Ideas for Effective Learning

By: Tanya Chambers

1. Discussion
Overview Promotes a dialogue exchange of ideas and thoughts between participants Practical way to introduce a new topic Powerful method of delving deeper into concepts Ways to use in a library setting Skype discussion with authors in other locations in the country Book talk about latest novel that has been made into a movie

2. Cooperative Learning
Overview Participants work together to assist each other in task Non-competitive environment All have roles in the team Ways to use in a library setting Podcasts of book reviews PowerPoint presentation of Dewey decimal system numbers for nonfiction books Video production tour of the sections of the library

3. Games
Overview Competitive activity where participants endeavor to attain a goal Teaches problem-solving skills and pattern recognition Provides opportunities to practice skills Ways to use in a library setting Online shelving game with both fiction and nonfiction titles Games on publishers websites with characters from books facing challenges

4. Simulations
Overview Scaled-down versions of real-life situations

 Allows realistic practice in safe environment Less expense involved than actual circumstance Ways to use in a library setting Voting simulation of a general election with characters from books as candidates Online travel simulation to experience different countries and cultures for world heritage months

5. Discovery
Overview Inquiry approach to learning Promotes deep understanding of content through involvement Scientific method model Ways to use in a library setting Discovering reading levels of well-known documents and comparing to modern works Young students examine one section of non-fiction area of library to determine ways that all materials are related

6. Problem-based Learning
Overview Participants actively seek solutions to problems in real world Problems may be structured or ill-structured Structured problems have clearly defined appropriate response Ill-structured problems have many possible solutions Best evaluated with rubrics Ways to use in a library setting WebQuest regarding ways to organize materials in library Problem solving activity concerning ways to replace stolen or damaged books in the library

Reference: Smaldino, S.E., Lowther, D.L., & Russell, J.D. (2012). Instructional technology and media for learning (10th ed.). Boston: Pearson.