Introduction and Background
What is Learning By Design?
Learning by Design is a system of pedagogy in which each unit is designed as a design challenge or a system that allows students to be engaged in active knowledge producing. Learning By Design focuses on using the "knowledge processes" approach. The knowledge process approach aims for the end goal that the student "knows" content in all ways of knowing[1]. The role of the teacher is that of a designer. Teachers are essentially designing the way in which students' make meaning of a given content area.
How is Learning by Design relevant to our education system today?
Learner diversity, multiple intelligences, and student interests have been discussed and referenced for decades. As all of these learner differences are important, Learning by Design enables educators to reach each student that they are in contact with. Using traditional didactic pedagogy techniques does not allow students to actively produce knowledge. In classrooms today we see differentiation, student choice, and proper accommodations, but learning by design goes beyond the teacher provided content.
Learning by Design allows teachers to be the designer of each and every students' education. As a designer, the teacher providing the students with a blueprint of learning. As the teachers' role of a faciliator is providing a variety of reasources, they are in turn allowing students to think, connect, create, and share their knowledge making. Educators are essentially creating a culture of learners.
As Cope and Kalantis define Learning by Design as, "The Learning by Design project is an attempt to address the emerging needs of new learners via the intensive practical, pedagogical and professional development of teachers."[1]
Learning by Design is not a new pedagogical formula, but more of a realization that education will shift with the implementation of new learning technologies and generations to come.
Footnotes
Explication of the Theory
Explication of the Theory
Learning by Design is the idea that teachers strategically create a path of learning for their students. This mimics the traditional goals of education. The goal of education to produce students that understand content. retain knowledge, and actively use the knowledge and skills addressed in school. Learning by Design reiterates these ideals, and this theory maximizes the potential of education.
Kalantis and Cope explain that Learning by Design emphasizes not only "knowing" but "acting". Furthermore, it is discussed that there are four types of "knowing".
Understanding learning differences, multiple intelligences, etc. we understand that some types of "knowing" will come easily to some and may seem difficult to others. This is where Learning by Design allows students to take control of their learning experience. Cope and Kalantis state it perfectly, we want our students to be able to say, "this is what I am doing, and this is why I am going it." [1]
Footnotes
- ^ http://newlearningonline.com/new-learning/chapter-8/coaxing-learners-to-think-for-themselves
Bruner and Learning by Design
Bruner and Learning by Design
The idea that students will possess the ability to apply their knowledge from their education is essential to our society. We strive for students to develop deep understandings of concepts in order to apply their thinking in our society. Jerome Bruner explains that discovery is learning. Dating back to the 1960's Jerome Bruner explained that the purpose of educational practices should be to create autonomous learners[1] . Students should learn to learn. Bruner emphasized that there is a social nature in learning, but essentially the active process of learning is up to the individual. Our goal as educators is for our students to apply their knowledge learned in future learning experiences, roles, and careers. In order for them to truly conceptualize a topic, the need to actively learn and comprehend the topic.
The teacher's active role is just as important as the students' active role. Learning by Design creates a platform, or blueprint, for the students to create and progress through a given topic. Our society's new media resources allow us to scaffold learning and track the progress of our students more easily. Our technology resources also energize our students. Some feel the urge to try something new or conquer a new task. By implementing Learning by Design teachers are not "holding back" studnets, but they are encouraging creativity and honest learning.
Footnotes
- ^ http://www.simplypsychology.org/bruner.html
Learning by Design and Student Agency
Learning by Design and Student Agency in Today's Society
The traditional didatic forms of education the teacher controls the content introduced to the students and the learning is passive, rather than active engagement. Learning by Design requires both teachers and students to relinquish the control of a learning path and let students explore beyond what we already know. The change to this type of learning environment students with the administrators, teachers, and parents. Here is a video that explains the fundamentals of a growth mindset and fixed mindset.
Student Agency and Mindsets
Student Agency or the idea that students will take control of their learning, is a current hot topic in education. Another hot topic today is the growth mindset. As stated by Eduardo Briceno of Mindset Works, there are four types of learning mindsets. These learning mindsets can be taught, and truly influence the way in which students learn.Briceno highlights his research from Unviersity of Chicago's Teching Adolescents to Become Learners (Farrington, et al., 2012), that learning mindsets stand out as a major factor that influences an individuals drive to learn. The four mindsets Briceno explains that need to be developed are the following[1]:
- Mindset #1: A Growth Mindset: “I can change my intelligence and abilities through effort.”
- Mindset #2: Self-Efficacy: “I can succeed.”
