Task One

7/31/2019

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?

5 Comments

Kimm Markovich

8/9/2019 10:17:52 am

Generation Zs and Alphas require more interactions with content and people. They are more visual and require to work in collaborative group settings. Teachers and students need to be more equal in the learning process. Technology tools need to be available to prepare these students. Previous generations tended to work more independently without the availability of computer technology.

The extended cycle of expertise works by by setting actionable goals through a cycle of expertise. It is effective in strengthening students' learning by helping to keep them invested.

The students learn the importance of goal setting and obtaining goals, strategies and skills on how to work through the frustration zone, skills will be strengthened and solidified through the repetition of problem-solving pathways, and students should have a feeling of accomplishment while mastering the skill.

Kate

8/9/2019 10:52:40 am

Kimm,

Very good point about teachers and students needing to be more equal in the learning process. When we consider what questions students are curious about, what social issues they care about, what future professions they want to learn more about, we can more effectively engage students. I plan to make sure these are things I have students journal about. As a reading teacher, it can help me to point students in the right direction for reading materials.

Kate

8/9/2019 10:48:42 am

Generation Z and Generation Alpha are more engaged when they are actively constructing meaning themselves. When I was in school, each teacher had a podium, from which they would lecture and we would listen. The order we would learn information was dependent on the order of the textbook chapters, and homework would come directly out of the book or an accompanying workbook. For the past 14 years I have taught, with the exception of year 1, all of my classrooms were equipped with Smartboards for today’s visual learners. In the past 3 schools I have worked (over the last 6 years) it has been a 1:1 ipads/laptops. Although collaboration and technology are ways to keep today’s students actively engaged, I have been finding that because of daily screen time my students really have a hard time talking face to face with others which means collaboration is a skill we need to model and guide them through.
The extended cycle of expertise allows students to strengthen learning because they have to formulate questions they want to learn answers to, grapple with new content and learning to acquire new skills before moving through the cycle again with new questions. I think the most valuable thing a student will take away from this type of engagement is that questioning and learning always lead to more questions and knowledge. We are not teaching content/skills for the sake of a test only to be forgotten moments after the unit is over. We need genuinely curious kids!

Kimm Markovich

8/11/2019 12:13:03 pm

Kate,

Great point on how we educated in the past. Such a boring and unconnected way to learn. I agree that students and even some adults lack skills on how to talk face to face. With my ENL students I used to be focused on improving their reading and writing skills. But now I focus more attention on speaking and listening than I did before. Students need to learn how to question to find answers. I agree that we should be teaching content/skills for life long learning not to only pass a test.

MIKE FISHER

8/9/2019 05:45:41 pm

Both of you definitely got the gist of Chapters 1 and 2. One of the finer points, that my co-author Allison is currently doing PD around, is productive struggle. Something she calls "The Learning Pit" where students come into the learning experience needing more support, then increasingly less support and more coaching, and finally climbing out of the pit with new skills and success.

Also, it looks like it's just us for this online class--so-- nice and intimate! Y'all work at your own pace. I'll jump in over the course of the week. If we need to extend anything or if you have any questions--just let me know!

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