the learning cycle lesson making learning meaningful
TRANSCRIPT
The Learning Cycle Lesson
Making learning meaningful.
The Learning Cycle Lesson
research-based teaching strategy
effective in planning social studies lessons
promotes conceptual change and increases students’ meaningful learning
Three Phases Exploratory Introduction Lesson Development Expansion
Exploratory Introduction Enables the students to
become more aware of their own reasoning and recognize shortcomings in their prior knowledge.
Ask: What activities will enable my students to:
become aware of and make public their prior knowledge?
have the opportunity to try out their prior knowledge in a new setting?
compare their prior knowledge to the new idea and recognize flaws in their prior knowledge?
The Teacher’s Role present one or two key
questions to confront the students’ thinking
raise questions facilitate the students’
exploration stand back and observe
Important Components of the Exploratory Phase
use cooperative learning groups include interaction and
exploration include a formative assessment
to determine prior knowledge and misconceptions
Formative Evaluation provides the teacher with
information to determine students’ learning
used for monitoring and diagnosing
Lesson Development Discuss results of the exploratory
introduction, providing connections to the new social studies idea.
Teach the new idea. Include interesting practice activities.
Model and/or practice. Provide closure for the new idea.
Ask: What activities will: provide my students with a clear
explanation and sufficient practice to allow them to connect the new idea to what they already know?
enable my students to construct their own “new” knowledge based on the new idea?
The Teacher’s Role explain provide examples check for understanding guide provide closure (a clear
description of the idea or skill with which they have been working)
Important Components of the Lesson Development
Phase provides more than one form of
explanation gives clear examples uses modeling checks for understanding includes a formative assessment
Expansion Phase
Apply and transfer the new social studies idea or skill to different situations.
Ask: What activities will: enable my students to apply the
new knowledge in relevant contexts?
help my students develop successful procedures for making decisions and solving problems while transferring the new idea to other settings?
The Teacher’s Role provides some but less guidance provides activities for the
transfer of the new concept or skill
encourager
Important Components of the Expansion Phase
allow students to apply the new skill or idea into a situation that is meaningful to them personally
include a summative assessment to check for transfer of the new idea into the new situation
Summative Assessment Examines students’ progress at
the end of an activity, lesson, or unit
Any grades that are given are taken from summative assessments and not formative
Formative Assessments Conferences Observations Checklists Questions
and Answers
First drafts Pre-tests Journals self and peer
assessments
Summative Assessments Chapter tests Projects Portfolios Performance
s
Benchmarks State
assessments Final copies
Recap: The Learning Cycle Lesson
References:
Karplus, R. (1974). Science curriculum improvement study teachers handbook. Berkeley, CA: University of California.
Sunal, C. & Haas, M. (2008). Social studies for the elementary and middle grades. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Incorporated.
Vygotsky, L.S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Quick Quiz What are the three phases of a learning cycle lesson?
Why is the exploration phase so important?
What is an important part of each phase that determines if the student is ready for the next phase?
Which phase has the most teacher-direction?