Students, Learning, and Technology : Mindtools for the 21 st Century

1. Students, Learning, and Technology:Mindtools for the 21st Century Powering Up With Technology Conference November 15, 2003 Educational Technology Research and Outreach College of Education University of Maryland Davina Pruitt-Mentle

2. Outline • Introductions • History and Overview • Tools and Applications • Activities and Projects • Closure • Contact Information and Other Opportunities Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

3. History • University Young Scholars Program • Learning Environments for the 21st Century: Students, Learning and Technology • 3 Week residential program • 3 undergraduate credits EDUC 298 • Some full and partial scholarships Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

4. Young Scholars Program • University Initiative • Tuition based • Help attract students to UMCP • Initiative to help increase the freshman/student retention rate • Initiative to help students understand the University environment and workload Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

5. Students, Learning and Technology • Learner centered-constructivist teaching AND learning experience • Interdisciplinary-crossing boundaries • Workforce/21st Century skills • College and higher education skills • Along the way….increase the science/math/technology pipeline and teacher pipeline Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

6. Syllabus • Objectives • Focus on inquiry and group based methods of learning; • Collaborate with peers to adapt/redesign problem materials; • Experience problem based learning through active engagement in an appropriate activity; • Know the elements of problem solving, including key content identification, scientific literacy, habits of mind, and critical thinking and learning events involved in project development; • Provide and accept feedback gracefully (to and from other participants and instructors); • Actively participate in all class field trips;actively participate in class discussions; • Be a reflective learner. Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

7. Syllabus • Goals • understand, utilize and experience skills needed for the 21st century workforce and/or higher education opportunities • explore and use a variety of technology/computer applications; • use technology to explore and design multimedia presentations; • design Logo environments (games, animated stories, and interactive multimedia presentations); • build and program cybernetic devices to perform a specific task; • keep a journal of reflections and experiences; • design and present an e-portfolio highlighting projects and experiences. Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

8. In Other Words • Mini activities and assignments/projects • WebCT engagement • Reflective Journaling • Team Projects • E-portfolio Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

9. WebCT • Go to: www.courses.umd.edu • Go through the sign in steps • Find EDUC 289A • Introduction and Tour • Pre-Assessment Quiz • Break Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

10. MicroWorlds • Introduction • Scavenger Hunt • Internet Activity See Handout Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

11. MicroWorlds Pro See Handout Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

12. MicroWorlds Pro • Files are called Projects • Objects and text are displayed on pages • Can you find: • Menu bar • Toolbar • Page • Command Center • Status Bar • Procedures area • Tabs Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

13. To Get Started • “Hatch” a turtle • pd = pen down (so you can see where it moves Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

14. fd (forward) rt (right) bk (back) lt (left) pd (pen down) cc (clear command center) pu (pen up) repeat setc (set color) setpensize cg (clear graphics) Some Basic Commands Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

15. Hatch a “turtle” Rotate the head in the direction you want it to move pd fd 50 rt 90 fd 50 rt 90 fd 50 rt 90 fd 50 Some Basic Shapes Make a square Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

16. Can you draw and program these? Write commands to draw each of these shapes.For each shape, how much does the turtle turn to draw each angle? Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

17. In the command center fd 100 rt 90 fd 100 rt 90 fd 100 rt 90 fd 100 rt 90 Is the same as: repeat 4 [fd 100 rt 90] Short Cuts Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

18. Once you know the commands you want-convert the command to a procedure (On the Procedures Tab) to square repeat 4 [fd 100 rt 90] end Test it: Hatch a new turtle Pen down (so you can see) Create a button Type the above procedure in command center 2nd way: On the turtle (object)  edit  command Converting to a Procedure Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

19. You can draw the shapes in any size, thickness, or color. to colorsquare setpensize 5 setc 15 repeat 4 [fd 100 rt 90] end Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

20. Class Needs More Practice? • For beginning work with animation, try make a face, animate me, race cars, bouncing off walls, or growing spider.For beginning work with a game, try obstacle course.For beginning work with textboxes, try animated story. Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

21. MicroWorlds Exercise Turtle Geometry and Teaching Turtles Words Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

22. MicroWorld Examples Visit some of the following to see what is possible: • http://www.cattanach.org/microworlds/index.html(go to the bottom icon and click List Sites) • http://www.mathcats.com/microworlds.htmlMathCats Interactive Math games and activities • Tic-Tac-Toehttp://www.thehunters.org/logo/ • http://mia.openworldlearning.org/Open World Learning-go to Project Folders Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

23. Activities • Team Tasks • Individual Stories • Group Animated Stories • Games or Mazes • Science/Math Experiements Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools

24. Students, Learning, and Technology:Mindtools for the 21st Century Contact Information Davina Pruitt-Mentle 301 405 8202 dp151@umail.umd.edu www.edtechoutreach.umd.edu

25. Sites • NCREL-North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, constructivist teaching and learning models • http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/envrnmnt/drugfree/sa3const.htm • Constructivist Learning Theory, Institute for Inquiry • http://www.exploratorium.edu/IFI/resources/constructivistlearning.html • (For Powering up, also see constructionism pedagogy @ http://www.papert.org/articles/SituatingConstructionism.html and http://www.papert.org/articles/const_inst/const_inst1.html Powering Up, 2003: Mindtools