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CONSUMER EDUCATION

Consumer Education: Grades 11-12

Computer based instruction

The technology standard was a determining factor is deciding the method to use for instruction. The standard state, “Students should engage in information strategies, use Internet, technology tools as resources and apply information management skills to answer questions and expand knowledge.” For this reason computer based method of instruction was used to present instructional materials. The learners had the control of the lesson but the instructor’s contact was provided in form of e- mail incase they need any assistance. This method was chosen to make the student feel that they are in control of what is happening during an interactive learning lesson. This method enabled the student to select and control the followings:

1. What to learn

The aspect of the learners controlling what to learn will enable them to navigate the content and be assured that they are in control. This will make the learners not to be intimidated because of the assurance that they are in charge of the learning process. However this aspect requires a lot of discipline on the student side so that they can progress well in their learning. There should be a time frame to finish the the assigned lessons.

2. The pace of learning

Students are also in control of the pace of learning. They control the pace that the content of the lesson will be consumed. By the click of a button they can progress from one stage of the lesson to the next. They can also go back to review what they had learnered previously. This gives the student confidence that the material of the lesson is at their disposal. They can revisit the lesson as many times, as they want.

3. The direction learning should take

The student are in control of the direction learning should take place. They can start from any lesson in the unit. The assessment section of the lesson is the only one that the learners have no control. They perform the assessment once and the grades will be reported to the teacher and the student at the same time. The assessment section flows in one direction only.

Scaffolding strategy

Consumer Education Standard that states, “All Students will practice responsible consumer and producer behavior, rights and responsibility” influenced the selection of scaffolding as a strategy to use in the learning process. The learning material to be disseminated would have faired best while using this type of strategy.

The designers used scaffolding strategy in this unit of study. This strategy was applied in every lesson of the study. Allowing just enough materials to the learner at a time keeps the learners motivated form the beginning to the end of the lesson. In this unit, every lesson is divided into sections which the learner should study one section at a time.

Scaffolding keeps the student on the task. It helps the learners to progress in the learning process engangaing on tasks without getting out of the content of the lesson. Every time the learner has finished the material to be learned, more is at his deposal with a click of a button.
Applying the strategy of scaffolding helps to reduce uncertainty, surprise and disappointment as the students navigate through the lesson. The designers of the unit have tested each step in the lesson that might possibly wrong. This enables the learner to maximize their time of learning without the fear of errors.

Opinion on methods and strategies of learning that are appropriate for distance learning.

Abel
I would prefer method that is appealing both to visual and auditory learners at the same time. This would go for videos, PowerPoint and TV screens. This would helps all the learners who might be inclined to several method of learning.
On strategies, I would prefer strategies that rewarding the learners in the process learning. This may include void games that reward the learners after completing a task. Such strategies usually motivate the learners in the process of learning.

Victor
My opinion about methods and strategies for distance learning would include bilingual software. This software would be helpful for English as a second language students.
On strategies I would include rewards (points) from the beginning of the lessons as students progress on their assignments. The assignments would be short lessons that would make possible for students to follow and complete the assignments. In this way students would feel motivated to keep working on their assignments.

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