Effective Way of Planning a Technology-Enhanced Lesson

My objective areas in the ASSURE model were to ensure that the learners are able to:

measure the temperature of the human body.

measure the temperature of boiling water;

measure the temperature of ice;

measure the temperature of air in the room.

These measurements were intended to enforce practice in temperature measurements in everyday life. Both mercury and alcohol thermometers were used and each student was able to have atleast one.

Infact at the time when I was planning for the lesson objectives it looked as if it were going to be impossible to achieve them at a go. However, I let it go and gave it a benefit of doubt. At the end of the lesson what happened…….?, since it was their first time to get involved in measurements of temperature of various items, it became interested to the learners and they had an active participation in the class/science lab.

Now from the class room/lab I intend to proceed to using the computer lab where there a number of computers where the students can have access to Cyber Science to make observations on the animations and simulations on temperature measurements.

To sum up,

However, the best and effective way to use technology in the class is not to allow it eat all the minutes planned for a lesson. It should simply be an enhancement to the lesson, not necessarily the focus of the lesson. That indicates that that, if you have the learners do some learning for a part of the lesson may be by reading from the Web, using a digital device, playing an online game, viewing a Ppt or a clip, working with a real object, designing  a model, listening to music, using a graphic calculator, using cyber software, depending on what you have in the school, then you should as well be able to speak to them, lead them in their discussion groups if any, ask them questions, guide them in an activity, review and make summaries with them at the end etc. This would be the best way to enhance Tech in the class room I assume.

Ciao!

The ASSURE Model in Technology Enhanced Lesson Designs

A is for analyze…….S is for state……….S is for select……….U is for utilize…….R is for require……….and E is for evaluate……….This is the ASSURE model in brief and in details:

A	is for Analyze Learners
S	is for State Objectives
S	is for Select Methods, Media, and Materials
U	is for Utilize Media & Materials
R	is for Require Learner Participation
E	is for Evaluate and Revise

I equally agree with other CCTI bloggers that the ASSURE model is in infact a systematic approach to design lessons that effectively enhances the use of Tech and media in the teaching/learning process. This is so amazing in that, it involves:

1.    In the process of analyzing learners and identifying their characteristics directly associated with their learning outcomes, the data so obtained shall guide the teacher in whatever decisions s/he will make in each of the following five steps of the lesson design process.

2.    Here, there is nothing else apart from ensuring that objectives are observable and measurable in accordance with the simple ABCDs of well-stated learning objectives: Audience, Behavior, Conditions, and Degree.

3.    And etc.

To me as I comprehend from the group members through the discussions on the ASSURE Model, I see the following benefits out of the Model:

(i)           Detailed information about learners, methods, media and materials, and evaluation are required.

(ii)          There is a direct relationship between students to analyze them properly.

(iii)         creativity is needed in doing appropriate selections.

(iv)         The procedure is prepared well before the lesson.

(v)          There is room for revision of the procedure and appropriate adjustments may be made after the lesson.

However, it is also worth noting that, this model has the following drawbacks:

(i)           extra time is required to complete the procedure.

(ii)          carry a lot of research about learners and methods, media and materials.

(iii)         learners of different backgrounds and different learning styles  may make it difficult for you to carry selections.

Ciao!

Who is your Learner?

First, ASSURE begins by looking at the student in particular. Almost nothing you prepare is successful except you have taken a moment to look at the individual learners.

For instance, if it is now made mandatory that all teachers must analyze their learners' abilities prior to teaching; this will ensure that teachers will be able to make a distinction by knowing where the learners are at the beginning of the instruction, and the teacher will be able to make every effort to assist all learners to be successful in their learning process. This new path will help the teachers’ in understanding their learners. I really feel that figuring out and understanding your learners is very essential to design and execution of pedagogy in the class room.

In the process of analyzing the learners let me dissect the analysis into the following categories explaining for instance why we need this process in technology integration.

Analysis Parameters	Examples of Data Source	What is its value before lesson Design
Entry Behaviors	Observation	·      It enables you to adapt your lessons to best suit the needs of your student,
Prior Knowledge of Topic Area	Prior teaching experience	·      Here you get to know areas in which they are weak, their previous techniques for studying and the ways in which you can integrate it in new learning
Attitudes Toward Content and its delivery	Interviews	·      Here you will be able to categorize learners into those for instance who like reading texts on papers, online texts, like group work, do not like group etc such that special consideration is given to all.
Motivation	Discussion	·      This will define for you the desire of the student  to perform well on exams.
Education and Ability	Collaboration	·      The teacher is able to identify students the difficulties in pronunciation of terms, letters etc
Learning Preferences	Documentation; handbook, manual, etc.	·      Indeed the learners prefer multi sensory learning in that teacher is able to help his/her learners achieve that by providing all the necessary alternatives available.

Recall that it's not all about the technology and media, it's about the learners and the vital decisions designers and instructors make to ensure successful teaching/learning process.