5-5

CRT Mtg. Present: Doug, Dan, Lara, Trish.

1. Moodle Update: -Doug presented handout in DH Mtg., 5/5/11. DHs to give Doug/IT names of courses to be taught next year. Title format: (name of course) + (teacher's name).
 * 1 Moodle page for each course taught by teacher; different sections: groups within section.
 * Exceptions? Contact Doug. [].
 * If you already have a Moodle page for a course, it'll be the default.

2. "How Students Learn in the Science Classroom": National Sci. Teachers Foundation. Presenters: Sharon Sikora, Paraluman Stice-Durkin, Paul Franz

Introduction: Sikora, Franz Design Process: tech-driven vs. learning-driven: learning theory + pedagogical needs drive tech use.
 * Moodle used in framework of //How Students Learn: Science in the Classroom//.
 * National Research Council on how students learnl: three principles applied to Moodle content:
 * Challenging student preconceptions: students' starting points, misconceptions. (Sikora)
 * Moodle multiple choice quiz features: builds content into responses, so that students' answers get immediate feedback.
 * Item analysis: can see % of class that answered; can reteach material. (Dan G. suggested showing students the results)
 * Doing science (Stice-Durkin)
 * Forum in Moodle to show learning results. (Possible for students to also comment on others' work, but not actively built in yet)
 * Animationish: on image. Students asked to visually show intermolecular forces.
 * Metacognition: thinking re: how people learn (Franz)
 * Moodle provides scaffolding for metacognition: teachers pose questions, students respond throughout the year.
 * Sample questions: describe a time you successfully learned sci. What strengths can I contribute to the group. How will I prepare? Which activity helped support my learning best and why?

DG: What would you want more from Moodle?
 * Might be great to have bank of questions w/ preconceptions.
 * Also listing of metacognitive questions: could be used cross-curricularly.
 * More individual timelines for students: no flexibility/customization of topics for individual kids, if they're absent.
 * Have students answer that question: they see course from different perspective.

DK: How does Moodle allow you to do things differently?
 * Doing activities beyond 4 walls of classroom: can do at home and share.
 * Sharing is easy: continuous.
 * On students' time: instruction and reflection not limited to class time; no constraints.