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Constructivist Lesson Plan
http://constructivism512.pbworks.com/w/page/16397305/Lesson%20Plans
Case Study and Example Lesson Plans
Case Study:

Constructivist Lesson Plan
Case Study and Example Lesson Plans
Case Study:
Mr. V's grade two class is in the process of studying the life cycle of Pacific salmon. Mr. V is trying to teach one of the final lessons relating to salmon smolt. The objective of the lesson is to teach the students:
The potential hazards to the salmon smolt.
The relationship between the number of hazards and the effect on the size of the salmon population.
Consequences to the other members of the ecosystem.
(CAUTION: Remember this is a grade two class and the correlation between two variables may be difficult for them to initially understand.)
Background Information:
During the smolt stage of the salmon life cycle, the salmon leave the fresh water streams and rivers and enter the ocean through the estuary (where salt and fresh water mix). During this stage the salmon smolt are exposed to many hazards and dangers as they leave the safety of their home streams. Hazards include predators (birds, sea mammals etc.), and the degradation of the environment caused by pollution and other human encroachments (damns, farms etc.).
The Lesson:
Mr. V begins the lesson by allowing the students to have a brief "buddy talk" with another student in order to review the previous class' lesson. Mr. V then asks the students a few quick recall questions and begins the new lesson.
Mr.V continues the lesson by showing and explaining a brief PowerPoint slide show of the potential hazards faced by the salmon smolt. A few children ask questions regarding specifics including damns, farms, chemicals, and unknown animals. Mr. V then addresses any further questions the students may have regarding specifics about a hazard.
The students are then provided with a list of the following questions and are expected to respond working in groups.
a) Why are hazards dangerous for the salmon population?
b) What happens to the smolts if humans build more farms or damns?
c) What would happen to the heron population if humans pollute the water?
d) How could humans help the smolt population, and what benefits would humans see?
After 20 minutes the students are asked to share their responses. Mr.V observes that only one of the students has made the link between the increase in hazards and the decrease in salmon population. None of the students have made the link that a decrease in the smolt population caused by humans activities has an impact on other animals and natural predators in the ecosystem.

In conclusion, it is very easy to see how voicethread is a great tool that can be used by teachers in several different ways. If they are using this tool as a lecture device for in class students or through the process of distance learning they are a very valuable tool. The use of voicethread when used properly can be an outstanding example of meaningful learning being used in the classroom for a better learning environment for students of today.
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http://naturalselection23.wikispaces.com/home
Web Quest over natural selection.
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Using web quests projects to help students learn is a new tool that many teachers have started using. With technology on the rise and students learning and processing information at a higher rate each and every day, new tools must be considered for the new learner. Students of today have grown up in a vast society of highly technologically advanced individuals. With this being said the new idea of web quest usage has been very popular with teachers and students alike.
The web quest that I have designed is over the idea of natural selection. The activity starts out by giving students a scenario. The students are put in place of a wildlife biologist that has a question about the ecosystem around him. He has discovered a change in a population of rabbits in a specific area. The students are given basic information to help them discover the true reason that the change has occurred but not given the answer. The students get involved in meaningful learning to discover the answer to the problem that has been presented to them. The students begin the search for a reason this change has occurred through a Google search on the topic. The students are asked to look at three web sites that are about natural selection and how it can effect a population over an extended period of time. The students are asked to do research about the topic and begin to form a hypothesis.

Students can use excel in many ways as well. Students could begin to compile data in a lab situation. I would like to see students use excel when performing test in a lab situation that involves keeping track of numbers to give an average for the test. Students could also be given an excel document that is partially filled out and allow the students to do the research online to fill in the rest of the information needed for completion as an assignment.
It isn’t hard to see that excel can be an extremely useful tool when involving students in meaningful learning with technology. Students that have the ability to use excel can be better prepared for future learning in college. Also excel is heavily used in many working environments. I personally use excel on a daily basis. When first considering excel as a learning tool its hard to distinguish what it could be used for and how. After further investigation into the learning environment surrounding excel documents it becomes apparent that students can use this to learn on many different levels in multiple types of situations.
of thinking.
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