Teaching Pedagogy
Game Based Learning
Games and projects can help children learn through three major reasons: motivation, content mastery, as well as higher order thinking and social skills.
This method of teaching requires students to be problem solvers and use soft skills that they will need as adults. We think that this is great way to encourage a “mastery” mindset, rather than a focus on grades.
The Experiential Learning Cycle
David Kolb's Learning Model (1984)
“Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience”
Kolb states that learning involves the acquisition of abstract concepts that can be applied flexibly in a range of situations. In Kolb’s theory, the impetus for the development of new concepts is provided by new experiences. Learning is viewed as an integrated process with each stage being supportive of and feeding into the next. It is possible to enter the cycle at any stage and follow it through its logical sequence. However, effective learning only occurs when a learner can execute all four stages of the model. Therefore, no one stage of the cycle is effective as a learning procedure on its own.
Concrete Experience
"Doing and Acquiring Experience"
Active Experimentation
"Trying out what You Learnt"
Reflective Observation
"Reflecting on the Experience"
Abstract Conceptualization
"Learning from the Experience"
How our Classes are Structured
Drawing upon David Kolb's Model, our curriculum is designed to enhance learning
Our approach for teaching our students coding concepts and problem solving skills is based on projects, games and activities. Students go through the learning cycle numerous times as they learn through doing. Lessons are structured such that students have to learn to code through trial-and-error, observing and learning from their mistakes. They then apply the lessons immediately through experimentation forming new experiences once again.
We think this method of teaching is not just effective, but engaging and interactive for our students. We provide a learning environment that truly makes learning fun - a phrase that is commonly heard, but less commonly executed well.
Mission
Learn through trial & error
Friendly competition among kids in classroom Setting
Keeping programming lessons fun and interactive
approach
Devise solution(s) to the mission
Allow for multiple approaches & variable components
algorithm
Break down the approach into a series of logical steps
Refining the algorithm through application of coding logic
Variability within missions require robust algorithms
code
Implementation of algorithm into respective platform(s)
Identify and resolve bugs within code
Experiential learning leading to long term learning paths
Reflection
Re-cap learning points of the day to crystallize knowledge
Time for kids to collect their thoughts
Learning journal to document progress