1. What are your initial reactions to this theory/model? What are barriers to its use? What benefits might be expected for those who overcome the barriers?
This theory caters to all grade and content levels. There are other theories that promote real-life scenarios to connect to content but this one seems like a great structure. Each step helps the students develop a connection with the content. They build knowledge by attempting to solve problems. Each students role is very important because the goal can only be successfully reached if they make the right decisions. Possible barriers that are related to this theory include: coaching may not help students that have problems finding relative information, the main goal may not help certain students understand the underlying content that is intended to be retained, and instructors may have trouble preparing for the assignments. Benefits that come from overcoming the barriers include: student learn "how to" rather than "know that" as stated by Schank in his article on Goal-Based Scenarios.
2. Would you attempt to use this theory/model with the students you are currently teaching or hope to teach in the future? Why or why not? Could elements of the theory/model be modified so that it would work with your current/future students?
This model would be great to use with the students on the elementary level. I definitely see this theory being used throughout the year; as it is interchangeable with the cognitive apprenticeship model, students will understand concepts by connecting them to real-world situations.
3. Since we're taking learning theories/models that were not necessarily created with the Web in mind and turning them into Web modules, what Web-based tools or resources could be leveraged to carry out this learning theory/model online?
This theory has the potential to be embedded in blog sites. Students can use sites such as Blogger and WordPress to generate the appropriate type of responses to the assigned missions. These tools give users the opportunity to insert links and other media to the site (evidence).
Paul,
ReplyDeleteI agree that all grade levels can benefit and relate to goal based scenarios. Using this theory with elementary students can help them make connections to real-life experiences. The students at my Title 1 school, do not have the opportunity to experience activities such as going to museums or hiking. It is up to teachers to expose them to experiences through field trips and goal based scenarios. To create a web page with Blogger and/or Word Press would be useful for students because they can problem solve with web design and development as well as continue learning the content through the goal based scenario.