Teaching at a private language institute in South Korea typically involved rote memorization through repetition in both speaking and writing. Students would drill vocabulary and sentence structure, but very rarely had the opportunity to use their creativity and express anything other than routine, scripted conversation.

If we can find ways to make learning and assessment both valuable and fun then students will not only be more invested in their learning, but may also be more likely to want to continue studying that subject.
Just as there is more than one way to learn, there is of course more than one way to express that learning. As a student of history and English I of course see and recognize the value of traditional assessment through essays and exams, but I believe that there is room in our instruction for assessment that allows students to make connections between their academic knowledge and the things they enjoy.

This comic strip is a first draft done by one of my grade 5 student named Lily. When I came back from Korea I brought some of the comic strips my students had created as keepsakes of my time there. Now I realize that this was the birthplace of my belief in constructivist student centred learning, where we place students as key contributors to their learning. What better way to ask a student to buy in, and invest in their own learning than by giving them the option to express that learning in ways that cater to their interests and strengths as learners.
I am planning to create a Bitstrips assignment to have students recreate Othello. I am planning to introduce it this week after using the Four Corners remix activity that Danika had us do in class. I think it's a great way to get students engaged. It also shows application because they are applying what they have learned from the play and adapting it into modern times.
ReplyDelete