Interactive Learning Experiences: Increasing Student Engagement and Learning (Grades 6-12)
Discover how to engage teenagers in course content using this resource’s updated research, new sample activities, and tips for designing and evaluating interactive learning experiences.
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"This book will excite teachers who want to help motivate today's secondary students. Information about the brain, presented along with the author's personal teaching experiences, tips, and creative game ideas, makes for a very worthwhile read!"-Cindy Bean, Seventh-Grade Math TeacherArcola Intermediate Middle School, Schwenksville, PA"Smokler passionately argues the need for games in the curriculum as a means to create authentic and meaningful learning experiences. Hands down, this is the best book I've read about the use of games in the classroom!"-Sherry Annee, Biology TeacherBrebeuf Jesuit Prep School, Indianapolis, INResearch shows that the adolescent brain is wired to seek novelty and to ignore familiar stimuli. Teachers who add new, different, and surprising elements to their lessons will energize and motivate their adolescent learners. Using Interactive Learning Experiences, Grades 6-12: Increasing Student Engagement and Learning, Second Edition shows teachers how to transform everyday class lectures and student assignments into memorable and engaging experiences that reinforce course content. The author presents a variety of experiences that can be used as-is or modified to connect with hundreds of themes and concepts across middle school and high school curriculums. Based on brain-compatible teaching principles, this book explains how and why interactive learning experiences connect teenagers to course content in a more authentic way than traditional teaching methods. Complete with activities, and ideas for introducing each experience, thisbook also demonstrates how teachers can create and assess their own original experiences. The new edition presents: Updated research throughoutA reorganized, user-friendly formatNine new experiences, including four in math and science and some which are shorter in durationA revitalized assessment chapter with information about standards-based education and NCLBReflection questions in each chapter
PrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbout the Author1. Why Create an Experience? What Is an Experience? Brain-Compatible Learning Seeing Into the Brain How the Brain Learns Brain Research and Education: What Teachers Need to Know Why Is It So Hard to Impress a Teenager? Emotion: At the Center of the Brain Complex Learning Activities The Power of Reflection Reflection Questions for Teachers2. How to Create an Experience Preparing a Classroom Environment Conducive to Experiences Here's the Problem Spread the Love: Rapport-Building Exercises The Physical Environment Strategies for Creating Experiences What Does Infinity Smell Like? Move Your Body Using Music to Build Anticipation, Excitement, and Readiness Tying Music to Your Curriculum Fantasy Contexts Putting It All Together: Creating Your Own Experiences Student Involvement Other Ideas for Experiences Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation Ideas for English and Social Studies Teachers Ideas for Math and Science Teachers Ideas for World Language Teachers Ideas for Health, Wellness, and Physical Education Teachers Reflection Questions for Teachers3. How Do You Assess an Experience? Traditional vs. Authentic Assessment Reflection as Formative Assessment Aligning Your Experiences to Standards Why Standards-Based? Reflection as Summative Assessment Other Considerations See What They Already Know Before You Begin Reflection Questions for Teachers4. Sample Experiences Guess Who Had This forDinner The Eliminator Morning Move-Around The Wave Two Truths and a Lie The Name Game Thumper Old-Fashioned Sing Down Musical Moment The Reveal Debate Shift-Around Save the Princess Counter-Terrorism The Arrest Shelter The Scream The Fire Power Island Survival The Salesman Witch Hunt The Farm Game Crime Scene Rollercoaster Designer5. Making Experiences Work for YouResource A. Reproducible Handouts Song Reflection Report Save the Princess Counter-Terrorism The Scream Power Island Survival The Salesman The Farm Game Crime Scene Lab ReportResource B. Additional Resources Brain-Based Learning Fun Kit Web Resources About Brain-Compatible Learning Web Resources About Simulation GamesReferencesIndex
\ Cindy Bean"This book will excite teachers who want to help motivate today’s secondary students. Information about the brain, presented along with the author’s personal teaching experiences, tips, and creative game ideas, makes for a very worthwhile read!"\ \ \ \ \ Joan Baltezore"Makes teachers think about the purpose and connection that a game will have to the curriculum as well as to students’ lives. This book helps clarify the purpose of including meaningful experiential games in the classroom."\ \ \ Sherry Annee"Smokler passionately argues the need for games in the curriculum as a means to create authentic and meaningful learning experiences.Hands down, this is the best book I’ve read about the use of games in the classroom!"\ \ \ \ \ Melody Aldrich"The book begins with the teenager’s brain. In layman's terms, it lets teachers know why teenagers are difficult to engage and how to create a classroomatmosphere that will hold their attention and allow them to learn."\ \ \ \ \ Chris Baker"Gives teachers a variety of simulations and creative ideas they can try in their classrooms to help enhance and energize their teaching."\ \
