Students learn more when information is presented in different ways -- direct instruction, text, audio, video, and interactive simulations are just a few examples.
Research Put into Practice: Apex Learning Curriculum and Pedagogy examines what it means for a student to learn and presents research pointing to the elements of curriculum design that are necessary for supporting learning in middle and high schools.
The research in this white paper is divided into four sections and each section is followed by a discussion of how the research is applied within the Apex Learning digital curriculum.
Section I: Teaching and Active Learning with Media focuses on what is traditionally thought of as “teaching.” An example of this is how a teacher or a media presentation shows a student how to find the area of a triangle, or how to write a topic sentence for an essay. The student must take an active part in this process to learn anything; in online curriculum, there need to be appropriately timed and communicated opportunities for the student to give input.
Key Topics Covered
Organizing Information Around Main Ideas
The organization of content around central concepts that are supported by selected facts and information is an evidence-based best practice in curriculum design.
Multimedia Presentation of Knowledge
While approaches such as problem-based and inquiry-based instruction help students, knowledge cannot be acquired from problem solving alone. In many subject areas, it is also necessary to acquire knowledge from text, lectures, or media presentations.
Length of Videos, Animated Explanations, and Other Streaming Media
Most online courses include instructional media presentations such as videos. When media presentations are broken into small pieces, there should be opportunities for checks for understanding with helpful feedback between each section.
Read the white paper to learn more about how Apex Learning puts research into practice in its digital curriculum.
