vast majority needs extra motivation. The presence of a video and a challenge in math class is a way of fomenting their interest. Jasper's videos and the proposed activities are designed to facilitate students' presentation of their results and findings to their community. For example students need to interact with each other in order to solve the challenges, they need to communicate with the teacher and probably the librarian. Also each of the groups is asked to present their findings to their own class or other group of students. You can explore the Jasper site and read Jasper In The Classroom and Solving a Jasper Adventure. This reading will give you general information about how we can apply the videos in class and what are their main benefits. Frequent opportunities for formative self-assessment and the use of tools to improve efficiency: It is important to realize that students can not perform their best without using technological tools: from computer software for word processing to the library network for looking for information. These tools are used continuously and they should be available in the classroom. The Jasper series offer one kind of technology tool that can be applied within the class and can be tied to other ones. To learn more about new technologies that can be applied in class click the following links and attachments; they will show you some examples that you could use in your class: Wiki lesson After reviewing some of the principles of learning communities and after have been exploring the Jasper's web site you are ready for the first unit of this mini course: Unit 1 Anchored instruction Learning Communities and using visual information to teach mathematics Attachments: [download/attachments/4293681/bonus.htm bonus.htm] (text/html) [download/attachments/4293681/LCGraphiclowres.jpg LCGraphiclowres.jpg] (image/pjpeg)

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