by Andrew K. Miller | Feb 16, 2012 | Blog
This post originally appeared at Edudemic, a group committed to using social media to change and improve education through a variety of resources and materials. View Original >
Recently, MIT Education Arcade announced commission of a Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMORPG) that would teach students content aligned to Common Core Math Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. In addition, World of Warcraft in the Classroom is a popular curriculum that teachers have used to engage students in learning critical, standards-based content.
There is a trend in education to utilize games for learning, whether pairing a game with classroom instruction or creating a whole new “serious game.” As a regular MMORPG player myself, I have found myself spell-bounded by story lines, incessantly questing to improve my character. In full the spirit of full disclosure, I have a Jedi Shadow currently on Star Wars the Old Republic, but have played numerous MMORPGs in my life as a gamer.
While MMOs are being created to demand learning of content within the game, teachers can still strategize the use of MMOs in pairing with classroom instruction and assessment. Here are some strategies and considerations to consider if you decide to venture into the game-based learning approach.
1) Pair the Game with English/ Language Arts content
In MMOs, students write. Yes, headsets are employed, but often the primary mode of communication within the game is through written conversations in the chat channel. Practice problem solving in game elements with students using expository and persuasive writing. In addition, MMOs have rich story lines. Pair the MMOs avatar/character the student is playing with character in the novel. Focus on story elements and the higher order thinking skill of compare contract. Look at these types of ELA standards and find the right in game fit.
2) Feasible Time and Structures
Let’s face it, you may or may have technology, space or instructional time to devote to this approach, as it demands not only formal instruction, but time in the game to play and experience. However, if you know students are playing in their free time, it is a great opportunity to differentiate instruction to engage your “gamer” kids. In addition, if you have a blended learning model, time becomes less of an obstacle, and the focus is more on competency. If students can find time to play the game and meet the milestones for learning, then it is completely feasible and worthy to use this approach. Perhaps the In Game activities are extra practice or extensions to enrich learning.
3) Meet In the Game Itself
Related to the previous point around time and structure, you can leverage the game itself to meet with students and discuss learnings at actual in-game points, whether that is the local tavern in WOW, or the Cantina in SWTOR. Perhaps you utilize the Literature Circle instructional strategies to build reading skills of the novel, but have the actual Literatures Circles in the game. Or, you hold office hours to help students with their classwork.
4) Teach and Assess Collaboration
21st Century Skills are being leveraged in schools internationally as just as critical to content knowledge. Collaboration is no exception. Perhaps one of the most striking and exciting learnings that occur in MMOs is collaboration. Whether teaming for an instance, fighting a boss, chatting on public channels for help, or utilizing in game crafting, students on constantly collaborating to solve problems. Have students record evidence or reflect on game play to properly assess them in collaboration. Model collaboration in the game using your character. Translate these in-game experiences to the real world through discussion and reflection.
These are just some strategies to use as you consider how you might pair an MMO with classroom learning. Rather than look at the obstacles and barriers, look for the opportunities. Just because we as teachers might not be able to create a full scale classroom implementation doesn’t mean I can’t leverage a MMO to engage a student in meeting learning targets. In addition, as conversations around time, competency and structures for school move forward, some of these walls will become more flexible allowing for further implementation of MMOs in the classroom. You may a “noob” and not get MMOs, but you can learn about them from your students and utilize their resiliencies and knowledge to create a personalized learning environment.
by Andrew K. Miller | Feb 8, 2012 | Blog
This post originally appeared on Yahoo Education, which reports on a variety of education topics and issues.
View Original >
Are you thinking about pursuing an online degree? If you answered “yes,” don’t let your curiosity stop there.
