What Teaching Strategies Can I Employ to Improve Student Achievement in the Addition of Fractions with Different Denominators?

The purpose of this action research was to determine what instructional strategies could be used to improve student achievement in fraction addition. An eighth grade intensive math class practiced multiplication facts and hands-on applications of fractions concepts for 2 months. Pretests/posttests were used to measure improvement in computation and understanding.

The effectiveness of direct -instruction and student -centered teaching methods on students' functional understanding of plagiarism

In an attempt to improve students' functional understanding of plagiarism a variety of approaches were tried within the context of a more comprehensive information literacy program. Sessions were taught as a one hour "module" inside a required communications skills class at a small private university. Approaches taken included control sessions (a straightforward PowerPoint presentation of the material), direct instruction sessions (featuring mostly direct lecture but with some seatwork as well), and student-centered sessions (utilizing role playing and group exercises). Students were taught basic content and definitions regarding plagiarism, what circumstances or instances constitute plagiarism, where to go for help in avoiding plagiarism, and what constitutes appropriate paraphrasing and citation. Pre-test and post-test scores determined students' functional understanding primarily by their ability to recognize properly and improperly paraphrased text, content understanding by their combined total score on a multiple choice quiz, and their attitude and conceptual understanding by their ability to recognize circumstances which would constitute plagiarism. While students improved across all methods the study was unable to identify one that performed significantly better than the others. The results supported the need for more education with regard to plagiarism and suggested a need for perhaps more time on task and/or a mixed approach towards conveying the content.

The effects of student -centered and traditional models of teaching on reading skills

A pre-test, post-test, quasi-experimental design was used to examine the effects of student-centered and traditional models of reading instruction on outcomes of literal comprehension and critical thinking skills. The sample for this study consisted of 101 adult students enrolled in a high-level developmental reading course at a large, urban community college in the Southeastern United States. The experimental group consisted of 48 students, and the control group consisted of 53 students. Students in the experimental group were limited in the time spent reading a course text of basic skills, with instructors using supplemental materials such as poems, news articles, and novels. Discussions, the reading-writing connection, and student choice in material selection were also part of the student-centered curriculum. Students in the control group relied heavily on a course text and vocabulary text for reading material, with great focus placed on basic skills. Activities consisted primarily of multiple-choice questioning and quizzes. The instrument used to collect pre-test data was Descriptive Tests of Language Skills in Reading Comprehension; post-test data were taken from the Florida College Basic Skills Exit Test. A MANCOVA was used as the statistical method to determine if either model of instruction led to significantly higher gains in literal comprehension skills or critical thinking skills. A paired samples t-test was also used to compare pre-test and post-test means. The results of the MANCOVA indicated no significant difference between instructional models on scores of literal comprehension and critical thinking. Neither was there any significant difference in scores between subgroups of age (under 25 and 25 and older) and language background (native English speaker and second-language learner). The results of the t-test indicated, however, that students taught under both instructional models made significant gains in on both literal comprehension and critical thinking skills from pre-test to post-test.

An alternative to BlackboardTM? Student use of web-based textbook teaching and learning material

This paper investigates the use of web-based textbook supplementary teaching and learning materials which include multiple choice test banks, animated demonstrations, simulations, quizzes and electronic versions of the text. To gauge their experience of the web-based material students were asked to score the main elements of the material in terms of usefulness. In general it was found that while the electronic text provides a flexible platform for presentation of material there is a need for continued monitoring of student use of this material as the literature suggests that digital viewing habits may mean there is little time spent in evaluating information, either for relevance, accuracy or authority. From a lecturer perspective these materials may provide an effective and efficient way of presenting teaching and learning materials to the students in a variety of multimedia formats, but at this stage do not overcome the need for a VLE such as Blackboard™.

A simbiose da educação - aprender a aprender em educação pré-escolar e ensino do 1º ciclo do ensino básico

Relatório de Estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação de Paula Frassinetti para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico

Relatório de estágio de qualificação profissional (educação pré-escolar)

Relatório EPE - Relatório de estágio em Educação Pré-Escolar: O presente relatório de estágio de qualificação profissional foi desenvolvido no âmbito da unidade curricular de Prática Pedagógica Supervisionada, integrada no Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. Este trabalho foi reflexo de um percurso de formação profissional, pautado por uma constante análise reflexiva, realizado em contexto de educação pré-escolar. Os conteúdos abordados nas aulas desta unidade curricular bem como o estágio desenvolvido, permitiram ter um conhecimento mais aprofundado deste contexto e desenvolver e construir saberes profissionais adequados a este nível de ensino. Assim, este relatório evidencia as competências desenvolvidas pela estagiária, nomeadamente: a mobilização de saberes adquiridos nas diversas unidades curriculares do curso; o saber pensar e agir nos contextos educativos; a atitude profissional reflexiva e investigativa; a problematização das exigências inerentes à prática profissional; e a coconstrução de saberes profissionais e a cooperação entre diferentes intervenientes do contexto educativo (adaptado Ribeiro, 2013). O caminho percorrido pela mestranda teve por base a metodologia de investigação-ação: observação, planificação, ação e reflexão. Estas etapas foram fundamentais para a construção de planificações, que fossem ao encontro das exigências da realidade e das necessidades e interesses evidenciadas pelo grupo. As reflexões críticas realizadas com o par, com a educadora cooperante e com o supervisor revelaram-se fundamentais, pois permitiu desenvolver competências essenciais para a futura profissão.

