Challenge-Based Learning:How to Challenge Your Students and Make Learning Challenging

Alyssa EllmannDr. PanELE-301-03April 17, 2009

Where do I begin?Before you can actually begin to challenge

your students, they must have the motivation instilled in them to do well and succeed. But how do we get them to actually want to complete class work…

The Six C’s of Motivation•Choice•Challenge•Control•Collaboration•Construction of

Meaning•Consequence

10 Ways to Challenge Your Students1.  Students need to have a sense of empowerment; an awareness that because they are special, they are equipped to do the work. However...

2.  Students should also know that good grades are not automatic. Work has to be performed as well as learning of new material and methods.

3.  Assignments should afford the student the opportunity to explore curriculum topics in greater depth and to use independent thought processes to do so.

4.  Self-directed work is recommended as well as to encourage continuing self-motivation.

5.  There must be a sense of purpose or mission. Volumes of work don't make a difference.

10 Ways to Challenge Your Students• 6.  Students should know what they

are learning really matters in the real world.

7.  All students need to learn the value of independent learning.

8.  All students also need to learn to work together.

9.  Students need classroom experiences that encourage higher level thinking, that involve choice, that provide opportunities for creativity.

10.  All students, must be treated as individuals.

Challenges in the Classroom•Challenge Capsules•Interactive

Notebooks•Nightly Challenges•Math Challenge

Packet•Brain Boosters•Open Ended

Challenges•Higher Level

Questioning

Challenge Time!• Your Mission: To construct the strongest bridge only using ½ a

sheet of paper.• Materials:

▫ Three sheets of paper cut in half length wise▫ An egg carton▫ Scissors▫ Ruler▫ Pennies

• Group Roles:▫ Materials Manager: Bring the materials to your group▫ Cutter/Questioner: Cut paper and ask questions▫ Paper Folder: Fold the paper▫ Penny Placer: Place the pennies on the bridge▫ Recorder/Reader: Record group findings and report the findings to

the class

The Rules•The bridge can only be made from ½ a

sheet of plain white paper. Less paper may be used but not more.

•No glue, tape, or other materials may be used.

•The paper can be bent, folded, or cut in any way.

•The egg carton halves must be placed at least 5 inches apart.

•All group members must fulfill their role!

Round 2!Challenge 2: Arrange five 8’s so that they equal 9. You cannot use a plus or minus sign.

Challenge 3: Use all twenty-six letters of the alphabet to complete the following eleven words, but use

each letter only once in the course of this puzzle.(To keep track of which letters you use, print this page and cross off the letters):

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z__ a __ z

__ u i e ____ u __ c ae __ t r __

__ i o __ __ n__ a __ __ f u l

__ r o __ ____ e __ __ a t

__ __ a l a__ o l a __

__ o r c __ p i n e

Answers• Challenge 2:

▫ 8 88/88 = 9

• Challenge 3:▫ jazz▫ quiet▫ yucca▫ extra▫ violin

▫ bashful▫ grown▫ defeat▫ koala▫ molar

▫ porcupine

Taking Challenges In the Classroom a Step

Further…

Challenge-Based Learning“Challenge-based learning is a collaborative learning experience in which teachers and students work together to learn about compelling issues, propose solutions to real problems, and take action. The approach asks students to reflect on their learning and the impact of their actions,and publish their solutions to a worldwide audience.” – Apple, Inc.

Attributes of Challenge-Based Learning• Multiple points of entry and varied and multiple

possible solutions• Authentic connection with multiple disciplines• Focus on the development of 21st century skills• Use of new technology• Focus on universal challenges with a local

solution• Do something rather than just

learn about something• Documentation of the learning

experience from challenge to solution

Key Components to Challenges in the

Classroom

The Big Idea

The Essential Question

The Challenge

Guiding Questions

Guiding Activities

Guiding Resources

Solutions

Assessment

Publishing

Challenge-Based ActivityBig Idea: Sustainability—Food

Essential Question: How does my food consumption impact the world?

The Challenge: Improve what and how you eat.

Guiding Questions:

Guiding Activities:

Guiding Resources:

Solutions:

Assessment:

Publishing:

Discussion Questions:•Could you see yourself applying the

Challenge Based teaching style in your classroom? Why or why not?

•Do you think Challenge Based teaching will be an affective approach to teaching the new “techie” generation?

Referenceshttp://eric.uoregon.edu/publications/text/portraits1.2.html

http://www.nmc.org/pdf/Challenge-Based-Learning.pdf

http://www.mrsgoldsclass.com/challengingchildren.htm

http://images.apple.com/education/docs/teachers/Apple-ChallengedBasedLearning.pdfhttp://newali.apple.com/cbl/index.html

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/brainboosters/

http://www.learner.org/catalog/resources/activities/sact9806/sact9806-2.html