Homework answers / question archive / Learning Guide Unit 1 Overview Unit 1: Learning and Teaching in the Classroom   Topics:   Designing learning environments Teaching with learning in mind Learning Objectives: By the end of this Unit, you will be able to: Formulate a definition of ‘learning’ by integrating three common characteristics Investigate characteristics among learner-centered, knowledge- centered, assessment-centered, and community-centered learning environments Evaluate the extent to which active construction, social phenomenon, or individual experience are utilized as learning approaches Propose how the various approaches to learning hold implications for classroom instructional practices Tasks: Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignment Complete the Discussion Assignment in the Discussion Forum before completing the reading Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignment Respond to three of your fellow classmates’ posts in the Discussion Forum Complete and submit the Written Assignment Complete and submit the Portfolio Activity Learning Guide Unit 1 Introduction Defining ‘learning’ as a domain is a complicated endeavor

Learning Guide Unit 1 Overview Unit 1: Learning and Teaching in the Classroom   Topics:   Designing learning environments Teaching with learning in mind Learning Objectives: By the end of this Unit, you will be able to: Formulate a definition of ‘learning’ by integrating three common characteristics Investigate characteristics among learner-centered, knowledge- centered, assessment-centered, and community-centered learning environments Evaluate the extent to which active construction, social phenomenon, or individual experience are utilized as learning approaches Propose how the various approaches to learning hold implications for classroom instructional practices Tasks: Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignment Complete the Discussion Assignment in the Discussion Forum before completing the reading Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignment Respond to three of your fellow classmates’ posts in the Discussion Forum Complete and submit the Written Assignment Complete and submit the Portfolio Activity Learning Guide Unit 1 Introduction Defining ‘learning’ as a domain is a complicated endeavor

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Learning Guide Unit 1

Overview

Unit 1: Learning and Teaching in the Classroom
 

Topics:
 

• Designing learning environments
• Teaching with learning in mind

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this Unit, you will be able to:

1. Formulate a definition of ‘learning’ by integrating three common characteristics
2. Investigate characteristics among learner-centered, knowledge- centered, assessment-centered, and community-centered learning environments
3. Evaluate the extent to which active construction, social phenomenon, or individual experience are utilized as learning approaches
4. Propose how the various approaches to learning hold implications for classroom instructional practices

Tasks:

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignment
• Complete the Discussion Assignment in the Discussion Forum before completing the reading
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignment
• Respond to three of your fellow classmates’ posts in the Discussion Forum
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete and submit the Portfolio Activity
• Learning Guide Unit 1
• Introduction

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• Defining ‘learning’ as a domain is a complicated endeavor. There is no single operational definition and assessing potential learning gains can vary with the task at hand, the learner, and the teacher. This unit is intended to draw your attention to the nature of learning theory. As a classroom teacher, you have already given meaningful thought to your classroom management practices and your content complexity. The readings in this unit (and the course as a whole), will challenge you to deeply consider your pedagogical philosophy. How do the needs of your learning environment (your school/program mission statement, community expectations, local/state standards, student demographics) inform the way you choose to provide instruction and how can learning theory enable you to teach more effectively?
• Our first unit explores the significant features of the learning situation and the importance of considering educational psychology to shape our understanding of teaching, learning, and knowledge. 

Learning Guide Unit 1

Reading Assignment

STOP! Before completing the reading assignments, answer the first part of the prompt in the Discussion Assignment.

In order to scaffold your knowledge, please complete the reading assignments in the following order:

1. Schunk
2. Bransford, Brown, & Cocking
3. Wilson & Peterson.

1. Schunk, D. H. (2012). Learning theories: An educational perspective (6^th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/file.PostFileLoader.html?id=53ad2847cf57d75c068b45c5&assetKey=AS%3A273549456019456%401442230680395

•  Read Chapter 1: pp 1-4. The text discusses the main principles, concepts, and research findings of key theories of learning–especially as they relate to education–and to provide applications of principles and concepts in settings where teaching and learning occur.  With a focused and coherent perspective on learning in educational settings, this text examines major learning theoretical principles and research.

 

2. Bransford, J. D., Brown, A. L., & Cocking, R. R. (Eds.). (2000). How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Retrieved from: https://www.nap.edu/download/9853

• Read- Chapter 6 pp 131-154: The text examines implications for what we teach, how we teach it, and how we assess what our children learn. The authors use exemplary teaching to illustrate how approaches based on what we now know, result in in-depth learning. This new knowledge calls into question concepts and practices firmly entrenched in the current education system.

***NOTE: To access this learning resource you will be prompted to log in as, "Returning Users - Login to MyNAP" or "New Users". Under the heading "New Users", choose Download as Guest. A new window will appear and you will be prompted to enter your email address in the field provided. Be sure to check the box next to, Yes, I accept the terms of use. Click Continue and you will be prompted download the full book or individual chapters.

