Assignment-Based Learning
The description of ‘Let’s Daltonize English’ project for teachers and
children (an extract from the magazine by Daltonmedia.nl- the full article wiil be soon published)
An innovative and modern approach to teaching, in
which children learn not only didactic but also educational elements. These
are: explore real world issues and challenges, learning twenty-first century
skills (problem solving, innovative thinking), independent and cooperative
learning, developing creativity and imagination, learning through fun.
What?
What is Assignment-based learning on
the example of ‘Let’s Daltonize English’?
Assignment-Based Learning is all about teaching children
the necessary skills- linguistic and twenty-first century skills in a real-life
situation. It gives them the opportunity to learn through positive emotions and
fun. It brings children challenges to solve and teaches them how to think
innovatively. ABL is usually executed by teams of children cooperating together
to reach a common goal. It is derived from the heart of Parkhurst’s Dalton Plan
based on cooperation, responsibility and independency. ABL enables children to
reflect upon their own ideas and statements. Learn them necessary 21st
century skills such as: taking up the decisions. The final product results in creating
innovative tasks.
‘Let’s
Daltonize English’ teaches children not
only linguistic skills like vocabulary practice, reading, listening, and for
older children speaking and writing, but also 21st century skills. These
skills teaches children how to function like an adult in a modern society. The
small assignments are tailored to the age of kindergarten and primary school
children. What is more, they are tailored to the type of intelligence of every
pupil. The assignment is also based on Bloom’s taxonomy. Innovative initiatives are
nowadays necessary to adjust school to the challenges of 21st
century. As once Helen Parkhurst stated “In
the old days the student went to school to get what the school had to offer
him; now he goes to school to satisfy a definite need for self-development.
He is no longer disposed to learn just
what the teacher proposes to teach”[1].
One of the most
important communication tools is the language, especially English ,
which is currently the most popular foreign language chosen at all levels of
education, beginning with kindergartens to universities. Therefore,
it is very important to motivate and implement English in real situations, as well as to educate and
develop pupils’ skills in the field of linguistic skills: listening,
speaking, reading and writing. The differentiation while teaching English also
plays a significant role.
During the
implementation of ‘Let’s Daltonize English’, students will have the opportunity
to develop their interests through attractive activation tasks. The tasks are
based on multiple intelligences theory
of Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner, stages of thinking by Benjamin Bloom’s
Taxonomy and educational objectives of Dalton pedagogy (cooperation,
independence, responsibility, evaluation, reflection) .
A plan and
interactive assignments in the form of illustrations adapted to the
linguistic needs of each child is presented on the basis of
a card based on Bloom's taxonomy.
Why to use it?
- Children use the linguistic skills they acquire in real-life situations
- Assignments helps children to process information based on Bloom’s taxonomy:
- Remember ( recognizing and recalling facts)
- Understand (understanding what the facts mean)
- Apply (applying the facts, rules, concepts, and ideas)
- Analyse (breaking down information into components part)
- Evaluate (judging the value of information or ideas)
- Create (combining parts to make a new whole)
- Assignments are based on Multiple Intelligences: all the tasks are suitable for particular child’s interests and abilities.
- Assignments are more effective than a traditional task. It teaches academic skills (small children’s research).
- It engages other benefits, such as: developing cooperation, responsibility, independent learning, reflection/evaluation, the Dalton Plan educational pillars.
- Children working on the assignments are highly motivated and engaged in the task.