By considering an online education, you could be on your way to joining the many people who are trying out virtual classrooms. After all, more than 6.1 million students were taking at least one online course during the fall of 2010, according to a 2011 study titled “Going the Distance” by the Babson Survey Research Group. And that total number represented an increase of 560,000 students over the previous year. But in spite of expanding enrollment numbers, questions still abound regarding the merit, acceptance, and credibility of an online education. At the core of this topic, people may wonder whether an online education is on par with a traditional, face-to-face education. To sort through all the information about an online education, we answer some of the more common questions to help you make a more informed decision.
Q: Is an Online Education Easier?
When determining whether going to school online is easier than traditional schooling, it generally depends on the individual student. In other words, what might be easier to learn online for one person could prove to be more difficult for another. Andrew K. Miller, an online teacher and consultant with the Buck Institute for Education says an online education might be more suitable for self-starters or self-disciplined types who can work better on their own.
“It’s not easier,” says Miller. “It’s a more independent way of learning.”
But the flexibility factor might help ease the learning process of an online education, according to Miller.
“We all learn differently,” he says. “It might take a different amount of time going through the material for different people. The good thing is that if you need more time, you can take more time, but the onus is on you.”
Q: Are Online Degrees Reputable?
How do employers feel about the credibility of online degrees? It is probably best determined on a case by case basis, according to the Miller.
“Depending on the employer, they understand that some people can’t go back to (traditional) school full time,” Miller says. “If they understand that, it helps eliminate some of the stigma of an online degree.”
But if two similar candidates – one with a traditional degree and one with an online degree – were vying for the same position, would the traditional degree holder have an advantage?That might not necessarily be true, according to Miller. Factors such as the school’s overall reputation and history might play more important roles in an employer’s decision than the type of degree.
“There may be some online degree programs that aren’t reputable, just like traditional schools,” Miller says. “It’s hard to measure that, but people are embracing online education as a valued way of learning. It’s changing the way people are looking at degrees.”
Q: Is it Cost Effective to Take Online Classes?
When determining tuition costs, Miller acknowledges that online degree programs could cost about the same or, in some cases, more than traditional degree programs.
“A lot depends on the program,” Miller says. “You might pay by the credit as opposed to one lump sum of tuition.”
The savings associated with taking an online program generally involve secondary costs and expenses. “Saving on commuting, food, and lodging are big, cost-effective things for the online learner,” says Miller. But those savings aren’t guaranteed. Some online programs could still require students to travel for tests, class assignments, clinical exercises, or lab work. The most significant cost-saving aspect might be the flexibility factor. Online students could have better opportunities to maintain “day” jobs – keeping a 9-to-5 position while studying at other times of the day could offer cost-saving potential.
Q: Can Anything Be Studied Online?
Some online degree programs are clearly more popular than others. According to the annual research programs “Continuing and Professional Education Learning Collaborative” and “Online Higher Education Learning Collaborative” by Eduventures – a Boston-based educational research and consulting firm – here were the top fields for online bachelor’s degree programs in 2010: business, computer and information technologies, criminal justice, nursing, and health care. But what if you want to study something a bit off the beaten path? Miller says advancements in technology and online teaching methods are making almost every subject available to virtual classrooms. Anyone interested in taking an online tennis class?
“I have seen successful online courses that teach P.E. (physical education),” Miller says. “Students do projects together on their own, show their work, and turn the work in. The technology and content is out there nowadays, and it doesn’t have to be in a building.”
Q: What’s the Biggest Drawback of Taking Online Classes?
The beauty of online degree programs might be the opportunity for students to take classes in the comfort of their own homes. But it could also be considered a curse. When students feel like they’re studying on a virtual island, they could lose focus or take too many “study breaks” due to a lack of engagement.
“Some people want to do their thing on their own,” Miller says, “but I would argue that collaboration needs to happen.” When students feel connected to an interactive learning environment, online programs work better, according to Miller. Having access to fellow students and teachers can help online students stay more engaged in the material.
“Online learning has discussion boards and live meetings, but some schools are demanding collaborative work,” Miller says. “I think group projects and group learning must occur for online learning to be effective.”
Q: Can Online Programs Prep Students for Real-World Experiences?
