Out of all of the choices of someone who intends to achieve success or maintain it, effort, is within an individual’s control (Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. ,2007). Having a strong sense of self-efficacy allows for someone to obtain success despite most external factors. Everyone wants to succeed and in order for that to happen students have to believe in effort and believe that effort pays off. One strategy that I saw that was very beneficial to students was to make a connection between effort and achievement by using a spreadsheet in which students were given a rubric to show a clear idea of what effort looks like and to apply it to the student’s efforts in all areas within the classroom (Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. ,2007). Showing students data is very important because it can allow them to compare the rate of effort given over the course of a given time. Students who know that they have worked hard in a particular week can be assured that hard work allows them to see growth. They will be more likely to repeat the behavior.
I was quite amazed in learning that students need about 24 practice sessions with a skill in order to achieve 80 percent competency (Marzano et al., 2001, p. 67). This is why homework can be beneficial to students since homework is practice. The use of multimedia within classrooms and at home to practice a skill or concept is wonderful. Discovery Education can change text into pictures like in a movie. There are other activities such as online tutorials that allow students to learn more math facts. When students play these games, they become more motivated to complete their work correctly. By beating the computer in math facts, or bragging to your friends about how far you got in your score, gives students a sense of accomplishment and pride to continue to strive towards greatness.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
The usage of technology is great. I have experienced students copying their homework assignments short before the lesson or not doing the at all... In case they are introduced with an on-line activity, they are more likely to fulfill the requirements as they are really interested. They also do much more in case they know that everybody will see what they created on the wiki page or in other type of on-line environment.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right that it helps students to see that their effort has paid off. I think another way to show this to students that may be even more concrete is to use other students' work to show what effort (and lack of effort) look like. This makes it very clear as to what you are looking for.
ReplyDeleteThe statement you made about homework being practice was important. We are undergoing a big homework debate in my school right now. We are discussing whether we should give homework and if so, how much. The administration is talking about the different reasons we give homework and which are valid reasons for giving it (i.e. to practice a skill) and not giving it (i.e. because you ran out of time after introducing a concept). A point made in the chapter was that it should require little parent involvement which would imply practice.
You mentioned the use of multimedia at home to reinforce concepts or use as homework. Our account with brainpop jr. allows us to use it at school and at home. They have videos for each academic area and also offer quizzes and games following the video. I think this would be a great thing for students to use at home.
I agree that being able to use the computer often serves as motivation for students.
I agree that once a child can see the correlation between hard work and success, they will be more inclined to reach their specific goal. Creating a rubric where students can chart their personal growth challenges them in so many ways. One of the greatest motivational devices that I use in my second grade classroom is the computer. My students love competing against themselves and beating their personal goals. This gives them such satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteHomework is essential at any level in school. Students are better prepared and retain more if they take the time to practice and reinforce the skills they learn after each lesson. Due to the fact that students need 24 practice sessions with a skill in order to achieve 80 percent mastery means that the children who are not reviewing what they learn at home are creating gaps in their knowledge that they will pay for later on in school.
Erica, I was also amazed to read that students need about 24 practice sessions with a skill in order to achieve 80 percent competency. This must be why so many students are struggling with state assessments in our district. Many teachers feel we do not have enough time during the school year to actually teach the content, let alone provide 24 practice sessions. This is where I believe that technology can assist, but not provide the only method with providing practice with content mastery. As you mentioned, providing opportunities with multimedia can excite the students and really help them get in those 24 practice sessions. I found a great site that I used with some 5th graders. I assigned the students to take facts from social studies that they were having difficulty with and set it to an animated movie format called Xtranormal Text to Movie. The students loved it and so did I. Here is the link for it…http://www.xtranormal.com Of course, using this site requires plenty of teacher guidance, but it is quite fun.
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