Learning and Leading - February 2009

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Instructional Strategies

for the perfect roller-coaster. Create a list of requirements, including the rise, run, maximum speed, type, inversions, G-force, elements, and other examples.” After collecting the student specifications, they are given the assignment “Using the Roller-Coaster Database at www.rcdb.com/ ir.htm, select three roller-coasters in the world that best match your requirements. Calculate and graph the rise, run, maximum speed, and other statistics. Evaluate them and select the ‘perfect roller-coaster.’ Support your choice with evidence.” Students create a simulation or model, a report, and a spreadsheet of roller-coaster statistics using shared documents. After completing their research, they read, question, and evaluate other group projects.

Using illogical comparisons. In this group wiki example, English students are completing a study of Arthurian legends: “Compare Guinevere to Miss Piggy. How are they similar? How are they different? Write an Arthurian legend for Miss Piggy in modern time. What would happen?” Students are required to know the concept of Arthurian legends to complete the assignment. They can use Web sites and books as references but cannot complete the assignment simply by reading a book or Web site. Students write the Arthurian legend and share it with the class online. If possible, students prepare copies of the legends for an elementary classroom. They are asked to read, question, and evaluate Arthurian legends using other cartoon genres.

Strategies such as the examples given challenge students and keep discussions going. I’ve found that by allowing students to discover content for themselves, they take ownership and work much harder on their chats, discussion boards, and wikis. And when they share projects online, they are further motivated because other students view their work.

—Jeanie Cole is the manager of Digital Learning and Instructional Technology for Harris County Department of Education in Houston, Texas. She provides NACOL-aligned online instructor’s training and instructional technology training for teachers and administrators.

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