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

2. 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.

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

5.  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

6.  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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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.

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

11. 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

12.  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

13.  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

14.  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

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