The Learning Classroom: Theory into Practice
This video-based course is an exploration of learning theory—appropriate for grades K-12 and all subject areas—for the training of preservice teachers and the professional development of inservice teachers. The 13 half-hour programs illustrate a variety of learning theories with applications to classroom practice.
Episode Descriptions
1. How People Learn: Introduction to Learning Theory
Teacher interviews and classroom footage illustrate why learning theory is at the core of good classroom instruction and demonstrate the broad spectrum of theoretical knowledge available for use in classroom practice.
2. Learning As We Grow: Development and Learning
Examines the concept of readiness for learning and illustrates how developmental pathways — including physical, cognitive, and linguistic — all play a part in students’ learning.
3. Building on What We Know: Cognitive Processing
Covers how prior knowledge, expectations, context, and practice affect processing and using information and making connections.
4. Different Kinds of Smart: Multiple Intelligences
Delves into Harvard University professor Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, describing how people have learning skills that differ in significant ways.
5. Feelings Count: Emotions and Learning
Introduces ways to create an emotionally safe classroom to foster learning and to deal effectively with emotions and conflicts that can be obstacles.
6. The Classroom Mosaic: Culture and Learning
Discusses how culturally responsive teaching enables students to create connections, access prior knowledge and experience, and develop competence.
7. Learning From Others: Learning in a Social Context
Explores how learning relies on communication and interaction with others as communities of learners.
8. Watch It, Do It, Know It: Cognitive Apprenticeship
Demonstrates how teachers help their students develop expertise and accomplish complex tasks by modeling, assisted performance, scaffolding, coaching, and feedback.
9. Thinking About Thinking: Metacognition
Explores how thinking about thinking helps students better manage their own learning and learn difficult concepts deeply.
10. How We Organize Knowledge: The Structure of the Disciplines
Covers the ways in which the organization of knowledge and understanding can influence learning.
11. Lessons for Life: Learning and Transfer
Describes what conditions are needed for knowledge and skills learned in one context to be retrieved and applied to a novel situation, and how different teaching strategies can increase the possibilities for transfer.
12. Expectations for Success: Motivation and Learning
Teachers can enhance their students’ motivation by encouraging them to be thoughtfully and critically engaged in the learning process, by supporting their drive for mastery and understanding, and by helping them become self-confident.
13. Pulling It All Together: Creating Classrooms and Schools That Support Learning
Discusses how schools can organize for powerful learning through a coherent, connected approach to teaching and learning that is reinforced and supported by structural features.
|
