2. Focus and Review
Focus and review is an important stage in the process of teaching and developing
lesson plans. Learners need to be constantly making connections between where they have been
they are going. It is an essential part of making connections between short term and long term memory.
Reflect on the four objectives or competencies given below. As will be seen,
many aspects of these competencies have been covered in previous chapters.
This is of course the purpose of Focus and Review in the six point lesson
plan model, to go back over territory
already covered so that learners have already stored ideas in mind. this
gives the learner something that will connect with the new information they encounter.
"You have to have some hangers and a clothes closet so that there is a
place to connect the new hangers." A review of the above items 11.1 through
11.3 will help focus this week's first lesson and lead to the introduction
of new ideas. In what ways have prior chapters contributed to these
objectives?
11.1 Use technology for learning and communication.
Previous weeks have already given you the background to meet much of this
objective. That is, the concept of understanding has been presented as
the result of a process by which a learner constructs their knowledge.
Electronic note taking techniques enhanced this approach. Learning has
been further explored as a process for solving problems, such as the four
step LEAP model. Each stage of the LEAP model has led to a variety of supportive
computer-based technologies. Further, current communication technologies
were emphasized and modeled, including: email, newsgroups and online databases
to share problems and solutions. By further collecting and organizing information
that you are studying using outline processors and other mind mapping tools,
spreadsheets, databases, and using other media, your learning experience
in any content area is significantly deepened and enhanced. These communication
examples also included transition technologies that bridge the gap between
not having computers and greater access, including the Internet Poster-Board
and SUP system forms that you have experienced.
11.2. Use media and technology to present the subject . . . .
Previous weeks have already given you the background to meet this objective.
You developed performance skills in the creation and distribution of word
processing, database and spreadsheet files to present a subject, as well
as other more sophisticated approaches were used and learned at an introductory
level. This included:
-
the creation of newsletters
-
electronic slide shows (Powerpoint), with some slides containing digital
audio and video
-
a 2-4 minute video production
-
web pages created by you as the teacher which included still images and
will later include digital audio and video from your video production.
-
bookmarks and links to Internet data created by others.
11.3. Use technology-based tools that are specific to the discipline
. . . .
Much of this objective must be met by subject specific courses outside
of this class. Most of your instruction has focused on general tools with
application to all subjects and ages. However, some of the general technologies
of this course have a special fit with certain disciplines.
Early Childhood.
-
The paint and draw programs can combine simple text writing and images
enhancing similar work already done on paper. Information technology adds
the capacity to return to an image over and over to plan, edit and revise
it in a way that is difficult if not impossible with paper as the paper
becomes destroyed by frequent erasing and changing. Also, camcorders are
very easy to use and much less expensive than computers for this age level.
Digital video technology represents a future application as the software
for video composition becomes simpler to use.
Language Arts.
-
Many techniques and methods were reviewed for composition, from outlining
and blind typing for text publication to composition tools that integrate
text and other media including newspapers, audio and video development,
electronic slideshow and web page design.
Mathematics and science.
-
A spreadsheet program with graphing capacity provides a variety of ways
to support mathematical thinking over a wide range of grade levels.
Social studies and science.
-
A database program helps the organizing, collecting and analyzing of data.
