Image synapse.jpg from http://theilluminatedbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/synapse-244x300.jpgMany of our classrooms have been active for years, maybe decades. In a typical CIT course, for example, students interact with hardware and/or software almost every time they meet. But is doing enough to guarantee learning? Are students forming synapses – or are they just connecting dots?

Authenticity

Students must connect if we hope to help them to learn. Memorization is not too hard, but unfortunately, it is rarely deep and facts are often fleeting. Because we strive for learning rather than just short-term recall, we need to help students sense personal value.

One way is to place lessons in a familiar context. Finding a few scenarios that students share is usually feasible; we can talk of class registration, parking, Traverse City events, Sodexo meal plans, and so forth. However, since we don’t know our students – not deeply, anyway, and certainly not all of them – we run out of fresh and stimulating ideas long before the end of the semester.

Students tend to be open to the unfamiliar if they believe they will face similar situations in their future. They also connect when a project feels “real.” Service learning and well-designed simulations work well, but both are risky – we must be ready with “plan B” if (more likely, when) something unexpected happens. Both also take tremendous energy to facilitate.

Repetition

Unless learners are exposed to unusual or intense stimuli, most learning does not happen during the first exposure to new material. I aim for three or more distinct student interactions for each significant concept. Are we (am I?) creative enough to design a variety of activities that drive home a new topic without making it feel repetitious? It’s challenging! Boredom is the enemy! Occasionally we can add excitement – we can share our stories, our passions; we can be “up.” Sometimes we can even bring cookies.

Cognition

Do students learn better when they contemplate their learning? That’s a topic for next week…