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Context Analyses

 

This problem-solving workshop is designed to be facilitated in any children's museum space. Before the workshop can occur, the museum must have staff (or volunteer) facilitators & instructors trained on the ScratchJr application and the course materials & activities. This training is a separate course, based on the Facilitator Resources. During the workshop, the instructors will lead the instruction and the facilitators will be spread out among the students, helping them proceed through the activities. When the facilitators and instructors are trained, workshops can begin.

 

As stated in the Instructional Strategy, the workshop will start with an icebreaker activity, then proceed to a physical activity. In the context of the physical activity, the students will be able to apply the tools they will use in the ScratchJr app in a real-life stituation. The next learning context is an instructor-led, problem-solving activity in the ScratchJr app, and then the students will work individually in the ScratchJr app on more problem-solving activities. This progression of learning contexts allows for enhanced retention and transfer of the tools used in ScratchJr so that the students can focus more on the problem-solving activities and not be confused about the app.

 

The performance context for problem-solving skills is almost everywhere. Problem-solving is a skill that can applied to schoolwork, such as tests, and to everyday things at home, such as finding a lost item.

 

Learning Context: A Children’s Museum

  • Prior experience with the museum will affect learners’ motivation

  • Strengths:

    • designed specifically to promote learning in our target age group

    • generally associated with fun activities

    • parents will be with their children

  • Challenges

    • not as segmented based on experience/development as a school environment

    • lots of potential distractions

    • variation in group size based on days/times/frequency offered

    • size of space could determine use of physical activity vs. poster version

 

Learning Context: Facilitator Assistance

  • Strengths:

    • facilitators will be trained on subject matter and tools

    • they will typically have experience working with kids in this age group

    • some facilitators will have experience working with special needs students

  • Challenges:

    • organizing facilitators based on needs (number of students/session, special needs students)

    • ensuring facilitators are trained in the subject matter and in Scratch Jr.

 

Learning Context: Scratch Jr.

  • Strengths:

    • user friendly and intuitive

    • designed for age group

  • Challenges:

    • learners may not be familiar with the platform due to limited availability (only on iPads and Android tablets)

    • learners could easily focus more on the game than on the skills we want them to learn

 

Performance Context: Home and School

  • Strengths:

    • wide variety of applications

    • many opportunities to engage in problem solving

      • test-taking

      • homework

      • conflict resolution

      • etc.

  • Challenges

    • Large variation in chances to transfer/practice knowledge

      • school-provided opportunities to practice problem solving skills and coding

      • parents’ support of related activities

      • availability of technology to practice with the same platform

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