Activity%20Structures

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Activity Structures

• Eliana Moore
• Jenni Utt
• Tina Ream

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What does the theory mean?

• Empowers teacher to create Internet-based
  curriculum tied experiences
• ? A "thinking tool" which helps teachers become
  Instructional Designers

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Who created the Theory?

• Judi Harris
• Department of Curriculum
• and Instruction,
• University of Texas at Austin

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Judi Harris work

• Used Logo
• Determined role that computers play in critical
  thinking for students
• Shared experiences and researching while getting
  her PhD
• Defined 3 main parts of Activity Structures

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3 Main Parts of Activity Structures

• Collaborative Problem Solving Projects
• Information Collections
• Interpersonal Exchanges

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Collaborative Problem-Solving Projects

• Promotes critical thinking
• Includes information searches and peer feedback
• Example WebQuests

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Information Collections

• Students collect, compile, and compare different
  types of interesting information
• Students participate in information exchanges,
  databases, electronic publishing, telefieldtrips
• Positively Trashy

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Interpersonal Exchanges

• Students communicate electronically with other
  individuals
• Communicate with groups
• Example Flat Stanley

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Activity Structures

• Contrast to other Learning Theories

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Learning Occurance

• Behaviorism
• viewed through a change in observable frequency
  of performance
• learner utilizes cues to change behavior
• influenced through stimili

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Learning Occurance

• Cognitivism
• viewed through the knowledge of the student
• learner becomes an active participant in
  acquiring information

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Learning Occurance

• Constructivism
• meaning created through experience of the learner
• students required a reason to find meaning
• interaction must occur between the learner
  environment

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Learning Occurance

• Activity Structure
• Learner is able to create their own activity

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Techniques in Instruction Design

• Behaviorism
• Drills Practice of Routine information
• Use of Objectives and goals with a reward upon
  completion
• Cognitivism
• Based upon feedback of student
• Mental connections related back to instructor

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Techniques in Instruction Design

• Constructivism
• Tailored to individual student response
• encourage students to analyze, interpret
  predict information
• Discussion

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Techniques in Instruction Design

• Activity Structure
• Discussion exchange of information
• Communication
• Collection analysis of Data
• Work to solve/attain a specific goal

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How to Evaluate Success

• Behaviorism
• Predetermined set of criteria
• Graded equally evenly
• Cognitivism
• Set of activities accomplished toward a specific
  goal
• Criteria and Objective based

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How to Evaluate Success

• Constructivism
• Elimination of Grades
• Student judges own progress
• Activity Structure
• Compilation of the above fore mentioned

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Activity Structures

• Historical Perspective

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Learning Theories and their Key Players

• Behaviorism
• Pavlov (1849-1936)
• Watson ( 1878-1958)
• Thorndike ( 1874-1949)
• Skinner (1904-1990)

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Learning Theories and their Key Players

• Cognitivism
• Piaget (1896-1980)
• Vgotsky (1896-1934)

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Learning Theories and their Key Players

• Constructivism
• Bruner (1915- )
• Situated Learning - 1968
• Lave
• Etienne Wenger

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Learning Theories and their Key Players

• Activity Structure - 1995
• Judy Harris

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Learning Theories Timeline

• http//online.sfsu.edu/foreman/itec800/finalproje
  cts/joelantipuesto/timeline.html
• http//hagar.up.ac.za/catts/learner/andres/timelin
  e.htm

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Activity Structure Examples

• www.figg.com/ired320/sessions/astructure.htm
• http//www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/6470/index.
  html