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A learner-centered environment facilitates a more collaborative way for students to learn. It's the student who leads the learning.

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Connecting Sociocultural Theory with language learning

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Connecting Sociocultural Theory with language learning

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A Sociocultural View of Language Learning: The Importance of Meaning-Based Instruction | TESL Canada Journal

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The process of second-language teaching is grounded in the sociocultural theory of Vygotsky, which emphasizes meaningful interaction among individuals as the greatest motivating force in human development and learning. In this theoretical framework, the concepts of meaning and mediation are considered as the two essential elements affecting an individual's learning of a second language.

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Outline of education theories and theorists

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Outline of education theories and theorists

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Class 4 mezirow's transformative learning theory

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TransformativeLearning TheoryClass Session 4 - ADLT 671Theory and Practice of Adult Learning for Medical Educators

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Engaging Learners in Authentic Experiences

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Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation with education

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Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation with education

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Understanding Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation in the Classroom

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Collaborative learning can occur peer-to-peer or in larger groups. Peer learning, or peer instruction, is a type of collaborative learning that involves students working in pairs or small groups to discuss concepts or find solutions to problems. Similar to the idea that two or three heads are better than one, educational researchers have found that through peer instruction, students teach each other by addressing misunderstandings and clarifying misconceptions.

Why use collaborative learning?

Research shows that educational experiences that are active, social, contextual, engaging, and student-owned lead to deeper learning. The benefits of collaborative learning include:

Development of higher-level thinking, oral communication, self-management, and leadership skills.

Promotion of student-faculty interaction.

Increase in student retention, self-esteem, and responsibility.

Exposure to and an increase in understanding of diverse perspectives.

Preparation for real life social and employment situations.

Considerations for using collaborative learning

Introduce group or peer work early in the semester to set clear student expectations.

Establish ground rules  for participation and contributions.

Plan for each stage of group work.

Carefully explain to your students how groups or peer discussion will operate and how students will be graded.

Help students develop the skills they need to succeed, such as using team-building exercises or introducing self-reflection techniques.

Consider using written contracts.

Incorporate  self -assessment and  peer  assessment for group members to evaluate their own and others' contributions.

Getting started with collaborative learning

Shorter in-class collaborative learning activities generally involve a three-step process. This process can be as short as five minutes, but can be longer, depending on the task at hand.

Introduce the task. This can be as simple as instructing students to turn to their neighbor to discuss or debate a topic.

Provide students with enough time to engage with the task. Walk around and address any questions as needed.

Debrief. Call on a few students to share a summary of their conclusions. Address any misconceptions or clarify any confusing points. Open the floor for questions.

For larger group work projects, here are some strategies to help ensure productive group dynamics:

Provide opportunities for students to develop rapport and group cohesion through  icebreakers, team-building, and reflection exercises.

Give students time to create a group work plan allowing them to plan for deadlines and divide up their responsibilities.

Have students  establish ground rules. Students can create a contract for each member to sign. This contract can include agreed-upon penalties for those who fail to fulfill obligations.

Assign roles to members of each group and change the roles periodically. For example, one student can be the coordinator, another the note-taker, another the summarizer, and another the planner of next steps.

Allow students to rate each other's quality and quantity of contributions. Use these evaluations when giving individual grades, but do not let it weigh heavily on a student's final grade. Communicate clearly how peer assessment will influence grades.

Check in with groups intermittently but encourage students to handle their own issues before coming to you for assistance.

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Collaborative Learning | Center for Teaching Innovation

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Collaborative learning can occur peer-to-peer or in larger groups. Peer learning, or peer instruction, is a type of collaborative learning that involves students working in pairs or small groups to discuss concepts or find solutions to problems. Similar to the idea that two or three heads are better…

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Cultural Pedagogy: Educational Equality for Our Youth | Isael Torres | TEDxSaltLakeCity

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Cultural relevant theory and teaching methods

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Cultural relevant theory and teaching methods

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3. Behaviorism & Social Learning - Occupational Therapy in the Classroom by Rachel Henderson

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Information from my Human Development Across the Lifespan class from my point of view. This is a breakdown of important topics, how the topics have impacted my development, and how they will impact my future work and my life.

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How to Teach an Inductive Learning Lesson

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Faculty Focus | Higher Ed Teaching & Learning

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Online learning presents new challenges beyond those of a traditional classroom because students must become more responsible for their learning. Many learners are unfamiliar with the online learning environment, which may include unfamiliar technology, isolation from instructors and university staff, and a lack of face-to-face interaction other learners. As online instructors, we must give additional attention to strategies that will keep our learners engaged, create a successful learning environment, and provide a rewarding learning experience where learners feel supported, valued, and connected.

