M6 Reflection

How can I help my students become self-directed learners?

Getting students to take ownership for their work can be difficult. One of the methods that really struck me in this module was designing formative assessments that required self-directed behavior. The check list that I created will be an attempt to put the ownership on my students.

I think that modeling self-directed behavior in advance and during the unit should help them to know how to handle themselves when they get into a situation with less structure then they are used to. Having group or class discussions about the expectations at various points throughout the unit can be helpful too. Pointing out examples of good self-directed behaviors and praising them will also help.

How can I support the diverse needs of learners?

There are a number of different ways to differentiate for all learners in a PBL unit. The first thing will help with this process is to make sure that there are (or could be) parts of the unit that hit all different types of learning styles. Make sure that there are hands on activities, plenty of chances for discussion and collaboration. Have both times when heavy interaction is happening between studeents and others where there is quiet working conditions. Vary the range of ways that students and groups can publish or present their information. Secondly, effective grouping strategies can help out. A mix of different types of group activities will help to address many needs. Pair shares, popcorn, break outs, and many others. Thirdly, some built in scaffolding can help to meet the needs of all students.