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Final Assignment: Lesson Plan Critique

Julie Ormiston #13338975

iPad Lesson Plan Critique

The following is a critique on an iPad lesson plan geared to grades K-3 focussing on the theme
friendship. The three learning theories that I base the following critique on are: behaviorism,
constructivism, and situated learning theory/distributed cognition. The lesson plan goals/
objectives: learn basic camera skills, how to set up slide show, review friendship skills fit into
and overlap different theoretical perspectives. However, the lesson plan does not provide instructional details or a lesson rationale and therefore the critique is largely based on my teaching
experience in conjunction with my understanding of the previously stated learning theories.

Behaviorist theory:
The iPad lesson requires students to repeat specific actions while using a very sophisticated but
common technological tool used in daily life, the iPad. Students are asked to follow a very structured and specific process that is modeled by the teacher. The lesson plan does not include a description of the required steps a teacher would need to model to the students and therefore could
be improved upon in this regard. The following are the steps required for each student to get to
the "search option in the iPad and in order to find the camera application: Turn on (specific button), to get to the homepage then (swipe right to get to search option within iPad) to find the
camera application. This lesson plan reflects the behaviorist theory in that it requires the teacher
to model and learners to copy the desired behavior to execute specific technology skills.
The behaviors theory when applied to education understands learning is achieved through repetition of actions. Behaviorist theory emphasizes using rewards to increase desired behavior. In this
lesson plan the reward is simply using the iPad in addition to working with a classmate and shar-

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Final Assignment: Lesson Plan Critique

Julie Ormiston #13338975

ing meaningful friendship pictures. In short, students are motivated by the use of technology
equipment. As a result, the lesson plan has an excellent starting point to enhance and encourage
motivation in the students. However, the lesson plan doesn't include management techniques
used by the teacher to encourage desired behavior or to discourage undesirable behavior using
negative reinforcement. Though, the lesson plan is clear that the learning activity is primarily
teacher directed. The teacher exercises control of instructions and assumes complete control of
what is learned initially. Modeling is used throughout although this may not be obvious in the
lesson plan outline, but it can and should be assumed that modeling is needed to demonstrate desired the technical actions/operations . The lesson plan includes an assessment and is specific
therefore this reflects behaviorist theory thinking that the teacher decides and has control of what
is "correct learning ".

Constructivist theory:
The constructivist theory believes knowledge is constructed and learning occurs when children
create products or artifacts learners are more likely to be engaged in learning when these artifacts
are personally relevant and meaningful. These ideas are reflected in the lesson plan as it has students creating their own ideas and constructing their own knowledge through experience and doing. Piagets learning theory included four stages of development and would place early primary students in the concrete operational stage of intellectual development. Now, for this lesson
plan the education implications are that students have opportunities to explore and experiment
during the lesson as they are required to manipulate a concrete object (the iPad) and to take photos of their own friendship drawings. These drawings act as meaningful artifacts (which I

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Final Assignment: Lesson Plan Critique

Julie Ormiston #13338975

spoke of earlier) that make learning relevant and personal and engaging for the students. The
constructivist theory emphasizes that adaptation of instruction as well as content should be consistent with the development level of the learners. Piaget believed that children passed through
four levels of development and that these levels could overlap. Therefor, a child may display behaviors associated with more than one development level. The iPad lesson does not include details to satisfy the specific need or requirement to reflect the possible overlapping levels and theory according to Piaget's understanding of leaning. The lesson plan suggests the instructional
content expected to be learned but does not provide details suggesting possible adaptation considerations. To improve the lesson plan, specific instructional adaptations or modifications could
be included but in my view are not deemed necessary as the collaborative component satisfies
possible learning adaptations through distributed learning. I will discuss this in more detail later
on in my critique.

Characteristic of the constructivist theory is the principle that learning happens when a variety of
experiences are provided where learners partake in "discovery learning". The later provides opportunities for learners to explore and experiment. In my opinion, I think the lesson plan does
provide a variety of opportunities to explore and experiment with relevant and meaningful artifacts. Like wise, the lesson infers opportunities where students of different cognitive levels will
collaborate together and thus provides an environment to encourage less cognitively developed
students to progress to a deeper understanding.