Similar to traditional degree curriculums, online programs are intended to help prepare students for careers after graduation. According to the “Going the Distance” study, most chief academic officers (67 percent) believe the learning outcomes of online programs are comparable or better than traditional programs.
But do online degrees prepare students for the working world?
“Well-designed online courses or degrees should be applicable to what’s going on in the real world,” Miller says. “Online learning should mirror the real world.”
For example, Miller says online business programs have the ability to connect students from different countries and teach them about multinational corporations through class projects.
“I think online learning allows you to break down walls and allows for a variety of learning that has no boundaries,” Miller adds.
Q: How Much Tech Know-How is Needed to Study Online?
For people who lack computer skills, an online degree program might seem intimidating. But Miller says online programs generally provide technical support to students.
“Some universities offer an intro to online learning course,” Miller explains. “Schools understand that some students may need more time to get up to speed on online learning.” What other online support is available to help online students succeed? Before starting your online education, find out if a program has access to online academic support tools.
“Students need to make sure the schools they’re interested in have ways to help them,” Miller says. “You should ask, ‘What sort of help are you going to provide me if my computer blows up, or if I’m struggling to manage my time?”
by Andrew K. Miller | Feb 8, 2012 | Blog, Edutopia
This post originally appeared on Edutopia, a site created by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, dedicated to improving the K-12 learning process by using digital media to document, disseminate, and advocate for innovative, replicable strategies that prepare students. View Original >
Project-Based Learning (PBL) naturally lends itself to differentiated instruction. By design, it is student-centered, student-driven and gives space for teachers to meet the needs of students in a variety of ways. PBL can allow for effective differentiation in assessment as well as daily management and instruction. PBL experts will tell you this, but I often hear teachers ask for real examples, specifics to help them contextualize what it “looks like” in the classroom. In fact, the inspiration for this blog came specifically from requests on Twitter! We all need to try out specific ideas and strategies to get our brains working in a different context. Here are some specific differentiation strategies to use during a PBL project.
1) Differentiate Through Teams
We all know that heterogeneous grouping works, but sometimes homogenous grouping can be an effective way to differentiate in a project. Sometimes in a novel- or literature-based PBL project, it might be appropriate to differentiate by grouping into reading level. That way, I can take groups that need intensive work and ensure they are getting the instruction they need. Pick appropriate times to break your class into teams to create a structure for differentiated instruction.
2) Reflection and Goal Setting
Reflection is an essential component of PBL. Throughout the project, students should be reflecting on their work and setting goals for further learning. This is a great opportunity for them to set personalized learning goals and for you to target instruction specific to the goals they set.
3) Mini-Lessons
This is probably one of my favorites. In addition to being a great management strategy to prevent “time sucks” in class, mini-lessons are a great way to differentiate instruction. Perhaps you “offer” mini-lessons to support your students’ learning. After reflection and goal setting, this is a great way to have them connect their goals to specific mini-lessons. Not all students may need the mini-lesson, so you can offer or demand it for the students who will really benefit.
4) Voice and Choice in Products
Another essential component of PBL is student voice and choice, both in terms of what students produce and how they use their time. Specifically to products, you can utilize multiple intelligences to create summative assessments or products that allow students to show what they know in a variety of ways. From written components to artistic or theatrical, you can differentiate the way students are summatively assessed. Again, it all depends on the standards you are assessing, but don’t let standards confine your thinking. Yes, you may have a written component if you’re assessing writing, but ask yourself, “How can I allow for voice and choice here?” Embrace possibilities for differentiated student summative products.
5) Differentiate Through Formative Assessments
Formative assessments can look the same for all students. They can also look different. We know that students can show what they’ve learned in different ways, as mentioned above in terms of products produced as summative assessment. In addition, as you check for understanding along the way, you can formatively assess in different ways when appropriate. Perhaps you are targeting collaboration as your 21st century skill in the project. You can differentiate a formative assessment of this through a variety of ways. Perhaps it’s an oral conference. Perhaps it’s a series of written responses. Perhaps it is a graphic organizer or collage.
