Subject: advanced organizers/self directed learning
From: brent muirhead (edu@mindspring.com)
Date: Fri 21 Jan 2000 - 02:37:11 MET
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 20:37:11 -0500 From: brent muirhead <edu@mindspring.com> Subject: advanced organizers/self directed learning
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Greetings to Vilnis and discussion group participants.
Definition of Advanced Organizers: " ...is an introductory statement of
a relationship or a high-level concept broad enough to encompass the
information that will follow." (Woolfolk, 1990, p.292).
Why use advance organizers in education? They provide conceptual bridges
between the student's current knowledge level to new ideas. Often,
textbooks will contain advance organizers that highlight relationships
between ideas and note the relevance of the information. David Ausubel's
(1977) educational theory stresses the need for teachers to organize
information in a manner that helps students to grasp principles and
concepts. It is an expository teaching model built upon providing
examples (ex. drawings) and helpingstudents acquire knowledge in
sequential manner.
Self -Directed Learning and the Curriculum
Recently, I completed my second doctorate using mainly computer mediated
classes and researched the issue of social interaction in graduate
distance education classes. The experiences have caused me to reflect on
the issue of self-directed learning in Internet classes. It is important
curriculum issue that our forum has already addressed in a variety of
comments. Ultimately, the real problem is having students who vary
greatly in their ability to direct their own learning experiences. After
completing five graduate degree programs, I have found that schools
(traditional and non-traditional) struggle to provide a curriculum that
effectively meets a diversity of learning needs. Also, teachers need to
be intellectually stimulated by the instructional setting. Recently, I
completed a two week teacher training course at a distance education
school but decided not to work with the institution. I was disappointed
by the rigid structure of the classes and their expecations for covering
the subject matter.
Do I have an answer to the problem of self-directed learning and
creating a standardized curriculum that meets a diversity of learning
styles? Perhaps, the solution involves a recognition that teachers will
have to experiment with lessons materials. Obviously, the best
assignments will intellectually stretch individuals but not confuse or
overwhelm them. For instance, I would suggest that when using a on-line
lecture transcript that teachers include specific questions and class
discussion forums that support the reading of their lecture material. It
would provide guidance for the entire class but give them the freedom to
use critical thinking skills during their class discussions. Hopefully,
institutions will provide more financial funding for teachers who want
more professional training in Internet education.
Brent Muirhead D.Min., Ph.D
Alpharetta, GA
edu@mindspring.com
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