How can learners become actively involved in the learning process?

Updates:

1. The class trip schedule will be updated next Tuesday, February 7.
2. Please notify me by Thursday, February 2 if your Digital Media Project group needs materials for your presentation (copies, speakers, markers, poster paper, etc. -- please note that the only machine with speakers in our classroom is the instructor station).

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We've talked (ad nauseum) about the definition of a technology-enhanced learning environment. We've also discussed the specific components you would find in a TELE or new learning environment. But how do you actually ensure that students are learning in this type of environment? How can you be certain that students stay actively involved in their own learning?
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Every educator has their own method for preparing learning activities (lesson plans) that ensure active learning. [Meyers and Jones (1993) define active learning as learning environments that allow students to talk and listen, read, write, and reflect as they approach course content through problem-solving exercises, informal small groups, simulations, case studies, role playing, and other activities -- all of which require students to apply what they are learning (p. xi). Many studies show that learning is enhanced when students become actively involved in the learning process. excerpt from Teaching Strategies]

I'll talk about my own method during today's class. What is important to note is that all of these methods are based on what we as educators have learned from experience, education, trial and error, and so on. We'll spend the next few days talking about how you prepare learning activities: what are they, what are the different models, how do you design one.
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An important part of designing a learning activity is to know the tools, resources, and teaching strategies that are available to you and your students. During today's class, you will begin to create a toolbox of sorts - with a collection of teaching strategies that you might incorporate in your TELE project (or even in your group's Digital Media Project). We'll add tools and resources throughout the remainder of the semester.

Creating a Teaching and Learning Toolbox:

1. Complete the KWRL form - What do you know about teaching strategies? what do you need to know about teaching strategies? what resources will you use to learn about teaching strategies? and how will you show you have learned about teaching strategies?
2. Go to the Blogger website and create a new blog with the address: yournamestoolbox.blogspot.com (Ex: gretchenstoolbox.blogspot.com)
3. Create a new post titled: Teaching Strategies That Promote Active Learning
   
4. Using the links listed below and any other links you might find, create an organized list of resources that help to inform you about teaching strategies.
5. Your finished post should have at least 5 distinctly different resources and should indicate how you used the resources to learn about specific teaching strategies (there should be a direct connection between your KWRL chart and the organizational structure of your post). Try to identify at least one teaching strategy that you hope to incorporate in your TELE project.
6. Your Teaching Strategies post should be completed before class on Tuesday, February 7. Email the address for your blog as soon as you have created it.

Teaching Strategy Resources:

• GLEF Professional Development - you will find instructional modules on various teaching strategies such as project-based learning, cooperative learning, etc.
• Thirteen.org Professional Development - instructional modues on teaching strategies and other important issues: constructivism, collaborative learning, inquiry-based learning, multiple intelligences.
• Apple Learning Interchange Teaching Practice page - multiple resources for varioius teaching strategies: advance organizers, discovery learning, hands-on learning, etc.
• Instructional Framework - a list of very specific teaching strategies: four corners, gallery walk, TGT, etc.

For Thursday

1. Continue working on your blog posting - have enough completed so that you will be able to ask questions and get assistance during class.
2. Bring 1 or 2 items that could be used to make trail mix -- be creative!