| The
Who-Am-I? program contributes to help students build a
positive self-image, allows for cooperative learning (online and locally),
and development of peer relationships.
Scott L. Day's article about
"Effective
Instruction of Students at Risk of Failure" contains interesting notes
on the approach assumed used in
Who-Am-I? :
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Allow for student-centered learning by letting
students explore, review, and carry out assignments and solve problems in
pairs without depending on the teacher... Giving them cooperative learning
partners provides hope and opportunity... Cooperative learning
methods are consistently effective in increasing student achievement (Slavin
& Madden, 1989). They consistently give outcomes as self-esteem, intergroup
relations, acceptance of academically handicapped students, attitudes toward
school, and ability to work cooperatively.
-
Activities and contexts should be meaningful
to students so they will make connections between classroom learning and
the world outside the school. (Means, 1997; Means & Knapp, 1991)
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At-risk students are typically in need of caring
and committed peer relationships, social support, and positive
self-images, as well as motivation for higher achievement; cooperative
learning experiences supply these specific benefits.
-
The teacher performs more as a facilitator or
mentor rather than a traditional instructor.
-
When given a challenging, interesting work to
do with a partner in a special classroom with special tools, and when
empowered to control their pace and behaviour, these students were motivated
to remain engaged and learn. Their resulting successes .. gave them feelings
of pride and accomplishment they did not feel elsewhere.
Motivating students to learn is highlighted in
an article published by Education Week (USA) called
"Worlds
Apart". Many teachers reports that
students find
Who-Am-I? relevant to their lives.
Sometimes, someone
may be expressing doubts about the learning effectiveness of ICT
(information and communications technology). The British
ImpaCT2 study provides interesting
insights. It is a major study carried out between 1999 and 2002 involving
60 schools in England. Here are some of its key findings:
-
In every case except one the study found evidence
of a positive relationship between ICT use and educational attainment.
-
In none of the comparisons made between the
attainment of groups of pupils with different levels of ICT use was there
a statistically significant advantage to groups with lower ICT use.
-
A statistical significant positive association
between ICT and higher achievement in National Tests for English was
found.
-
Positive associations were also found for
mathematics, science, design, technology, and foreign languages.
Does investing in education
reduce poverty? Evidence from Ghana, Uganda and South Africa (20 August
2003)
Next page:
What does "Who Am I?"
offer students?
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