3rd - 5th Grade
Behaviorism
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Title: ReviseWise Maths - Angles
ReviseWise Math - Angles, is a learning program available at the ReviseWise website. It is broken into three parts that relate learning about angles. The first part is the "Activity" that uses text, informative graphics, and interactive questioning. The student would maneuver through the activity that provides information about the different types of angles and the angle rules of a triangle and a rectangle. Then, the student would move on to the "Fact Sheet" to review even more angle information. Once read, the student would take the "Test" provided. Upon completion of the Test, the program reviews with the student their score on each question with a hurrah for correct answers and a helpful fact for incorrect answers.
Grade Level: 3rd - 5th Subject: Mathematics - Angles
Goal: To review, practice, and test on the mathematical principles of angles
Objectives:
  • Observe different types of angles and learn terminology
  • Learn angle rules for triangles and quadrilaterals
  • Review flips, turns, and rotations
  • Practice learned information
  • Apply information in activity and test
  • Observe personal understanding by viewing corrected test
 
Theory Connection/Description of Relationship

ReviseWise Math (Angles), fits well into the Theory of Behaviorism. Behaviorism is the study of external behavior. In this case, the teacher would be able to see the students' successes and struggles by viewing their test results. The program could be useful for a teacher that wants to provide remediation or practice for students. It could also be effectively used to supplement the learning of a student who had been absent during part of the angle unit. The program is developmentally appropriate for 3rd through 5th Grade students and is excellent in providing the students with higher-order thinking skills. It is not simply a game that practices rote facts; it forces the student to apply and synthesize their knowledge.

As the child succeeds and/or struggles in this program, the character provides encouragement and immediate feedback. For students at this stage of development, this type of activity can be very motivating. It helps strengthen the connections between short and long term memory (the skill becomes internalized). In Vygotsky's terms, the program would be providing the learner with appropriate "scaffolding," meaning that it provides a social interaction (the child and the program) that would encourage the growth of individual knowledge.

The program is also behavioristic in that it uses a "bottom-up" model of instruction. ReviseWise Math relates well to Gagne's set of 9 "Events if Instruction:"

  1. Gaining attention
  2. Informing the learner of the objective
  3. Stimulating recall of prerequisite learning
  4. Presenting new material
  5. Providing learning guidance
  6. Eliciting performance
  7. Providing feedback about correctness
  8. Assessing performance
  9. Enhancing retention and recall


    The NET Standards that are most prevalently seen in this program would be:
  • Use keyboards and other common input and output devices (including adaptive devices when necessary) efficiently and effectively.
  • Use general purpose productivity tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, remediate skill deficits, and facilitate learning throughout the curriculum.
  • Use technology resources (e.g., calculators, data collection probes, videos, educational software) for problem solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities.