E Blevins 1

Forget Java, We've got Lava!A Constructivist Approach

CECS 5500Summer 2000

E Blevins 2

Are you ready to…..

See volcanoes erupt?Find out where volcanoes are?Hear actual accounts of eruptions?Find out what happens to volcanic areas?Feel the shape and activity of a volcano?Find out if eruptions can be predicted?

E Blevins 3

But are you ready to…Ask students what they know before you tell them what you know?Seek elaboration and provide wait time after questions?Provide time for concept construction and natural curiosity?Use words like classify, analyze, predict, and create?Allow student responses to shift instructional strategies?

E Blevins 4

The role of the teacher in a constructivist learning

environment shifts from that of an authority figure to that of a

mentor.

E Blevins 5

Knowledge is no longer believed to be transmitted from the teacher

to the learner, knowledge construction becomes the

responsibility of the learner.(Fineman &Bootz)

E Blevins 6

Constructivist Terms

Sort Sift Synthesize Question Plan Gather Evaluate Report Classify

Analyze Predict Create

E Blevins 7

Objective

To create a final collaborative project that includes answers to questions submitted by group members and others

E Blevins 8

The Research Cycle

QuestioningPlanningGather, Sort, SiftSynthesizeReportEvaluate

E Blevins 9

Questioning

What problem needs to be solved?What decision needs to be made?What data is required?What smaller questions create the big one?What does the student already know?What is missing?

E Blevins 10

Planning

Begin to develop information-seeking strategiesDetermine where to search for the best information by means of determining efficiency and reliabilityEmploy steps to protect a balanced and unbiased viewEvaluate ways to use technology to collect and organize this information

E Blevins 11

Gathering, Sorting, Sifting

Retain informationAnticipate questionsPredict outcomes

E Blevins 12

Synthesize

ArrangeRearrangeAnd then…ArrangeRearrange

E Blevins 13

Report

Present the “constructed” informationPresent the project collaboratively

The group can receive extra points if they:Listen attentively to other groups Ask “appropriate” questions Provide “appropriate” comments

E Blevins 14

Evaluate

What do you like most?What do you like least?Is it complete?Is it accurate?Is it interesting?What would make it better?

E Blevins 15

Day One

• Read students the written accounts of an actual eruption (available on-line)

• • Discuss what they know and allow

them to generate five questions each of the things that they want to know

E Blevins 16

Day two

Students will receive another student’s questions via a word document to begin the sort, sift, and gather process They will cut and paste general answers for three of the five questions and one of their own to the word document

E Blevins 17

Day Three

Each student will gather information on one volcanic terms. Each student will choose the term from a list as well as the method that they use to locate that information. That information will be presented to the class which will documented in all student’s journalsDuring the selection and research time the class will be building a volcano of their own (available on-line).

E Blevins 18

Day Four

Students will be placed in groups of threeStudents will begin the process of taking inventory Decide which questions need more investigationBegin gathering, sorting, and sifting again

E Blevins 19

Day Five

Chart eruption activity

(available on-line) Map volcano territory

(available on-line)

E Blevins 20

Day Six

GatherSortSiftSynthesizeFinalize reports

E Blevins 21

Day Seven

Take virtual visits to volcano observatories (available on-line)

View slide shows of eruptions (available on-line)

E Blevins 22

Day Eight and Day Nine

ReportsThe presentation will be completed in groups

of threeThe presentations can be in the form of web

page, multimedia presentation, or informational brochure

The presentation must include answers for five questions from the class

E Blevins 23

Day Ten

Evaluation

Rubric evaluation and teacher evaluation will be used to determine a numerical grade based on information, organization, and “user friendliness”

E Blevins 24

ResourcesSEARCH

Smart Zones http://www.edview.comKids Click http://sunsite.berkelely.edu/KidsClickAsk Jeeves for Kids http://www.ajkids.com

SITES

Volcanoes of the World http://vulcan.wr.usgs.govVolcano World http://volcano.und.nodak.eduEarth Science Foundation http://webserv.gsfc.nasa.gov

E Blevins 25

Summary

Take a chanceLet your students help direct your learning objectivesLet them help “construct” and take ownership and responsibility for their learning