Cooperative Learning

Cooperative learning is one type of instructional strategy. Students at all levels, K-post secondary, are often engaged in cooperative learning at some time during an academic year. Some students learn best when working with others, while the opposite is true for some. How do you think cooperative learning should be implemented into classrooms? How do you think cooperative learning should be assessed?

Instructional Strategies

"What children learn depends not only on what they are taught but also how they are taught, their development level, and their interests and experiences.... These beliefs require that much closer attention be paid to the methods chosen for presenting material..."
Understanding the Common Essential Learnings,
Saskatchewan Education, 1988. (p.10).

How will you determine the methods in which you will teach your lessons? Why is it important to choose appropriate methods for teaching the material to the students?

Teach for Understanding

According to the Iowa Core Curriculum, Teaching for Understanding is leading students to engage in a variety of thought-provoking activities such as explaining, finding evidence and examples, generalizing, applying, making analogies, and representing the topic in new ways. Teachers assist students in making connections between prior knowledge and new knowledge to develop understanding of a concept. Teachers who teach for understanding 1) make learning a long-term, thinking-centered process, 2) engage students in assessment for learning processes, 3) support learning with representations conceptual models, 4) teach for learner differences 5) induct students into the discipline, and 6) teach for transfer (Perkins, 1993). 

In your opinion, what does it take to teach for understanding? Why is teaching for understanding important? Explain.

Classroom Management

Prevention is often the key to successful classroom management. What are some of the major instructional and procedural prevention strategies that should be implemented in the classroom? How should students, parents, and school administrators be involved in these prevention strategies?

Instructional Strategies

In the late 1990's and early 2000's, research indicated that hands-on learning was a very effective teaching strategy yet teachers seldom used the approach. What could be the reason for the lack of use of this strategy? For approximately the last decade, it has been indicated than an effective teaching strategy in the classroom is hands-on learning. However, some teachers seldom use this type of instructional strategy. What could be the reasons for not implementing this teaching strategy?

Student-Centered Classroom

Brown (2008) states, "By keeping students at the center of one’s classroom, a teacher can encourage and inspire students to seek out knowledge and to strive for understanding at a deeper level. Through this process, students see a greater relevance for and a stronger connection to the subject at hand. Through student-centered instruction, our students can achieve independent minds and the capacity to make educational decisions and value judgments." What is your experience with student-centered classrooms? In your opinion, what does it take to make a student-centered classroom? Why is having a student-centered classroom important? Explain.

Brown, J. (2008). Student-centered instruction: Involving students in their own education. Music Educators Journal. 94(5).

Motivation

Some students are naturally motivated, while others are not. What do you believe is the basis for student motivation in the classroom?