Prompt: Attach a lesson, and explain how you would modify the lesson so that it encourages flow for the learner. Please describe why it does not currently meet the guidelines for flow, and what specific changes you will make.
Flow in a LessonMy original lesson plan is a lesson plan from Everyday Mathematics 4. This specific lesson has been added to the core program to specifically fit SC state standards. This means the program did not specifically cover this specific standard in enough detail, so they have custom built this lesson for South Carolina.
For this reason, even more emphasis is placed on this lesson. In turn, flow is even more important in this lesson. However, EDM4 lessons can be very repetitative and do not always the best engagement strategies. |
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Note: This lesson plan file size was too large to upload to Weebly using the free features. The button was added to create a link to Google Drive. If there are any issues viewing the original lesson plan, please let me know and I will email the document.
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When thinking about lesson flow...there are a few changes that I would make to the presentation of this lesson to provide the opportunity for students to enter the flow stage of learning.
1. Gamification
Csikszentmihalyi’s flow theory is understood as a state of concentration and engagement that can be achieved when completing a task that challenges your skillset. The YouTube video above also notes that when one has entered the flow stage, they forget about time becuase they are so engaged. The first way that I would revise this lesson to allow the opportunity for flow to occur is to add gameification into the lesson. Gamification such as Kahoot! engages students in their learning and pushes them to work a little harder to get that next question correct. In my classroom, I typically use Kahoot! at the end of a lesson to wrap up our learning but with this specific lesson I want to use Kahoot! in the beginning of the lesson to kick start the engagement.
In this specific lesson, students begin the lesson with ordering sets of numbers. I chose this specific Kahoot! game to add to this lesson becuase of the Puzzle feature that Kahoot! has added to their software. Students will drag the numbers into the correct order, versus just multiple choice.
Note: Kahoot! is a free gaming website where games can be created by the teacher or teachers can search the database for games made by other teachers. Teachers have the ability to duplicate and revise that quiz to best fit the needs of the class.
In this specific lesson, students begin the lesson with ordering sets of numbers. I chose this specific Kahoot! game to add to this lesson becuase of the Puzzle feature that Kahoot! has added to their software. Students will drag the numbers into the correct order, versus just multiple choice.
Note: Kahoot! is a free gaming website where games can be created by the teacher or teachers can search the database for games made by other teachers. Teachers have the ability to duplicate and revise that quiz to best fit the needs of the class.
2. Hunting for Angles
One special aspect of math is the adaptability to math in our everyday world. In this specific lesson, students are focused on Angles. One part of this lesson asks students to Hunt for Angles around the classroom. I would extend this lesson to hunting for angles around our school and at home. Students could take photos on their iPad of the angles they found to share on our class Google Classroom. By adding this extension to the lesson, students would be challenged to see the world around them in a different way...challenging that basic skillset of identifying angles in our math book only.
Previously, I've done a similar activity with my students while walking to the cafeteria and they become so involved in searching for angles that they don't see it as another math problem anymore. Often times on this lesson day, students continue searching throughout the school day in other content areas as well. Flow is reached because they are engaged and pushing their skillset to the next level.
Previously, I've done a similar activity with my students while walking to the cafeteria and they become so involved in searching for angles that they don't see it as another math problem anymore. Often times on this lesson day, students continue searching throughout the school day in other content areas as well. Flow is reached because they are engaged and pushing their skillset to the next level.
In conclusion...
After reading further and researching the flow theory, I've realized that a lesson reaching the flow stage of learning is our goal as teachers. We want students to become so involved in their learning that the rest of the world falls away. There are a few modifications to existing lessons that can be made to help make this possible in every classroom. It just takes an open mind.