Contextualized Curriculum Guide Pat Phillips Melanie Knier Davidson

Contextualized Curriculum Guide Pat Phillips & Melanie Knier Davidson County Community College Lexington, NC

Research Indicates � Students want to make connections between what they learn and what they experience in real life � Students do not necessarily view math as applicable to their daily lives � Effective learning requires active application of knowledge, skills, and processes � Learners need to acquire content knowledge and learn how to apply what they have learned

Research Indicates � Transfer of learning is likely to occur when the student understands the facts and the big picture � The learning environment should be community-centered, learner-centered and knowledge-centered � Contextualized learning helps students make these applications

WIA Re-Authorization � OVAE defines contextualized learning as “a conception of teaching and learning that helps teachers relate subject matter to real world situations” � Current information indicates that new WIA Title 1 & Title 2 re-authorization will require closer alignment with work skills and tie learning to those work skills � Contextualized curriculum is one method of making this alignment

Preparing to use contextualized curriculum � Requires a shift in understanding of what it means to develop curriculum � Begins curriculum instruction with tasks learners need in their daily lives; then begins instruction of knowledge and skills required to perform these tasks � Encourages teamwork and collaborative learning. Students often find comfort and success when working with a partner or small group

How we selected career pathways at Davidson County CC � Identified short-term certificate and diploma programs that could be completed in 1 -3 semesters � Met with college faculty and representatives from business and workforce development to determine areas where employment was obtainable � Identified faculty and staff and trained them to develop the curriculum � Developed curriculum in areas of health, transportation and early childhood initially. Added HVAC, Business, Computers and are currently identifying others to add

Examples of contextualized pathways at Davidson County CC � Nurse Assistant � Medical Office Assistant � Pharmacy Technology � Early Childhood � Phlebotomy � HVAC � Truck Driver Training � Automotive Technology � Business � Early Childhood Education

Instructional Strategies Used in Curriculum Development Choose the best answer � Find These Words � What Would You Do? � Complete this Chart � Multiple Choice � Fill in the Blank/Word Bank � Crossword Puzzle � Memorizing/mnemonics � Common Bonds � True/False Reading (continued) � � Cell Word Chop � Matching � Context Clues � Magic Square � Short-answer question

Instructional Strategies to Use in Curriculum Development (cont. ) � Single-step word problems � Multi-step word problems � Chart/graphs word problems � Hands-on activities using math application, manipulatives, etc. � Students are provided content and write their own work problems � Short answer situations � Topic Sentence placement � Grammatically Correct � Pick 5 key statements and write a summary � Statement re-write � Research and create a 3 minute oral presentation on topic of research Math Writing

Create a Magic Square Good Vocabulary Activity

A few things to think about when creating word problems Students get more out of problems that are interactive � Problems that are relevant to their lives are important � Key words, phrases, or topics you want students to use need to be very clear in the problem � Work through the problem as the instructor before giving to students to prevent any surprises � Initially, begin with single step word problems until the student becomes more comfortable doing them � Working together often makes students more comfortable and they can solve the problem together � May give the students the answer to the problem in initial stages to lower anxiety in solving the problems �

Write your own word problem One single-step and one multi-step problem

How Do We Engage Students as Active Learners? � Make explicit how class activities develop skills for career paths ◦ Tap into student motivation � Use instructional strategies that leverage contextualized learning approaches ◦ Scaffold learning ◦ Use hands-on/active learning ◦ Apply learning in a variety of contexts � Address varying skill levels in the same class ◦ Use group/pair work

More examples from other community colleges: GED Bridge to Health Career Profile Writing Project Reading Curriculum Math Curriculum

Here’s what they are doing in Illinois: CNA to LPN class • 3 hours/week X 16 weeks • Contextualized medical vocabulary • Based on National League of Nursing Exam • “Reading Smart” “ 504 Absolutely Essential Words” • Exit exam – Compass Reading, English, Math Fast Track Allied Health Class in Arkansas • Contextualize developmental level reading and math • Move students along quicker through career pathway

Where are we going ? ? ? • More hybrid classes – using Moodle, Blackboard • Use Soft. Chalk to easily convert contextualized curriculum to engaging, interactive lessons on the web

Sources � sites. wiki. ubc. ca � EFF Research Principle: A Contextualized Approach to Curriculum and Instruction � mcli. dist. maricopa. edu � www. teachforever. com � Contextualized Teaching & Learning: A Faculty Primer developed by California Community College � Breaking Through Contextualization Toolkit

Sources http: //www. laguardia. edu/uploaded. Files/T 2/pcap/home_content/GED %20 Bridge%20 to%20 Health%20 Careers%20 Reading%20 Curric%20 Sessio n%203. pdf http: //www. laguardia. edu/uploaded. Files/T 2/pcap/docs/Geometry%20 Overview. pdf http: //occrl. illinois. edu/files/Projects/promising_pratice/2010/Promi sing_Practice_Oakton_CC_Curriculum. pdf http: //www. aatyc. org/about-us/archive-news/181 -aatyc-newsletterjuly-2010. html

Contact Information Pat Phillips patp@davidsonccc. edu 336. 224. 4570 Melanie Knier mgknier@davidsonccc. edu 336. 224. 4584 Jobs for the Future Website: www. jff. org