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Microworld. 1 Introduction Microworlds are a kind of educational technology used in constructionist instructional designs. See also: Brent Wilson (1995) implicitly classifies microworlds as a kind of learning environment, which is an "idea" expressed as follows: Like the classroom metaphor, thinking of instruction as an environment gives emphasis to the "place" or "space" where learning occurs. At a minimum, a learning environment contains: the learner; a setting or "space" wherein the learner acts--using tools and devices, collecting and interpreting information, interacting perhaps with others, etc. Microworlds emerged in the 1980's together with pedagogical constructivism as defined by Wilson (1995) as: a place where learners may work together and support each other as they use a variety of tools and information resources in their pursuit of learning goals and problem-solving activities.

Microwords continue to be developped in various forms. 2 Definitions 3 History 4 Features of microworlds. Theoretical Frameworks to Learning. Student-centred learning. Student-centered learning, that is, putting students interests first, is in contrast to traditional education, by proponents of "student-centered learning" also dubbed "teacher-centred learning". Student-centred learning is focused on each student's interests, abilities, and learning styles, placing the teacher as a facilitator of learning. This classroom teaching method acknowledges student voice as central to the learning experience for every learner, and differs from many other learning methodologies.

In a student-centred classroom, students choose what they will learn, how they will learn, and how they will assess their own learning. Teacher-centred learning has the teacher at its centre in an active role and students in a passive, receptive role. Background[edit] In traditional education methodologies, teachers direct the learning process and students assume a receptive role in their education. These changes have impacted educator's methods of teaching and the way students learn. Pedagogic strategy. This article or chapter is incomplete and its contents need further attention. Some information may be missing or may be wrong, spelling and grammar may have to be improved, use your judgment!

1 Definition Pedagogic Strategies can be defined at 3 levels: General instructional designs Designs applied to a teaching/learning unit (e.g. a lesson or a course module) Pedagogic methods that are part of a wider design (e.g. of a pedagogic strategy as defined here) and that we discuss elsewhere. Effective course designs (or teachers) may make use of different teaching strategies or methods. According to Dick et al. (2001:184) “ instructional strategy is used generally to cover the various aspects of sequencing and organizing the content, specifying learning activities, and deciding how to deliver the content and activities.” Important notice: DSchneider doesn't feel very sure how to distinguish pedagogic strategies from what he calls instructional design models. Alternative entry points: 2.5 Joyce. How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School.