Bold School-Chapters 12 & 13
10/29--Problem Solving Teaching & Spaced vs. Mass Practice
Objectives for the Session
- Explore Spaced and Mass Practice best practices.
- Discuss Problem Solving teaching.
- Explore Flipgrid as a digital tool used to enhance Problem Solving teaching.
- Analyze how Spaced/Mass Practice and/or Problem Solving Teaching fit into meeting your academic outcomes.
- Map out our "What Next" steps.
Bell Work: QR Reader
Have you ever used a QR code reader to enhance your lessons? We're going to today!
Please choose one of the following:
Scan QR codes via the internet and your device camera: https://webqr.com/index.html
Use your iPhone:
- Open the Camera app from the Home screen, Control Center, or Lock screen.
- Select the rear facing camera. Hold your device so that the QR code appears in the viewfinder in the Camera app. Your device recognizes the QR code and shows a notification.
Use your Android:
- Samsung’s browser also has a built-in QR code reader that allows you to quickly scan a QR code when you need to.
- The feature is turned off by default, but you can enable it by opening up “Extensions” and then tapping on “Scan QR code.”
Once you're ready to go, get a QR Code from Mrs. Smith and open the attachment for a BOLD resource.
The Facts
- Individuals in spaced practice conditions performed significantly higher than those in massed practice conditions.
- Repeated retrieval of information boosts long-term retention.
- Repeated exposure makes learning sticky.
- Repeated exposure weaves new and old knowledge.
- Practice can be both spaced and mass with station rotation.
What and Why
"Problem solving teaching isn't about letting student solve a lot of problems on their own in class, following the steps you set out for them. It's about recreating in your classroom the circumstances of encountering an authentic problem." - Kieschnick
Problem Solving Teaching is -
- student driven
- rigorous learning
- productive struggle
- opportunity to develop grit, perseverance, and resilience
Problem solving teaching has a stellar .63 effect size (Hattie, 2015), but only when it is purposefully used to let kids struggle and develop tenacity along the way.
Five Step Process
Model Problem Solving
- Actually model the process you go through when finding a solution
- Come up with essential questions that must be answered to get started
- Model how you evaluate & decide what resources to use
- Articulate your thinking as you find the solution
Present Students with a New Problem
- Similar to the problem you modeled, but not too similar
- Don't want students just repeating your exact steps, just the process
- Allow productive struggle - this develops perseverance, grit, & gumption
Have a Class Discussion
- Lead a conversation about what information is needed before coming up with a solution
- Support them as they come up with the essential questions that will lead them to a solution
- Make sure to redirect students if they get off track
Set Them Free to Problem Solve
- Let students go about the resource and tool finding process on their own
- Let them decide how to solve the problem on their own
- Be available to provide support and guidance, but not solutions
- This is an excellent opportunity to integrate technology - whether it is researching, supporting the solution, or checking their solutions
Provide Three Rounds of Spaced Intervention
- An initial intervention aimed at making sure students are on the right track
- An intermediate intervention to scaffold for those students who are struggling
- A final, summative intervention in the last 5 or 10 minutes of classs where we stop shy of providing a step-by-step solution, but instead discuss the problem-solving process as a class
Three Things to consider
•Problem solving teaching works best after surface knowledge has been mastered
•Problem solving teaching means productive struggle within a structured process.
•Embrace technologies, provide guidelines.
Congratulations! What Next?
I'd like to invite you to share your experiences with the RSMS staff via video. Using the Sign-Up Genius below, please select two instructional strategies you plan on implementing and elevating with technology. We will set up a time for us to meet and then me video your BOLD teaching.
Don't forget your #ROCKBold Tweet!
Tag @AprilSmithRCS, #BoldSchool, and #ROCKBold.
April Smith
Email: smithapr@rcschools.net
Website: https://rsm.rcschools.net/apps/pages/technologycoach
Twitter: @AprilSmithRCS