Task One...

3/25/2019

Read Chapters One and Two in The Quest For Learning.

Answer the following questions related to Chapters 1 and 2, then respond to one or more of the other participant's responses.

How do Generation Z's and Generation Alpha's perceptions of effectively engaging classrooms differ from previous generations' perceptions of classroom engagement?
Briefly describe how the extended cycle of expertise works and why it is effective in strengthening students' learning. What abilities does a student gain from learning how to learn through the extended cycle of expertise?

15 Comments

Kim Mitchell

3/26/2019 04:40:58 am

1. Generation Z's and Generation Alpha's strongly believe in the many resources used for student engagement. Those resources include having student centered activities versus curriculum centered and collaborating together with classmates to complete a task versus commanding a student to do their work. Previous generations were very old fashion. Generation Z's and Alpha's use up to date resources to effectively engage students in learning.
2. The extended cycle of expertise includes positive feelings for the student so that success can be achieved. The cycle also promotes working through challenges with obtainable goals. The extended cycle is another way to look at your lesson plan. Instead of working on achieving one goal per lesson a child (according to the cycle) should be exposed to many goals they need to strive to achieve. This cycle is effective due to giving the student ownership in attaining that goal or challenge which in turn strengthens their self confidence to continue working on challenging tasks in the future. Higher level thinking is activated through the steps of the cycle and learning continues to be student lead.

Sean McDonnell

3/26/2019 07:26:47 am

1) Modern learning is more of a hands on approach. Students are working together in an engaging classroom. We want students to become involved through numerous ways to learning. One of the biggest changes is the amount of technology being used. We (Newfane) are switching to Google Classrooms, which will lead to more student driven activities. Older styles of learning was more of a lecture approach instead of hands on learning.

2) The extended cycle of expertise is having students lead most of their learning. Instead of the teacher running the show, the students are involved in the whole process. This makes sense to me. When I want to learn how to do something around the house, it takes practice and many times frustration. It is through these challenges that we persevere. Some of the skills learned through the cycle include problem solving, team work, time management and determination. These are skills that will transfer over to the "real world".

Katie Toub

3/26/2019 08:30:34 am

I really like your comment about learning to do something new around the house. I didn't think of it this way when I did the reading but I see your point. I also felt that this approach gets them ready for the real world a lot better than the way I was taught in school. I guess I just take things for granted and never really thought about teaching these skills at such a young age. It makes me wonder what has changed so much that we need to and are doing these things so early on.

Kyle Hurtgam

3/28/2019 07:58:42 pm

Great points about giving students ownership and the ability to reach their goals at their own pace and their own way. Not everyone learns the same way, and it seems that this cycle allows students the freedom to learn in a way that is best for him/her.

Katie Toub

3/26/2019 08:22:47 am

1. The first time I looked at this table it made me feel extremely OLD, and that my teaching style at times also old school. Generation Z and Alpha are not a generation that does well with sit and read or listen to the teacher lecture style. They perform better when they can see things visually and when they are more in control of their learning, "getting their hands dirty" and actually trying the work, not listening to the teacher talk, only reading things out of a textbook, and memorizing facts and information for an exam. They learn by doing and by working with others.

2. In the extended cycle of expertise the students become very invested in a new problem and take control of their learning. They hit obstacles along the way but since they're invested in what they're learning this cycle teaches them to persevere and figure out ways to overcome the obstacle. It is an effective learning strategy because it teaches the students the life skills of perseverance and problem solving. It also motivates them to learn new things because they are invested and engaged in their learning. It also puts the learning in their hands and makes the process intrinsic. They don't care so much about a grade on a paper, but rather they care about what they are actually learning.

Kim Mitchell

3/26/2019 12:21:28 pm

I couldn't agree more about your comment regarding what students are really motivated by. They don't care about the grade on their paper, but the new things they learn along the way. Students want to be an active part of their learning.

Lori Hurtgam

3/26/2019 05:43:39 pm

I like that you pointed out that the extended cycle of expertise instills in students the idea of perseverance. It is such a hard skill to teach children, and the best way for them to continue to persevere when they encounter a problem is to see the success that comes as a result of never giving up on a challenge.

