Resources
FROM THE AUGUST RETREAT SESSION
Handout:
| 31august2010_-_teaching_strategies_-_handout.doc |
Powerpoint Presentation:
| august31_-_faculty_retreat_ppt_slides_only.ppt |
BOOKS
Graphic Intelligence by Barrie Bennett
This book is in the Tyndale Library, and offers descriptions of various visual organizers for learning. It also includes concrete examples of ranking ladders, mind maps, concept maps, Venn diagrams and more, from Kindergarten right up through University. The Call Number is LB 1062 .B46 (NB, one of the texts used by several courses in the Dept of Ed is Bennett and Rolheiser's Beyond Monet; the Artful Science of Instructional Integration. This book is available in the Tyndale Ed. library. It deconstructs the "science" behind the Art of teaching well, and summarizes/illustrates many instructional strategies, tools and organizers for educators.)
Robert Marzano, Debra Pickering and Jane Pollock (2001). Classroom Instruction that works: Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement. (e-resource)
Marzano is one of the leading researchers on instructional strategies that work for a wide variety of classrooms. His work is NOT about "creative teaching styles", but is about teaching tools, strategies and organizers that have demonstrated achievement gains for students of all ages.
Robert Garmston and Michael Buckley (2005). The Presenter’s Fieldbook: A practical guide. Norwood, MA: Christopher-Gordon Publ., Inc.
Intended as a guide to help presenters make their presentations more engaging, this thin but "meaty" resource is helpful to teachers, profs and anyone else who wants to learn not only what works, but why! They address such things as "third point", "expert text" and "contaminated space" -- a VERY interesting read for those who present, but do not necesarily hold a teaching degree, making this an excellent resource for University Professors.
Robert Garmston and Bruce Wellman (2008). The Adaptive School: A sourcebook for developing collaborative groups. Norwood, MA: Christopher-Gordon Publ., Inc.
Wellman and Garmston are two seasoned professionals who have developed a series of resources and training sessions largely for school board personnel to address systems change. Their work on collaborative group is like the adult version of "cooperative learning" -- a great resource for those working with adults, rather than children.
WEBSITES
Bloom's Revised Taxonomy - this site/article features a taxonomy of thinking, perhaps helpful as you design specific questions around your course material to get students thinking deeply. It also includes a short bit on Wiggins and McTighe. Or, if Blooms is totally new to you, click here for a ppt and a classroom/office chart to print off.
Instructional Strategies Online -- offers a host of information for those who teach. This particular page links to their CO-OPERATIVE LEARNING section, which includes a nice overview of cooperative learning.
And from our Education Librarian, Mark Mueller...
Here are some articles from the Gale Library (along with the hyperlinks for the site) that I would suggest. These are encyclopedia entries that have bibliographies at the end of each, in case anyone wants to do further research. You'll need to sign-on into the proxy server to access the articles. (Thanks, Mark!)
Constructivism:
Constructivism. (2009). In Psychology of Classroom Learning: an encyclopedia. (Vol. pp. 262-274). Full text available at: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE|CX3027800077&v=2.1&u=nort24345&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w
Lowenthal, P.R. & Muth, R. (2009). Constructivism. In Encyclopedia of the Social and Cultural Foundations of Education. (Vol. 1. 177-179). Full text available at: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX3074500097&v=2.1&u=nort24345&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w
Jenkins, J. (2006). Constructivism. In Encyclopedia of Educational Leadership and Administration. (Vol. 1. 195-199). Full text available at: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX3469600133&v=2.1&u=nort24345&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w
Cooperative Learning:
Stevens, R.J. (2008). Cooperative Learning. In Encyclopedia of Educational Psychology. (Vol. 1. 187-193). Full text available at: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE|CX2660600063&v=2.1&u=nort24345&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w
Cooperative Learning. (2010). In Encyclopedia of Group Processes & Intergroup Relations. (Vol. 1. 160-163). Full text available at: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE|CX3202000061&v=2.1&u=&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w
O’Donnell, A. (2002). Cooperative and Collaborative Learning. In Encyclopedia of Education. (Vol. 2. 489-492). Full text available at: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX3403200158&v=2.1&u=nort24345&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w
OTHER
This recent article in the National Post ("Learning the Old Fashioned Way") raises several interesting questions about differentiated instruction, constructivist learning and the role of teacher unions. If you had a chance to read it, here are some questions to help guide your critical thinking about the article:
1. Are "direct instruction" and "constructivism" (or "student-centered learning") always in opposition?
Explain your thinking.
2. What is the purpose of a union? Should teachers' unions put students first? Why or why not?
3. What role does a good teacher play in the effective facilitation of student "discovery"?
4. The journalist writes, quoting from the book, "They [educators] worry more about children's self esteem and social inclusion than how much objective knowledge they acquire." How do self esteem and social skills impact a child's ability to learn at school? Function effectively in the workplace?
