There are many great instructional strategies that can be used by teachers to help students learn. Some of them are cues, questions, and advance organizers. Cues and questions are directly related because cues are foreshadowing what students will learn and questions perform the same function by helping students access prior knowledge (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski, 2007). Advance organizers are used to help students understand and organize the content they will be learning, and helps them focus as well (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski, 2007). A few things I like about these three topics are that they focus on what is important and they all require higher level thinking. I am a big fan of Bloom's Taxonomy and the more levels that can be attained for each lesson the better. Using these three instructional strategies can help students to reach many of the levels.
Summarizing and note-taking may seem old-fashioned, but they are skills required for students to succeed. Summarizing teaches students how to break down information and keep what is essential, which means analyzing the information at a deep level (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski, 2007). Note-taking is only effective when students realize they should not write down word for word what the instructor is saying, and notes are used to help students study (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski, 2007).
Cognitive learning is associated with these instructional strategies and I will use note-taking as an example. As Dr. Michael Orey states, students will have long term learning experiences if they can connect things they are learning to what they already know (Laureate Education, Inc.). Orey used the example of trying to remember who Robert E. Lee was. Orey said that a way to do this would be to associate him with Lee jeans because you wear them, and also your friend Lee (Laureate Education, Inc.). When students can associate what they are learning to what they already know, it will be long term instead of short term. This can be done while note-taking and goes along with what I previously wrote, not writing down every single word. Sometimes students need to write down clues for themselves that they understand so that when they go over their notes, they make the connection for a stronger learning experience.
Resources
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (ND). Cognitive learning theories. [Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology [DVD]. Baltimore , MD
Pitler, h., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M. & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works.Alexandria , VA
Pitler, h., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M. & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works.
I really like your point about these instructional strategies focusing on the higher levels of blooms taxonomy. The more our students use the higher levels of Blooms Taxonomy the better. I see firsthand in my classroom when the students are creating and evaluating information they truly are learning the information and not just memorizing it for the test.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you see the importance of Bloom's Taxonomy as well! It is nice to see it working in the classroom, like you stated when your stdudents are creating and evaluating information. It really is a great way for students to learn and have the information last much longer.
DeleteI really like how your bring Bloom's Taxonomy into this post. The use of advance organizers is important for the students to be exposed to. A perfect example of this is the many forms or organizers that are out there on the web which contain Bloom's Taxonomy. Just by pulling these up, the students are able to see the various styles. I have students that are pretty particular about the graphic organizer that they use and if I give them one that doesn't work for them they are not afraid to ask for another one. I love that about them! Advanced organizers really help to make the curriculum see more managable for many students as the information is spread out in a user friendly fashion.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many types of advance organizers on the web that contain Bloom's Taxonomy. I think it is great that you give your students options on advance organizers as well. Some students see things differently and if a different organizer helps them, then they should be allowed to use it.
DeleteAssociation with content is one of the most important thing that a teacher can show their students. By doing this it helps the students bring that information from short term memory to their long term memory. Even as an adult when you are trying to remember something it is great to have an association so that it makes it easier to remember.
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