Lori Hurtgam

3/26/2019 05:41:44 pm

1. The chart on page 11 really shows the differences between generation Z, Generation alpha, and other previous generations. Those from Z and Alpha are more student centered learning. They strive for engagement by using technology and collaboration. Learning is focused on doing through teacher guidance in generation Z and Alpha. In previous generations, engagement was expected through lecture style teaching, books and paper, and listening effectively.
2.The extended cycle of expertise works from development a strategy to overcome a problem. Enhancing that skill after being overwhelmed with the problem. Through repetition and application, skills can increase. Lastly, the cycle provides positive feelings of understanding and continued success. When students are able to utilize the extended cycle of expertise, they are able to bring themselves full circle in the learning process. They can use their problem solving skills and mindset to overcome challenges that may arise.

Sean McDonnell

3/28/2019 08:34:57 am

It is pretty crazy how much things have changed in the last ten or so years. Books (textbooks specifically) seem to be going obsolete. As technology continues to dominate the classroom, it will be interesting to see if school districts even buy textbooks anymore. The amount of teachers that use textbooks in our school seems to do down every year.

Julie Webber

3/29/2019 02:49:26 am

I agree that 'learning is focused on doing rather than through teacher guidance'. This is a huge benefit for students. who, as we previously discussed, are part of the learner-centered try and see generation. It is a bit more difficult for teachers who were raised in previous generations, including their cooperating teacher that they learned from.

Kyle Hurtgam

3/28/2019 07:55:44 pm

Generation Zs and Alphas prefer to be in classrooms that are more visually stimulating. They want to try things on their own to see how things work rather than be told how things work. This generation prefers to work with others to build a common understanding of new concepts and learning. They love when technology is incorporated into the learning process. The cycle of expertise is an instructional sequence where students are exposed to a new problem that requires new learning, the student shows frustration, the students develops new skills to help solve the problem, the student practices the new skills, and finally, the student has a sense of accomplishment. This is effective at strengthening student learning because the student is able to experience successes that lead to an overall accomplishment. Generation Z and Alpha are gamers. They love to simply get to the next level. "One more level, one more level, one more level" is what they are driven to do. They compete with friends and others from the global gaming community. Learners are gaining the ability to problem solve by utilizing perseverance skills, self-regulation, and self-motivation. The student must be able to figure out what they know or don't know, how to learn the new skill, and continuously try until the new skill is achieved.

Julie Webber

3/29/2019 02:36:59 am

1. The difference in generations has had a huge impact on teachers, students, and learning in general. Today's students are uncomfortable with the 'sit and get' model. Our society provides instant information in so many areas that I notice students lacking the ability to be patient (think of when we had to wait for the dial up modem to connect and how web pages load instantly now!) The "touch interface" as referenced on page 11, also has implications for students' fine motor skills. Some young students have not had the opportunity to hold pencils, crayons, etc prior to coming to school because they have become accustomed to touching a screen. As we transition to using technology to meet these learners' needs, it is important to remember some of the basics of development as well.

Julie Webber

3/29/2019 02:43:42 am

2. The tenets of engagement incorporate not only the intended content, but also 'hidden' content of developing social skills and goal setting. The extended cycle of expertise requires students to persevere in their learning. Learning does not always 'come easy' and requires some level of frustration and reflection. This, too, benefits students to develop themselves beyond the content. It promotes them working together to solve a problem and find new skills. As we have learned in lesson planning models, we need to spiral back and revisit content. This model mirrors that pedagogy.

Katie Toub

3/29/2019 07:22:01 am

Your comment about how "learning does not always 'come easy'" made me ask another question- how do we use this approach with kids with special needs? How much do we need to modify or guide those learners with special needs to make this learning process a success for them as well?

Lisa Shoop

4/2/2019 10:47:19 am

1. New gen. is more focused on technology, which affects many aspects in the classroom. Students no longer spend all day using textbooks (I haven’t had a full set of books for my students in at least 5-6 years.) Students do more partner work, collaborating with their classmates, whether it be creating projects or researching information. iPads and other forms of technology were the norm in my schools, and we were encouraged to use little paper/pencil activities. Project based learning and quests are preferred to the sit and listen method of the past. Students are learning to become thinkers, and not just be given information to memorize.
2. When students have the opportunity to learn a new skill and repeatedly practice and take ownership of that skill, they will have a sense of accomplishment when they master a skill. Slowly increasing the challenge level allows the student to continue being successful without getting too overwhelmed or frustrated.

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