INST 6355 -- Week 02- Topic (Trig) & Constructivist Application

Topic – Learning to Solve Triangles using Problem-Based Learning.  In many of the classes that I teach as technical skills, the use of some form of trigonometry is required.  Two things stand out in the students in these classes, 1) Many are scared of or unfounded in solving triangles and it flusters and frustrates them;  2)  Once they see how it works and they take the ‘book learning’ into the realm of solving real-world problems, they are overjoyed with their ‘new found’ knowledge.  Having also taught math that includes trigonometry, I have discovered that teaching for understanding using constructivist, situated and problem-based examples, and pairing they book work with application in real life, “turns on the light”.

Some constructivist / participatory ways to help students connect with the topic and connect it to the real-world would include using triangle solutions for survey boundaries, roof truss assemblies, calculating the siding for a building gable end and discussion threads on other applications, coupled with the textbook units and evaluations, and drawings and diagrams to support calculation data.

Possible ways technology / online tools might help students achieve deep understanding and construct proper schema connections may include Moodle / Canvas quizzes and tests, live webcast discussions and Q/A session, PowerPoint synthesis of processes of choice and application of ratios, workgroup discussions and blogs of understandings and confusions and a class wkik to post observations, images and .pdf downloads.

I enjoyed the readings and information on constructivism, and the comments in Moodle that it is totally focused on Social Constructivist learning.  Constructing social interactions to help all be teachers and all be learners, all be moderators and all be presenters, is a model for the perfect society (no, not Marxism assimilated into the Moodle Borg).