Chapter 7 - Knowledge Construction

WHAT?
In class we learned that "Learning is an active process in which learners' construct their own meaning based on prior knowledge and experience." Learners all construct their understanding on their own or through the help of other people and through the experiences that they have. They each have their own unique interpretations and understanding of the events, theories and ideas that they experience both in the class and outside the class. The learners' schema helps them build upon and sometimes correct information they may have about an experience or topic they are learning about. Cultural experiences, family and many other factors help the learner build their schema and increase their knowledge. To help in their understanding, the learners' take the defining and correlating features and form a mental representation of the topic they are learning about by forming a prototype. As teachers, we need to provide opportunities that will help build our students' schema and learning experiences.

SO WHAT?
5 E’s Lesson Plan
Lesson Topics: Magnets

ENGAGE:
Conduct a teacher led experiment with magnets by having the students guess how many paperclips one type of magnets will hold in one continuous chain.
EXPLORE:
Divide the class into groups and give each group one magnet, making sure to give each group a different type of magnet. Have each group predict and then explore how many paperclips their magnet will hold in one continuous chain. After they test their findings with the paperclips, give each group other items to explore with the magnet and make predictions how may of each similar item the magnet will hold (also in one continuous chain).
EXPLAIN:
Each group will present their findings to the class for the paperclips and will demonstrate it for the class. They will then share their findings about the other items that they attracted to the magnet and how many of each item the magnet was able to hold in one continuous chain by the magnet.
ELABORATE:
Discuss as a class all the areas that we use magnets in our lives and their usefulness.
EVALUATE:
Have the students evaluate which group had the strongest magnet and categorize them according to strength from highest to lowest. Give an opportunity for each group to experience all the different types of magnets that each group used for their experience after the groups have presented their individual findings.

NOW WHAT?
As teachers, we need to help our students learn how to interpret the world and build their schema and understanding of the world around them. We need to provide activities and lessons that are engaging and allow for the students to explore and have the opportunity to explain their findings. We will help our students build their schema as we elaborate and help them understand how to apply their learning to their lives. As we evaluate their learning process, we will be able to understand what they have been able to comprehend and apply into their lives and what information we need to spend more time helping them understand.