anchored

ANCHORED INSTRUCTION

Anchored instruction requires putting the students in the context of a problem-based story. The students "play" an authentic role while investigating the problem, identifying gaps to their knowledge, researching the information needed to solve the problem, and developing solutions. For example, the students play the role of a pilot to learn about aeronautics subject matter such as gravity, airflow, weather concepts, and basic flight dynamics. The teacher facilitates and coaches the students through the process.

Definition / Attributes: Anchored Instruction

Principles: Adapted from Anchored Instruction (John Bransford & the CTGV)

Learning and teaching activities should be designed around an "anchor" which is based on a contextualized case study or problem situation.
Curriculum materials should allow exploration by the learner (e.g., interactive sites) to allow active manipulation, questioning, and involvement in the situation.

Principles of Anchored instruction (adapted from Bransford et al., 1990) include: realistic task or event, problem is anchored or focused; students take ownership (based on relevancy of scenario and relatedness to problems and goals seen everyday); deep development of knowledge structures, highly transferable to other situations; complex content, solved through interconnectedness of sub-problems, multiple scenarios presented, problem presented in a narrative format, a story with embedded data; learning context is generative, students identify with problem and become actively involved in generating solution.

How can the World Wide Web support . . . Anchored Instruction?

The teacher would use (in demonstration or through student searching) Websites to provide context of a problem. This might include news clips, pictures, or graphics, such as a news clip on an airplane losing altitude during a flight – what caused this to happen? Features such as a virtual field trip, virtual tours, simulations, and pictures can be used to set context and involve students in virtual situations.
Students can use the World Wide Web to research information needed to solve the problems, identify pictures, graphics, video clips and audio clips that help them develop a solution to the problem.

Lesson Component Reflection Questions (Use these questions to note ideas on how to use Anchored Instruction for a component of your lesson.)

Learning outcomes: (What will the students be expected to learn as a result of this lesson?)

Lesson description: (How, using Anchored Instruction, will the lesson facilitate the learning outcomes?)

Web resources: (What types of web resources will support the presentation strategy and learning outcomes?)

ANCHORED INSTRUCTION Web sites that describe, provide examples of, and demonstrate how to use the WWW with Anchored Instruction.

Why does Anchored Instruction enhance learning? Learning is contextualized and provides student with realistic role that enhances transferability of knowledge	http://www.gwu.edu/~tip/anchor.html
How can I replicate Anchored Instruction lessons using existing Web resources? A story-based lesson plan for second graders on why saving energy stops air pollution	These are existing Lesson Plans available on the WWW: http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/air/monops/lessons/turnitofflesson.html
How can I generate my own Anchored Instruction lessons using Web resources? Teacher creates lesson on volcanoes. Some students are put into the role of scientist investigating an active volcano and given the problem of accurately reporting details about what to expect to an emergency evacuation team – other students; they must work against time to figure out how, (escape route) when, and/or should inhabitants be evacuated. To enhance this lesson with Web resources: Scientists start their mission by looking at current news about an erupting volcano. Their initial task is to gather as much information about the volcano and the region as possible (as a scientist would). Evacuation team investigate the impact the volcano has on the inhabitants, also reviewing details about the volcano location, current activity Both work together to "develop" a strategy for communicating details and solving problems related to evacuation.	These are examples of informational Web sites that could be used to anchor students in volcanoes: http://www.expo.edu.ph/pinatubo/page4.html http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/
What are other ideas of using Web resources for Anchored Instruction? Web site anchoring the student in flying to learn about science and math concepts Multiple perspectives of the study of climate Web resources can be used to anchor students in the role of meteorologist Web sites can be used to put students in the role of defending or opposing nuclear research	These are an existing Web sites that exemplify Anchored Instruction requirements: http://trc.dfrc.nasa.gov/shape/ http://www.circles.org/Round3/Curric/Intro/student1.html http://l2l.ed.psu.edu/success/lessons/Lesson3/ISCa3_L.HTM http://neutrino.nuc.berkeley.edu/neutronics/todd.html

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