As I am working on program documents and teacher materials, I am analyzing all of it through the lens of best practice and research supported strategies. I continue to maintain that the “cool” and “wow” factors only get technologists so far with classroom teachers. When we can support what they are required to teach with a tool or project that will enhance student motivation and learning, then they will listen and join us.

The group at the Institute of Education Sciences that conducted this research contain a variety of professors of psychology, education, neurobiology and behavior. Here is the link to the entire paper.

7 Ways to Organize Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning

1. Space learning over time. Moderate effect.
2. Interweave worked example solutions with problem-solving exercises. Moderate effect
3. Combine graphics with verbal descriptions. Moderate effect.
4. Connect and integrate abstract and concrete representations of concepts. Moderate effect.
5. Use quizzing to promote learning. Pre-quizzes=low effect. Quizzes to re-expose material to students=strong effect.
6. Help students allocate study time efficiently. Low effect.
7. Ask deep explanatory questions. Strong effect.

The last item of this list is the one that caught my eye. I have been working on redeveloping a questioning guide to use in conjunction with our projects.