e blevins1 forget java, we've got lava! a constructivist approach cecs 5500 summer 2000
DESCRIPTION
E Blevins3 But are you ready to… Ask students what they know before you tell them what you know? Seek elaboration and provide wait time after questions? Provide time for concept construction and natural curiosity? Use words like classify, analyze, predict, and create? Allow student responses to shift instructional strategies?TRANSCRIPT
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Forget Java, We've got Lava!A Constructivist Approach
CECS 5500Summer 2000
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Are you ready to…..
See volcanoes erupt?Find out where volcanoes are?Hear actual accounts of eruptions?Find out what happens to volcanic areas?Feel the shape and activity of a volcano?Find out if eruptions can be predicted?
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But are you ready to…Ask students what they know before you tell them what you know?Seek elaboration and provide wait time after questions?Provide time for concept construction and natural curiosity?Use words like classify, analyze, predict, and create?Allow student responses to shift instructional strategies?
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The role of the teacher in a constructivist learning
environment shifts from that of an authority figure to that of a
mentor.
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Knowledge is no longer believed to be transmitted from the teacher
to the learner, knowledge construction becomes the
responsibility of the learner.(Fineman &Bootz)
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Constructivist Terms
Sort Sift Synthesize Question Plan Gather Evaluate Report Classify
Analyze Predict Create
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Objective
To create a final collaborative project that includes answers to questions submitted by group members and others
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The Research Cycle
QuestioningPlanningGather, Sort, SiftSynthesizeReportEvaluate
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Questioning
What problem needs to be solved?What decision needs to be made?What data is required?What smaller questions create the big one?What does the student already know?What is missing?
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Planning
Begin to develop information-seeking strategiesDetermine where to search for the best information by means of determining efficiency and reliabilityEmploy steps to protect a balanced and unbiased viewEvaluate ways to use technology to collect and organize this information
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Gathering, Sorting, Sifting
Retain informationAnticipate questionsPredict outcomes
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Synthesize
ArrangeRearrangeAnd then…ArrangeRearrange
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Report
Present the “constructed” informationPresent the project collaboratively
The group can receive extra points if they:Listen attentively to other groups Ask “appropriate” questions Provide “appropriate” comments
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Evaluate
What do you like most?What do you like least?Is it complete?Is it accurate?Is it interesting?What would make it better?
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Day One
• Read students the written accounts of an actual eruption (available on-line)
• • Discuss what they know and allow
them to generate five questions each of the things that they want to know
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Day two
Students will receive another student’s questions via a word document to begin the sort, sift, and gather process They will cut and paste general answers for three of the five questions and one of their own to the word document
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Day Three
Each student will gather information on one volcanic terms. Each student will choose the term from a list as well as the method that they use to locate that information. That information will be presented to the class which will documented in all student’s journalsDuring the selection and research time the class will be building a volcano of their own (available on-line).
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Day Four
Students will be placed in groups of threeStudents will begin the process of taking inventory Decide which questions need more investigationBegin gathering, sorting, and sifting again
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Day Five
Chart eruption activity
(available on-line) Map volcano territory
(available on-line)
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Day Six
GatherSortSiftSynthesizeFinalize reports
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Day Seven
Take virtual visits to volcano observatories (available on-line)
View slide shows of eruptions (available on-line)
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Day Eight and Day Nine
ReportsThe presentation will be completed in groups
of threeThe presentations can be in the form of web
page, multimedia presentation, or informational brochure
The presentation must include answers for five questions from the class
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Day Ten
Evaluation
Rubric evaluation and teacher evaluation will be used to determine a numerical grade based on information, organization, and “user friendliness”
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ResourcesSEARCH
Smart Zones http://www.edview.comKids Click http://sunsite.berkelely.edu/KidsClickAsk Jeeves for Kids http://www.ajkids.com
SITES
Volcanoes of the World http://vulcan.wr.usgs.govVolcano World http://volcano.und.nodak.eduEarth Science Foundation http://webserv.gsfc.nasa.gov
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Summary
Take a chanceLet your students help direct your learning objectivesLet them help “construct” and take ownership and responsibility for their learning