6) Balance Teamwork and Individual Work
Teamwork and collaboration occurs regularly in a PBL project. We want to leverage collaboration as much as content. However, there are times when individual instruction and practice may be needed. Students learn in teams, and they learn on their own. Make sure to balance both, so that you are demanding a 21st century collaborative environment while allowing time to meet students on an individual basis. Often you can read the room during collaborative work time and work with students individually, but sometimes it is necessary to “take a break” from teamwork. You need to differentiate the learning environment because some students learn better on their own, and others learn better in a team.
As you master the PBL process in your classroom, you will intuitively find ways to differentiate instruction for your students. You will design the project to scaffold content and skills in a variety of ways. You will create formative and summative assessments to allow for multiple intelligences, and you will manage the process so that it allows you meet students where they are and move them forward.
Please share some of your successful strategies with us!
by Andrew K. Miller | Feb 2, 2012 | ASCD, Blog
This post originally appeared on ASCD Express, a regular ASCD Publication focused on critical topics in education. This article appeared in Vol 7. Issue 9, the focus topic being effective school turnaround models and practices. View Original >
Those of us working in online education tout how innovative online education can be, and yes, there are many innovative components to online learning: traditional structures of time, space, the Carnegie unit, and what is considered the classroom are either reframed or broken. By default, online education can lead to some innovative practices, but there is no guarantee of rigorous curriculum.
When I look at curriculum in many online courses, I see many promises and many disappointments. Many courses still mimic the same “sit, get, and give back” mentality. Even a fun and engaging performance assessment can mask the fact that there is no rigor. More important than cool tech tools, online courses should attend to three requirements for challenging curriculum: engagement, collaboration, and construction of knowledge.
Engagement
We need to think about engagement not simply as a singular part of an equation, but also as a complex combination of factors, including management, curriculum and pedagogy.
Conrad and Donaldson, in their online education staple Engaging the Online Learner, say that project-based learning and constructivist principles framed in a collaborative environment lead to engaged online learners.
They write, “Engaged learning is focused on the learner, whose role is integral to the generation of new knowledge. In an engaged online environment, each learner’s actions contribute not only to the individual knowledge, but to the overall community knowledge development as well.”
After you’ve set the stage for engagement, check out the book by Boss and Krauss, Reinventing Project-Based Learning, to align your curriculum with the best technology.
Collaboration
If we want 21st century learners, then we must put them in an environment where true collaboration is a requirement. I am disappointed when I look at an online course and the only sort of collaboration I see is sharing ideas or work on a discussion board. Sharing is a great first step, but creating something new as a team is better.
Instead of just an individual report on a world religion, why not also have students collaborate in a group to create a podcast debunking common misconceptions on a religion. As Sir Ken Robinson says, “Collaboration is the stuff of growth.”
Online courses should balance group assessments and individual assessments. Through this, the individual is held accountable for the learning targets, and the group is honing a 21st century skill, solving problems, coming to consensus, and learning from each other to create something together.
Create this structure for your students and then explore the cool tools that can help your students collaborate to create.
Construction of Knowledge
Although activities and lessons can work on basic skills, these should be formative, not summative, and should be filtered through the larger task that requires construction of knowledge. Students should be creating something new with the content or skills being taught, creating something for a problem or project that has a complex and open-ended answer.
Instead of having students create a brochure or poster about germs, have students come up with a plan to limit the spread of viruses and bacteria for the school. Students will still be required to learn about the content of germs, but they will have to use that information to solve a problem that has a complex and open-ended answer.
In Sync
These three components promote one another. Challenging assessments that require construction of knowledge require students to collaboratively solve problems and require the teacher to use engagement to promote collaboration and keep student interest.
