Information Processing Models

Project-Based Learning

• Complex projects
• Center around challenging questions or problems
• Involve students in investigating activities, problem-solving, design and decision making

Student's Role in Project-Based Learning

• Pursue solutions to non-trivial problems by:
• Asking and refining questions
• Making predictions
• Designing plans and/or experiments
• Collecting & analyzing data
• Drawing conclusions
• Communicating ideas and findings to others
• Creating artifacts
• Asking new questions

Project Based Learning Example
- Students in a science class are asked to design an experiment that will demonstrate their understanding of how plants get their energy and nutrients from their environment

Inquiry Learning

• Students are active participants in learning
• Teachers model, support and facilitate learning
• Students carry out investigations
• Follow the 5 E Learning Cycle Model which is outlined on the next slide

The 5 E Learning Cycle Model

• Engagement - Object, event or question used to engage students
• Exploration - Objects and phenomena are explored with guidance
• Explanation - Students explain their understanding of concepts and processes
• Elaboration - Activities allow students to build on or extend understanding and skill
• Evaluation - Activities permit evaluation of student development and lesson effectiveness

Inquiry Learning Example
- In a biology class, students will be given species that live in multiple environments and they must figure out which environment each species is most successful in and give specific reasons why to support their choices

Socratic Dialogue

• Primary goal is critical thinking
• Don't give students unanswerable questions; instead think about difficult issues
• Challenges students' assumptions and forces them to think critically about different issues

Steps to Use Socratic Dialogue in Your Class

• Pick a controversial topic and create open ended questions
• Leader begins the discussion
• Leader duties include: Keep topic focused and don't allow tangents, Allow for equal time for all members, Have students elaborate and clarify their contributions, Clarify, synthesize and restate earlier opinions
• Participants duties include: Must think and speak persuasively with support from the discussion, Actively listen to the discussion, Demonstrate respect for different thoughts, values and ideas, Don't interrupt each other

Socratic Dialogue Example
- In an ethics class, socratic dialogue could be used to discuss the question of whether man is inherently evil or good