The document is an outline for a literature review on educational reform strategies that develop critical thinkers and lifelong learners. The outline includes an introduction stating the thesis will focus on competency-based education and use of mixed media like group work. Section 2 discusses how student-centered learning is important and cites sources finding such approaches more effective. Section 3 will discuss the methods used to find studies and categorize searches. Section 4 will conclude whether one reform strategy works best based on the studies. Section 5 discusses the importance of teacher professional development and potential limitations of the studies.
The document is an outline for a literature review on educational reform strategies that develop critical thinkers and lifelong learners. The outline includes an introduction stating the thesis will focus on competency-based education and use of mixed media like group work. Section 2 discusses how student-centered learning is important and cites sources finding such approaches more effective. Section 3 will discuss the methods used to find studies and categorize searches. Section 4 will conclude whether one reform strategy works best based on the studies. Section 5 discusses the importance of teacher professional development and potential limitations of the studies.
The document is an outline for a literature review on educational reform strategies that develop critical thinkers and lifelong learners. The outline includes an introduction stating the thesis will focus on competency-based education and use of mixed media like group work. Section 2 discusses how student-centered learning is important and cites sources finding such approaches more effective. Section 3 will discuss the methods used to find studies and categorize searches. Section 4 will conclude whether one reform strategy works best based on the studies. Section 5 discusses the importance of teacher professional development and potential limitations of the studies.
Writing 101 July 31, 2014 Outline Educational Reform: Teaching Strategies that Create Critical Thinker and Life-long learner 1) Introduction of topic: Teachers hold the most influence amongst school related factors that determine students academic success. The techniques teacher use during class and the atmosphere they set for the student holds great influence over a childs educational achievement. The varying ways in which students learn places a demand for teachers to shift instruction styles from being so teacher-centered, towards instructional styles that focus more on the students. a) Thesis: My literature review will focus on research that presents different student centered instructional styles; such as, competency based education and mixed media as teaching aids: such as collaborative group work, to help improve the academic success of elementary and middle school children from lower social economic areas. 2) Student centered learning: why is this important? a) In Effects of active learning on student performance and retention by Lis Bullard, Richard Felder, and Dianna Raubenheimer (20030, the authors indicate that student- centered teaching styles have repeatedly shown to be more effective in accomplishing educational objective than traditional teacher-centered instructions. It focuses on building students through an active learning process. Such as; group work, discussions between students and teachers, and interactive problem solving. i) Competency based learning: Teaching styles that give flexibility on how children are graded, they provide personalized learning opportunities to students and assess them base on what the teacher determines to be the students range of academic growth. (1) In Knowledge Construction in the Learner-Centered Classroom by Kathy L Schuh (2003), the author states the importance of teachers understanding students attitudes towards material being taught, and how much they vary on knowledge/understanding of the material. This affect a students want to use cues that link pervious learning experience to those in the classroom, to better understand information. ii) Mixed media as teaching aids: these teaching styles range from the use of collaborative activities-such as class facilitations, group discussions, and learning opportunities outside the classroom- to the use of technology in classrooms as interactive aids. (1) Collaborative activities: In Effects of Integrated Instruction on Motivation and Strategy use in reading by Gurthrie, Wigfiel, VonSecker (2000). The authors saw how the integrating hands on activities and collaborative work increased student motivation for academia and knowledge retention. (2) Using technology in classrooms: In The Impact of Individual Competitive and Collaborative Mathematics Game Play on Learning, Performance, and Motivation by Plass, OKeefe, Homer, Case, et al (2013), the authors conducted studies on how interactive educational games as teaching aids affect student motivation to learn. These games were found to enrich the learning and teaching process, and boost students skills in intended subject. 3) Methods: Discuss how you found your studies; what categories you made to narrow down your search, and any difficulties you had. 4) Conclusion: based on all the studies you have read, is there a particular method that works the best out of all of them? Why? Did you find anything else worth mentioning? 5) Discussion i) Quick exert on the importance behind implementing teacher career development program to improve; teaching process, and increase students want to learn. (a) In Working Together for Toby: Early Childhood Student Teachers Engaging in Collaboration Problem-Based learning around Child Abuse and Neglect (2010), the authors address the need for teachers to be up-to date on new methods being developed that improve education. As, well as why they should constantly be in contact with each other and other educational development experts. ii) Write about any errors found, or topics that should have been address that werent addressed in any of the studies you found.