CYCLES OF LEARNING
  • BLOG
  • ABOUT
  • BOOK
  • TED
  • CONSULTING
  • EMAIL

When curiosity is sparked...

deep cycles of learning can occur. 

Subscribe

"Hero's Journey" Learning Cycle Template (2015-2016 School Year)

7/1/2015

 
For the past two years I have been leveraging the "Explore-Flip-Apply" learning cycle framework in my chemistry class. I love this framework as it simultaneously merges two important facets of instructional design: 1) Lecture is delayed while student curiosity is cultivated and misconceptions are harvested and 2) when lecture does appear, it is removed from the classroom, reserving the "community" learning space for higher order skills and deeper levels of rigor. 

After facilitating a number of NGSS trainings this past school year I found myself reflecting on the BSCS 5E Learning Cycle that the standards promote as an instructional process in the context of the NGSS Science Practices. 
This cycle, and the myriad of other learning cycles designed to facilitate inquiry, although present different vocabulary and quantifiable structures, all can be boiled down to three phases: Phase 1) Student Exploration; Phase 2) Content Explanation; Phase 3) Content Application. 

All the learning cycle structures mentioned above are grounded in a timeless (technology transcending) system designed to motivate students to seek information. Such structures seek to, as J.J. Abrahams says: "...intentionally withhold information" in order to create a sense of engagement in the context of a quest to fill a specific, salient, information gap. It comes as no surprise that this quote comes from a writer and producer. Indeed, if one investigates the Joseph's Campbell's "Hero's Journey", a structure that many books and films are based on, you will find striking similarities between it and the typical learning cycle. I have written and spoken about this overlap a number of times. Click here and here for samples.  

In an effort to better articulate my lesson planning process, both personally, and for colleagues, I am planning on using a new template that intentionally leverages language from the Hero's Journey. Click here for the beginnings of that work in my AP Chemistry class. Of course, I will never share this process with my students, as my job is to set up the conditions where they, the Hero's, will shine. I am a big fan of lesson planning templates as they help anchor me into a chosen pedagogy (inquiry based learning/delayed direct instruction) that I believe deeply in. Below is an outline of the structure I plan on using for the 2015-2016 school year. Note, the below cycle is merely an outline, and does not include specifics about formative assessment benchmarks or lesson specifics. 

Topic: X 

Phase 1: The Call to Adventure (~ 15 minutes)
A situation is presented designed to spark questioning about "Topic X". 

Phase 2: Entering the Unknown (~45 minutes)
A guided challenge is assigned requiring student to seek answers to their questions about "Topic X". 

Phase 3: Meeting the Mentor (~10 minutes)
A tailored lecture is presented where additional information and tools related to "Topic X" are given. 

Phase 4: Transformation (~50 minutes)
A new challenge task is presented which requires student to apply understanding of "Topic X" to a new scenario.

Phase 5: Mastery (~ 50 minutes)
A content/skills assessment, private mentor reflection and individual public reflection re: "Topic X" is assigned. 

Comments are closed.
    Picture
    Ramsey Musallam is a full-time science teacher in Santa Rosa California.
    Starter Pack

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    3-Bullet Thursdays
    5E
    5E/Hero's Journey
    Apple Tv
    Arduino
    Assessment
    Biology
    CAD
    Chemistry
    Clips
    Cognition
    Commentary
    Courses
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Curiosity
    Design
    Flipped Learning
    Google
    Hack Series
    Hands-On
    Hero's Journey
    Inquiry
    Invention
    Itm
    Lecture
    Maker
    Masterclass
    Megacognition
    Misc.
    Models
    Movies
    Online Teaching
    PBL
    Pd
    Podcast
    Presentations
    Products
    Programming
    Public
    Reflection
    Research
    Robotics
    Rubrics
    Science Camp
    Slides
    STEM
    Technology
    Tutorials
    Videos
    Workshop Materials

    Archives

    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    November 2010

  • BLOG
  • ABOUT
  • BOOK
  • TED
  • CONSULTING
  • EMAIL