Theory and Factors that Affect Student Learning

Technology Mentoring experience with Ms. Minardi,
8th Grade Science teacher
Lesson: Lab Safety and Procedures

Factors that may impact learner-centered instruction

By analyzing the student learner we have a way to identify the learner characteristics that will likely impact the learning process and outcomes.

Factor Description
Advantage or Constraint
Initial Ideas for Maximizing Positive Factors or Minimizing Negative Factors
Age / Academic Range 12-13
+
 Most students are mature and can focus in class when technology is involved.
Sex Distribution 6 boys and 10 girls
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 Boys may think lab safety is something to be toyed with. Since they may take this subject lightly, seriousness will need to be stressed.
Racial, Ethnic Diversity

African American, Caucasian, Hispanic
+
 The differences in racial diversity will be helpful for the students in understanding different cultures.
Education Level 8th Grade
+
 Provide displays of the equipment and examples or scenarios of lab safety.
Disability or Impairment Vision Impaired
-
 Have these students sit at the front of the class so they can see the TV, displays/examples, teacher, etc. well.
Developmentally Appropriate Consistent with age
+
 The assignment is based on the TEKS and is age appropriate.
Prerequisite Knowledge Computer skill with internet research and word processing or digital drawing skills
-

Students need to know basic technology application use, including opening files, printing and saving files.
Related Experience Listening skills; able to follow instructions; logging into the computers in the lab; following lab behavioral rules
+
 Most students posses this experience.
Perception of Role as Student Acting as a traditional student at first, then acting as a creator of a project
+
 Using the dual-centered teaching model, students who enjoy teacher lead instruction will feel comfortable, as well as students who enjoy project-based assignments.
Motivation for Learning Long term excitement about future lab experiments; short term excitement about creating an activity on the computer
+
 Students enjoy science experiments and enjoy working on the computer to produce a product of their choice.
Attitude Toward Subject Excited and interested
+
 Lab safety lessons can be drab, but with lesson having video and a computer-based project involved, students should be excited and interested.
Expectations from Course 8th grade includes planning and conducting lab investigations by using equipment to collect and analyze information. "Students also use computers and information technology tools to support scientific investigations." [TEKS a(1)]
+
 This lesson is in line with the science and TA TEKS.
Competitiveness Yes
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 Human nature intrigues us to compare our work to our peers and to try to produce a better product than them.

Environmental factors that may impact the learner-centered instruction

Analyzing the environment is a means to identify (a) the process of the design and production, (b) the implementation, and (c)the outcomes of the learning experience.
Design and Production Factors:
Factors Description
Advantage or Constraint
 Initial Ideas for Maximizing Positive Factors or Minimizing Negative Factors
Budget available None
Use available technology.
Material Required Textbooks, paper for printer, graphics of lab equipment
+
 Student will be given the opportunity to locate their own lab equipment graphics, but for those who need assistance, appropriate graphics will be saved on the server in advance of the lesson.
Production Equipment Available

Hardware: Computer lab, LCD Projector, speakers, printer, Ethernet connection; Software: United Streaming, Internet Explorer, StarOffice Writer and StarOffice Draw
-
 If any of these items are missing, broken, or unavailable, then the lesson will be negatively effected.
Time for Design & Production (3) 90 minute class periods
+
 This lesson will take about the same amount of time as a "traditional" lab safety book/worksheet/quiz class periods. This lesson will be more learner-centered and project-based while incorporating technology at the same time!
Department Technology Requirements AUP signed by parents
-
 Teacher should make sure that all students have returned this form before computers can be used.
Implementation Factors
Factors Description
Advantage or Constraint
 initial Ideas for Maximizing Positive Factors or Minimizing Negative Factors
Class size 16
+
 Because of the small class size, students will be able to see the video well and there will be enough working PCs in the lab.
Class period Length 90 minutes
+
 Long, uninterrupted class time.
Location Seating Arrangement PC lab
-
 Unfortunately the seating arrangement is permanent. Labs are in a "W" shape so the teacher isn't able to monitor students well.
Lighting Fair
-
 Window doesn't have curtain; all lights are on one switch instead of two.
Temperature Good
-
 Room temp is usually okay
Noise Close door to hallway
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 There may be a higher than normal noise level in the lab due to the video and students helping each other.
Equipment Lab
Teacher must know how to reserve the lab.
Technology Support Me
I will be there to help the teacher with all of the technology issues.
Outcome Factors
State Requirements 8.1, 8.3, 8.4 science TEKS; TA TEKS
+
 Lesson addresses 8th grade science TEKS as well as the appropriate TA TEKS
Employer Needs Technology skills and time
-
 Teacher needs time to adequately research and plan lessons to this extent.
Co-worker needs

Lab reservation system
+
 A lab reservation system is in place and needs to be used so all teachers know the availability status of the lab.
Student needs Presentation
+
 Students need to present their project.
Other Factors

Content

Analyzing content is a means to identify in general items the topics to be addressed in our lesson and to analyze these topics in terms of the requisite sub-topic, and degree of learning difficulty.
Main Topic Sub-Topics
Readiness to Learn
 Possible Instructional Strategies to Reduce or Manage Learning Difficulty
Conduct lab investigations using safe, environmentally appropriate, and ethical practices.
  • watch safety video
  • teacher presents lab equipment
  • teacher leads discussion about lab procedures
Ready - At this age, students are ready to watch, listen, and contribute to discussion
  • Students will have hands-on access to lab equipment
  • Teacher will lead Q and A throughout the video session
Know names and how to properly use lab equipment
  • search for lab equipment graphics and information on the Internet
  • create a technology integrated project based product.
Students will need guidance
  • I will be in the lab to assist the students and the teacher in technology issues that arise
  • Teacher will list Internet websites for the students to use
  • Teacher will demo several project based products as examples
  • Teacher will have saved graphics in advance of the class for those students who need research help
  • Teacher will announce a time limit for student creativity time
Present product to peer and teacher
  • students will exchange each others product
  • students will follow the product's directions
  • students will complete the product
  • students will give the product back its owner.
  • students will discuss the pros and cons of the product.
 Ready - At this age, students have experienced exchanging work
  • Teacher will remind students to give constructive criticism to classmates
  • Teacher will give a time limit before students exchange products.