Peer Review – Pod #7

Interactive Learning Resource Topic: The Circle of Courage

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lxAU5NzaWK2upnuDXeKoEzaGMoQySTZKTujxKrOGJ5Y/edit#slide=id.g2595c711eb9_0_0

Hi pod #7, I want to start by saying I really enjoyed learning about your topic. I’ve really enjoyed learning about how people learn in a classroom setting, and I thought your topic created a very fascinating perspective on learning methods.

Identify components of the Interactive Learning Resource that might be missing (e.g., appropriate outcomes, alignment, interactivity, inclusivity, technology use and rationale, presentation, grammar, spelling, citations, etc.).

A couple points from the interactive learning resource you could add are…

  1. Why you chose this topic?
  2. Tell us who to intended audience is for this presentation?

I think adding why you chose this topic and telling us who the intended audience is will help add more direction and the level of detail required for the presentation. Besides the two additions, there are some small inconsistencies with citations on photos in the presentation.

Provide a summary of The Interactive Learning Resource’s strengths and weaknesses. Draw out specific examples from your peers’ work to justify your feedback.

Strengths

  1. The structure and layout of the presentation create a very strong and organized lesson. I like how the interactive learning resource has been used to help lay out the presentation. I found it very easy to follow and learned a lot. I also really appreciate the design and detail that has gone into this presentation.
  2. This presentation has a very strong message of diversity and inclusion. I feel like these qualities are essential when teaching about the circle of courage and feel like this presentation could be implemented in a classroom setting.
  3. There are a lot of very helpful visuals. I like the graphs and images that can help keep the audience engaged throughout the presentation.

Weaknesses

  1. As mentioned in the previous section, defining who the target audience is could help clear up some small inconsistencies with vocabulary and language. I believe this presentation is excellent for older students, but it may be more difficult to keep a younger audience engaged and understanding of the topic.

Provide general, specific, and practical recommendations to your peers on how to improve their Interactive Learning Resource.

I really enjoyed this presentation as a whole. I believe you have great visuals throughout and I felt the organization allowed me to follow the topic. The integration of the Interactive Learning Resource into Google slides created a strong presentation.

I feel like adding some more interactive activities could enhance the presentation. Using similar presentation tools like Prezi or Mentimeter could allow for a more engaging learning experience.

I would also review the presentation after including the two additional points from the Interactive Learning Resource. Adding the general direction of your target audience and why you made the presentation can help create a stronger direction of the presentation.

Blog Post #4 – Interaction

  1. What kind of interaction would the video require from your students? Does it force them to respond in some way (inherent)?

“How do you feel when you are working on an art project?”

The video paired with my question allows the class to look at their previous experience when completing art projects. The goal of my question is to create reflection before attempting a project, and then again after finishing an art therapy project.

2. in what way are they likely to respond to the video on their own, e.g., make notes, do an activity, or think about the topic (learner-generated)?

The video may have the students look at art on a bigger scale. For example, they may previously have found art as a very calming activity and the video may pose art as a tool for mental well-being.

3. What activity could you suggest that they do after they have watched the video (designed)? What type of knowledge or skill would that activity help develop? What medium or technology would students use to do the activity?

I would have them participate in a form of art therapy. I would set up multiple options for art therapy including watercolor painting, clay sculpting, and drawing. The goal of having them complete an art therapy project after watching the video is to create introspective.

4. How would students get feedback on the activity that you set? What medium or technology would they and/or you use for getting and giving feedback on their activity?

I would set up a rubric that required students to have a finished project by the end of the session. The goal of the rubric would be to guide the students from start to finish with the goal of creating introspective. For example, when sculpting clay, their goal would be to form an object that represented how they felt and be able to orally describe why they made what they did.

Blog Post #3

How can you adjust your planned learning activities to meet the needs of your learners if an unexpected event occurs? 

In education, teachers play a crucial role in facilitating effective learning experiences. However, unexpected events, such as a pandemic, can disrupt the educational routine and demand unique methods of teaching. The COVID-19 pandemic explored many practical strategies for adapting learning activities in education that proved successful and unsuccessful.

In the face of a pandemic or similar events, the transition to remote learning becomes essential. Remote learning forces educators to explore digital platforms and tools that facilitate online learning experiences for students. These tools provide a variety of resources such as recorded lessons, interactive activities, and educational apps to engage learners of all ages. Remote learning allows educators to create accessible content that can be modified to match the needs of the class.

