Motivate, Engage, Teach
10/28/2009
Mid-terms are over and breathing has returned to normal until finals week is here. In the meantime, secondary education science and mathematics students are still struggling to figure out just how to motivate, engage, and teach our youth in grades 7-12. Sometimes it simply means they will ‘play’ with items we have gathered in the classroom in an effort to understand concepts and construct understandings while learning that teaching is not about lecture and demonstration. It is about doing. It is about facilitating learning through activities that encourage students to find answers for themselves, gain ownership of their knowledge and understandings, and be able to apply what they have learned.
Sling Shot!!! Liz is not really tasked with shooting an elastic band at Dr. Millham. However, she is trying to figure out just where this elastic band will go, how far, and at what speed based on the pull, angle, and release parameters she has set for the experiment.
Full day for graduate Students: As the last of the warm fall days join the last of the leaves to swirl to the ground, graduate education students sit in the sunlight deciding if they truly want to know the answers to the tough question, “What can you tell us about what is in the box?” when the box is sealed and the only tools they have are their five senses.
Teacher Workshop: Even in-service teachers can enjoy new ways of looking at light. Diffraction gradient glasses are cheap and more fun than prisms because you can wear them! Who would have thought to do this?
