Robert Heinich quotes ” Throughout history, media and learning technologies have influenced education… such tools offer powerful possibilities for improving the learning process.  No longer are the teacher and the textbook the only sources of knowledge.  The teacher is the director of the knowledge-access process. He makes the difference by integrating instructional media into the teaching-learning process.”

Indeed, Heinich’s words ring true for teachers who want to maximize every learning opportunity for the students under their care.  Recent studies have now attested the increasing value of instructional media and materials as partners in the learning process.  As I plan for everyday classroom activities, I find Dale’s Cone of Experience as an important tool in conceptualizing my everyday lessons.  Dale presents various forms of experience as an instructional device in a cone-like format… as the area of the cone widens, the effectivity of the instructional tool increases.  Below are the experiences and some samples for each.

1.  verbal symbol- (this is the most abstract of all experiences) Example, verbally discussing the parts of the plant without bringing an actual plant in class.

2. visual symbol- Example, teaching math and numbers by presenting their visual symbols.

3. recording, radio, still pictures-Example,  singing counting songs to learn numbers.

4. motion pictures- Example, having children watch “Land Before Time” as an enrichment to a lesson about dinosaurs.

5. educational television- Example,using Discovery Channel as a resource material.

6. exhibits- Example, setting up an Animal Exhibit to broaden kids’ understanding of animals.

7. study trips- Example, going to Ocean Park to gain information about marine life.

8. demonstrations- Example, demonstrating the step-by-step procedure in handling and manipulating a pair of scissors to toddlers.

9. dramatized experience- Example, acting out Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

10. contrived experience- Example, setting up a simulated cockpit for student pilots.

11. direct, purposeful experience(the most concrete experience)- Example, Having children taste sweet, salty, bitter, and sour in a discussion of the tongue and what it can taste.

As educators, I believe that we have the responsibility to go the extra mile, when it comes to ensuring that children get the best possible learning.  Hence, let us continue pursuing other avenues to  supplementing instruction, not only for the benefit of our students, but also for the evolvement and continual upgrading of our educational system.

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 18th, 2009 at 4:56 am and is filed under Teacher Talk. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.