Friday, March 6, 2009
Day 7
To be quite honest, I really enjoyed our last class. Project based learning seems a great way, at least for some, to discover new ideas and play around with unfamiliar technologies. Dividing the class into groups is more practical for experimenting with technology, giving everyone a chance to test the waters. Just demonstrating a particular technology to the class as a whole seems to weigh heavily on passive learning, and even heavier on droopy eyelids. It seems that breaking up class time into different segments keeps students on the move and interested in what is to come. Three straight hours of lecture is unbearable, if not ineffective, whereas changing teaching methods and student activities generates greater attention rates. In a word, do not bore this generation or they will abandon you.
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Raymond, I totally agree with you. I think breaking the class up into three groups was definitely more effective than learning one peice of technology as a class. It gave more variety to the class and kept everyone on the move. When I sit and stare at something for too long, I get easily distracted and then am not fully concentrated on what we are learning. But because we we kept moving around, it kept me more awake and and aware of what was going on. This is a good tip for when I have a class of my own.
ReplyDeleteI agree as well about the teaching method. It is very important, especially with 3 hour classes that the lesson not become too boring. Being able to interact with a group and figure things out makes it easier to stay focused. Cookies and candy dont hurt either.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the class is much more interesting when broken up into time frames and where we are able to move around.
ReplyDeleteGreg, I think you should grow a mustache like the icon from your blog. It will make you look like a true historian. I think mostly everybody in our class liked the break up of the activities. Class flew by and it was fun. The only thing that was missing was a 30 pack. The thing that I appreciate about this class is that we are always doing something new and exciting. Agree?
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. Being able to move around and try out the other things made the class pass much faster. Getting those cookies helped a bit too.
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