The lessons in AdaptedMind are skill based and mainly leave it to the learner to discover their own weaknesses. There is no feedback method for evaluating and reporting exactly what the student is doing wrong or what concepts are giving them trouble. The students or teacher must recognize the weakness and determine appropriate action which is difficult to do in a website. A great addition to the site would be the ability to input answers for each step of the problem. Currently, learners merely input the final answers. Instead of having a single box, have multiple boxes where learners must type the answers to each step they must complete in order to solve the math problem. This would add another dimension to the feedback. Also, if the website could track student progress along multiple skill sets it could build a map of student learning and identify weak areas for the learner to work on.
2. Look at the components of the generic skill for this review. How the procedure was presented – a set of steps, an important list of principles, or an un-organized laundry list?
The procedure for reviewing the method for solving the 6th grade math problems on AdaptedMind was done using video clips. An instructor explains in the audio track what steps that the learner should take to solve the problem. Visual examples are made on screen so that the learner can see how it is done.
3. Identify the cognitive, affective, and behavioral aspects of the attitude you found from this Group Critique I site. (Need References.)
Using AdaptedMinds students use the provided lessons to teach themselves or review mathematical concepts. "All cognitive strategies share a common goal--to teach students how to interact with the content so that learning becomes more deliberate, self-directed, and self-regulated" (Jitendra, Burgess & Gajria, 2011). The website is effective on several fronts such as the students ability to work at their own pace, a feedback system, and the ability to have a video explain the steps for the problems. The purpose is to increase the appropriate behavior attitudes that are required for student success in the school system. As pointed out in our software critique, the website is very simplistic and the feedback system doesn't offer much in the way of real feedback as far as what the student is doing wrong. It merely offers words meant to encourage proper behavioral concepts.
4. How do you define the attitude conflicts occurred between the principles of learning and teaching? (Need references.)
Attitude is extremely important when it comes to conflicts between learning and teaching. Learners need to have the proper attitude when attempting to learn or nothing will be accomplished. The same goes for teaching. The two are not mutually exclusive. The concepts of teaching and learning must work together to effect change over time and to ensure student learner success.
Jitendra, A. K., Burgess, C., & Gajria, M. (2011). Cognitive Strategy Instruction for Improving Expository Text Comprehension of Students with Learning Disabilities: The Quality of Evidence. Exceptional Children, 77(2), 135+. Retrieved April 17, 2012, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5047178612
Reigeluth, C. (1999). Module 1: Kinds of learning. Retrieved April 16, 2012, from http://www.indiana.edu/~idtheory/methods/m2e.html
Great post Nick, but I will disagree with you on the feedback on AdaptedMind. I did some of the practice exercise(Geometry) and it tells you when you are wrong. It goes on to give you explanation as to why your answer is wrong and lead or teach you how to get to correct the answer.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that students need to have proper attitude towards learning. For change to occur, there should be a reaction. If students have negative attitude towards learning, there would be no change in behavior(Learning).
Nick, I think I am aligned a little more with your way of thinking on this one. Adelina makes a great argument in her post and backs it up with the material learned but I have to agree that the feedback is minimal and not terribly effective. Students really do have to have that inner desire of self-discovery. Of course, that goes in to what you said about attitude. Wow, I think Natalie is going to have an interesting time putting all this together.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Nick. I am kind of agreement with Adelina, there is feedback, but I am not sure if the feedback totally address the problem the student may be having. I agree students must have an attitude to want to learn, but sometimes the teacher may have to make some changes to pull in the student with the non-interested attitude.
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