Identifying Similarities and Differences, Homework and Practice, and Generating and Testing Hypotheses

This weeks learning strategies revolve around three topics:   Identifying Similarities and Differences, Homework and Practice, and Generating and Testing Hypotheses.  The most basic of these is Homework and Practice, and that is probably the one that I am most familiar with.  One of the most basic concepts in teaching is that Practice Makes Perfect.  The key new idea that I have picked up from the reading is that whenever possible this practice should involve the application of the knowledge learned, not just repetition.  If you can make the practice about using the knowledge, then students are much more likely to retain it, and to be able to apply it in the future.  Technology can help this by creating simulations or other opportunities for students to use the knowledge in real world situations.

Identifying Similarities and Differences is also an important skill for students, and it can be used to demonstrate an understanding of the lesson concepts.  If a student can classify items based on the knowledge, then they have definitely learned the concepts.  This also give a chance for the kind of application assignment that is described above.  For example creating a homework assignment that asks students to identify whether animals are reptiles or mammals requires them to know the characteristics of each, and to be able to identify the similarities and differences for both.  Technology can help with this by using web tools to create matching activities or spreadsheets that track the similarities and differences between groups.

The last concept for the week, Generating and Testing Hypothesis, is the one that I have used the least in my classes, but it is perhaps the most powerful.  This requires students to apply the knowledge they have gained and use it to predict an outcome.  Once they have done so, they will need to develop and execute a test to see if their prediction is correct.  This is the basis for the modern scientific method.  Here technology can also help, as students can record their predictions in spreadsheets or word documents.  Testing can be done using pre-arranged simulations, or real world experiences.  Test results can then be captured in the same documents as the prediction.  Students can interpret the results with graphs, pictures, presentations, and a number of other creative possibilities.  Most importantly, they can gain confidence by correctly predicting the outcome of an experiment.  This will reinforce their efforts and give them motivation to try further experiments. 

I will change my lessons to add more activities that will allow for more Identification and Prediction exercises.