Enhancing Learning: Best Practices in Education

2. Best Practices Academy Orientation-Chapter 5

3. This Session… • Definition of Best Practices • Lab-Centric Instruction • Project-Based Instruction • Instructional Strategies • Assessment Strategies

4. What are Best Practices? • Practices and strategies that help teachers maximize student learning • Some examples: • Student centered learning • Brain compatible learning • Multiple Intelligences

5. Nets • The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) • ISTE has written National Educational Technology Standards for • Students (NETS) • Teachers (NETS•T) • Administrators (NETS•A)

6. Literacy, Math and Science Standards • Raising standards in core subjects has become elevated in importance • State and local standards keep the education system accountable for results in student achievement • Educators have gradually generated agreement about standards which have been published in the Goals 2000 Act

7. The Third International Mathematics and Science Study • The US leads the world in the amount of math and science objectives covered within curriculum. • Other countries are better at teaching students how to apply their knowledge.

8. Student Centered Learning • Students building their own knowledge through: • Experimentation • Inquiry • Problem-solving • Decision-making • Communication

9. Multiple Intelligences • Howard Gardner finds there are multiple intelligences we use to help us master new learning. • Visual/Spatial • Intrapersonal • Interpersonal • Naturalist • Verbal/Linguistic • Logical/Mathematical • Bodily/Kinesthetic • Musical/Rhythmic

10. Inquiry Based LearningA cycle of inquiry for learning One example is KWHL: • What do we think we Know about the subject? • What do we Want to find out about the subject? • How are we going to go about finding our answers? • What do we anticipate Learning? What have we learned? • Can we Apply our learning to other subjects or projects? • What new Questions have surfaced through our time of inquiry?

11. Special Needs Visually Impaired Hearing Impaired Physically Impaired

12. Special Needs/Learning Disabilities • Sight Impaired • Hearing Impaired • Physical Impairments • Learning Disabilities

13. CCNA Labs • Curriculum consists of four courses: • Networking Basics • Routers and Routing Basics • Switching Basics and Intermediate Routing • WAN Technologies

14. CCNP Labs • The curriculum consists of four courses: • Advanced Routing • Remote Access • Multi-layer Switching • Network Troubleshooting

15. Netlabs • To boost student access to hands-on experiences • To host live router topologies and curriculum over the internet • To review students’ work on real equipment

16. Simulations • Three levels of academy simulations • Syntax drill • Lab drill • Simulations

17. Sponsored Curriculum Labs IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software IT Essentials IT Essentials: Network Operating Systems Fundamentals of Voice and Data Cabling Fundamentals of UNIX Fundamentals of Java Programming Fundamentals of Web Design

18. Emerging Technologies Network Security IP Telephony Wireless LANs

19. Troubleshooting

20. Challenges and Projects • Problem-based labs • Opposite of cookbook or step-by-step • Two Basic Parts • Solve a given problem • Create a product

21. Design Activities • Starts with brainstorming • Research • Problem solving

22. Brainstorming • The wildest possible ideas are accepted • There will be no censorship of ideas • They are looking for quantity • Build on the ideas of other people

23. Case Studies • Can integrate concepts • Grown in importance • Used in many professions

24. Web Research • Research specific products • Research questions • Research extension activities

25. Instructor-Led Classrooms Most common approach to teaching and learning Take entire class period Mini-lectures (consist of the following) A hook A pre-test The actual lecture A short question A test

26. Self Paced Instruction Speed of comprehension that fits student learning style Allows students to go through competencies in a flexible time and space Study Guides (provide) Learning Vocabulary Notes Activity Applying Reflecting

27. Cooperative/Collaborative Work • Example of cooperative or collaborative work • Studying online curriculum • Doing cabling, lab, and programming activities • Taking oral exams, working as network or programming teams/groups Types of teams/groups include: Pairs or Partners Small Groups Teams Competitive Teams Large Groups Whole Class

28. Jigsaws Group setting activity Three groups Home groups

29. Asking The Right QuestionsGraphic Organizers Types of questioning Low-level High-level

30. PMI • Plus • Minus • Interesting

31. Graphic Organizers • Examples include: • Cluster Diagram • Problem-Solving Matrix • Flowchart • Block Diagrams • Topologies • Spectrum Diagram

32. Setting Goals • Truths for students setting personal achievement goals • Purpose for reaching their goals • Make connections with other people • Process of evaluation

33. Kinesthetic Activities • Refers to the body to act • Refers to the body to communicate something

34. Review Strategies • Individual students answer review questions on their computer. • Pairs of students discuss and answer review questions on their computer. • Pairs or small groups of students discuss and answer review questions before each student takes the review. • The entire class or groups of students discuss review questions and connect to prior understanding through explanation of the questions. • Small groups each discuss a portion of the questions and demonstrate understanding by explaining to other groups (jigsaw technique). • The entire class plays a Jeopardy-like game. • Student teams or small groups design analogies to explain concepts to other teams of students.

35. Journals and Reflection • After a lesson, reflection is done the following categories: • Elements • Content • Product • Process • Progress

36. Rubrics • Criteria established for outcomes • Two primary functions for teaching and learning • Communicates the expectation • Gives student a target

37. Portfolio • Authentic assessment • Show growth over time • Student’s reflection

38. Oral Exams • Centered on job interviews and graduate exams • One method is to give teams of students in advance the: • Exam questions • Answers • Rubrics

39. Lab Exams • Lab exams include all of the following: • Practical exams • Performance exams • Demonstration labs • Skills-based and performance assessments • Authentic assessment • Mastery learning • Formative and summative exams

40. Six Lenses • Six perspectives that will be supports: • Equity • Curriculum • Teaching • Learning • Assessment • Technology