W05 Reading Promts

We were given materials to read:

• How Students Learn, Mathematics: Chapter 13; Science: Chapter 13.
• Any additional resources in the module that are labeled as 'Reading:'

And How Students Learn, Mathematics: Chapter 13; Science: Chapter 13 was a great way to reflect what I saw in the previous Ted Talks, and put it into words (quite unlike the core of the lesson). 

• How does this perspective (e.g., conceptual change, situated learning, etc.) recognize, view and describe this element of a STEM learning environment (i.e. learner-centered, knowledge-centered, assessment-centered, community)?

Perspective recognizes this element of STEM learning environments, as this method of learning math without words is effective in both learning problem solving in a learner-centered community. Students are not expected to follow directions perfectly without words, but what is most important is they see the consequences of doing certain things, and what makes other patterns correct.

• For each of these elements, what inferences can you make about the kinds of classroom activities that would be deemed appropriate?

Classroom activities that would be appropriate are ones that require the teacher to not lecture the student on what to do. This is a learner-centered method of teaching math, where the gaining of knowledge is more or less not restricted by certain rules, but instead are discovered.

• For each of these elements, what inferences can you make about the nature of the classroom discourse that would be deemed appropriate?

Classroom discourse would be appropriate when students are using models and modeling to reflect what they learn in class. Classroom environments should be equal parts teacher-student interaction and peer-to-peer interaction where students learn on their own why certain mathematical concepts work they way they do.

• For each of these elements, what inferences can you make about the classroom use of technology that would be deemed appropriate?

Obviously as seen from the Ted Talks, the use of technology is very important to these methods. Fortunately, countless resources have been made available online for students to use and aid them in discovering these principals.Students will have to be provided internet access and devices that will access these programs, and then be monitored by the teacher while they do their discovery activities.