3.6.4 ASSURE LESSON PLANS- ANALYSIS FIRST

Analyze learners

Most teachers understand that integrating technology into the curriculum is the best way to make a positive difference in education. While many specific strategies can be used to add technology to the mix, the following model is one example of how to integrate technology into  future lessons.

The ASSURE model was developed by Heinich, Molenda, Russell, Smaldino (1999) and is an instructional model for planning a lesson and the technology that will enhance it. The ASSURE model contains six steps and the letters in ASSURE form an acronym. The “A” stands for Analyze the learner. Who are my students? While this seems to be common sense, the step is important to mention because keeping a class of students in mind will help ensure that I work diligently to find those materials and resources that will be most appropriate and useful to my students. I should know who my students are (e. g.  demographics, prior knowledge, learning styles, academic abilities) on a multitude of levels, and use this knowledge in every lesson I really plan. http://ed205.net/assure_model.html

 

I have learnt that before I can begin, i must know my target audience (your students).  I need to write down the following information about my students:
General characteristics - grade, age, ethnic group, sex, mental, emotional, physical, or social problems, socioeconomic level, and so on.
Specific entry competencies - prior knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Learning styles - verbal, logical, visual, musical, structured, and so on. http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/mkiva/university.cfm?subpage=1114844

This lesson of analyzing the learners has answered many questions that occupied my mind

v  What are stable and changing similarities and differences among learners?

v  What are the categories of cognitive characteristics that should be considered in designing instruction?

v  What is the difference between general characteristics and specific prior knowledge of a learner population?

v  What are some instructional strategy variables that may be influenced by learner characteristics?

v  How can different learner characteristics influence how the variables are implemented?

v  How can i identify sources of information about learner characteristics of a particular audience?

v  What are some examples of learner characteristics?

v  What are some techniques and procedures that can be used to identify learner characteristics when designing instruction?

While we are analyzing the learners we need to clearly capture their; sensory capacities: these include observing and modeling their behaviors

We also need to know that the learners have big differences in terms of intelligent quotient. Intelligent quotient will help the teacher to know whether to give a number of examples, the learners ability to interpret concepts, whether to increase on duration, how much practice is needed for the trainees, their attitude towards learning and the amount of prior knowledge. Off course the IQ helps us to understand the attention span of the learners.

I also have learnt that the gender, ethnicity and racial information are very important. This will help me understand and learners experiences, cultural factors and how to manage their groups.

Understanding the psychosocial traits of learners helps us to capture learner’s anxiety and performances in particular settings.

Specific prior learning is considered to be the most significant factor when designing a lesson simply because it allows the teacher to set objectives that will not bore the trainees and off course will realize many opportunities towards using and instruction technique.

I have learnt that I have to gather information from the trainees in the following categories as well.

Specific prior knowledge, Psychological characteristics, Cognitive characteristics

http://www.angelfire.com/la2/learners/learners.html and have concurred with the educators on the mentioned link.

http://www.itma.vt.edu/modules/spring03/instrdes/lesson5.htm

The site above also explains clearly the purpose of conducting the learner analysis. I have learnt that it helps the teacher to manage the class effectively if he or she understands the weaknesses, challenges and strengths of the learner.

NIWAMANYA GILBERT

A/g Head of Plumbing and Sheetmetal Department 

Nakawa Vocational Training Institute-Uganda

+256 (0) 774 228 871

 

3.3.4 LOCATE; EVALUATE; CURATE

I have learnt how to create a power search in order to improve results through:

  -Being much more specific

 -Using the symbols to add or subtract

-Using quotation marks to multiply

-  Combining symbols

All these will always help me in power searching for more accurate information in a short time.

I have also learnt that some end words also can help like ….PDF…SLIDESHARE …PPT among others.

Identifying what would be the best website was most challenging; I had to consider the following ideas

 What grade do i teach, what level of skills and understanding my students have reached, and the purpose of the web resource found. Some resources are static and other resources are interactive. These things all affect the evaluation of the site's value as a resource for learning.

The WEB BASED INFORMATION RESOURCES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
1. . E-Journals- and their collections
2. E-Books- and their collections
3. Company/ Association Websites
4. News portals
5. Databases
6. E-learning/ online events/ web casts/ Pod cast
7. E-Groups/ mailing lists
8. Web logs
9. Search Engines
10. FAQs
11. Digital Library/Archives
13. Library Networks, including, Union catalogues
16. Virtual Help Desks/ Virtual Reference Desks

We conducted website evaluation, by looking at the different resource sites and concluded that for a good education website some things must be observed as highlighted here under.

CRITERIA
CREDIBILTY
USER INTERFACE,
CONTENT
REFERENCE LINKING
MULTIMEDIA CONTENT
SEARCH, BROWSE & OUTPUT FEATURES
FULLTEXT FORMATS
ACCESS
SPECIAL FEATURES

I have known how to evaluate a URL of a site.

3.1 where in technology are we?- the TPACK and SAMR models

As an instructor understanding how to effectively incorporate all the three domains in the TPACK Model i.e. Technology, Pedagogy and Content  will make sure that my trainees get most of their lessons.

Through theTPACK presentation and working with provided matrices, i have discovered how the TPACK Framework supports 21st century classrooms by focusing on the Core, good learning theory, and carefully selected technology. This framework provides a strong learning experience for all students.

I have learnt that I have to perform the following functions for the learning to be successful

1. Choose learning goals

2. Make practical pedagogical decisions about the nature of the learning experience

3. Select and sequence appropriate activity types

4. Select formative and summative assessment strategies

 5. Select tools and resources that will best help students to benefit from the learning experience being planned.

The TPACK Model is directly translated to make a combination of content, activities and tools to support the learning,  at the end trainees select the best web tool suited for the content they will be presenting and sharing.

I have realized that there is a relationship with the blooms taxonomy levels that we studied at our teacher training college with the TPACK model. Simply because there is a way how the content has to be structured into easy to understand pedagogical approach, even using the web tools at remember level through application level up to  where the trainees are expected to be “creators of things”

A quick look at the relevancy of web tools in the lens of a trainee

It is quite challenging because of low internet connection and availability of few computers however, this has enlighten me more about the need to use the tools and how much relevant they are to the trainees in this era.

Simply being able to use technology is not enough; it is of paramount importance to the teacher and the learner to cross examine how it will be integrated and at what level?

The SAMR (SUBSTITUTION,AUGMENTATION, MODIFICATION,REDEFINITION)  model is very interesting it has taught me how to interpret use of technology at different situations. Earlier I thought power point presentation was technology but it typically a substitution of a situation and has nothing to do with content so I have to change to make sure that all the pedagogy used is aiming at enhancing retention and recall of the concepts by the learners so that they reach the level of creating more concepts, judgments and presenting findings by their own.

I have learnt how to read and apply the SAMR model.

I Hope to learn a lot with practice

Gilbert Niwamanya

Instructor-Nakawa Vocational Training Institute Uganda