USING MULTIMEDIA TO ENGAGE LEARNERS Learning Centers & Multimedia Samantha Arnold Frostburg State University Spring 2013

LEARNING CENTERS A learning center is an area of the classroom that is self contained to encourage individual or small group learning. In each learning center there is a topic that the teacher wants the students to focus on.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD LEARNING CENTER?  Organized  Interactive  Designed for individuals, pairs, or triads  Technology  Confined to a clearly identified area

 Skill Centers Provide students with opportunities to reinforce a skill for additional practice. Example: math manipulatives with math problems on a worksheet. Example: Prefixes for students learning word skills TYPES OF CENTERS  Interest Centers Stimulate new interests and encourage creativity. Example: Prior to teaching a unit on insects, create a center on insect life. Example: Before lesson on American culture, make a center representing the culture

 Remedial Centers Give additional practice to the students who are struggling with a specific topic. Example: Include fraction dominoes in a center that is for students struggling with fractions. TYPES OF CENTERS CONTINUED  Enrichment Centers Offer stimulating learning experiences for students who have completed their work for the day. Example: Have a computer game or video set up that will be interesting and related to a topic the students are learning

ADVANTAGES  Self pacing The students are responsible for their own learning and they can work at their own pace; this increases the likelihood of success.  Active learning Students have hands on participation in their learning experience.  Teacher role The teacher can be free to move around the room and assist students where needed, playing more of a coaching role.

LIMITATIONS  Cost Time, planning, and equipment costs  Management Teachers must have good classroom management and organization  Student responsibility Students have to be willing to accept some responsibility for their own learning

MANIPULATIVES  Manipulatives are hands-on objects that can be handled in the learning setting. Manipulatives are often used in learning centers. Manipulatives are great because they promote learning by attracting student attention.

TYPES OF MANIPULATIVES  Real objects  Models  Mock-ups

REAL OBJECTS  Real objects are things such as coins, tools, artifacts, plants, and animals.  Real objects are appropriate for learners who are encountering a topic they have little experience on.  Examples of how to enhance classroom instruction Cutaways Specimens Exhibits

 Models are a three dimensional representation of a real object. A model could be larger, smaller, or the same size as the object it represents.  Examples of models include airplanes, zebras, human brain, or anything you can think of that will enhance the students learning. MODELS

 Mock-ups are simplified representations of more complex devices. They are used to clarify the more complex object. For example, a mock-up of a building is shown to the right. MOCK-UPS

 Realism-manipulatives provide realism and a 3D representation  Interest-manipulatives arrouse interest because everyone likes to touch them.  Cooperation-manipulatives stimulate small group learning  Expense-manipulatives tend to be pricey.  Storage-It is difficult to find and remember where the manipulatives have been stored.  Fragility- manipulatives are easily broken. MANIPULATIVES Advantages Limitations

SMALDINO, S. E., LOWTHER, D. L., & RUSSEL, J. D. (2012).INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA FOR LEARNING. (10 ED.). BOSTON, MA: PEARSON EDUCATION. INC. Resources