integrating technology, higher-order thinking, and student-centered learning

Integrating Technology, Higher-Order Thinking, and Student-Centered Learning

Doug Adams

ALTEC

dadams@altec.org

Description

This workshop is designed to expand awareness and understanding of the use of technology for teaching and student learning. Participants will explore technology resources that support authentic, student-centered learning utilizing higher-order thinking skills. Using a variety of free Web-based tools, participants will learn how to integrate project-based learning activities that support differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all learners.

LoTi Connection

Levels of Teaching Innovation http://loticonnection.com Free online survey

New survey in 2008 Not validated Not comparable to old survey

Classroom observation tools

Agenda

21st Century Skills Higher Order Thinking Questioning Complex Thinking Strategies Authentic Assessment Engaged Learning Thinking Tools Lesson Plan Enrichment

PowerPoint Slides

http://www.slideshare.net/dadams.altec

Links and Files

http://dadams-altec.wetpaint.com

The Millennial Generation

“Millennials” “Digital Natives” “Thumb Tribe”

Multi-tasking Ubiquity Technical Fluency Risk-takers Information sifting

“Kids say e-mail is, like, sooooo dead.” – CNET News, July 18, 2007

The Millennial Generation

Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach” Mark Prensky

“I have to ‘power down’ when I go to school.”

“When I am really busy, I hate going to school because I can’t do any work there.”

Millennial Attitudes

Characteristics of Digital Natives

Active Multi-tasking Non-linear thinking Ubiquity Technical Fluency Expectations of Feedback Individualization Risk-takers Information sifting

Brain Research

The brain developed to solve problems related to surviving in an unstable outdoor environment that occur in near constant motion. John Medina, Brain Rules

Brain Research

If you wanted to create an educational environment that is directly opposed to the way the brain is good at doing, you would probably design something like the modern classroom. John Medina, Brain Rules

21st Century Skills

21st Century Skills

21st Century Skills

Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies Global Awareness and Civic Literacy Economic and Business Literacy Health Literacy

Learning and Innovation Skills Creativity Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Communication and Collaboration

21st Century Skills

Information Media and Technology Skills Information and Media Literacy Communication and Technology Literacy

Life and Career Skills Flexibility and Adaptability Initiative, Productivity, and Self-direction Social Skills Leadership, Accountability and Responsibility

Visual Ranking and 21st C Skills

Intel’s Education Page

http://intel.com/education

1) K-12 Teaching Tools

2) Visual Ranking Tool

3) Click Student Log-In dadams@altec.org Team ID Team Password

Visual Ranking and 21st C Skills

In groups, sort the list from most important (top) to least important (bottom)

For the top three items, double click and explain why you ranked them as most important

For the bottom two items, double click and explain why you ranked them as least important

Next activity!

As you are watching the movie clip, write questions you might ask On a test To the characters To the actors/writers/producer

One question per Post-it note

Bloom’s Cognitive Taxonomy (1956)

Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy (2001)

(Anderson & Krathwohl et al, eds., 2001)

“Knowledge”

“Comprehension”

“Synthesis”

Mind-set Verbs

Analyze: Extract, deduce, investigate, fill in, combine, disassemble,

Evaluate: Judge, interpret, justify, assess, weigh, appraise, criticize

Create: Develop, invent, extend, hypothesize, compose

Apply: Do, use, organize, collect, operate, summarize, practice, solve, try

Understand: Restate, reword, describe, illustrate, review, discuss, explain (in your own words)

Remember: State, show, list, tally, define, identify, repeat, recall, label, quote

Organizing Bloom’s Taxonomy

Level 3: High Creating something unique (to the learner) Making judgments, choices, decisions Breaking down concepts into component parts

Level 2: Intermediate Using information, skills, and concepts in new

situations Level 1: Low

Understanding and interpreting information Acquiring and remembering new information

Questioning and Bloom

Place your Post-it notes on the appropriate sign

“Knowledge”

“Comprehension”

“Synthesis”

Supporting Higher-Order Thinking

It is estimated that 90% of all test questions asked in the US are of “Low level” - knowledge and comprehension (Wilen, W.W., 1992)

“Low level” doesn’t mean easy:Write an essay explaining the decline and fall of the

Roman Empire incorporating at least five of the seven causes discussed in class from the writings of Gibbon and Toynbee

“High level” doesn’t mean hard:Which movie did you like more, WALL-E or Cars?

Why?