3. Wilson, S. M. & Peterson, P. L. (2006). Theories of learning and teaching: What do they mean for educators? Washington, DC: National Education Association. Retrieved from: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED495823.pdf

•  Read entire text. The authors detail nine concepts of learning, knowledge, and teaching that emphasize active construction of meaning, individual and collaborative work, use of student diversity as a resource for learning, and emphasis on both basic and advanced knowledge and skills. The content bridges the practices of educational psychology with practical classroom applications. 

Discussion Assignment

In the discussion forum, you are expected to participate often and engage in deep levels of discourse.  Please post your initial response as early in the unit as possible and continue to participate throughout the unit. You are required to post an initial response to the question/issue presented in the Discussion Forum and then respond to at least 3 of your classmates’ initial posts.  You should also respond to anyone who has responded to you.

STOP! Respond to the prompt before starting the reading (for this unit). Then, complete the readings and return to the posts to comment to three of your peers.

Cultural influences and school atmosphere considerably influence the ways in which we provide instruction to the diverse learners in our classrooms. 

This is a two-part discussion. For the first part of this Discussion, reply to the following prompt in a couple of paragraphs:

Provide some context about a school where you have taught or are currently teaching. If you have not taught in a classroom, reflect on a school you attended as a student and provide context from an educator's perspective. 

o   What is the country, nation, state province, and/or region in which you teach, taught, or attended a school?

o   How would you best characterize the learning environment at your school or in your classroom?

• • • What are the needs, expectations, challenges?
    • How do you define learning?
    • What factors seem to be the most influential to a student’s learning process?

Stop. Now, complete the reading assignments before responding to three of your peers’ posts. Reference to citations in the Discussion Rubric should be based on the response to peers' posts.

After you have completed the readings, please comment on the posts of three of your peers. Include references to the readings and cite your sources using APA format. As you compose your response, reflect on one or two of the following questions to guide you:

• Did anyone approach a definition of learning that was included in the readings?
• Do opinions of what learning looks like vary from the texts?
• Given the readings, can you appropriately characterize in which types of learning environments your peers teach/learn?
• Do you and your peers face similar challenges in your learning environments? Explain why/why not? How have you managed to navigate your learning environment in a way that can assist your peer? 

Discussion Forums will be assessed using this rubric.

Written Assignment

This writing assignment will ask you to synthesize the reading materials from Unit 1 while incorporating your own teaching experience and learning setting.

Examine Figure 6.1 Perspectives on Learning Environments (p. 134) of the Bransford text. The diagram illustrates the intersection of learner-centered, knowledge-centered, and assessment-centered learning environments embedded within a community setting.

• Describe a learning environment that demonstrates the point at which each of the three circles intersects.  If you are working in a school, base your answer on the current curriculum. Use your content area, your student demographics, school program policies, etc. to illustrate your response. If you are not currently teaching, you can base your answer on a school in your community. Clearly, you are writing about a ‘perfect situation’ which is unlikely to exist given the diversity of challenges classroom teachers encounter. Instead, you are writing towards a ‘best case scenario’. What would need to happen at your school in order to align each of the learning environments as depicted in Figure 6.1?

• As you formulate your response, consider how you define ‘learning’ in each of the three learning environments. Do expectations for knowledge acquisition change?

• Finally, given the way in which you have aligned your school program with Figure 6.1 Perspectives on Learning Environments, discuss at least one implication for how you provide (or would provide if you were teaching) instruction in your classroom now. Consider how practices that balance learner-centered, knowledge-centered, and assessment-centered learning environments embedded within a community setting might inform your current pedagogy.

Submit a paper which is 2-3 pages in length (no more than 4 pages, excluding the References page), double-spaced. The paper should cite at least 2 outside sources using APA format. Your paper should demonstrate an understanding of this unit’s learning objectives. Check all content for grammar and spelling. Be sure to properly cite all of your resources (in APA format).

 Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab (OWL) is a free website that provides excellent information and resources for understanding and using the APA format and style. The OWL website can be accessed here: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01

Papers will be peer-assessed using this rubric.

Portfolio Activity

 You have just completed the reading assignments for this first unit. Next, I would like you to do some reflection on what you have read and think about what you wrote for the Discussion Assignment.

 Find your original post. Review the definition of learning you shared in your post. Drawing on the reading (with a focus on the Schunk text) how would you refine your definition of learning, if at all? Explain what, if anything, makes your new definition more complete/comprehensive/inclusive?

Concentrating on the Bransford, Brown, & Cocking text, to what extent do you feel your school setting, personal classroom setting, or teaching philosophy approximates student-centered, knowledge centered, assessment centered, and/or community-centered learning environments? Justify with one or more examples from your personal school setting, teaching experience, or research.

This activity will be assessed by instructors using the Portfolio Activity Rubric.