These components are your quality indicators when you are looking for the best online curriculum.
by Andrew K. Miller | Jan 29, 2012 | Blog, Edutopia
This post originally appeared on Edutopia, a site created by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, dedicated to improving the K-12 learning process by using digital media to document, disseminate, and advocate for innovative, replicable strategies that prepare students. View Original >
Game-Based Learning (GBL) is another great pedagogical model for engaging students, and the term is more expansive and complex than you might think. It can range from pencil and paper games to massive online games like World of Warcraft to everything in between. Overall, it’s about balancing gameplay with the learning of important content. The focus is on retaining the information learned, and applying it. This application can take place within the game itself or outside of it.
So how can we use this model for civics education? Luckily there are already resources out there to use as tools, or you can also create your own GBL games for teaching important civics content.
First, you need to start with the standards — if you don’t know your learning objectives, it will be impossible for you to create or use a targeted GBL game. This is where a myth around GBL, and games in general, comes up:
“There are no defined learning outcomes.”
On the contrary, every game has a specific objective designed for the gameplay. Whether it’s collecting a certain item in a quest, defeating an enemy, or learning an important piece of information, games demand learning in order to succeed. In this case, the civics content needs to be at the forefront. The Center for Civics Education has specific standards that all teachers can use across all grade levels. Some of the questions to explore include, “What is government and what should it do?” and “What are the roles of citizens in American democracy?” Although specific to the U.S., they can be modified to meet civics education in all countries. Once you have the objective in mind, you can go in many directions.
Level One: Use iCivics to Teach the Content
If you are new to gaming, the games at iCivics are excellent and free for teachers to use with their students. There are also lesson plans! The games are broken down by topic from the “Separation of Powers” to “The Legislative Branch.” Perhaps the students play “Executive Command” to learn about the powers of the Executive Branch. You can easily align the games to the Civics Education standards. The next step for the teacher is to create a great performance assessment (although iCivics provides great reflective activities to use after the game has been played). This is a great novice option.
Level Two: Pair the Right Game with the Learning Objective
This is a little more challenging and requires either a gamer’s knowledge base or a colleague who is a gamer! There are so many games out there that it can be daunting to find the right one that meets your civics learning objective. As the instructor, you have to be comfortable knowing that the game may or may not directly push out the content you need. Maybe you’ll use a game to engage students, but wrestle with content in a parallel situation. Or you may get lucky and the game you use will actually demand direct learning of the content. Either way, you the teacher needs to create lessons to meet the situation. Perhaps you’ll use one of the many versions of Civilization to explore governmental structure, and pair it with important lessons and activities on American democracy. You would have to focus the gameplay itself, as well as make sure it explores the learning you need it to. Another idea is exploring races, classes, and worlds in the latest online MMO (massively multiplayer online role-playing game). Players could travel to various worlds and interact with different characters to explore personal freedoms and rights. Again, gameplay and paired lessons need to be designed carefully. This method is a more intermediate approach.
Level Three: Design a Game Yourself
If you are a gamer like me, or have a friend you can collaborate with, you might be able to gamify an activity from your teacher’s bag-of-tricks. The game will need to have specific aspects: leaderboards, incentives, and feedback. And of course, the game only succeeds if the student learns content. Another great resource I have is the Adding Play Toolkit. It provides cards describing a variety of game design must-haves — where you as game designer and teacher, choose what the game will be about. You will choose the motivator for the game, the game mechanics, the victory conditions, and the social mechanics. There are many options in each of these categories, which allow you to create a variety of games. I would recommend this option for an experienced teacher or gamer.