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Final Assignment: Lesson Plan Critique

Julie Ormiston #13338975

Vigotskys sociocultural theory suggests that cognitive development cannot be separated from its
social context. The sociocultural theory recognizes the importance of social interaction in development and that children learn how to behave by watching and doing; children solve problems
vocally, visually, and manually. Because the iPad lesson has children collaborating it reflects the
sociocultural theory of development as the lesson plan requires students to share their thinking
and observation skills. Moreover, the iPad is a highly sophisticated visual tool that requires students to manually manipulate and interact in order to execute the desired skills/objectives of the
lesson.

Situated learning theory/distributed cognition:

The situated and distributed cognition theory can be applied to the lesson plan because what is
required to be learned is placed within the context in which the learning occurs. Students must
learn specific technological operations unique to the iPad and therefor the lesson is a situated activity. As such, the skills learned during the lesson are specific to the context in which they are
learned; through the iPad. Furthermore, the lesson is a situated activity because it offers a "real
world" situation where students are learning on technology used in everyday life outside of the
school environment. The skills therefore are transferable and applicable to situations found outside the classroom.

Distributed cognition is evident in the lesson plan because during the lesson students rely on
their previous experiences and recall memories about technology they may have encountered in
their home environment. Students are directly interacting with an object; the iPad. A tool that

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Final Assignment: Lesson Plan Critique

Julie Ormiston #13338975

requires previously acquired knowledge to be applied while students use the object. Likewise,
knowledge is placed on other students in the classroom environment due to sharing the iPad as
well as the problem-solving skills required to manipulate the functions of the iPad in order to
execute the objectives of the lesson.

Conclusion:
In my opinion the iPad lesson lacks instructional and management details that would be beneficial to the execution of the actual lesson. Much of the actual instructional steps or operations
that would need to be modeled to the students is only inferred or implied in the lesson plan.
However, the lesson plan does indicate the practice of Behaviorist, Constructivist, and Situated/
Distributed Cognition learning theories.

Proposed additions to the original document:

The following additions are suggestions that will enhance the lesson plan from a behaviorist,
constructivist, and situated/distributed learning theory perspective.
Include the following:
I. Rationale for iPad lesson in primary grades:
The subject of writing is often a very daunting skill for many young students learn. Reluctant
writers and readers can be given the opportunity to create personally relevant art and writing they
can share with others. Sharing their work with their classmates will help students to understand
that they are writing for an audience and an increase in motivation will occur. Using an iPad to
teach writing skills creates a highly interactive learning environment that is not restricted to

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Final Assignment: Lesson Plan Critique

Julie Ormiston #13338975

desks and rows. The iPad allows for students to learn with a highly interactive technological tool
that is also part of everyday life and therefore provides an effective situated learning activity.

II. Details outlining the specific operations needed to be modeled to the students.
1.

Press circular button to get to home page

2.

Explain the icons on the home page and model how a finger swipe to the L shows more
icons (apps) (this L swipe moves the page to the R)

3.

Include a description outlining the steps that need to be modeled by the teacher to
demonstrate how a finger swipe to the R will eventually bring them to the search page
where they will type (in the top rectangular box) the letters cam first three letters of
camera to find the camera application.

III. Details of the specific applications to be used:

1.

Camera app. -what students need to already know about photography and a discussion
on how to take pictures. Explanation about different types of camera shots so students
will understand how to properly stand over there friendship art pictures so they execute
the correct framing when taking the photos.

2.

Replace Doodlebuddy with ScreenChomp app. -students can insert their photos onto a
page and write a description.

IV. Details outlining the collaborative process.

1.

Students put in pairs to share an iPad.

2.

Each student has a turn taking photographs of their previously drawn friendship pictures.

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3.

Final Assignment: Lesson Plan Critique

Julie Ormiston #13338975

When each student has taken his/her turn they can take pictures of their classmates friendship pictures.

4.

The teacher then models ScreenChomp application.

a.

Reviewing again how to find an app within the iPad search page.

b.

Model how to find their photos in camera app and insert a photo into a page in
screenChomp.

c.

Model how to select a writing tool and how to add a description for their inserted photograph.

d.

Model how to voice record their description.