Topic

Before teaching any course or topic, effective teachers will decide upon what canvas to utilize to paint their learning masterpiece on.  Module 4 investigates the application of an overall teaching approach to entire courses or lessons. Examples include Learner-Centered Education, Teacher-Centered Education, The Lesson-Cycle, or Problem-Based Learning. Although these may overlap, or may be categorized differently in differing situations, they all require a philosophical adjustment for the educator to truly be effective.

Objectives

At the conclusion of this module, you should be able to:

4.1. Describe various ways that the learning environment can organized.  From this foundation teachers can then approach applying teaching methods and strategies.  Some organizations will include the Lesson Cycle and Problem-Based Learning.

Activities

 
  1. Read this brief Power Point Presentation that focuses on broad teaching approaches rather than specific methodolgies.
  2. Read this brief article that compares teacher and student-centered learning.
  3. Check-out this explanation of the Lesson-Cycle.
  4. Review this Power Point Presentation on the Lesson-Cycle.
  5. Review this website on utilizing the Problem-Solving approach to learning.
  6. Read this page from a Stamford University, Problem-Based Learning project