My initial reaction to this was, wow you really have to have self-discipline to take a class in this form. The very first part to the A-T System is called, ISS (Independent study session), independent-on your own. I cannot see many of my students achieving success with this approach. Who would keep the students on task? On the other hand, my auditor learners would benefit from the audio portion of the ISS. Students with reading and comprehension problems might also benefit from this type of system. I have a few students who receive read aloud services on tests; this would help them on class activities as well. If I offered a GAS (General Assembly Session) for my students but did not make it mandatory they would not come. Why even offer something that is not mandatory, this seems like a waste of time. I often have my students quiz each other. I feel that this has tremendous benefit and helps to improve test scores.
I could definitely see myself using this system with my current students. Since I teach courses taught in a computer lab, I am already in the perfect setting. Instead of using tapes I would create a podcast for my students to use. They would have access to headsets and the freedom to start and stop the podcast as needed. For quizzes I could use Quia (I already have an account). I am not sure that my students would even want to use the general assembly session. I don’t think there is any benefit to this.
Web-based tools that come to mind are YouTube, Quia, Elements, Delicious, Elluminate, Picnik and Jaycut.
I strongly agree with the idea of being very self-disciplined to take a AT course. I completely agree with the idea of using podcasts to implement the audio concept in teaching. I would be curious as to how students in a computer lab would adapt to this type of learning.
ReplyDeleteHeather Haymer
Kerry - you are so right about being self disciplined to do this type of learning module. When I worked on my Masters of Taxation years ago, this was the only method available as the internet was in its early stages. Masters level students can be expected to experience success; but a majority of our students in high school would not be successful. Using Elluminate; Camtasia; etc would help some students to be successful.
ReplyDeleteHeather-I wonder how students would do in a computer lab also with the AT method. I definately think they would do better with the PSI method.
ReplyDeleteKathy-I agree they would not be sucessful. They would not have the discipline!
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned students would not care for a general assembly session, but that you have them quiz each other. I think your peer-questioning and having students quiz one another does fit into a general assembly session, so you may already be doing that aspect of the model under a different name.
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