Instructional Approaches!
For Week 2 of classes we were asked to read an article and look through Dr. Smirnova's Powerpoint and take notes on different Instructional Approaches. I learned about the different models, strategies, methods and skills that can help facilitate instruction.
Here is some information I learned and summarized into bullets:
1. Direct Instruction: Teacher Directed, questioning, lecture, structured overview, explicit teaching, compare and contrast, mastery lecture, demonstrations, etc.
2. Indirect Instruction: Student centered, story telling, oral tradition, case studies, Inquiry, reflection, critical examination of contemporary issues, problem solving, reading for meaning, inquiry, reflective discussion, concept formation
3. Interactive Instruction: 2 way communication and discussion, debates, role playing, lab groups, panels, cooperative problem solving, brainstorming, cooperative problem solving, talking circles, dialectal thinking, consensus and decision making.
4. Experiential Learning: Inductive, learner centered, and actively oriented, oral history interviews, surveys, simulations, role play, games, field trips, experiments.
5. Independent Study: range of instructional methods to foster the development of individual student initiative, self reliance and self improvement, responsible decision making, essays, hw, assigned questions, reports, computer assisted instruction, learning contracts, journals, research projects.

I also learned about important Social Studies elements:
-Meaningful
-Integrative
-Value-based
-Challenging
-Active

In addition I also learned about assessment! Here is what I found:
1. Readiness - skill, content knowledge, concepts
2. Interest - interest surveys, interest centers, self selection.
3. Learning Profile - Areas of strength and weaknesses, work preferences, self awareness

There are three main types of Assessment:
Pre-assessment
Formative Assessment
Summative Assessment

I also read through the other articles that Dr. Smirnova sent to us on eclass. I found the article called Powerful Teaching and Learning to be informational but to the point. This article discussed how to meet the Social Studies Standards and principles of teaching and learning. My favorite part of the article was in the last chapter that discusses Schools as a place to learn and not just a space. I completely agree with this statement. Schools are often looked at as just a "place" from children and so children focus on just getting through their day. School should not be about eventually making money but about growing as individuals and learning new things. It is our job as educators to create a place where students want to learn and want to be in school. NOT because they have to!