- Mindset #3: Sense of Belonging: “I belong in this learning community.”
- Mindset #4: Relevance: “This work has value and purpose for me.”
These four mindsets can be developed and students then will have the ability to help manage a personal learing path. Learning by Design requires students to feel comfortable in their learning process. They need to be able to self-assess their learning and understanding.
"This chart is inspired by the Nigel Holmes diagram that first appeared in “The Effort Effect,” a
Stanford Magazine article on Dr. Dweck’s research by Marina Krakovsky. Descriptions in the chart are drawn from Dr. Dweck’s ground-breaking book, “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.'"[2]
Student Agency and Learning Strategies
Briceno continues his article "Mindsets and Student Agency" by discussing the learning habits that need to be developed. The figure below outlines the Hierarchy of Learner Needs for our 21st century students. Instruction, guidance, and individual experiences are important, but the mindsets and learning strategies need to also be taught and developed.
The learning stategies and habits emphasized by Briceno are the following:
We must teach kids how to learn. We must teach them know-how such as:
how the brain works and how we can increase its capabilities,
how to manage our learning, including how to set learning goals, self-assess, approach new subjects, manage homework, dive deeper, learn from mistakes and know what to do when things get hard,
how to engage in deliberate practice to develop expertise,
how to foster innovation and creativity,
how to work in teams,
how to manage emotions,
how to develop willpower,
how to develop desirable habits through cues, routines and rewards, and
how to combine habits with tools to manage one’s self and one’s learning.[3]
Learning by Design requires teachers to adapt to these same strategies. Briceno explains that this can happen in today's schools and our Common Core curriculum is requiring students to develop these skills.
Footnotes
Learning by Design Applications
Learning by Design Programs and Strategies
Learning by Design theory, has been used through a variety of technology programs. Many programs allow for students to create an individual learning path for students. Many programs are adaptive and help students progress at their own level. Many districts also have adopted adaptive assessments to challenge students and give a true reading of each and every students' abilities.
- Program example: Scootpad.com
On the instructional side, one programs I recently tested was Scootpad.com.
Scootpad allows for students to individual progress through their gradelevel standards. This program has a variety of practice programs and question sets. The students can see their progress and revisit any skills. This program has ELA instruction, Math instruction, EBoooks at students' levels, and a writing section.
Learning by Design does not necessarily mean students have to work through an online program, teachers can set their own adaptive learning environment in their own room. By using student contracts, guided calendars, and rubrics, students have been creating their own learning paths for years. Students can choose a topic, form of presenting this topic, and their process to create the outcome.
- Teaching Strategy: Genius Hour
A Genius Hour is a set time for students to explore their creativity and passions. Depending on the grade level or type of institution, Genius Hours can be implemented in a variety of ways. A Genius Hour allows for personalized learning. Personalized learning is an example of Learning by Design because we are enabling students to actively learn something of importance to them. The assessments are authentic and the teacher acts as a guide in the interactive learning environment.
Genius Hours emphasize the idea that students do not just have to know a concept, but there are multiple ways of knowing. Students are not reciting information read in a text, but they are creating, exploring, learning from their errors, and building new knowledge. Genius Hours are a great way to develop students' growth mindsets. Students will want to learn, and fully know, a concept or topic.
Edutopia.org's Nicole Carter explains the 6 essentials of personalized learning and how Genius Hours truly engage students.[1]
Footnotes
- ^ http://www.edutopia.org/blog/genius-hour-essentials-personalized-education-nichole-carter
Conclusion
Conclusion
Learning by Design is the idea that teachers will allow for personalized learning experiences that enable students to fully understand a topic. Learning by Design emphasizes the ideas that the "one-size-fits-all" curriculum does not work for each student, and student engagement in their learning is essential for success. Learning by Design pedagogical techniques can be used in a variety of ways. The student achievement findings are varied, because of the multiple forms of Learning by Design systems. The way in which the pedagogy is implemented influences the students' response to this type of teaching. The National Education Policy Center refers to the research as "promising".[1]
Learning by Design pedagogy must begin with the teachers or leaders of an institution. In order to successfully develop a culture of active learners, the teachers or leaders must structure the group in an open way. The learning process may change, the students must try new things, and the teachers and students must have a growth mindset. Creating a culture of learning where it is ok to fail, ok to ask for help, and ok to collaborate will change the engagement of students. Learning by Design helps our students develop a multitude of life skills.
Footnotes
- ^ http://nepc.colorado.edu/files/ttr_penuel_personalized_learning.pdf