Theories and Factors That Affect Student Learning

Reba Goodman
MTTC summer 05

Factors Impacting Learner-centered Instruction

Analyzing the student learners is a means to identify the learner characteristics that will likely impact the process and outcomes of the learning experience.

Factors	Description	Learning Environment: Resource (+) or Constraint (-)		Initial Ideas for Maximizing Positive Factors or Minimizing Negative Factors
Age/Academic Range	12 - 14 years old	+		Plan for cooperative learning strategies appropriate for this age group.
Sex Distribution	varies by class	+	-	Classes with close to equal balances tend to work best.
Racial, Ethnic Diversity	70% Caucasian 30% Hispanic	+		Students are exposed to diverse backgrounds and ideas.
Educational Level	8th Grade	+		Single grade classes at the middle school level are important for skill development.
Disability or Impairment	Learning Disabled (LD)		-	Modifications and monitoring of student work as a daily task.
Developmentally Appropriate	All students are developmentally appropriate.	+		Age appropriate expectations are maintained in the classroom.
Prerequisite Knowledge	Basic technology skills Use of Photoshop Elements would be helpful but not necessary	+		Some students have been working with Photoshop Elements in other classes.
Related Experience	Use Idioms in writing.	+		Have students relate the activity to enhance their own writing for school or personal projects.
Perception of Role as Student	Students are eager to use Photoshop Elements while working in the computer lab.	+		Discuss the use of Photoshop Elements as a means to illustrate writing.
Motivation for Learning	Creating illustrations that are fun and interesting.	+		Have students discuss what the final project will be like.
Attitude Toward Subject	Students like the creative parts of the software	+		Build on their interest of the software to enhance their illustrations of their writing.
Expectations from session	To learn to use Photoshop Elements as an illustration tool.	+		Build confidence with writing and technology skills.
Competitiveness			-	Not a factor in this lesson.
Environment factors that may impact learner-centered instruction. 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
Factors	Description	Advantage or Constraint		Initial Ideas for Maximizing Positive Factors or Minimizing Negative Factors
Design and Production Factors:
Budget Available	NA			Requires no additional funding
Materials Required	Computer Lab Software: Photoshop Elements	+		Students will meet in the computer lab rather than in our standard classroom during the completion of this project.
Production Equipment Available	Computers and printer	+		Students will work in the computer lab for entire project.
Time for Design and Production	This project will take two or three days to complete.	+		Monitoring students and progress on a daily basis.
Department Technology Requirements	Assist teachers and students as needed.	+		Teachers are responsible for integrating technology into their curriculum. .
Implementation Factors:
Class Size	18 - 24	+		Computer lab has 24 computers
Class Period Length	1 - 50 minute class period each day.	+
Location	Computer lab.	+		Students will be directed to meet in the computer lab during this project rather than reporting to the regular classroom.
Seating Arrangement	At available computer	+
Lighting	NA			NA
Temperature	air conditioning in labs for comfort			The air is on an automatic control system.
Noise	Soft voices	+		The lab rules are for using soft voices.
Equipment	24 computers in lab	+		Each student should have their own computer.
Technology Support	Technology teacher is somewhat available		-	Technology teacher is in the room next door for help if needed. However, the tech teacher has a class going on at the same time.
Outcome Factors:
State Requirements	TA TEKS 6 -8	+		Provides framework for instruction.
Employer Needs	N/A
Co-worker Needs	N/A
Student Needs	Learn to use Photoshop Elements for illustrations. Incorporate Idioms into writing.	+		Positive impact on learning and grades.
Other Factors:

Content factors that may impact learner-centered instruction. Analyzing the content is a means to identify in general terms the topics to be addressed in your course and to analyze these topics in terms of the prerequisite sub-topics, and degree of learning difficulty
Main Topics	Sub-Topics (What Is Involved In Learning Each Main Topic?)	Readiness To Learn (Prerequisites Mastered)	Degree of Learning Difficulty (Real / Imagined)	Possible Instructional Strategies to Reduce or Manage Learning Difficulty
1. Identify idioms	vocabulary skills and writing skills	Ability to write.	Real -Diverse writing levels in one class. Imagined -Difficulty with writing idioms.	Have a list of idioms available for students.
2. Illustrate an idiom.	Designing an illustration using design techniques.	Basic understanding of Photoshop Elements.	Real -Will have some difficulty in using the software Photoshop Elements.	Review concepts and have the students pre-draw each idiom.
3. Create a technology rich lesson.	Using the computer lab as a class to integrate technology into the LA curriculum.	Previous experience in the computer lab.	Real - Using Photoshop Elements to create the desired meaning.	Teacher will provide directions and examples of quality work.