Unit 1 Anchored instruction

ETAP623 : Unit 1 Anchored instruction This page last changed on Jan 23, 2008 by wikiadm1. The Jasper Challenge Series: and example of anchored instruction Goals This unit is an introduction to the anchored learning style. You will be learning about the definition of anchored learning and the relationship with Jaspers' materials. The self assessment will be to analyze some lesson plans and web sites and their relation with anchored instruction and visual tools Anchored instruction The basic idea of anchored instruction is to situate the learner in real-world problems. Anchors have five characteristics that make them ideal to build a community of learners: Anchors are quite complex They provide context for collaborative learning Anchors have multiple solutions Anchors provide models for the students Anchors can be shared with other members of the community The Jasper series offer the opportunity to approach students to real-world situations through a mathematical challenge. As we can read at the Jasper site (SMART Challenges Anchored Around Jasper) the videos offer an special feature for teachers; more than one class can be attempting to solve the same challenge. Both classes can share results and present them to other groups. Please take time to click and read the previous link. After reading this brief summary about anchored instruction and reviewing the Jasper's site you can find an extended article related with this instructional approach: Crews et alt., 1997 1. Task one Before performing the next step- self assessment- there is an interesting video that can serve as an example of a different tool that tries to promote anchored instruction. Your task is to decide if this video, or the proposed activity in it, guides the students to an anchored instruction and foments all the five points. (the video is 9:00 minutes long, you can view it entirely on just watch the first minutes, the main idea is explained within the first three minutes) Video Please leave a comment below with your impressions. 2. Task two Your next step will be to analyze some lesson plans and web sites. This will be your self-assessment for this unit. You should review the lesson plans and proposed web sites and try to answer to the following question: Do you think that the lesson plans or web sites offer anchored instruction or could be used as a tool within a lesson plan to achieve anchoring ? Is there any way to incorporate visual aids and increase the real world connection? Example 1: Simple machines. This page offers a middle school Science lesson plan and provides the online site that is using in order to teach about simple machines and their uses in a Rube Goldberg type machine. Your goal is to read the lesson and visit the proposed site. Reflect on its usefulness and if it provides visual aid to the users. Example 2:Web sites analysis. This page offers the evaluation of four computer-assisted types of software. Your goal is to visit the links provided and reflect on their benefits for the students. Do they provide a challenge and are they anchored materials? Example 3: Wise lesson. This lesson belongs to the WISE website. It is a Math lesson that relates graphs with the use of airbags. Very interesting!!. Please perform the same kind of analysis. (NOTE: You may have to sing in in order to see the lesson plan. It is free, follow the steps and review the math lesson plan named: "Airbags: too fast, too furious?" After reviewing the previous lesson plans and web sites you can find my comments in an attachment named "comments to the lesson plans" . These comments are an analysis of the lessons and you can use them as a tool to compare your notes or impressions. After this unit you are ready to start the next one: Unit 2: Math lesson plans Learning Communities and using visual information to teach mathematics Attachments: [download/attachments/4293687/legacy-blue.jpg legacy-blue.jpg] (image/pjpeg) [download/attachments/4293687/Comments to the lesson plans.doc Comments to the lesson plans.doc] (application/msword)

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