Analyze Learners (Instructor: Hannah L. Mills) Grade: 3rd Grade Subject Area: English
General Characteristics The students are 8 and 9 years old. Several students have learning disabilities, whereas others are above-average readers and writers. These students are provided with intervention groups and the small group instruction that takes place within the classroom. The students come from primarily moderated- to low-income socioeconomic environments and represent and minimal viable population common to an rural setting. The behavior at Aynor Elementary is fairly well with very few write ups a year. Most students show desire to learn more especially when tasks are designed digitally. However, these students are learning how to use their iPads for the first year in school and sometimes tasks take longer.
Entry Competencies The students in general are able to do the following:
skills for search strategies
recognizing how branded characters, games and activities on websites build brand loyalty
how to protect their privacy on commercial sites
the idea that material posted to the Internet can last forever
the fact that the people we interact with online have feelings
Learning Styles Students seem to identify best with activities that provide group projects using chart paper or a digital choice. Once students have had partners to discuss the materials they are able to research new ideas using their iPads and provide more reasonings when digging deep within a nonfiction research project. When students are allowed to use their iPads for projects their motivation appears to be cheerful and highly engaged. While these students mentioned above are gaining practice with using iPads for the first time some students prefer to use the text-to-speech button when answering extended end questions. These students have difficulty working on projects when their is not an example to follow or if I do not have these steps written down on a chart for students to refer back to. I have also found that directions need to be repeated and after 15-20 minutes of work time it is helpful if I allow some groups to share to others in the class what they have found to work as a model example. While students are working on their projects it seems that music motivates students and keeps the noise level down. Students love to finish their projects on chart paper or online while including digital or illustrated pictures to represent their work!