Blog Assignment #13

Back to the Future
Before I watched the video of Brian Crosby- Back to the Future, I was slightly confused about Mr. Chamberlain’s comment. After the video, I complete agree with Mr. Chamberlain! Mr. Crosby used a single project to engage his students and teach science, language arts, critical/abstract thinking, and then proceeded to connect it to further projects and create a global opportunity for his students. This video was absolutely amazing. I work at a Mobile County elementary school and the “sit quietly and raise your hand if you have a question- but not right now” comment hit home. It is sadly beyond true. I have personally seen bored students, confused students, and students who are natural investigators have to be forced into the standards required of an elementary school. There “wings” are being tied down because our school system is not updating and embracing global learning and self-learning fast enough for our society and the type of children it produces. Not schools are the same; thankfully, schools are changing for the better. We are starting to educate our teachers differently and giving them more resources.

Paul Anderson
In his video Blended Learning Cycle, Paul Anderson explains how his classroom uses the Blended Learning Cycle. This incorporates Mobile, Explore, Classroom, Explain, Expand, Online, and Evaluate. He wanted to revert back to what he knew, which was “The power of the question”. He uses the acronym QUIVERS.

QUestion
The question is also considered the hook in learning. He presents his students with an unfamiliar phenomenon, such as the Oiler’s Disk. This question leads them to make predictions of how it might work or occur.

Investigate/Inquire
After presenting the question, his students investigate the cause or the answer to the question. He wants them to experiment and look at the phenomenon and test it.

Video
He uses videos to give a lecture or teach his students. Each student can watch it independently and it frees him up to do more.

Elaboration
This part of his teaching is when he elaborates on the lesson. They do extra reading, look at diagrams, and so on to further their understanding.

Review
He meets with each student individually and asks them probing questions. The questions review whether or not the student truly understands the material. If the student does not, he sends the student back. If the student “knows what he’s talking about”, then they can proceed to the Summary Quiz.

Summary Quiz
Students take a quiz to review and show their understanding. At the end of the year, the students take a comprehensive exam to show their overall understanding.

Mr. Anderson’s method is perfect for a science class. I could not stand science in high school. It was mainly focused on the textbook. Science is supposed to be hands on, right? I believe his strategy can be adapted into other courses too, such as math, literature, and so on.