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Forget Java, We've got Lava!A Constructivist Approach

CECS 5500

Summer 2000

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Are you ready to…..

See volcanoes erupt?

Find out where volcanoes are?

Hear actual accounts of eruptions?

Find out what happens to volcanic areas?

Feel the shape and activity of a volcano?

Find out if eruptions can be predicted?

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But are you ready to…Ask students what they know before you tell them what you know?Seek elaboration and provide wait time after questions?Provide time for concept construction and natural curiosity?Use words like classify, analyze, predict, and create?Allow student responses to shift instructional strategies?

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The role of the teacher in a constructivist learning

environment shifts from that of an authority figure to that of a

mentor.

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Knowledge is no longer believed to be transmitted from the teacher

to the learner, knowledge construction becomes the

responsibility of the learner.(Fineman &Bootz)

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Constructivist Terms

Sort Sift Synthesize

Question Plan Gather

Evaluate Report Classify

Analyze Predict Create

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Objective

To create a final collaborative project that includes answers to questions submitted by group members and others

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The Research Cycle

Questioning

Planning

Gather, Sort, Sift

Synthesize

Report

Evaluate

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Questioning

What problem needs to be solved?

What decision needs to be made?

What data is required?

What smaller questions create the big one?

What does the student already know?

What is missing?

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Planning

Begin to develop information-seeking strategiesDetermine where to search for the best information by means of determining efficiency and reliabilityEmploy steps to protect a balanced and unbiased viewEvaluate ways to use technology to collect and organize this information

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Gathering, Sorting, Sifting

Retain information

Anticipate questions

Predict outcomes

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Synthesize

Arrange

Rearrange

And then…

Arrange

Rearrange

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Report

Present the “constructed” information

Present the project collaboratively

The group can receive extra points if they:

Listen attentively to other groups

Ask “appropriate” questions

Provide “appropriate” comments

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Evaluate

What do you like most?What do you like least?Is it complete?Is it accurate?Is it interesting?What would make it better?

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Day One

• Read students the written accounts of an actual eruption (available on-line)

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• Discuss what they know and allow them to generate five questions each of the things that they want to know

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Day two

Students will receive another student’s questions via a word document to begin the sort, sift, and gather process

They will cut and paste general answers for three of the five questions and one of their own to the word document

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Day Three

Each student will gather information on one volcanic terms. Each student will choose the term from a list as well as the method that they use to locate that information. That information will be presented to the class which will documented in all student’s journalsDuring the selection and research time the class will be building a volcano of their own (available on-line).

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Day Four

Students will be placed in groups of three

Students will begin the process of taking inventory

Decide which questions need more investigation

Begin gathering, sorting, and sifting again

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Day Five

Chart eruption activity

(available on-line) Map volcano territory

(available on-line)

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Day Six

Gather

Sort

Sift

Synthesize

Finalize reports

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Day Seven

Take virtual visits to volcano observatories (available on-line)

View slide shows of eruptions (available on-line)

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Day Eight and Day Nine

ReportsThe presentation will be completed in groups

of threeThe presentations can be in the form of web

page, multimedia presentation, or informational brochure

The presentation must include answers for five questions from the class

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Day Ten

Evaluation

Rubric evaluation and teacher evaluation will be used to determine a numerical grade based on information, organization, and “user friendliness”

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ResourcesSEARCH

Smart Zones http://www.edview.comKids Click http://sunsite.berkelely.edu/KidsClickAsk Jeeves for Kids http://www.ajkids.com

SITES

Volcanoes of the World http://vulcan.wr.usgs.govVolcano World http://volcano.und.nodak.eduEarth Science Foundation http://webserv.gsfc.nasa.gov

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Summary

Take a chance

Let your students help direct your learning objectives

Let them help “construct” and take ownership and responsibility for their learning