I have one lesson that I do every year in algebra (usually right before Winter Break) that gives my students the opportunity to really explore and understand a crucial topic, lines. For those of you who where in Doug's Instructional Design II class last semester got to see this lesson developed on my Moodle project, Bungee Barbie.
This lesson explores a linear relationship. In this case, the number of rubber bands corresponds linearly with the distance Barbie falls with that amount of rubber bands connected to her. For a quick overview of the activity, the students collect data, create a line, find the equation of the line, then use the line to figure out how many rubber bands they are going to need for a given distance (really any distance they want to know). All of the topics that are related to lines.
In algebra lines are extremely important. I have found that my students' core tests scores for the standard containing lines are outstanding! I'm not crediting these scores to my exceptional teaching the first time through these topics and my well thought out assignments. I credit Bungee Barbie, and Bungee Barbie alone, for my students' scores. My students are able to remember lines because they had a hands on activity (not to mention a really fun activity) where they had to do some real problem solving.
I really feel that this is a type of meaningful learning. Not that I think that my students attach their dolls to rubber bands then drop them from high place on a regular basis, but they are able to link lines to this activity that is pretty memorable. If every class is just like yesterday's, there isn't anything interesting to remember. I have found that students, especially jr. high students, remember the unusual and the fun, not the droning lectures. We, as educators, need to get into the habit of mixing up our lessons, try not to the same old every day.
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Great comments Jennifer. I agree that jr. high kids remember the unusual and the fun lessons, but it is crucial to make sure those unusual and fun lessons link back to the original objective, which I know bungee barbie does. Although I feel that some teachers that do fun lessons, when you go back and ask the students what is was they learned they don't really know. That is where the teacher/trainer can be more effective is making sure that the fun and unusual can answer the question: "How is this going to help my students understand ...?"
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed looking through that lesson last semester. It is a particularly good way for the learners to make math connections to a physical and real experience they've had. I think that the reason they remember the unusual and the fun, at least in part, is because the instructor is appealinig to their individual natures and trying to relate to them. They wouldn't find it amusing if they couldn't understand and or relate to it.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I remember that lesson, and I didn't even actually do the activity! It was really memorable. This is a great example of how to make learning meaningful. Just like anything else, it requires more of the teacher.
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