Australian classroom teacher homework practices in designing homework learning resources

There has been considerable research into the design and development of teaching and learning resources for classroom instruction. However, far less research emphasis exists concerning the design and development of learning resources for homework and out-of-school learning. In Australia the approach tends to be a classroom-up approach to the design, development and implementation of learning resources. In this approach, the classroom teachers’ role is of critical importance in designing, developing and implementing learning resources that support homework. In this respect, Horsley and Walker (2012) have found that a relationship exists between classroom teachers’ homework practices and the teaching and learning resource base of these practices.This paper presents preliminary results from a research investigation concern-ing the approach taken by two primary classroom teachers in the design, development and use of homework teaching and learning resources. The research explored teacher perspectives on homework practices using focus groups, and examined actual teacher homework practices using a stimulated recall method

Suggestopedic mobile language learning

The use of suggestopedic teaching methods has been shown to be effective in the domain of language learning. Suggestopaedia is a classroom teaching method that employs certain strategies to enable learners to relax in order to enable more effective learning both consciously and subconsciously. The use of mobile technologies to support language learning has also become very useful and popular. This paper proposes the amalgamation of the two approaches to enable a mobile suggestopedic platform and demonstrates empirical evidence linked to the success of this approach on languge learning. The design of a Suggestopedic mobile language learning app is discussed together with different target groups of learners that can benefit from this type of teaching. Design, development and evaluation of this app forms our future work

Key Elements in Conducting Communicative Approach to Language Teaching

In conducting communicative approach in ELT classroom, some key elements should be taken into consideration: syllabus design; the relation between the teacher and learner, accuracy and fluency, learning and acquisition; teaching and learning activities in CLT including communicative tasks, materials employed in teaching, usual classroom activities, and typical communicative activities under this approach. With all these considered, can CLT be possibly carried on in ELT classroom fully and efficiently. Key words: Communicative language teaching; Syllabus design; Classroom activitie

Second Life as a Learning and Teaching Environment for Digital Games Education

Previous studies show that online virtual worlds can contribute to the social aspects of distance learning, improve student engagement, and enhance students’ experience as a whole [4]; [3]. This paper reviews previous research of using online virtual worlds in teaching and learning, compares Second Life with traditional classroom sessions and the Blackboard, and discusses the benefits and problems of using virtual environments in the post-sixteen education and how they affect students’ learning. It also reports a study of using Second Life as an educational environment for teaching games design at undergraduate level, and investigates the impacts and implications of online virtual environments on learning and teaching processes and their application to digital games education. The sample was 27 first year students of the Computer Games Modelling and Animation course. Students’ views on using Second Life for learning and teaching were collected through a feedback questionnaire. The results suggest that virtual learning environments like Second Life can be exploited as a motivational learning tool. However, problems such as identify issues and lacking of role markers may change student behaviour in virtual classroom. We discuss this phenomenon and suggest ways to avoid it in the preparation stage

Research on Smart Classroom Teaching Based on Learning Science

The promulgation of the Chinese Compulsory Education Curriculum Standards (2022 Edition) has defined the new teaching pattern of core literacy orientation. The core of the smart classroom is to enable learning to take place in the classroom and nourish literacy. In the context of learning science, the design of intelligent classroom teaching problems is of great significance. Question-oriented teaching is the concrete manifestation of the smart classroom, and its significance lies in the following aspects. Firstly, it provides contextuality. Context problems, known as driving problems, will drive students’ desire to explore. Secondly, it provides a sense of meaning. Problems will make students connect with the real world, thus starting their own learning system. Thirdly, it provides integrity. Lecture-based teaching based on knowledge points often leads to the phenomenon of “seeing only the part but not the whole”. The concept-based problem will form a systematic integration of scattered knowledge. The design of smart classroom teaching problems needs to be based on learning science, in-depth analysis of learners’ characteristics and habits, comprehensive use of learning science research results, technical means and new technologies, and design reasonable teaching programs to meet learners’ needs to the maximum extent, so as to make smart classroom teaching more scientific and effective

