I have enjoyed learning about goal-based scenarios this week. This model is very applicable for teaching students how to react in real-world situations and provides life-learning skills. I really like what Dr. Oliver said – the “idea is not to abandon curriculum, but to teach it less explicitly. I remember in grade school, in college, and even now in my experiences as the teacher; students asking, “Why do we have to learn this” and stuff like “We hate math, it’s pointless” or “I’m never going to use this”. I’m guessing those feelings come from not being able to make the connection between the material and something in their own lives. Using goal-based scenarios definitely will answer the “Why” question. Now that I understand this theory, I do plan to investigate using it in some of my classes.
As great as I think this model is, my concern is finding something that truly interests the learners and finding a way to fully incorporate the standard curriculum without being too obvious. Nowakowski’s article pointed out that students need a support system to learn new skills and knowledge. This is another potential barrier if the support system isn’t in place, or is in place but not very effective. Another barrier could be the make-up of the class. In a large class interests are highly variable.
One way to overcome the barriers above is to utilize small groups so each group can be separated according to common goals or interests. Small groups may also help if there is a support system problem. In small groups, students may be more comfortable with one another and will be more apt to support one another. As an example, I was teaching a math class a couple of years ago and I was trying to get creative teaching the geometry section. I didn’t realize it then, but what I was doing was similar to the goal-based scenario model. When I was teaching area, I had the students virtually go to Lowes and pick out carpet and paint to redecorate their houses. This worked very well and the students learned the material, and made the real-life connection. Here’s the kicker; I only had two students. Both of them were female and all three of us enjoyed decorating. I’m not sure if the effect would have been the same with different people.
The web is very appropriate for goal-based scenarios. I do think this model should include a high level of interactivity to be effective on the web since students will be making decisions and outcomes will be different according to decisions. Tools such as Adobe Flash and other animation tools would be very effective, but are expensive to develop. Virtual reality tools, such as SecondLife and 3D rendering/modeling would also work very well for this model. Dmoz has a list of some open source VR software at http://www.dmoz.org/Computers/Virtual_Reality/Software/. Gaming software would also be great. For the cost-conscious, I think static webpages will achieve about the same outcomes with some very careful planning and a very good navigation system. Video and audio can also be embedded into the static pages.
Hi Mary Ellen
I liked your response. As you have mentioned, students always ask questions that if they are really going to use/apply the material in real world. To address such curiosity and make learning process more interesting Goal Based Learning is very good approach. As said ‘we see we may forget, but we do we remember!!’ Doing is the best approach for learning and retention of knowledge.
I believe that learning only theories without any practical knowledge does not give maximum effect, but application of theory to real world situations make knowledge foundation strong.
Okay, so I never really thought about like you put it, Mary Ellen. I taught using similar projects – but they were always projects that I made up and… I did do my best to make the context match something that I knew my students would be interested in. Maybe it’s my struggle with the word “goals” that makes me crazy… (from my own reflection from this week.)
There’s that mention of Second Life again. I finally took the plunge and made an account. Now just have to learn how to use the thing…
I love your use of the Lowes Web site to engage the (two) students in geometry and to show how it is useful in real life. I definitely think you could employ that with a class of 20+ students – depending on how the final product was rendered. I think that’s the perfect use of a product that already existed that fit with your content. No need to re-invent the wheel, right?
Matt- just an FYI, when I made my avatar, I tried to get her a new skirt and she walked around with her bum sticking out – I ended up making a new account just so I didn’t have to be stuck with an inappropriate avatar. And so with that – good luck mate!
I bet you are a very good teacher who always thinks about how to stimulate students to learn. That’s why you will keep trying to come up with new ideas for teaching even though you don’t know the theory behind!
And I agree with Morgan that your idea of the geometry class is awesome. Maybe not every kid enjoy decorating that much, but this is a way that so much better than sit and listen to the lecture in the classroom. I don’t like math, but I can see myself enjoying your class! It’s a good way to bridge the connection between classroom and real world! Well done!
Miya
So here is something I’ve always wondered how do you make advanced math concepts relate to real world? Your comment on math made me think of this.
How would someone make the argument that you need to know calculus in your everyday world. I ask this honestly as someone who has never been able to make the connections to math in my real life. Not just to complain about math.
Rachel Palmer
It does seem like a probably impossible task to develop enough projects that teach the curriculum and are interesting to all the students. Your idea of small groups is a good one for motivation, but I wonder how doable that is in terms of the technological infrastructure that this method seems to require. I suppose you could develop variations on a theme, that would be different enough for several groups but rely on the same support.
Sorry, ems33 is Eleanor
Mary Ellen, I like your suggestion of dividing into groups based on similar interests too! And, I don’t think it would actually be that much more difficult to administer. I taught a F2F HS business/work skills class and let the small groups work on different projects based on their goals and interests – it was hard work, but the students loved it! It might not have exactly been GBS, but it worked.