1.2 Identify and choose WORTHWHILE learning outcomes
What is worth learning?
Worthwhile learning outcomes are statements of behaviors representing:
When presented with similar learning outcomes or instructional objectives, determining which is more worthwhile is simply a matter of applying the four criteria above to each statement and deciding which answers "yes" to the most criteria. The first criterion "skills students will actually use in real life" is generally the most important. Distinguishing between “more worthwhile” and “less worthwhile” outcomes is very important for teachers because determining worthwhile outcomes is an important step in designing meaningful learning environments. The following rubric scale can be used to help rank the overall importance or “worthwhileness” of specific outcomes:
Worthwhile learning outcomes are statements of behaviors representing:
- skills, knowledge or attitudes (SKA) students will actually use in their real lives outside the instructional environment
- skills, knowledge or attitudes required in order to acquire other, more useful skills, knowledge or attitudes
- skills, knowledge or attitudes the teacher wants students to be able to use in their real lives (and they will probably have the opportunity to use the SKA throughout their lives)
- skills, knowledge or attitudes the learners want to use in their real lives
When presented with similar learning outcomes or instructional objectives, determining which is more worthwhile is simply a matter of applying the four criteria above to each statement and deciding which answers "yes" to the most criteria. The first criterion "skills students will actually use in real life" is generally the most important. Distinguishing between “more worthwhile” and “less worthwhile” outcomes is very important for teachers because determining worthwhile outcomes is an important step in designing meaningful learning environments. The following rubric scale can be used to help rank the overall importance or “worthwhileness” of specific outcomes:
How can technology affect the amount and type of worthwhile learning outcomes a teacher chooses to facilitate?
Successfully accomplishing instructional tasks using technology resources often result in the learning and/or application of many skills beyond subject-matter outcomes that can be considered very worthwhile. For example, the following New Media Literacy Skills reflect worthwhile skills needed to be learned and/or applied in order to succeed in many different types of computer-supported learning environments.
These skills are presented in Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture: Media Education for the 21st Century (2006). An Occasional paper on digital media and learning by Henry Jenkins, Director of the Comparative Media Studies Program at MIT.
And when teachers choose to integrate technology into the instructional experiences of students, it is often necessary to establish student groups in order to accomplish difficult or complex projects. Structuring effective student groups can lead to the learning of the following constructive collaborations skills:
And when teachers choose to integrate technology into the instructional experiences of students, it is often necessary to establish student groups in order to accomplish difficult or complex projects. Structuring effective student groups can lead to the learning of the following constructive collaborations skills:
Interpersonal Skills
Cooperative Learning Small Group Skills
Project Management Skills
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If these types of skills reflect things that teachers value (i.e. they are worth learning), then teachers may choose to design learning experiences that include the use of technology-supported creation and collaboration. Other great resources presenting a body of academic outcomes that reflect worthwhile skills, knowledge and attitudes that are often required within technology-supported learning environments can be found at the following sites:
21st Century Skills
National Educational Technology Standards for Students
Big 6 Skills for Information Problem Solving
21st Century Skills
National Educational Technology Standards for Students
Big 6 Skills for Information Problem Solving
Here is an interesting perspective on what's worth learning.