Ideas for best practices
Start early by reaching out to your learners. One way to do this is to send an email that provides a PowerPoint, Jing, or YouTube video that highlights some of your experiences and accomplishments. Do not forget to include personal interests. Students like to know their instructors are real people who have shared many of the same sorts of experiences that they have.

Provide your students with information on how to get started in the classroom (Briggs, 2015). Try creating a PowerPoint or other media presentation highlighting the class requirements (i.e. assignments and discussions). Keep the presentation short and succinct. Point out any nuances to the requirements, such as specifics in a discussion or assignment that many students neglect or the use of outside references in their writing. Then, schedule a telephone conference to discuss the major assignments or requirements of the course. This provides learners with the opportunity to ask questions on all aspects of the course. It also provides a more human element to the course. It is vital that students see you as a person and that they connect with you from the onset.

Create templates or outlines to help guide learners and clarify the expectations. Learners may have been out of the learning environment for a time or be unfamiliar with style guides or with how to write an effective paper. Many students struggle with APA or MLA. By providing templates that adhere to the requirements of the course you also provide learners with examples of the university required writing style (ie. APA) thus lowering the stress of learning both the writing style as well as the assignment requirements. Here's an example of a we provide to our students.

Give specific feedback to students on what they did well and offer suggestions on how to improve. It is important that you always begin with a positive comment, and then introduce 2-3 specific ways to improve, and then end with a positive comment. Do not overwhelm learners with too many corrections. Instead focus on 2-3 areas that are attainable by the next assignment. For example: APA in-text citations for direct quotes or help in including transition statements that improve the flow of the paper or assignment. If there are too many "errors" then the learners become overwhelmed and it is less likely that they will address the issues on subsequent assignments. In addition, offer to schedule one-on-one telephone or Skype sessions with your learners to discuss any concerns or questions they may have. Just 10 minutes can get the students back on track and have them feeling more confident about their ability to be successful in the course.

Post weekly announcements, reminders, and tips for assignments or discussion postings. It is a good practice in these announcements to introduce the new week, call attention to anything that is due during the current week, and then provide a section on what learners can expect in future weeks. This is also a good time to remind students of timelines for major assignments, exams/quizzes, or special projects that are due in the course.

You can also provide learners with additional resources and links to assist them with their work. Research has documented that students report a strong positive connectedness and improved academic success with instructors that provide external resources/links to help them in the classroom (Brown & Starrett, 2017).

Finally, design a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page that answers many of the common questions students have about a course. The FAQ page serves as a valuable tool that helps students quickly find the information they need, when they need it; resulting in more independent learners and fewer repetitive questions for you. It also reduces their stress levels because it outlines where to find key resources, such as writing tutors, technology support, and assistance with accommodations.

By being proactive as instructors we can take some of the stress out of the online learning environment while making the experience both rewarding and successful.

References
Briggs, A. "Ten Ways to Overcome Barriers to Student Engagement Online. " Academic Technology. February 11, 2015. https://onlinelearningconsortium.org/news_item/ten-ways-overcome-barriers-student-engagement-online/

McInnis Brown, M., & Starrett, T. "Fostering Student Connectedness: Building Relationships in the Classroom." Faculty Focus Higher Ed Teaching Strategies. April 7, 2017. https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/fostering-student-connectedness-building-relationships-classroom/
Jill Alred's experience includes both teaching at the university level and in public education for more than 30 years.
Candace Adams has been a teacher for the past 22 years. She started her educational career as a high school English teacher and then after earning her doctorate moved to higher education.

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Strategies for Creating a Successful Online Classroom

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Online learning presents new challenges beyond those of a traditional classroom because students must become more responsible for their learning. Many learners are unfamiliar with the online learning environment, which may include unfamiliar technology, isolation from instructors and university staff, and a lack of face-to-face interaction other learners.

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John Dewey was an acclaimed American philosopher and scholar, famous for his pragmatist approach to epistemology. Dewey contributed as a professor at various universities and had interest in subjects like education, democracy, psychology and art. Dewey advocated the system of 'Progressive Education', consisting of practical learning for both teachers and students. His approach to education was child centered and he suggested several innovative ideas for teaching and learning. His ideas, writings, and thoughts on education and learning revolutionized the schooling systems. Schools and civil societies were two major fundamental elements that he asserted should be restructured. His ideas, sayings, thoughts, writings and quotes are viewed as fundamental principles in child education by major educational institutions even today. Although he had contributed to other social subjects, he is distinguished as an educator and philosopher, adamant on changing the world. Read on his thoughts and quotes that will help you channel your innate intelligence into something truly fulfilling and enriching.