Some skills can become easier or more difficult to deliver in a remote learning environment. It’s important to prioritize essential skills that can be developed remotely. For example, in primary school students, emphasize foundational subjects like literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking. This can be delivered through project-based learning, where students explore real-world issues and develop problem-solving skills. To aid in this, encourage independent learning and provide clear instruction and guidelines to foster self-directed study.

It’s also important to recognize that learners may have different needs that may not be satisfied through remote learning. Some may require additional emotional support, while others may benefit from personalized instruction. While educators can use tools such as virtual check-ins and social media to aid those who struggle with remote learning, it may not fully satisfy the student’s needs. You can also incorporate activities that promote emotion well-being, such as mindfulness exercises and virtual counseling sessions. This can help create a supportive and empathetic environment, offering students opportunities to share their feelings and concerns.

Blog Post #2

Prompt #2 – Approach to a learning environment: Open Pedagogies

In the digital age, traditional education models are evolving to meet the changing needs of learners. One such progressive approach gaining momentum is open pedagogy, which places emphasis on collaboration, creativity, and unrestricted access to knowledge. My blog post explores the principles and benefits of open pedagogy, providing insights into how it can revolutionize the learning landscape.

Open pedagogy is founded on the principles of openness, sharing, and participation. it encourages educators and learners to create, curate, and collaborate on educational resources that can be openly accessed and modified. By embracing open educational practices, educators can foster an inclusive and interactive learning environment that promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, and the development of digital literacy skills. Learners have the opportunity to actively engage with the learning material, shaping their own educational experiences and taking ownership of their knowledge acquisitions.

Open pedagogy offers numerous benefits for both teachers and learners. By utilizing open education resources, instructors can adapt and customize content to suit their specific teaching objectives, enhancing flexibility and relevance. Learners gain access to a wealth of diverse and current resources that cater to their individual learning styles. Open pedagogy promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing, fostering a sense of community and empowering learners to take an active role in their education.

Blog Post #1

How would the learning be designed differently by a behaviorist, a cognitivist, and a constructivist?

In today’s dynamic educational landscape, understanding various learning theories is crucial for educators to design effective and engaging lessons. When it comes to teaching a complex and pressing topic like climate change, the learning experience can be enriched by adopting different approaches. In this blog post, I will explore how a behaviorist, a cognitivist, and a constructivist would design the learning experience for a high school studies class focused on climate change.

Behaviorist:

In behaviorism, learning is considered successful when a person displays the correct response after being exposed to a specific trigger, referred to as a stimulus. The goal of behaviorism is to learn by providing an appropriate response to the stimulus. To improve on behaviorism learning techniques, it’s important to focus on the relation between the stimulus and the response and how it can be made, maintained, or strengthened.

A behaviorist educator would emphasize observable behaviors and conditioning. A behaviorist-focused teacher could create a structured environment, employing techniques such as rewards to shape student behavior. Their learning experience would involve clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and repetition of key concepts. In the context of teaching climate change, a behaviorist teacher might utilize worksheets, quizzes, and direct instruction to convey factual information, reinforcing correct responses with positive reinforcement.

Cognitivist Approach:

In cognitivism, learning is seen as a discrete change in a student’s individual knowledge, rather than changes in the probability of their responses to stimuli. The focus is on understanding how learners’ minds conceptualize the learning process and how information is received, organized, stored, and retrieved from a student’s mental framework.

A cognitivist educator would focus on the mental processes of learning, including perception, memory, and problem-solving. A cognitivist teacher would engage students in activities that promote active thinking and reflection. They may use multimedia resources, interactive discussions, and group projects to facilitate knowledge construction. In the context of teaching climate change, a teacher could have students analyze data and evaluate evidence to develop their understanding of climate change through inquiry-based learning.

Constructivist Approach:

In constructivism, learning is the process of creating meaning from personal experiences. Constructivism believes the mind filters incoming information from the world to create its own reality. Unlike cognitivists and behaviorists, constructivists do not hold the belief that knowledge exists independently in the mind. They argue that what we know about the world derives from students’ interpretations of their experiences.

A Constructivist educator would focus on learning as an active process where learners construct knowledge based on their experiences and interaction with the world. A constructivist teacher would provide opportunities for students to explore multiple perspectives, encouraging them to develop their own understanding of certain topics. In the context of teaching climate change, an educator might have students engage in debates, simulations, or field trips connecting climate change to real-world scenarios.

Conclusion:

Behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism share many similarities but their distinctions are key to developing instructional design. In my personal experiences, I have found that a constructivism learning approach has helped me learn the best. I personally enjoy learning by doing and creating experiences to gain knowledge. I also found a quick video that helped me visualize the three learning types and break it down in a simple way.

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Test Learning Design Post

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