Ann Marie,
These are the right components for an adult learning group. Do you use roles, with assigned tasks, to assist with coordinating the analysis process? Thank you for your contribution.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Give them scenarios, put them in groups, and have them come up with more than one solution to each scenario.
Have them analyze solutions that others have come up with and say why the solution was good or bad.
Ralph,
This is a very good approach, especially with adult learners. They usually have a stronger need for 'real-world' relevance and often have experiences that allow them to comprehend the examples in a robust way. Thank yo0u for your insights.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
by showing them them the realitys of what could or could not happen as a result of not thnking through a problem by giving them real world situations. as some one with over 20 years in my field i have plenty of examples to share for the many questions that they may come to me with.
Yes, Monica.
I agree. Do you have any favorite ways of accomplishing this?
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
We can provide an atmosphere of security and consistency about expectations in each class environment.
Ken,
That's ProDad response!
;-]
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Sadly, you seem to be correct. I have an 11 year old daughter who plays basketball in a league. Her team placed 7th out of 8 teams. She received a trophy. To me this sends a bad message - show up and you are a winner. I made her climb a tree:)
Denise,
Good for you - show them to the garden... the satisfaction of obtaining/achieving, rather than just getting!
Our 'push button' world has some definite drawbacks.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Ken,
Good perspectives lesson - I like it!
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Ken,
Nice - Getting the students to grasp, and even pursue, the process is a great accomplishment.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I like the climbing the tree. Seems to me the generation today wants the answers given and they really do not want to think about it. When you explain the reasoning, then the majority of them understand. Others look at you like why would you do that?
I usually suggest locating a very high tree, climbing to the top and surveying the landscape. It is dangerous, but rewarding at the top.
There was somewhere among the clouds a statement from the CEO of IBM regarding today's gamers. He indicated that many of them would make excellent business managers and leaders due to the complexity and problem solving techniques required and used in the video games of today.
I have been in business for 30+ years (ouch, another grey hair)and I provide real life situations for the students both for classroom discussion and homework (both individual and team). We go through critical thinking/analysis steps to attempt to find the optimum solution for the problem at hand. As you know, we don't always agree as to the optimum solution, but how we get to the solution is what provides their learning curve.
Hi Ken,
I just responded to Denise who indicated a similar sentiment…
"You may be aware of some of the "scenario-based" immersive technology and adaptive learning activities that do exactly what you identify. These are only recent developments, but are gaining in development and implementation through companies who are competing to bring these learning advancements to the market. Basically, the idea is that the student will have an avatar in a workplace setting with multiple problems presented that must be addressed. Much like the 3-D, web-based games you see being played across the Internet via today's gamers."
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Hi Denise,
You may be aware of some of the "scenario-based" immersive technology and adaptive learning activities that do exactly what you identify. These are only recent developments, but are gaining in development and implementation through companies who are competing to bring these learning advancements to the market. Basically, the idea is that the student will have an avatar in a workplace setting with multiple problems presented that must be addressed. Much like the 3-D, web-based games you see being played across the Internet via today's gamers.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Since most of the students can not see the forest through the trees, this will require coming up with issues the can occur within the office environment and having the students think through in order to solve the problem. It should be an interesting undertaking