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Thought-Provoking John Dewey Quotes You Must Know

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John Dewey was an acclaimed American philosopher and scholar, famous for his pragmatist approach to epistemology. Dewey contributed as a professor at various universities and had interest in subjects like education, democracy, psychology and art. Dewey advocated the system of 'Progressive Education', consisting of practical learning for both teachers and students.

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Innovative formative assessment examples are part of what defines any modern classroom. They provide crucial information about what students understand and what they don't. These ungraded assessments are also valuable guides for students. It can help them enhance their performance. Teachers can use them to determine if further instruction is necessary.

Using innovative formative assessment strategies consistently and effectively removes the surprises from getting final grades. When integrated into teaching and learning on an ongoing basis, students can constantly improve and excel.

Formative assessment is assessmentaslearning. In other words, feedback is used to improve learning. One important tip from our best-selling bookMindful Assessment, is that when a number is provided, the learning stops:

"... a parent teaching a child to cook would never say, "That was 74 percent." Instead, the parent would watch, demonstrate, and allow the child a chance to get better. These acts of mindful nurturing and guidance are examples of natural learning, and we perform them instinctively."

With this in mind, think of formative assessment as not necessarily identifying what was done well or correctly. Instead, it places focus on what opportunities there are to improve.

Innovative Formative Assessment: 10 Useful Approaches

Formative assessment is assessment for learning and as learning. This continual cycle of feedback and improvement makes learning useful and effective. What follows are 10 innovative formative assessment strategies for teachers to try out.

Analyzing Student Work

A great deal of information can be learned from students' homework, tests, and quizzes.This is especially so if the students are required to explain their thinking. When teachers take the time to analyze student work, they gain knowledge about:

A student's current knowledge, attitudes, and skills about the subject matter

Strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles

Need for further, or special, assistance

This approach lets teachers modify their instruction to be more effective in the future.

Round Robin Charts

This strategy involves passing charts among groups to assess understanding. Each group of 4 or 5 students begins with a chart and some markers. The group records an answer to an open-ended question. They can also share the knowledge they have on a topic covered in class. Once the students finish the chart, they pass it on to the next group. Once every group has worked on every chart, responses are discussed as a class.

Strategic Questioning

Questioning strategies may be used with individuals, small groups, or the entire class. Effective formative assessment strategies involve asking students to answer higher-order questionssuch as "why" and "how." Higher-order questions require more in-depth thinking from the students. They can help the teacher discern the level and extent of the students' understanding.

3-Way Summaries

The idea here is to use different modes of thinking and attention to detail. Students can work in groups or individually. In response to a question or topic inquiry, they write three different summaries:

10-15 words long

30-50 words long

75-100 words long

You can even have students use Twitter. Chances are you've got a lot of students who use it already. They'll have experience communicating messages with minimal wording and characters.

Think-Pair-Share

This is one of the many formative assessment strategies that is simple for teachers to use. The instructor asks a question, and students write down their answers. Students are then placed in pairs to discuss their responses. Teachers are able to move around the classroom and listen to various discussions. It lets them gain valuable insight into levels of understanding.

3-2-1 Countdown

This is a true test of relevant and meaningful learning. When students learn something they find useful, they're likely to want to use that learning in some way. Have students end the day with this one. Give them cards to write on, or they can respond orally. They are required to respond to three separate statements:

3 things you didn't know before

2 things that surprised you about this topic

1 thing you want to start doing with what you've learned

You can also ask them different kinds of questions. These are suggestions, so feel free to make up your own.

Classroom Polls

Polls let students give responses quickly and accurately. A silent poll is perfect for those "shy" students who have trouble speaking up.These are also a quick way to check understanding using mobile technology. Try tools like Poll Everywhereor SurveyPlanet.

Exit/Admit Tickets

A simple but effective formative assessment is the exit ticket. Exit tickets are small pieces of paper or cards that students deposit as they leave the classroom. Students write down an accurate interpretation of the main idea behind the lesson taught that day. Next, they provide more detail about the topic.

Admit tickets are done at the very beginning of the class. Students may respond to questions about homework, or on the lesson taught the day before.

