Resource-based Learning
Analogous to the way teachers plan
lessons around an essential question, students must plan their resource-based
learning project around an essential question. An essential question
helps guide student research and maintain focus on a certain topic. According
to a video about students at a public school in America, students work on an
independent project, which they are responsible for learning themselves.
Guidance Counselor Matt Powell states, “Its called The Independent Project, but
I really don’t think it could be more dependent on a number of things, this
program is really dependent on people working together…using resources and
finding those resources.” In a project such as the one described in the video,
social media could play a large role in communicating ideas and accumulating
resources from people outside of school.
Working on resource-based learning
projects allow students to take responsibility for their education. Students
are accountable through daily group meetings to discuss progress. In comparing
the independent project to “normal school,” one student states, “…letting eight
of your friends down, feels a lot different than getting a D on a test, it
feels a lot worse so in that way, there is a lot more pressure to do well than
in normal school.” This use of positive peer pressure can be a way to drive
students to achievement.
The freedom to explore unanswered
questions and research new knowledge is exciting for students. This is a new
way of learning that many have never experienced before in a
school-environment.
Many students,
however, have not yet acquired effective strategies of resource-based
learning….This conception of using concept-mapping technology for managing
knowledge and knowledge resources is quite concordant with a conception of
individual knowledge management as part of advanced self-regulated resource-based
learning Tergan, S.,
Gräber, W., & Neumann, A. (2006).
With endless options and freedom to explore, a
concept-mapping tool is a way for students to guide their learning. As an
instructor, it should be introduced as a suggested tool but not requirement, as
the idea of resource-based learning is not to set boundaries for students
learning. However, concept mapping can be helpful to students struggling to get
started and offering the mapping as a springboard and resource to utilize may
be beneficial.
References
Tergan, S., Gräber, W., & Neumann, A. (2006). Mapping and managing knowledge and information in resource‐based learning. Innovations In Education & Teaching International, 43(4), 327-336. doi:10.1080/14703290600973737
Tsai. C. 2013. Feb
13. If students designed their own
schools. [video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLdvMQ5zQgcGmRCPrGCuIcnmGWJT3vAUwb&v=RElUmGI5gLc
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