Engaged Learning
Turning Up the H.E.A.T.
2 Prongs of 21st Century Engagement
In the H.E.A.T. Framework, we look at two ways to foster student engagement:
- Voice & Choice
- Collaboration
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Student Voice and Choice
Strategies for Giving Voice and Choice
Use Menus to give student choice within parameters.
Learning menus outline a variety of instructional options targeted toward important learning goals. Students are able to select the choices which most appeal to them. The teacher directs the menu process, but the student is given control over his/her choice of options, order of completion, etc.
Take a look at these example menus:
- Meaningful Menus for Student Choice
- What do you want to create today?
- Choice Boards
- Differentiate to Motivate
- NSWDEC BYOD Device Neutral Activity Matrix
- Show What You Know by Tony Vincent
Build in Voice & Choice Through the Process or Product
We cannot give students a choice as to what they will learn. Students must master the TEKS, and we must follow the curriculum. However, the process students follow and the product that they produce to show us that they have mastered the content are not mandated. Therefore, we can build in student voice and choice by giving students a say-so in process and/or product.
Choice in the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Environment
The BYOD environment lends itself to student choice. When students are using a multitude of different devices, teachers must design learning activities that can be completed using a number of tools. We call these Device Neutral Activities (DNAs) because the activity can be completed on various devices.
In a BYOD environment, instead of instructing students to complete a PowerPoint, the teacher would instruct the students to complete a presentation. The students, then, have a choice of completing their presentation with PowerPoint, a Prezi, a Haiku Deck, Animoto, or another tool.
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Collaboration
Strategies for Collaboration
Collaboration Through Technology
Use this Website as a place to gather ideas for how you might take collaboration beyond your classroom! Search through the lessons and/or scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and see links to guest speakers and even more resources.
Connect2Texas
Search through this database of upcoming distance learning events.