Constructivism

I know that this post may not be politically correct, but it is what I am thinking at this moment, and what I am thinking in relation to the lesson I just finished on Constructivism.

I have been teaching 12/13 year-old Sunday School at church for two years.  My church put out a new curriculum and training materials for youth teachers within this time frame.  The focus is on teaching as the Savior taught, which tends to be a very constructivist way of teaching.  First of all, he knew and loved the people He taught.  He taught them in parables and stories - activating prior knowledge of tangible things on which spiritual knowledge and abstract concepts could be built.  He used effective questioning techniques.  He invited the people He taught to apply His teachings and find out for themselves whether or not the things He taught were true. 




I am asked, as a teacher, to apply this same model in my classroom.  My church students cannot gain a testimony of the truth of the lessons I teach by listening to me talk the entire time.  The way they gain a testimony is through using the scriptures, finding truth for themselves, and applying it to their lives and experiences.

This is what constructivism is all about!  I know in a public school setting, I cannot share my views of the Savior and my testimony of His divinity with them, but I can use the training and experience I am getting in my Sunday School calling to be a better teacher in public schools.  I have seen first hand the benefit of allowing students to discover knowledge for themselves.  I have been a facilitator.  I know it takes more work to be the facilitator than it does to read out of a manual or a textbook, but the results are SO worth the extra effort.  Not only do I see my students growing, but I grow, too, as I step outside of my comfort zone and put my trust in the students and their ability to learn and grow.

In case you are interested in peeking at the training materials from my church, go here for some great, short videos on teaching the Savior's way.  I have spent lots of time pondering how closely related my church and school learning is.

The Writing Process: A PowToon Creation

I tried out PowToon this week. I was assigned to make a Power Point on the writing process for my intermediate reading class, but asked for permission to make a video instead. Permission was granted, and this is what I came up with. Enjoy!

The Flipped Classroom

I took my first technology class for my Elementary Education degree a couple years ago.  It was probably the hardest class I ever took, mainly because it stretched me into using technology.  Every week when I would open my assignments, I would tear up and feel like giving up before I even started.  I was having to think of education in a way I had never experienced, and I was having to create websites, videos, Prezi's, and more.  A lot of what we learned seemed to apply to secondary education, and it was difficult to find ways to apply the lessons to elementary lessons.  It was hard, but I came away from that class with a sense of accomplishment and a realization that technology is a fabulous tool for all grade levels.

Fast forward a couple of years, and I am in another technology course.  Again, I feel like I am being stretched and that my eyes are being opened to new possibilities.  I feel like I am coming to this course with a confidence that I was lacking before ... I CAN tackle these new lessons, assignments, experiences ... and I can find ways to apply these lessons to elementary education.  I can see possibilities as I open my mind to new ways of doing things.

This week's assignment focused on the flipped classroom.  I started this assignment with skepticism, but as usual, found great information, potential, and ways to apply it to the elementary classroom.  I learned that it isn't an all-or-nothing.  Flipping the classroom can be as much as flipping a lesson or two here or there to meet the needs of the class.  It can also be something that is built upon.

Some of the important lessons I learned this week are:

• Keep the online lectures short (5-6 minutes for upper elementary students).
• Use all the tools available to you to make the lectures engaging.  There is so much out there ... the possibilities are endless!
• Find a way to hold students accountable.
• Partner up with another teacher!
• The flipped classroom model can be easily used in math and science, but with some thought can be applied to other subjects, too.  (Check out this PE Coach's Flipped Classroom)
• Some lessons may be better taught traditionally; flipped teaching isn't all-or-nothing, it's just another tool for making the classroom friendlier to all students.

I made a little animated video about the flipped classroom.  Check it out!
Still have more questions or want information in a quick, localized spot?  Look at this cool info-graphic about the flipped classroom: