Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Engaging Students during Instruction Essay Example for Free

Engaging Students during Instruction Essay Differentiated instruction is the critical element of effective education. Differentiated instruction guarantees that the learning needs of every student are satisfied. Bloom’s taxonomy can be used to determine the level of individual learners’ thinking, while Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences can help evaluate the level of learners’ knowledge and determine the ways to enhance this knowledge by using differentiated instructional strategies. Engaging Students during Instruction Differentiated instruction is the critical element of effective education. Differentiated instruction guarantees that the learning needs of every student are satisfied. Bloom’s taxonomy and Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences are the two complementary models that can be used to develop differentiated instructional strategies in any type of learning environment. Out of many educational researchers, B. Bloom is considered one of the most prominent education professionals in the 20th century. â€Å"Bloom and his colleagues undertook the daunting task of creating taxonomy of educational objectives† (Tomlinson, 1999). It should be noted that Bloom has initially concentrated his attention on differentiating the learning objectives; thus, his taxonomy can be successfully applied to differentiate between the learning outcomes for different groups of learners. Howard Gardner was deeply involved into researching human creative abilities (Gardner, 1993). The result of his profound investigation is reflected in the discovery of eight levels of intelligence (knowing). Each of these multiple intelligences can be used to determine the level of knowledge for a particular learner, and to develop the set of strategies to address the most significant knowledge gaps. In many instances, the combination of the two learning theories will serve the basis for the creation and implementation of effective instructional approaches that will satisfy the learning needs of all types of learners. In reality, both Bloom’s taxonomy and Gardner’s multiple intelligences create a stable framework for successful learning. Each lesson must have individualized learning objectives, a clear set of instructional strategies, and a choice of evaluation criteria, but these elements cannot be developed and applied without sound knowledge of Bloom’s and Gardner’s learning theories. Each lesson should be characterized by â€Å"a variety of teacher techniques aimed at reaching students at all levels† (Skowron, 2001), and by engaging all students into discussion. Here, Bloom’s taxonomy will be used to determine the level of individual learners’ thinking, while Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences will be used to evaluate the level of learners’ knowledge and the ways to enhance this knowledge using differentiated instructional strategies. Gardner pays special attention to non-linguistic intelligences, including bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, musical, and naturalist learner abilities (Gardner, 1993). Gardner’s theory can be used to â€Å"convey learning experiences with understanding of the many different ways individuals gain mastery in their learning processes† (Tomlinson, 1999). However, Gardner’s approaches are limited to knowledge and comprehension areas of instructional design, while Bloom’s taxonomy further expands to setting clear objectives and evaluating the learning outcomes through the prism of six different levels of learning. Gardner’s multiple intelligences and Bloom’s taxonomy form a detailed observation of the learners’ style, needs, abilities, and knowledge. The two theories create an excellent combination that will motivate students to learn. â€Å"With the outcomes clearly defined for students, the possibility exists that they will feel more challenges; they may motivate them to push on to the next levels of understanding† (Skowron, 2001). At each level of student intelligence, a variety of instructional strategies can be implemented to satisfy the widest range of the learning needs, and to ensure that each of Bloom’s learning outcomes is achieved by all groups of learners. When learners are aware of the six groups of learning outcomes (Bloom’s taxonomy) they may also choose, whether they need to work on their strongest intelligences, or whether they should concentrate on their weaker intelligence sides to achieve the anticipated outcomes in particular learning process. Thus, the combination of Bloom’s taxonomy and Gardner’s learning theory offers substantial freedom for student participation in the learning process (Tomlinson, 1999). Bloom’s taxonomy and Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences offer better choice and independence to students, creating favorable conditions for developing and implementing differentiated instructional approaches in classroom. References Gardner, H. (1993). Multiple intelligences: the theory in practice. New York: Basic Books. Skowron, J. (2001). How to differentiate instruction. In J. Skowron, Powerful lesson planning models, Arlington Heights, IL. Tomlinson, C. A. (1999). The differentiated classroom responding to the needs of all learners. ASCD. Paper responses Daniel’s paper Daniel is very correct: there is no â€Å"one size fits all† in education. Differentiated instruction should stem from the optimal combination of learning theories and approaches. Piaget’s epistemological theory and Gardner’s multiple intelligences form a good combination of differentiated approaches toward instruction, and Daniel uses a simple and effective mathematical example to illustrate his findings. However, Daniel’s work also implies that there is unlimited number of theoretical combinations that can be used to differentiate instruction. I think and agree with Daniel that by using only one theory, instructional professionals risk losing significant learning benefits that each learning theory offers.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Controversy with Women and the Novel :: Free Essay Writer

Women and the Novel â€Å"Novels on novels–shelves on shelves arise, of various merit, as of various size: But good and bad, promiscuous as they fall, A greedy host advance, and swallow all Like Egypts reptile race, they crowd their way, Nor rank nor age, nor place, their progress stay, They throng the gaudy mansions of the great; they greet the poor pan in his humbler state; nor in the proudest dome or meanest hovel, can human blood and flesh resist a novel" (Ware) During the 18th century a new genre of reading came into existence: novels. â€Å"Novels were different from earlier prosefiction [as they abandoned] traditional structure: (Kerber 236). Novels allowed readers to experience other people’s lives. â€Å"Characters became real people with real names who led lives much like those of their readers† (Kerber 236). As books became more readily accessible novels became increasingly popular especially with women. This is where the problems began. A woman’s responsibility (according to the patriarch society) was to the home–to raise her children to be good Christians and to be servile to her husband in all things. Some people began to feel that reading distracted women from their duties. This is illustrated in the following poem. And see! They mount the toilet of the fair, and seek and find an easy homage there. Domestick drudery can scarce advance it’s claims in competition with romance grumbling the brother or the husband goes and thus discovers, that romantick scenes are not the thing for ladies in their teens. Balls parties mean-times, are alike forgot; Poor Byron lies unread, and Walter Scott: cares, duties, pleasures without notice pass; And everything neglected, but the glass– (Ware) There was a real fear that reading novels would disrupt the woman’s duties by giving them "false ideas of life and particularly made women unsuited for and unhappy with the domestic roles for which society destined them" (Nienkamp xiv).

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Importance of Being Earnest Essay

The Importance of Being Earnest is a serious comedy about trivial matters The Importance of being Earnest is a play that satirizes the Victorian upper classes. In the play, Oscar Wide makes fun of the upper class in many ways. Most commonly, Wilde does this by using comic irony, humor, and witty statements. However, if we look deeper into the text, a lot of the trivial matters characters discuss have a serious side to them. Wilde uses these matters to satirize the Victorian upper even more. The seriousness of death is taken light-heartedly in the play. Rather than associating death with sadness and suffering and grief Jack and Algy portray death as a method of conveniently eliminating unwanted people, whether imaginary or not. When Algy confesses that Bunbury is â€Å"Quite Exploded† something comical arises – however, his amusing phrase also has some serious implications. Although at first the fact that Bunbury has exploded may be hilarious, it is also shocking to some of the characters in the play, as Bunbury was â€Å"supposed† to be very close to Algy. Furthermore, Algy talks about his death so lightly, that it makes it seem as if Algy couldn’t care less about losing a close friend. The worst part about the way Algy communicates Bunbury’s death, is that he never admits that Bunbury never existed and lies to all the characters who felt truly sorry for Bunbury. Jack also tells Algy, â€Å"If Gwendolen accepts me, I am going to kill my brother† because â€Å"Cecily is a little too much interested in him. † Another trivial moment is when Jack admits to smoking in front of Lady Bracknell. Lady Bracknell’s replies with: â€Å"Every man should have an occupation of some kind†. Although the audience may laugh at this moment, Wilde shows how the Victorian upper class had absolutely no work to do – and therefore categorized smoking as an occupation. Cucumber sandwiches also are also used to criticize the British upper classes. â€Å"No cucumber sandwiches! † shows the absurdness of the upper classes. The scene and dialog is certainly comical, however, it shows how dramatic and over- the –top the British upper class was. Moreover, in the Victorian Era, The Importance of Being Earnest was watched by middle classes as well was the upper class; the scene must have told the Middle classes a lot about the upper class, especially when they were dramatizing trivial matters like not having cucumber sandwiches. The Name â€Å"Earnest† is also very important in the play, as this too is an example of triviality and seriousness. Gwenolden states that her â€Å"ideal has always been to love some one of the name of Ernest†. Cecily says she pities â€Å"married woman whose husband is not called Ernest. † The name Earnest in itself is a very trivial thing. Although the name Earnest â€Å"inspires utter confidence† Wilde makes fun of the fact that both Jack and Algy are very unhonest men. A name does not define the person’s personality or values, however the triviality of the name Ernest is taken out of proportions and treated very seriously in the play. In conclusion, Wilde satirizes the Victorian upper class by making fun of their trivial matters that they treat seriously. Wilde almost swaps seriousness and triviality around so that serious issues are treated trivially and trivial issues are treated seriously. Although back in 19th Century the Victorian classes may have found the play hilarious, today we have a broader view and are able to understand Wilde’s message about the Victorian upper classes more. In fact, Wilde originally subtitled The Importance of Being Earnest â€Å"A Serious Comedy for Trivial People† but changed that to â€Å"A Trivial Comedy for Serious People†. – Isn’t that the same thing though?

