Teaching for effective learning

4.1 Build on learners’ understandings

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Seek out what the students already know

Do they discuss and brainstorm ideas?

Do you have a way of recording these inputs?

Are the practices culturally inclusive?

How do you get them to actively share their ideas?

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Discuss why they need to know new topic

What real world examples can they find?

What virtual world examples do they know?

What will they be able to achieve if they know this?

What are the consequences of not knowing?

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Map the shared learning journey

Use mind maps and concept webs.

Use Twiducate and Edmodo to get feedback.

Use Lotus Diagrams and graphic organisers.

KWS: What I Know, Want to learn and possible Sources.

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Pose guiding questions

Challenge their avenues of information.

Listen to responses and direct them onto new ground.

Ask why they are thinking that.

Give them a problem solving approach.

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Identify basic misunderstandings

Have plenty of examples to clarify.

Ask others to set the picture straight.

Show how search engines/translators can be faulty.

Ask about interpretations and what something could and might mean.

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Find hooks to create student interest

Use 2-3 min videos.

A picture speaks a thousand words.

Ask questions which create intrigue .

Create a strong narrative.

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Link new meanings to what they already know

Do they reflect on how they are better for this knowledge?

Do they know how to share their ideas with others?

Can they see how they now know more?

Do they compare new work with old work?

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Challenge them to question what they don’t know

Can they identify context and cultural bias?

Do they know how to agree to disagree?

Can they see how it connects with them and their life?

Do they know how to overcome learning blocks?

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Use visual literacy to increase understanding

Get them to create a graphic of what they are learning.

Use captioned videos.

Have a good supply of infographics.

Have some powerful images to support your lessons.

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Teach them to reflect

Use Twiducate or Edmodo to allow them to reflect .

Build in reflection as a normal part of any assignment.

Get them to practise the art of noticing when then learn.

Get them to teach someone who doesn’t know what they now know.

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Encourage different avenues of self expression

Get them to connect globally.

Allow them to draw or create artistic responses.

Where can they publish what they know and how they know it.

Use podcasts, video makers, slide presentations...

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Design learning challenges

Chunk the work and build in the learning challenges at each step.

Scaffold the harder things.

Create a learning event.

Show examples all along the way.

Let them contribute to challenges.

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Develop ongoing exploration of understanding

Create rituals for learning.

Find places they can safely share online.

Use peer education.

Remind them of what they learnt previously.

Link old knowledge into the new knowledge.

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