Contextual Teaching and Learning

1. Contextual Teaching and Learning

2. Some Questions • What is the purpose of the educational system today and in the future? • Will lecture-and-test teaching increase student achievement? • Will classical content-centered teaching lower the high school dropout rate? • Will theoretical teaching help students become better connected with real-life problem-solving issues?

3. Student Feedback • How would you like your students to say: • This makes school fun and it is easier to learn • There is more interaction and stuff you can use later • I tried to never be late for this class • I enjoyed learning in this class • I think I learned more in this class • I made a special effort to attend this class

4. Teacher Feedback • How would you like to say: • Students tried harder and were more interested in their studies • Students behaved better • Absenteeism and tardiness were down • Students seemed to accept more responsibility for their learning • Students seemed to enjoy class more

5. Contextual Teaching • Way individuals learn best • Students connect life with knowledge • Brain connects knowledge and application • Brain connects knowing and doing • Brain connects content and context • Brain is limited in dealing with material that does not connect

6. Try This • Memorize the following: • Cre • Bli • Ret

8. Now memorize these: • Chair • Water • Light

10. And these . . . • Money • Shopping • Bargains

12. And finally . . . • Zachary went shopping for bargains.

14. Development vs Teaching • Child development • Handle things • Explore • Knock down, set up, put together • Crawl, walk, talk, imitate • Teaching process • Passive learning • Look, sit, listen, memorize

15. Contextual Teaching Framework • Learning for acquisition of knowledge • Learning for application • Learning for assimilation • Learning for association

16. Study Results • Students tried harder and more interested • Students behaved better • Students accepted more responsibility • Greater learning progress

17. CTL Approaches • Problem-based learning • Collaborative/cooperative learning • Project-based learning • Service learning • Work-based learning

18. Service Learning • Combines community service with structured school-based reflection • Emphasizes connection between service experiences and academic learning

19. Work-Based Learning • Experiences and activities based on and in some type of work setting or simulated work setting • Examples: apprenticeship, internship, co-op, on-the-job training, career academies, school-based enterprises, job simulation

20. Functional Skills • Reading – technical information • Writing • Speaking • Listening • Reasoning • Computation • Computer literacy – WP & SS software

21. Soft Skills • Interpersonal skills • Attitudes • Project management • Negotiation • Decision making • Team skills

22. Technical Skills • Task-specific skills • Collect, graph, analyze and program data • Recognize alternative solutions • Computer-related technology • Math and science skills • Programming, database management, and Internet usage

23. Questions???