This month's issue of Ed Leadership has been one of the best in recent years. One of the article is explaining how we can guide students through a thought experiment. This is an instructional strategy created by Robert Marzano who is an education researcher and author of many different education books. Ed Leadership posted this article on twitter: bit.ly/vk5xoP and as I was reading through it I found it very facinating and began imagining how I could use this in my own classroom. With a non traditional setting it is difficult to find traditional strategies that work effectively but this one might just work.
There are 4 phases: 1. Imagine 2. Explore 3. Describe 4. Confirm. Each of which are described in greater detail in the article but each specific in their own right. Students in a classroom which this strategy is being executed are going to be able to emerse themselves into an idea or subject of theory in ways never imagined.
The 4th phase, Confirm, is where the technology piece can be added. This will allow students time to use their ipads, laptops, even their phones if they have internet capabilities to research and find supporting evidence to the topic being discussed. It is always fun to find new innovative ways to help students understand the practical things in life.
I thought that the Marzano article was very appropriate for discussions that are occurring in my school from our "specials/electives" teachers. High stakes testing has emphasized reading, math, and science at the expense of all of the other educational programs that make a student well-rounded.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to professional development, the special areas tend to have to do whatever the core areas are working on. By having this strategy by Marzano available we, as aspiring administrators, can include these other areas and guide and support those teachers so they can improve their teaching pedagogy.