Tip 1: Scaffold Blocks and Stages
The Lesson Builder’s customizable blocking feature is well-suited for the scaffolding of content, enabling the Learner to progress through the lesson at a comfortable pace. For example, if your lesson is based on a Flipped Classroom approach, you can further break down the blocks and stages in the following manner*:
- Point A: Before Class
- Stage 1: Recap of previous lesson
- Stage 2: Introduction of new topic
- Stage 3: Pre-Reading Materials and Activities to form a basic understanding of the new topic
- Point B: During Class
- Stage 1: Warmer Activity to gauge learners’ understanding of new material
- Stage 2: Lecture/Discussion of new material
- Stage 3: Group Activity to practice and apply new information
- Stage 4: Educator evaluation of learners’ understanding
- Point C: After Class
- Stage 1: Independent Learner assignment to apply new content learned
- Stage 2: Learner reflection on new topic, and any challenges faced
*Within each stage, the educator can further break down any new information/activities given in a step-by-step manner that progresses from easy to difficult.
Tip 2: Use the Hint and/or Show Answer options to guide your Learners
The Lesson Builder’s “Guide” button further allows you to provide clues to help Learners arrive at the correct answer.
When creating a particular question, add in a clue in the form of a question, prompt or additional information that will help the Learner form his/her answer.
You can also toggle on the “Show Answer” button for correct answers to appear once the Learner has attempted to answer the question. This is particularly useful for self-guided learning.
Tip 3: Scaffold vocabulary with glossaries
When teaching a new topic, the introduction of new terminology and vocabulary can be overwhelming for learners.
Scaffold their learning by starting new topics with a glossary, or hyperlinking new vocabulary to Wikipedia articles, so that learners can hover over them to see a quick definition without leaving the text.
References:
[1] Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons