Lifelong Learning Programme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Teachers’ Guide

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TEACHING SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS THROUGH PROBLEM BASED AND REAL LIFE CASE SCENARIOS

Table of Content

Chapter 1: Contemporary learners and learner-centred learning
1.4 Effective learning for “Digital natives”
Pupils spend more and more time in virtual environment and performs various tasks even better that in natural environment. Learning can also happen in virtual environment. Learning that occurs in e-environments and is called e-learning. E-learning is defined as an integration of ICT into educational content that helps students to acquire knowledge and skills, supports teaching and learning processes, enriches learning and encourages interaction between teachers and students. Why is it more effective than traditional academic learning in a classroom? Firstly, because e-learning is in line with the general principles of effective learning. Accroding to Nilson (2010), 10 main principles that operate in the learning process:
  1. Learning is natural and emerges from human nature.
  2. Learning occurs with repetition: a human being learns by connecting new information to previously acquired knowledge.
  3. A human being memorizes, learns what is meaningful and relevant in his/her everyday life.
  4. Learning in a group, in cooperation is natural. Learning in pairs or in solitude is a bit artificial.
  5. The attitude of authorities – inspiration and enthusiasm – motivates students to learn.
  6. Students learn very little if teacher-centered methods are applied. They learn when they are actively engaged in learning and their learning experience is related to the real life.
  7. Students learn more if new information is provided several times in different modalities.
  8. Learning is much smoother if a student is encouraged to perceive and reflect his/her own activity.
  9. Deeper learning occurs when students have to evaluate what and how well they have learnt.
  10. Students learn better when both intellectual and emotional domain is stimulated.

The above-mentioned principles can be implemented more successfully in e-learning or by blended learning. Why? Mark Prensky, designates the Z generation as “digital natives” because any digital object is natural and acceptable for them. One becomes “a digital native” while growing up in the surroundings of technology, constantly using it since early childhood. However, people who have learned to use technology as grow-ups will always remain “digital immigrants” despite their proficiency in technology. The majority of teachers are “digital immigrants”, therefore they find it difficult to appropriately evaluate the attractiveness of e-learning for modern students, while “digital natives” take digital learning as natural, interesting, activating and engaging. Students want to contribute to the development of digital education content.
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Table of Content