Double Entry Journal #6

1.  The "dominant paradigm" that is starting to show signs of wear is the instructional model that the teach and textbook are the main source for knowledge.  This model uses lecturing, discussion, and reading as the method for the delivery of knowledge.  Teachers are now moving towards methods that are more project and performance-based and changing their roles.

2.  Project-based learning supports student learning better than traditional approaches because students complete complex tasks that typically result in a realistic product, event, or presentation.  One benefit of project-based learning is an increase in the ability to define problems, as shown by research completed by Gallagher, Stepien, and Rosenthal.  Another benefit is that students experience a growth in their ability to support their reasoning with clear arguments, which was determined by research completed by Stepien,
Gallagher, and Workman.  A third benefit, concluded by Moore, Sherwood, Bateman, Bransford, and Goldman's research, is that students have an enhanced ability to plan.

3.  Problem-based learning supports learning better than traditional approaches because students are instructed to solve problems that are realistic and have multiple solutions.  Benefits of this type of instruction are that students become more flexible problem-solvers, they learn to apply the knowledge they have, and are better able to generate accurate hypotheses and coherent explanations.  These benefits are supported by the research done by Dochy, Segers, Van den Bossche, and Gijbels.

4.  Learning by Design supports learning better than traditional approaches because children are asked to apply their knowledge and create something.  Research done by Fortus showed that students involved in this type of instruction showed strong evidence  of progress in learning concepts, learned to apply key concepts in design work, and had a more positive affect on motivation and the students sense of ownership over what they created.

5.  In each of these approaches, the students are asked to produce different types of products.  Also, the mechanisms in which the students reach this goal differ.  The way in which students must apply the knowledge that they have also differs.  Though very similar, these three approaches are distinctly different and accomplish different goals.

6.  I feel the most important benefit to learning that is common across all three types of inquiry-based learning approaches is that students gain a better understanding of what they are trying to learn.  The purpose of instruction is to teach the students, and if that is not accomplished, then that method of instruction is useless.  The goal of an educator is to pass on knowledge to their students, and though learning a great deal of skills is important, a greater understanding of concepts is the most important.