Wednesday, January 20, 2010

EME2040 Reflection 4: What is a Constructivist Lesson Plan?

Reflection 4: What is a Constructivist Lesson Plan?

A Constructivist lesson plan is base on students’ real life experience. For example, the teacher gives the students a topic and the students need to find out how they are related to that topic. Most of the time the teacher will discuss with the students what type of materials that they will be using, and the objectives of the lesson. In a constructivist lesson plan, the students usually divided into small groups of three of five before assign each task and the final task will combine two groups to form group of six before the teacher assign the assignment to the class. The teacher needs to discuss the student’s groupings for the first two tasks, discuss the grading criteria and what is expected of each student and the groups, discuss objectives and the goals of the lesson, and also discuss the roles each of the group members need to decide upon to allow for a positive collaborative experience and allow each group member to ask questions a teacher must not ignore the inquiries of students. If teachers ignore the questions of students, they will begin to stop asking questions because they believe it is wrong to ask. During my school years, when I was younger coming from Haiti I was not familiar with the language I was afraid of asking questions because I thought it demonstrated weakness plus I was still trying to understand the language. From the moment students enter a new classroom, the teacher should enforce the asking of questions. Asking questions is not the only aspect of inquiry learning; it is more profound and includes other elements. After questions are asked, the next step is the answering or giving of the information. With their questions answered, students have now been given the information that goes hand-in-hand with their way of gathering and analyzing information. I believe students learn better when they ask questions because the questions they ask are a result and portrayal of their educational needs. There is one absolute truth, and that truth is that in the real world, there will not be answers to many questions. So it is important that students learn how to look for the answers, because they are not easy to find. Inquiry-Based Learning also emphasizes that everything cannot have an answer, so as teachers, we must build ourselves and our students to focus on the learning process and not the answering process.

In a large classroom setting it is best for the teacher to provide the students with samples of how they will need to present the project, and what type of questions will be expect from the teacher regarding their findings. For example, the first task usually requires each of the group to brainstorming what and how they are to start the project, the second task the students are to discuss and brainstorm ideas for the project, and the third task discuss how each group will need to combine so they can present the final task. Basically a constructivist lesson plan is to provide the students with a topic where they can relate to, and develop an outline for the teacher to check for understanding. Constructivist lesson plan provides opportunity for the students to develop a community of self learning and togetherness by applying knowledge to creating good critical thinking to create something new.

EME2040 Reflection 3

It is believed that knowledge is gained through personal experiences; therefore, in most cases people are responsible for the knowledge they are acquired. The constructivist lesson plan has important elements that create individualized learning skills including real life situations that are share in the classroom so that students can analyze them and take initiative and come up with a solution. If a student had prior knowledge about what is being taught then once the new information is giving it makes much easier to understand and expended their ideas. It is best for student to collaborate when applying the constructivist lesson plan because it is believe that relationships are building among the students and social relationships are created which also help their understanding. Students are also placed in different groups where the teacher builds a connection between previous and future learning. The teacher asks several questions in order to understand the student’s level of understanding. The students are expressing their ideas that show what type of social relationship is being developing.

Constructivist lesson plans are important in order to build characteristic. It is imperative for the student to take information and apply it appropriately which shows the student level of understanding by sharing their ideas with the other student. A constructivist lesson plan was uniquely designed to provoke students to not only think for themselves but to also interact with those around them. This approach which some teachers use in the classroom has been through many changes and now focuses on six main elements. The situation, grouping, bridge, questions, exhibit and reflections are all the elements that take part in the constructivist approach. These elements are emphasized in a technique at which students actively engage themselves in situations that they must use their skills and ability to process information they have seen and heard properly. This strategy allows the student to form their own explanations concerning their own thoughts and opinions. The teacher not only provides direction for the student but students are encouraged to form their own views through their previous knowledge.

First, the teacher gives students the situation. The situation has to be given a title, a brief description about the problem solving, responses to questions, putting together metaphors, decision making, conclusions or setting goals. The teacher must also decide how the grouping will be formed with the student and materials. After the grouping takes place, the teacher then builds a bridge with the students’ previous knowledge and what the student will learn by expounding on the situation. After the bridge is established, it is then followed by a series of guiding questions which introduces the topic and help the student with constructing their explanation. Some examples of this include sentences the teacher may ask the student to form and compare structures or giving an explanation about the motive of a character in a story. The student will then make an exhibit of how others recorded and what their thoughts were during this process. Finally, the student writes a reflection based upon their thoughts on the entire experience. Depending on the subject the teacher is focusing on at that time would determine how each concept is presented. The positive factor about the constructivist lesson plan is that this approach can adapt to any subject area of teaching or curriculum.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

EME2040 REFLECTION 2: What is the difference between the Behaviorist Lesson Plan format and the Constructivist Lesson Plan format?”

