Reference no: EM132272582

Discussion

In the discussion forums for the last two weeks, Sir Ken Robinson and Seth Goodin challenged us to think differently about what the purpose of school is. Seth suggests that students should be able to watch lessons at home and meet with the teacher during the day to engage in deep conversation answering questions from the video and not simply sitting in class listening to a lecture. In fact, Khan Academy  is considered an innovative flipped classroom model that has taken this strategy to scale across America.

In the video, Salman Khan: Let's Use Video to Reinvent Education , Salman Khan, the developer of Khan Academy discusses how shifting lectures to video provides a way to revolutionize education by making learning accessible anytime, anyway, and anyplace.

On the contrary, the video What if Khan Academy Was Made in Japan?  suggests that Khan Academy reinforces the American model of learning, which continues to focus on the idea of watch a lesson and practice the skill. After you watch both videos, think about the focus of this week's reading: delivering effective lessons that connect your students to learning.

How do you reconcile the two different perspectives on learning exhibited in the videos?

What relevance do you see in each perspective? In what ways, if any, does either approach to teaching and learning reflect constructivism?

If you were asked to pick a side to support, which strategy would have a greater impact on ensuring students master twenty first century skills? Explain your thinking.

Professor: Constructivism is a theory of learning in which the individual uses personal past experiences to connect and build on their concept of new learning. The pathway for each learner may look different. It is considered a middle ground between direct instruction (content is told) and behaviorism (content is learned).

Part of this Discussion Question is asking you to consider if either approach to teaching and learning shares constructivist views.

The video link to your right will provide you a brief overview: Constructivism: Overview & Practical Teaching Examples

Required Resources

Text

Newman, R. (2013). Teaching and learning in the 21st century: Connecting the dots (2nd ed.).

Chapter 9: Designing Effective Lessons

This chapter focuses on the specific ways to design and plan effective lesson plans. It introduces the understanding by design lesson planning strategy and examines how a teacher can craft an instructional plan using the backward mapping approach.

Chapter 10: Engaging and Connecting Students to the Learning

This chapter examines how individuals organize information in their brains and how they make meaning of situations and events. It also focuses on the theory of learning called constructivism and looks at the works of Vygotsky and Piaget.