Comments on: Application triage to enable differentiated learning http://blog.genyes.org/index.php/2007/05/09/application-triage-to-enable-differentiated-learning/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=application-triage-to-enable-differentiated-learning Thoughts About Empowering Students with Technology Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:39:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Tony Forster http://blog.genyes.org/index.php/2007/05/09/application-triage-to-enable-differentiated-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-764 Tony Forster Thu, 10 May 2007 01:02:17 +0000 http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2007/05/09/application-triage-to-enable-differentiated-learning/#comment-764 I definitely agree with extensibility, the low floor and high ceiling are very important for a rapidly changing world where knowledge has a short half life and we want to develop self-directed learners who will have the skills to be life-long learners. I would add relevance and authenticity. Relevance means that tasks are best when they relate to the things that kids already care about, authenticity means giving kids a task that have real world significance, not arbitary make-work tasks. For an example of relevant and authentic learning see Constructivist teaching - virtually http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2007/05/04/constructivist-teaching-virtually/ Game programming languages cover relevance, authenticity, extensibility and affordability, you mention Logo, HyperStudio and HyperCard. These are beaten on the low floor criterion by languages such as Game Maker. There are a number of others including Klick&Play and Stagecast. Only a couple of days ago on a comment to this blog, we learnt of Larry's use of Sploder http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2007/05/05/student-created-online-video-games/ Even poor old Powerpoint can be used by kids creatively if the education system will allow such "frivolous" use of resources, see student animations at http://www.schoolgamemaker.rupert.id.au/computerclub/powerpoint.htm Affordability is important too, if kids are engaged with a relevant and authentic challenge in an extensible environment, they will spend many hours at home for each contact hour in self-directed learning I definitely agree with extensibility, the low floor and high ceiling are very important for a rapidly changing world where knowledge has a short half life and we want to develop self-directed learners who will have the skills to be life-long learners.

I would add relevance and authenticity.

Relevance means that tasks are best when they relate to the things that kids already care about, authenticity means giving kids a task that have real world significance, not arbitary make-work tasks.

For an example of relevant and authentic learning see Constructivist teaching – virtually http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2007/05/04/constructivist-teaching-virtually/

Game programming languages cover relevance, authenticity, extensibility and affordability, you mention Logo, HyperStudio and HyperCard. These are beaten on the low floor criterion by languages such as Game Maker. There are a number of others including Klick&Play and Stagecast. Only a couple of days ago on a comment to this blog, we learnt of Larry’s use of Sploder http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2007/05/05/student-created-online-video-games/

Even poor old Powerpoint can be used by kids creatively if the education system will allow such “frivolous” use of resources, see student animations at http://www.schoolgamemaker.rupert.id.au/computerclub/powerpoint.htm

Affordability is important too, if kids are engaged with a relevant and authentic challenge in an extensible environment, they will spend many hours at home for each contact hour in self-directed learning

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