Curriculum-Framing Questions

Guide a unit of study and include: Essential QuestionsUnit Questions Content Questions

Essential Questions

Are broad, open-ended questions Address big ideas and enduring concepts Often cross disciplines and help students see how

subjects are related

Example: Why is math important to my life? How does conflict produce change? What lessons can be learned by running a city?

Unit Questions

Are open-ended questions that tie directly to a project or unit

Help students demonstrate the scope of their understanding of a subject

Examples: How important is measurement in building a home? How are changes in economics a factor in war? In the story, Charlotte’s Web, how do the animals’

different abilities help Wilbur survive and succeed? How does stress on the environment impact biology?

Content Questions

Are fact-based, concrete questions Have a narrow set of correct answers Often relate to definitions, identifications, and general

recall of information (example: questions found on a test)

Examples: How do you find the values of unknowns in equations? What is a fable? Who is the main character in To Kill a Mockingbird? How are volcanoes made? Why is it cold in the winter when the sun is shining?

Complex Thinking Strategies

Decision Making Reasoning Investigation Experimental Inquiry Directed Problem Solving Creative Problem Solving Reflective Thinking

Complex Thinking Strategies

Identify some complex thinking strategies being used in this video

Complex Thinking Strategies

Decision Making Reasoning Investigation Experimental Inquiry Directed Problem Solving Creative Problem Solving Reflective Thinking

Complex Thinking Strategies

Identify some complex thinking strategies being used in this video

Technology and Complex Thinking

Intel Thinking Tools http://www.intel.com/education/tools

Visual Ranking: Assign ranking to a list; and then debate differences, reach consensus, and organize ideas

Seeing Reason: Investigate relationships in complex systems

Showing Evidence: Construct well-reasoned arguments that are supported by evidence, using a visual framework

90% of what they learn when they teach someone else

5% of what they’ve learned from a lecture

10% of what they’ve learned from reading

20% of what they’ve learned from audio-visual presentation

30% of what they learn from a demonstration

50% of what they learn when engaged in a discussion

75% of what they learn by doing

Students retain…

Source: NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science

Web 2.0

Users of the Web create information and have control over it Blogs, Wikis, YouTube

The Web becomes truly interactive as different sites link data Mashups - Flickr, Google Maps Aggregators/Portals – IM, Twitter, RSS Social Bookmarking, “Folksonomies”

Authentic Assessment with Web 2.0

Workshop presented by blogger Alan Levine Outline a story idea Find some media Pick a tool to build

the story

50 Ways to Tell the Dominoe Story

Engaged Learning

Connect students to the world http://www.earthalbum.com/http://www.tenbyten.org/10x10.html http://www.epals.com

Learning Gameshttp://www.food-force.com

http://www.darfurisdying.com

Lesson Plan Enrichment Activity

Lesson Plan – Math: Fraction Blocks Lesson Plan – Reading: Book Reports

(http://dadams-altec.wetpaint.com)

Activity:

Based on our discussions so far with 21st Century Skills, Essential Questions, Higher Order Thinking and Complex Thinking Strategies, take this example lesson plan (math/reading) and enrich it for use in your teacher’s classroom.

Differentiated Instruction & Technology

Adapting educational activities and instructional approaches to meet the needs of all students

within a single classroom

Students vary in many ways:

• Background Knowledge• Readiness• Language Skills• Learning Styles• Interests• more?

Differentiated Instruction

Differentiation - Content

Student selection of topics/interests Compacting the curriculum Accelerated or remedial activities

Example: ThinkTank (http://thinktank.4teachers.org)

Differentiation - Process

Vary the expectations and requirements Allow students to participate in setting goals Combine group work with individual activities

Example: RubiStar and PBL Checklists

(http://rubistar.4teachers.org/)

(http://pblchecklist.4teachers.org/)

Differentiation - Product

Allow students to demonstrate knowledge in a variety of ways

Vary performance expectations

Example: KidsVid and Web Poster Wizard

(http://kidsvid.altec.org/)

(http://poster.4teachers.org/)

Video Games and HOTS

“Better theories of learning are embedded in the video games many children play than in the schools they attend.”

James Paul GeeWhat Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy

What kinds of theories?

Student-centered learning Peer teaching Scaffolding Feedback Problem-solving Empathy, role-play Collaboration Practice Development of expertise

Agenda

21st Century Skills Higher Order Thinking Questioning Complex Thinking Strategies Authentic Assessment Engaged Learning Thinking Tools Lesson Plan Enrichment

Resources

http://www.slideshare.net/dadams.altec http://dadams-altec.wetpaint.com

Doug Adams

dadams@altec.org

http://altec.org