I would like to propose a format that might be useful in many circumstances: the problem-solving format. It's a little different than the existing formats, as it would actually guide teachers and students through a process, but that might not be a bad thing, right?
Just to get the ball rolling, perhaps it would consist of sections like these:
1. Identify the Problem
2. Determine the Causes of the Problem
3. Investigate the Problem
4. Consider the Problem from Several points of View
5. Propose and Discuss Possible Solutions
6. Choose a Solution
7. Evaluate the Process
What do you all think? I would absolutely NOT object to this kind guided activity by Moodle, but even folks who didn't like it could simply not use it.
And while we're at it... Why not a format for the scientific meathod? Or one to solve word problems in math? Or to conflict resolution?
Or is this simply not a road we want to go down at this time?
Best regards,
Art Lader
Art, I think you are right about creating some of these forms, but I don't think they are course formats. They do feel modular or template-ish, but I was thinking that given the activity, it would be helpful to have students break down ideas in various forms (including the ones you have listed).
Some of the templates for info I have considered have been: venn diagrams, or other graphic organizers. Maybe one could offer the components of a science lab report or of a geometry proof...
It seems wise to have an activity that allows students to pick their own form that might best match their reading, or to have the teacher pick the form she wants the students to apply.
I imagine the activity working in the same way a person picks the best "slide template" in PPT to organize his thoughts.
I'm looking for helpful ways for students to organize responses to lessons.
Are we thinking about the same kinds of things?
-T
Some of the templates for info I have considered have been: venn diagrams, or other graphic organizers. Maybe one could offer the components of a science lab report or of a geometry proof...
It seems wise to have an activity that allows students to pick their own form that might best match their reading, or to have the teacher pick the form she wants the students to apply.
I imagine the activity working in the same way a person picks the best "slide template" in PPT to organize his thoughts.
I'm looking for helpful ways for students to organize responses to lessons.
Are we thinking about the same kinds of things?
-T
Yes, Tom,
That is exactly what I am talking about.
But I think it could help a teacher, too, to have several templates from which he or she might choose. Of course, teachers will want the ability to customize these templates or organizers.
So, you're thinking that maybe students could select an organizer from a drop-down menu, as we do when we create resources? And part of the teacher's job would be to help them select appropriately, right? (Or to pick for them, of course.)
Still thinking...
-- Art
That is exactly what I am talking about.
So, you're thinking that maybe students could select an organizer from a drop-down menu, as we do when we create resources? And part of the teacher's job would be to help them select appropriately, right? (Or to pick for them, of course.)
Still thinking...
-- Art
Yes, yes!
So the templates could grow as teachers invent them (glossary-like), and they become available whenever the "reading response" or "directed response" activity is created. Maybe at the activity's creation, the teacher could put checks next to the templates he wants to be available to the student...
Each of these forms could be rated, or a grading rubric (like workshop and exercise) could be applied to them.
So the templates could grow as teachers invent them (glossary-like), and they become available whenever the "reading response" or "directed response" activity is created. Maybe at the activity's creation, the teacher could put checks next to the templates he wants to be available to the student...
Each of these forms could be rated, or a grading rubric (like workshop and exercise) could be applied to them.
Yes, Tom, that would be very helpful to some of my students. It would help them organize their thinking.
I guess that you could do more or less the same thing by breaking a project down into a series of very small assignments and requiring students to do one little assignment before they moved on to the next one. But I very much like the idea that the teacher would help students decide upon the most appropriate format for a response. That could be very valuable, I think. Or maybe the students and the teacher could create the format together.
-- Art
I guess that you could do more or less the same thing by breaking a project down into a series of very small assignments and requiring students to do one little assignment before they moved on to the next one. But I very much like the idea that the teacher would help students decide upon the most appropriate format for a response. That could be very valuable, I think. Or maybe the students and the teacher could create the format together.
-- Art
The China example of WebQuest TOM has a nice student-thumbrule-template..
If you download a demo of Bryan Williams' really cool "insight journal" software, you'll find three or more carefully considered formats/structures/templates/responses that a student can choose from to think through a problem.
Actually, I was thinking about these the other day when Martin said that the assignment module is soon to consist of plug-ins. Once journal gets shifted over as one of the assignment parts, I think the non-programmers could glean from its code, how to make some of these more templated forms (or at least that's a wish of mine).
-Tom
-Tom