Traditionally we have asked students to learn skills and concepts before they understand the reason or purpose to learn them. If we present students with a problem as a context for students to apply skills, we can create a felt need in them to learn the skills and concepts."It can be easier just to present content to students; however, it is unlikely that they will remember it past the test, if that far. When students experience a felt need to learn, and they are provided with just-in-time instruction, they retain that learning."
Dr. Nancy Sulla - Students Taking Charge
Reflection Questions:
Think of the skills that you are most proficient with - give an example of a skill and your felt need to learn it.
When have you created a felt need in your students? How did it change their engagement with learning?
When I was in school, teachers told us we needed to know material just because. They didn't do a good job of connecting it to life. I feel as educators and even parents, we need to show our students the why they need to learn things. We almost need to give them a glimpse of the future: why do they need to learn biology? Geometry?
ReplyDeleteBy giving them that felt need, they can see the learning.