Half way done already

Wow! I cannot believe the course is half over already and what a long way we have come. This week our groups worked on a Constructivism webquest assignment. My group discussed the assignment and how we wanted to handle the different parts. We decided that two people each would work on the history and the lesson plan and I volunteered that I would do the graphic organizer. We based this model on the 5 E's of learning-engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate. Our webquest topic was on minerals which is part of the sixth grade curriculum. This assignment was a challenge at first because we did not know how to start or what the 5E lesson plan design was. One of the people in our group came through with experiences from another class and got the ball rolling for us. Once we figured things out we had the webquest done in no time. It wound up being easier than we thought and we had fun doing it. To go along with this assignment was the instructional systems design models. These models according to the Saskatchewan Education article are "used to select and to structure teaching strategies, methods, skills, and student activities for a particular instructional emphasis." Based on these models a teacher can assess or reassess as needed the strategies, skills, and methods that they use in the classroom. They can help to determine the approach a teacher will take, creation of learning environments, and instructional techniques such as discussion, demonstration, and questioning. The BM model is more widely used because it uses direct instruction. Most teachers have learned through this method and like to use what they learned. It provides mastery learning and computer-assisted instruction. In other words the teacher has total control of the class and the lesson. The IPM and SIM models are not used as much because they use indirect instruction. By using indirect instruction some teachers feel that they do not have control of the class and as a result do not feel secure in their environment. The IPM, SIM, and PM models use the Web 1.0 features since they require project-based learning and inquiry learning. The BM model uses computer-assisted instruction and therefore uses Web 2.0 tools. The first three require students to research, not communicate. The 5E lesson plan design aligns with the inquiry process because students are required to explore, explain, and elaborate. These processes make the students "inquire" and think about what they are doing and using. As a principle I would most likely have my teachers use the 5E design in their teaching. Today's students are more technology literate and by incorporating this lesson design would allow students to use their prior knowledge of technology to explore something educational. This would be a way for the teachers to keep up with their students and technology while teaching them the curriculum.