Month: March 2017

Note Taking Styles and Strategies

Sheldon Soper

Taking notes is a vital skill in acquiring and retaining knowledge. Unfortunately, note-taking skills are not always explicitly taught in schools, or, when they are, they are often taught in a one-size-fits-all manner. A teacher or tutor can have an immediate positive impact by matching a student to a note-taking style that blends their learning style and organizational preference.

Here are some potential note-taking styles and strategies you can offer to your students. By presenting multiple options, you allow your students to choose an organizational method that works best for their needs.

 

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Using Innovation Competitions to Motivate Students

Sheldon Soper

Over the past 20 years, advancements in science, technology, and communication have transformed our world. If you trace any one of these advancements back to their roots, you are likely to uncover the story of a person or team who dared to break from traditional thinking and approach a common problem in a new way.

Whether it’s a billionaire visionary like Bill Gates who transformed the way the world uses computers, a team of innovative mathematicians like the women featured in the hit film Hidden Figures who revolutionized space travel, or a student inventor like Alexis Lewis who transformed how first-responders save lives, this is what innovation is all about.

In today’s world, the demand for innovation continues to grow. As a result, the focus of traditional learning paradigms needs to shift.

In the 21st century, simply finding creative ways to expose students to curricular content isn’t enough. Educators, whether teachers or tutors, have a responsibility to include opportunities for students to apply knowledge in innovative ways. One great way to bring this type of opportunity to your students is through participation in innovation competitions…

 

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Using Activity Lists to Differentiate Instruction

Sheldon Soper

One of the key components in effective differentiated instruction is providing students with the opportunity to make the decisions that guide their learning.

When teachers differentiate based upon their students’ various skill levels or interests, the impact on student learning can be remarkable. However, when teachers empower their students to make those learning decisions for themselves, the results can be transformative.

One practical way to give students this type of learning experience is through the use of activity lists.

 

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