Pedagogy Embedded in Educational Software Design: Report of a Case Study

Most educational software is designed to foster students' learning outcomes but with little consideration of the teaching framework in which it will be used. This paper presents a significantly different model of educational software that was derived from a case study of two teachers participating in a software design process. It shows the relationship between particular elements of the teachers' pedagogy and the characteristics of the software design. In this model the 'classroom atmosphere' is embedded in the human-computer interface scenarios and elements, the 'teaching strategy' in the design of the browsing strategies of the software, and the 'learning strategy' in the particular forms of interaction with the software. The model demonstrates significant links between the study of Pedagogy and the study of Information Technology in Education and has implications for the relationship between these two areas of research and consequently for teacher training. The model proposes a perspective on educational software design that takes into consideration not only learning theories, but also teaching theories and practice

Principles for Designing Teaching and Learning Spaces

"The Principles for Designing Teaching and Learning Spaces consider the classroom environment within the context of what is known about students’ learning. These Principles are then translated into specific design features to guide design decisions, such that learning spaces become a physical manifestation of the university’s teaching and learning vision.

Flexible Classroom Design And Its Effects On Student-Centered Teaching And Learning

Despite the vast amount of research around the development of modern instructional practices in public education, there is little motivation into adapting the classroom environment to match. This has resulted in a persisting passive model of teaching due to common misconceptions about how students learn and the impacts of classroom design. The purpose of this capstone project is to present the significant influences of the classroom environment by investigating the research question, how can physical classroom design be used to facilitate the implementation of modern teaching practices and create the most effective instructional environment for student learning? Contemporary teaching and learning methods were researched in addition to the classroom design parameters that could facilitate these processes, before concluding the necessity for flexibility both in pedagogy and environment. This capstone discovered that the classroom furniture is the most effective way to facilitate this and create more active student-centered learning. Through the presentation of this research, as well as examples of modern and future furniture designs, this project demonstrates the possibilities and effects of a flexible classroom design. Notwithstanding the evidence, this research and the resulting furniture designs are only effective if used by the very education professionals that will be responsible for instituting a more active student-centered learning environment

Innovative teaching strategies: enhancing the soft-skilloriented approach through integrated onsite-online learning environments

ABSTRACT The integration of ICT in Higher Education requires reflective design by teachers. In particular, from recent international research on the subject, it emerges that the perspective of the TPCK framework (Technological, Pedagogical, Content Knowledge) can favour an effective design reasoning of teachers. Teaching practice requires the implementation of innovative organizational models for the creation of learning environments that offer continuity between classroom and distance learning (Hybrid Instruction Solution). The empirical mix-method research involved a group of volunteer teachers of different teachings. The objective was to design and implement innovative teaching solutions using ICT in onsite/online environments to enhance specific soft skills in students. The results of a questionnaire (CAWI) given to incoming and outgoing teachers from the experience of designing and conducting the didactic action will be presented. the TPCK perspective design of integrated learning environments and the reasoned choice of coherent methodologies seem to make a soft-skilloriented didactics feasible

Helping design educators foster collaborative learning amongst design students

This paper discusses the development of online teaching resources that enable design educators to foster collaborative learning amongst students in the design disciplines. These online teaching resources will be made available through the Design Collaboration website. This website was recently set up by Northumbria University, a UK based institution, to provide an online resource for design educators wishing to develop collaborative pedagogies in design education. It currently contains case studies of collaborative student projects but lacks practical teaching resources. As a result, a research project was set up to compliment the current case studies by creating a suite of design-specific tools and resources that will help foster team management and development. Although various institutions have addressed the subject of group work and collaborative learning, there has been no online resource dedicated to the development of practical teaching tools to help design students work and learn together. This paper focuses on showcasing the range of teaching tools and resources developed through classroom-based trials. These resources have been developed specifically in consultation with Northumbria University's design educators and trialled with undergraduate and postgraduate students from different design disciplines. In addition, issues surrounding the translation of these tools into a practical, easy to use and accessible in an online format is discussed. The Icograda World Design Congress 2009 Education Conference is the ideal international platform to share these tools with the wider design education community. More importantly, we hope to grow the website by encouraging other design educators to submit case studies to the website, using it not only as a means of sharing good practice but also as a tool for reflection. The research value is two-fold (a) translating implicit knowledge of collaborative learning into a practical teaching resource and, (b) helping tutors improve their teaching practice, by linking the teaching resource to real experiences through case studies and interviews