Saturday, January 4, 2020

The Melting Pot Of The United States - 1037 Words

From the birth of the United States, immigrants have always caused an environment something more representative of a big melting pot. In terms of cooking a melting pot is used for melting metals or other substances are melted or fused together (Dictionary.com).On the other hand in a nation, a melting pot is a place where a variety of races, cultures, or individuals assimilate into a cohesive whole (Dictionary.com). Which in retrospect do not fall very far from each other in terms of literal definitions. Both simply mean the fusing of different things together, whether that be metals, cheeses, or cultures. Immigrants who have been accepted into this â€Å"Melting Pot† society have found it very difficult to live in a new place and also be able to express themselves the way they deem worthy. Many immigrants are almost forced to let their culture and heritage become a joke for the sake of being accepted. Just because people think it is okay to demoralize someone and what they bel ieve in does not mean that the other people agree with the occurring of the events. It is just that for the sake of blending in and keeping things at peace immigrants have kept their mouth shut for ages. There comes a time when the immigrants themselves begin to believe the joke that their culture has become and embrace it as if it were their own. Some cultures and heritages get lost and people begin to forget what actually was and not what it is has become. There has been some sort of debate about certainShow MoreRelatedThe United States As A Melting Pot Of Nations975 Words   |  4 Pages The United States is commonly know as a melting pot of nations, in which people from around the world have emigrated to form a homogeneous yet varied culture. Although we come from different ethnic groups, we are usually bound together through our common English language. 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As immigration began to explode, . . . a cult of ethnicity erupted both betweenRead MoreThe United States Of America Is Considered A Melting Pot Of Heritages And Nationalities From All Around The World1689 Words   |  7 PagesMichalina Skwiot Dr. Shahrokhi SW215 Being Human 21 April 2016 Citizenship The United States of America is considered a melting pot of heritages and nationalities from all around the world. There is no official language, and no one culture all citizens abide by. Despite the fact that everyone in this country is different from one another, there is still a constant uniform citizen that has a more favorable position. This citizen is white, English-speaking, and somehow always in the front of theRead MoreMelting Pot Vs Salad Bowl Essay795 Words   |  4 Pagesof the most advanced societies known for having many cultures in it, is it a melting pot or a salad bowl? Salad bowl referring to it takes in the culture and is never changed and just mixes in, while melting pot means that it takes in the culture, â€Å"melts† it down, and has one American society. Hudson 1 I believe that American is a mix between a melting pot and a salad bowl, meaning that I believe in the part of melting pot where it â€Å"melts† down a culture and mixes it in, but some of it isn’t â€Å"melted†Read MoreImmigrant Influence On Culture And Society1010 Words   |  5 Pages The United States has been called different terms when describing immigration, the most popular term was â€Å"melting pot†, but lately the more politically correct term is â€Å"salad bowl†. The melting pot better describes American society because the cultures have blended together and became more accepting of each other. The history of immigration in the United States has been greatly shaped by immigrant influence on culture and society, the nation’s fluid immigration laws, and how incoming immigrantsRead MoreThe Effects Of Immigration On The United States887 Words   |  4 PagesThe number of immigrants, legal or illegal, living in the United States has fluctuated over the years, but it does not hide the fact that the American Dream still acts as a beacon to foreigners. People believe coming to America is the key to a better life. With the overflow of our new neighbors, we transform from a single society into a mixture of several cultures. Immigration is cau sing America to become a tossed salad society (a society in which ethnic and racial groups maintain separate identitiesRead MoreAmeric The American Dream936 Words   |  4 PagesPeople from other nations come to the United States of America as a sign of change in their lives, but some people don’t agree with all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labors and future generations will one day cause great change in the world. Many people come to America to live as a new person and in a new life. In the 1770s people from Europe and they had risked their lives just to get to the New World, which was America. They had settled, made homes, they even participated in