George Hillocks (1986) found that students learn well through environmental learning
In his research, George Hillocks (1986) found that students learn well through “environmental learning” in which a teacher creates an “environment” that allows students to practice a skill chosen by the teacher. He found that this was, among the types of teaching and presentation he studied, the most effective way to impact student writing in the classroom.
1. Choose a skill related to using technology to write that you would like students to practice. The skill should be related to a genre that is dependent on technology (such as an audio podcast or other multimedia genre).
2. Create a student-centered activity that would count as “environmental learning” as George Hillocks defines it: clear and specific objectives, materials, and/or problems that engage students directly with those objectives, and a high level of peer interaction. (See Hillocks, 1986, p. 122 for a quick explanation of environmental learning.)
3. Develop a full-fledged lesson plan that includes your environmental learning activity as the centerpiece. Your lesson plan should use typical classroom strategies such as time for a review of material, advanced organizers, time for application, time for reflection, and so on. (For example: in a review/launch/deliver/apply/close sequence, your environmental learning activity should be the “apply” portion of the lesson plan, while other parts of the plan help students connect your activity to their previous knowledge and provide them with the necessary background information and reflection to complete it well and use the skill and knowledge they gain as they write the genre you assign to them.)
4. Write a 500-word reflection that justifies your choices:
a. How will your lesson plan lead to learning?
b. How will your lesson plan foster transfer outside the classroom?
c. To what extent do you predict that your learners will be able to apply the skill you have taught them here again later?
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
Benchmark Information
This assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies:
MA in English with an Emphasis in Education
2.3: Develop examples and materials appropriate for the teaching of writing.
2.4: Engage in appropriate reflection for classroom practices and student outcomes.
Answer preview to George Hillocks (1986) found that students learn well through environmental learning
APA
1212 words