One-Minute Papers

One-minute papers are usually done at the end of the day. Students can work individually or in groups here. They must answer a brief question in writing. Typical questions posed by teachers centre around:

Main point

Most surprising concept

Questions not answered

Most confusing area of a topic

What question from the topic might appear on the next test

Without formative assessments, the first indication that a student doesn't grasp the material is when they fail a quiz or a test. An innovative formative assessment strategy like this can take failure out of the classroom.

Creative Extension Projects

Students can create a large scope of projects to demonstrate comprehension. Quick projects help them apply the higher-order levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. These don't have to be big and complicated. They can take a day, a half-day, or even an hour. Here are some extension ideas for quick projects:

Create a poster or collage illustrating the subject matter

Record a rehearsed skit or podcast discussing the topics covered

Build a diorama about the subject and create a narrative behind it

Let students design their own flashcards to test each other with

Keynote presentations made by students on the topic

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10 Innovative Formative Assessment Examples for Teachers to Know

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Innovative formative assessment examples are part of what defines any modern classroom. They provide crucial information about what students understand and what they don't. These ungraded assessments are also valuable guides for students. It can help them enhance their performance. Teachers can use them to determine if further instruction is necessary.

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Online occupational therapy programs--pros and cons

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Online occupational therapy programs--pros and cons

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Online education comes with comfort and flexibility, thus, these days many students prefer to take classes via the internet instead of the traditional school program. According to the BLS, the employment level of occupational therapists is projected to grow by 27 percent between 2014 and 2024. So, there are great career opportunities in this field for the aspirants in the United States of America. Numerous occupational therapy programs are available all over the country, be it online or regular. But sometimes, the brick and mortar programs often don't go with the time schedules of the aspirants, and that's when the online occupational therapy programs come into the picture.

Pros and Cons of Online Occupational Therapy Programs

No doubt, online programs offer great advantages to the would-be occupational therapists, but they also bring some disadvantages along with them. Although, some Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) approved colleges offer a few courses or the parts of the courses as distance learning programs on the internet. Thus, we can say that the options to get an online degree in this field are very limited.

If you own an online degree in occupational therapy from an accredited center, it may prove equally beneficial to you like a traditional school program degree. You may get paid akin to a brick mortar college's student. As a whole, a focused mind, integrated thought process, and awareness can lead you to achieve success as an occupational therapist even after being an online learner. Read on to know about the pros and cons of these online programs.

Advantages of Online Occupational Therapy Program

Most of the benefits of online programs are quite obvious, and they are as follows -

The online OT courses are quite suitable for the aspirants who are busy in fulfilling their family or job responsibilities, as they don't need to give their whole day at the institute.

In the case of online occupational therapy programs, you don't have to travel regularly to a specific location, and you can continue your studies wherever you are. In a nutshell, you can complete your education even while sitting at home.

You get flexibility and comfort when it comes to online programs as you can complete your assignments whenever it is convenient for you.

Distance learning programs via the internet are quite cost-effective as compared to the classroom programs of occupational therapy.

Disadvantages of Online Occupational Therapy Program

Despite having so many pros, online programs of occupational therapy has some cons as well, they are -

Everyone wants to practice their degrees and courses legally, as it is essential to get a license and job. Most of these online programs are not accredited. This is one of the major disadvantages of online OT programs. You have to check for their accreditation properly before opting for one.

In comparison to a brick and mortar program, online courses might take a longer time to complete. So, it is a must for you to be aware of the duration of the program you are enrolling in.

Lack of direct communication with professors/experts is another disadvantage of online programs. Also, you get fewer chances to join campus activities and the extra-curricular activities.

You are always required to have a reliable internet connection and a laptop to take your online lessons. Lack of internet facility would not fulfill your wish of completing the course online.

Online courses cover only theoretical part. For clinical practice, you will have to look for a clinical setting nearby and enroll in it.

Make the Right Choice

After analyzing both the pros and cons of the online occupational therapy courses, we can't come up to a specific conclusion on whether brick and mortar program is better or the distance learning ones. It depends on the residence, responsibilities, and several other conditions of the applicants. So, we believe that the best decision of opting the mode of education to gain your occupational therapy degree totally depends upon you. Just make sure to have a look at the above-described pros and cons while making up your mind.

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Everything You Must Know About the Online Occupational Therapy Programs

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Online education comes with comfort and flexibility, thus, these days many students prefer to take classes via the internet instead of the traditional school program. According to the BLS, the employment level of occupational therapists is projected to grow by 27 percent between 2014 and 2024.