Technical and Didactical Scenarios of Student-centered Teaching and Learning

In this paper we envision didactical concepts for university education based on self-responsible and project-based learning and outline principles of adequate technical support. We use the scenario technique describing how a fictive student named Anna organizes her studies of informatics at a fictive university from the first days of her studies to make a career for herself.(DIPF/Orig.)

O contributo das atividades lúdicas no sucesso da aprendizagem no pré-escolar e 1º ciclo

Relatório de estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação de Paula Frassinetti para obtenção de grau de Mestre em Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico

Improving speaking skill in the students of third, fifth and seventh levels at la salle languajes center (clus)through teaching technques such as : Role playing, student' presentations, games and grouppair word

Tesis (Licenciado en Lenguas Castellana, Inglés y Francés).--Universidad de La Salle. Facultad de Ciencias de La Educación. Licenciatura en Lengua Castellana, Inglés y Francés, 2013

The impact of teacher and student perceptions in relation to their teaching and learning practices

Tesis (Licenciado en Lenguas Castellana, Inglés y Francés).--Universidad de La Salle. Facultad de Ciencias de La Educación. Licenciatura en Lengua Castellana, Inglés y Francés, 2014

Relatório de Estágio em Educação Pré-Escolar

O relatório aqui presente foi realizado no âmbito da unidade curricular Prática Pedagógica Supervisionada do Mestrado em Educação Pré-escolar da Escola Superior de Educação do Porto no ano letivo 2014/2015 nas valências de creche e pré-escolar. A prática pedagógica Supervisionada decorreu na XXXX e teve como objetivo permitir o desenvolvimento de competências profissionais da formanda de acordo com o perfil de desempenho definido para o efeito no Decreto - Lei nº241/2001. O presente relatório tem como objetivo efetuar a articulação entre a teoria e a prática, refletindo sobre a mesma. Desta forma, o presente relatório está organizado em três grandes capítulos: o primeiro em que a mestranda fundamenta teoricamente as suas opções pedagógicas, o segundo em que procede à caracterização do grupo e da metodologia de investigação-ação utilizada pela mestranda durante a sua prática e, o terceiro capitulo em que são abordadas algumas das propostas realizadas nos dois contextos de estágio, assim como os resultados obtidos pelas mesmas. É preciso ressalvar que este relatório apresenta o resultado de um trabalho colaborativo entre a mestranda e o seu par pedagógico e as educadoras cooperantes. Apresenta também o trabalho colaborativo com o par pedagógico que realizou a sua prática na XXXX juntamente com a mestranda. Este relatório termina com uma reflexão da formanda sobre as potencialidades e os constrangimentos sentidos no âmbito da prática pedagógica.

Enhancing student learning with case-based teaching and audience response systems in an interdisciplinary Food Science course

A growing body of research in higher education suggests that teachers should move away from traditional lecturing towards more active and student-focus education approaches. Several classroom techniques are available to engage students and achieve more effective teaching and better learning experiences. The purpose of this paper is to share an example of how two of them – case-based teaching, and the use of response technologies – were implemented into a graduate-level food science course. The paper focuses in particular on teaching sensory science and sensometrics, including several concrete examples used during the course, and discussing in each case some of the observed outcomes. Overall, it was observed that the particular initiatives were effective in engaging student participation and promoting a more active way of learning. Case-base teaching provided students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and their analytical skills to complex, real-life scenarios relevant to the subject matter. The use of audience response systems further facilitated class discussion, and was extremely well received by the students, providing a more enjoyable classroom experience.

Teaching psychology to student nurses: the use of ‘Talking Head’ videos

Psychology is a central part of undergraduate nursing curricula in the UK. However, student nurses report difficulties recognising the relevance and value of psychology. We sought to strengthen first-year student nurses’ application of psychology by developing a set of digital stories based around ‘Talking Head’ video clips where authentic patients relate their experiences of illness and nursing care. The aim of this article is to discuss the technological, organisational and pedagogical challenges, student and staff evaluations and our recommendations for the future of Talking Heads. First-year student nurses were shown a video clip of a patient talking about their illness experiences followed by a group learning situation linking main themes to psychology and nursing. Students and staff valued the authenticity of patient's narrative, found the video clip easy to follow, reported a raised awareness of psychological concepts and improved empathetic understanding of chronic illness. Negative evaluations were related to a sanitised, untypical representation and limited internet access. This small-scale study highlighted how patient narrative may enhance students understanding of illness experience. It chronicles the development and evaluation of a Talking Head in a specific context but which may be useful across disciplines.