I would love to hear about the games you have created, paired, or used, and how it engaged your students in learning critical civics content. I’m excited that time and energy are being invested in a civics education strategy that works!
by Andrew K. Miller | Jan 18, 2012 | Blog, Edutopia
This post originally appeared on Edutopia, a site created by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, dedicated to improving the K-12 learning process by using digital media to document, disseminate, and advocate for innovative, replicable strategies that prepare students. View Original >
Rubrics are a beast. Grrrrrrr! They are time-consuming to construct, challenging to write and sometimes hard to use effectively. They are everywhere. There are rubrics all over the web, plus tools to create them, and as educators, it can overwhelm us. Rubrics are driven by reforms, from standards-based grading to assessment for learning. With so many competing purposes, it only makes sense that rubrics remain a beast to create and to use. Here are some (only some) tips for designing and using effective rubrics. Regardless of the reforms and structures you have in place, these can be used by all educators.
1) Use Parallel Language
Make sure that the language from column to column is similar, that syntax and wording correspond. Of course, the words will change for each section or assignment, as will the expectations. But in terms of readability, you need to make sure that the rubric can be easily read from left to right or vice versa. In addition, if you have an indicator described in one category, then it needs to be described in the next category, whether it is about “having” or “not having” something. This is all about clarity and transparency to students
2) Use Student Friendly Language!
Tip #1 hints at a larger issue. If the students can’t understand the rubric, then how do you expect it to guide instruction, reflection and assessment? If you want students to engage in using the rubric, they have to understand it. Make sure the language is learning-level appropriate. If you use academic language or concepts, then you’ll need time to teach students those meanings and concepts.
3) Use the Rubric with Your Students… Please!!!
You have to use the rubric with the students. It means nothing to them if you don’t. We’ve all had that time when we gave students the rubric and they threw it away, or the papers lay across the room like snow at the end of class. In order for students to keep a rubric, and more importantly to find it useful in terms of their learning, they must see a reason for using it. Students should understand that the rubric is there to help them reflect, self-assess, unpack, critique and more. Use it as a conversation piece during student-led conferences and parent-teacher conferences. If students and stakeholders use a rubric, they will understand the expectations and their relevancy to learning.
4) Don’t Use Too Many Columns
This has to do with organization in general. You want the rubric to be comprehensible and organized. We’ve all been in the situation where we feel like it’s a stretch to move a criterion in a rubric across many columns. Perhaps there are just too many columns? Pick the right amount so that the criteria flow logically and naturally across levels.
5) Common Rubrics and Templates are Awesome
Avoid rubric fatigue, as in creating rubrics to the point where you just can’t do it any more. This can be done with common rubrics that students see across multiple classroom activities, and through creating templates that you can alter slightly as needed. Design those templates for learning targets or similar performance tasks in your classroom. It’s easy to change these types of rubrics later. In terms of common rubrics, students need routines, and what better way to create that routine than with a common rubric for a department or grade level? Students feel more confident when they go into different classrooms with the knowledge that expectations are the same. The easiest rubrics I have seen are used commonly for practices that all teachers work on, such as reading, writing and 21st century skills. Figure out your common practices and create a single rubric your team can use.
6) Rely on Descriptive Language
The most effective descriptions you can use are specific descriptions. That means avoiding words like “good” and “excellent.” At the same time, don’t rely on numbers, such as number of resources, as your crutch. Instead of saying “find excellent sources” or “use three sources,” focus your rubric language on the quality use of whatever sources students find, and on the best possible way of aligning that data to the work. It isn’t about the number of sources, and “excellent” is too vague for students. Be specific and descriptive.
These are some useful tips for rubrics, and I’m sure you have many yourselves that come from your experience as educators. One of my favorite books for rubrics is Creating and Recognizing Quality Rubrics. It has helped me refine my rubrics and work with teachers to refine their own. It has great examples and non-examples, as well as a rubric for rubrics! Funny, huh? There are many books and resources out there to help you create rubrics, and many rubrics that are great. However, I encourage you all to not only create your own in order to practice and improve your abilities as educators, but also to avoid adopting a rubric instantly. Consider whether is has to be customized to fit your needs and, more importantly, the needs of your students. Be critical of the rubrics out there, but at the same time use the resources that are already available. Please share your best practices with the community!
Recent Comments