Scaffolding Appreciation for School Learning

Main Points

• Content must be valuable to students. (Socialize)
• Expectancy x Value Theory
• Interest Theory
• Intrinsic Motivation
• Self Regulation

Why Important

• Knowing Obsolete
• Content no longer considered relevant.

Strategies

• Connect to personal agendas and outside lives.
• Personalized Treatment
• Introduce in stimulating way
• Ensure task is doable
• Prior Knowledge activization.

Strategies

• Worth learning. Has Value.
• Socialize Appreciation: 3 Steps
• 5 categories of content/curricula.

Final Thought/Quote

• "I believe that students currently do not appreciate or value much of what they learn at school primarily because a lot of it fits into the first category and much if not most of the rest fits into the second. We need to prune content in the first category from the curriculum and rediscover the life-application bases for retaining content in the second category."

Acitivity: Explanation

• You will be given the content introduction students are expect to learn from QEP units.
• Your goal is to come up with a way to make/present/teach the information more interesting/motivating using one of the strategies presented.
• Obviously you can discuss with a partner or a few partners.
• Be prepared to share.

Content 1

• Mesopotamia civilization benefitted from natural conditions favourable to development. The focus here is on its social organization, which is reflected in a code of laws and the organization of work and trade, all of which developed in the context of the use of a system of writing.
• Comp 1: The contribution of writing to a civilization.
• Comp 2: The influence of writing on Mesopotamian civilization.
• Comp 3: The meaning and functions of rules and convetions in society.

Content 2

• Certain European industrial societies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were colonial powers. The colonization of Africa is dealt with in terms of political, economic and cultural domains.
• Comp 1: Imperialism and colonization - The expansion of the industrial world.
• Comp 2: The effects of European imperialism on African populations.
• Comp 3: Political, economic and cultural relationships among societies.

Content 3

• A city subject to natural hazards should be organized in such a way as to ensure the population's safety. Certain measures should be taken to limit damage resulting from natural disasters. This is not the case in some parts of the world.
• Comp 1: Manila, Quito or San Francisco
• Comp 2: Dealing with a natural hazard
• Comp 3: A territory's level of economic development and the consequences of a natural disaster.

Wrap up and Questions

References

• Brophy, J. (2008) Scaffolding appreciation for school learning: An update, Advance in Motivation and Achievment, (15) 1-48
• Quebec Education Program. (2013) Secondary Cycle 1, Social Studies.