Mike Kunkel
MTTC 2004
Theories and Factors that Affect Adult Learning

Analyzing the learner/s is a means to identify the learner characteristics that will likely
impact the process and outcomes of the learning experience.
Factor:
Pertinent Characteristic(s)
Resource/Constraint
Initial Ideas
Age 7 years to 9 years old
constraint
The lesson will have to be altered slightly for each age group.
Teaching Experience The teacher has 13 years of public school experience
resource
 
Skill Level
  • Teacher - Fairly adept at using the computer
  • Students - Have used the computers for word processing only
  • Teacher - resource
  • Students - constraint
The students will need constant supervision and direction. Peer mentoring will be used for the 3rd and 4th grade classes.
Sex Distribution not pertinent
 
Racial, Ethnic Diversity not pertinent
 
Educational Level not pertinent
 
Disability or Impairment

Being an inclusion classroom, some of the students have learning disabilites and impairments, including:

  • Autism
  • Dyslexia
  • ADD/ADHD
constraints
The class with the autistic students do have aides (or, more technically, "shadows") to assist them. I will encourage the teacher to meet with the shadows before implementing this lesson to go over expectations with them.
Developmentally Appropriate This is a skill prescribed by TEKS and in the yearly lesson plans of the teacher
resource
 
Prerequisite Knowledge
  • The teacher has a working knowledge of Power Point
  • The students need a working knowledge of word processing skills and manipulating the mouse and keyboard
resource
most of the students have been successful at using the computer for word processing
Related Experience not pertinent
 
Perception of Role as Student The teacher has been very helpful in allowing me to help her come up with this lesson plan. She has had no qualms with me attempting to teach her some new things and ways of doing things in conjunction with something she does on a regular basis.
resource
 
Motivation for Learning
  • The teacher wants to know how to utilize technology in a more productive way on a regular basis.
  • A newly created computer lab is awaiting the teacher and her students for this project.
both resources
 
Attitude Toward Subject
  • The teacher's attitude towards this subject is a good one. She is looking forward to increasing her knowledge, therby increasing the amount of resources available for her students.
  • The students always enjoy using the computers. Fortunately, this teacher only allows her students to use the computers for planned activities and objectives.
both resources
 
Expectations from Course The teacher expects the students to be able to utilize Power Point in preparing material for presentation. She expects herself to be more proficient in the creation and utilization of PowerPoint in her teaching.
resource
 
Competitiveness not pertinent
 
Additional Factor:  
 
Behavior Sone of the students are on behavior contracts and have behavior modifications implemented daily
constraint
Keeping the students engaged and continually motivated will help keep "negative" behaviors in check
Analyzing the environment is a means to identify the issues that will impact the
(a) process of the design and production, (b) implementation, and (c) outcomes of the learning experience.

Design and Production Factors:

Pertinent Characteristic(s)
Resource/Constraint
Initial Ideas
Materials Required Computer, network, internet connection resource  
Production Equipment Available
  • There are 18 computers in this newly completed computer lab.
  • Each computer has office software inlcuding PowerPoint.
  • Each computer is a part of the network and has internet capabilites via cable internet.
resource  
Time for Design and Production The students will have the computer lab available during a 2 week period. resource  
Department Technology Requirements not pertinent    
Implementation Factors:
Pertinent Characteristic(s)
Resource/Constraint
Initial Ideas
Class Size
  • 2nd grade class- 14
  • 3rd grade class- 14
  • 4th grade class-19
  • resource
  • resource
  • constraint
One of the 4th grade classmates will need to work on theirs with a partner and take turns using the computer.
Class Period Length 50 minutes
constraint
Continually gauge the students progress and determine if more days will be needed to complete the project after the holiday break.
Location Upper School auxillary computer lab
constraint
They will have to walk up to the upper school to do this project daily.
Seating Arrangement one chair per computer
resource
 
Lighting flourescent
constraint
needs to be more direct
Temperature central heating and air utilizing programmable thermostats
resource
 
Noise open concept building - no walls or doors enclosing classes
constraint
some noise from this class may disturb other classes and vice versa
Equipment Dell Optiplex computers utilizing Pentium 3 processors. All computers have 128 MB Ram. Network is wired to a cable modem.
constraint
The computers are donated. It would be nice if they were more up-to-date, but it is what we have.
Technology Support Mike Kunkel, the technology coordinator, is on the same campus if there is a problem.
constraint
Mike's afternoon classes are on another part of the campus when the 2-4 grade classes will be meeting.
Outcome Factors:
Pertinent Characteristic(s)
Resource/Constraint
Initial Ideas
State Requirements Requirements are being met pertaining to technology requirements as prescribed by TEKS
resource
 
Employer Needs More support staff is needed
constraint
due to the fact that a charter school's funding is primarily from ADA money and grants, hiring support staff is not an option. Each teacher becomes everything to the students.
Co-worker Needs There is not an aide available for each classroom teacher
constraint
one-on-one instruction is not possible every class period so constant vigiliance must be used to determine individual student needs
Student Needs This activity will give the students further knowledge towards "mastering" the computer (in their eyes at least)
resource
 
Analyzing the content is a means to identify in general terms the topics to be addressed in your lesson and
to analyze these topics in terms of the requisite sub-topics, and degree of learning difficulty.
Main Subject Matter Topic
Sub-Topics
Readiness to Learn
Degree of Learning Difficulty
Possible Instructional Strategies
The student uses research skills and electronic communication, with appropriate supervision, to create new knowledge.
  • use communication tools to participate in group projects;
  • participate with electronic communities as a learner, initiator, contributor, or mentor.
Not yet High Modeling appropriate research skills to the students using projector and discussion
The student demonstrates knowledge and appropriate use of hardware components, software programs, and their connections.
  • save and delete files, uses menu options and commands, and work with more than one software application;
  • access remote equipment on a network such as a printer or other peripherals.
Yes Low

Continue saving to their disks that have been assigned to them (folders will have to be set up on the hard drive for images & videos)

The student uses data input skills appropriate to the task.
  • use a variety of input devices such as mouse, keyboard, disk drive, CDROM, etc.
  • produce documents at the keyboard, proofread, and correct errors;
  • use language skills including capitalization, punctuation, spelling, word division, and use of numbers and symbols as grade-level appropriate;
Dependent on the student - some yes, some not yet Varies depending on student
  • Some of the students have been successful in these tasks.
  • Some of the students will have some difficulty.
  • Some of them will need constant supervision and direction.
The student complies with the laws and examines the issues regarding the use of technology in society.
  • follow acceptable use policies when using computers;
  • model respect of intellectual property by not illegally copying software or another individual's electronic work.
Yes Medium The topic is not new regarding proper use of the computers, however the specifics of the laws about copying and the legalities will be new to them.
The student uses a variety of strategies to acquire information from electronic resources, with appropriate supervision.
  • apply appropriate electronic search strategies in the acquisition of information including keyword and Boolean search strategies;
  • select appropriate strategies to navigate and access information on local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs), including the Internet
Not yet High This will be new to most of them. They will need constant supervision and repeated direction. The teacher will have the use of the projector to show the students the proper search engines to use and what to type in for their searches.
The student acquires electronic information in a variety of formats, with appropriate supervision.
  • acquire information including text, audio, video, and graphics
  • use on-line help and documentation
Dependent on the student Varying depending on the student

Some of the students have already selected and copied images from the internet to save on their hard drive.Some have not. Modeling from the teacher and constant directions will be needed.

Peer mentoring will also be used.