Reflection 2 “What is the difference between the Behaviorist Lesson Plan format and the Constructivist Lesson Plan format?”

The Behaviorist lesson plan is a process that contains many different steps which teachers use to encourage learning. According to Dr. Madelin Hunter who was an educator who believed in order for an educator to teach effectively they have to follow these eight steps and these steps in a lesson plan are important in order for the students to accomplish learning and comprehend what is being asking of them. Dr. Madelin Hunter stated that these eight steps must be taught by an educator in the following in order; the teacher will present the topic to the students, by making sure they have the students full attention, than the materials that they are going to use needs to be show and explain to them effectively, help the students, allow the students to do it on their own and check their understand by making sure they understand the lesson accordingly, and finally bring the lesson to a closure by reviewing everything that was taught in the classroom. Behaviorist lesson plans is the guide that help the teachers understand the students understanding and also it help them center the students’ behaviors as they move from one step to another. This lesson plan is a guide for the teachers and the students because it points directly whether or not everyone in the class is on the same level.

When it comes to a Constructivist lesson plans, the lessons are more dept do to the fact it incorporates teamwork of the students’ point of view, and their feedback of the lesson. This lesson plan is deeply in an authentic context that draws from the student’s real world experience. Constructivist lesson plan consist of six major points instead of eight, those six lessons show how to deal with different exhibits in a classroom setting. Constructivist lesson plans are make to enhance critical thinking skills where the students apply what they learn so they can apply it to real world situations. This lesson plan deals with real life experiences that are shared among the students. Most of the constructivist lessons are focus on the student’s life experiences so whenever they are ready to present it to the teacher or share it with their classmates it will base mostly on their life experience. So the difference between the two plans are that behaviorist lesson plans focus more on students understanding of a topic by using the same techniques as everyone else, while the constructivist lesson plans focus mainly on having students obtain the knowledge and also to understand the lesson accordingly.

Eme 2040 Extra Credit

The jawbone
This poem talked about an angel who visited Mary so she can be aware of the son she was about to gave birth to. According to the poem, this son was the son of God who was coming to save the world. Jesus is the savior who will guide the people to understand the word of his father so they can be righteous, and the jawbone is how men will be killed.

The womb
The womb resembles a mother's regret for bearing a child that wasn't intentional conceives. In reality, she wishes to kill the child while sparing her life because she believes she is not the cause of that child; therefore she does not want to be this child’s mother due to the fact it will remind her of the pain and suffering.

Two gnomes dance the celebratory hopaky
I can see in this image two gnomes dancing their way out and celebrating something new coming to them or a news being said. It’s colorful, which demonstrates enjoyment and happiness. The faces in the back seem serious and not enjoying the dance but in reality we all have different ways of viewing things and showing are likes and dislikes.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

EME 2040 DEVELOPING A LESSON PLAN

Developing a lesson plan

From what I understood, a lesson plan is a teacher’s detailed description of the course of instruction for an individual lesson; it is a teacher’s document that shows specific goals and timelines associated to the delivery of different lesson content which are being uses in a classroom. Is it mandatory for teachers to use lesson plan in a classroom setting to assist students’ knowledge and understanding the assignments. Lesson plan is a teacher written study plan that guides instruction; it contains an outline of the important points of a lesson arranged in content which will develop the students understanding.

Most school does require teachers to develop a lesson plan daily. The objectives for the daily lesson plan are drawn from the broader aims of the unit plan which needs to define the objectives over a period of time. Most lesson plans include a title, topic, name and number of the standard which are being addressed. It is extremely important for teachers to manage these lessons accordingly in order for the students to have a better understanding. Basically a lesson plan is a teacher’s guide who describes what the instructor will be teaches for example, the content of the material and how the material will be taught.

In today’s society, it is imperative for teachers to learn how to develop lesson plans because it forces them to think through what they want the students to learn, it helps them decide in advance what equipment, supplies, and materials they will need in a classroom setting specially for those who are dealing with learning disabilities, it also provides structure for both teachers and students though how well the teacher will teach and also how well the students will comprehend the materials. When preparing a lesson plan, it is important for the teacher to make sure that the individually to tailored to the specific needs of the learners, because the lesson plan is just one piece of your teaching portfolio it will also serve as the basis for developing others.