Interactive+Instruction

=**Interactive Instruction**= Interactive instruction relies on participant sharing within a **group**. Students don't always learn well, or relate, to teachers. Sometimes it is better to grasp a concept when a fellow student/peer explains it. This also allows **diverse learning styles** to collaborate; it gives a **range**. The teacher is in charge of dictating the topic, length, time, groupings, and grading method. Interactive instruction requires listening, observing, interpersonal, and intervention skills. The teacher must know how to **structure** the groups and their topic in order for these strategies to work.

//Three forms of Interactive Instruction://
=__**Debate**__=

**Why is debating effective?** Debating is when two people, with opposing viewpoints on a certain topic, argue their differences. They take turns speaking and ask each other questions. There is also an audience who can vote for the winner. Debating gets the students involved in the curriculum. Even if the student does not agree with their side, they have to commit to the role. This allows them to strategize and imagine what their opponent is going to say next. Debating also helps students familiarize themselves with public speaking, researching, listening, and persuading the audience to agree with their side.



**What to do?** Familiarize the class with the procedures of a debate. Discuss that they will be arguing opposing viewpoints; explain that they are just trying to get their point across as best as they can. Give them a list of vocabulary words associated with debating. Outlines for debates also prove to help students get through the debating process. Depending upon what grade level is being taught, the debating process may need to be changed.

The following slideshow is an example of what the class should be taught (can be altered for specific grades/ages):

media type="custom" key="11167582" align="center"

=__**Role Play**__=

**What does Role Play accomplish?** Role play is when people act out certain characters in certain situations. It allows students to become someone else and understand their views, perspectives, lives, and concerns. Role play is all about getting to know a character.



Role play is ideal for Social Studies, English, and History. Let's say you want to teach your class about Mount Everest and what it takes to climb it; there are specific jobs that each person takes on when climbing Mount Everest. Give the roles and responsibilities to each student and allow them to act it out for the class. That way, the actors will understand what happens and so will their peers. Examples for roles can be found at Unlocking The Archives: Mount Everest and it's Ascent.
 * What are some ideas for Role Play? **

The following video is an example of a role play session between children: media type="youtube" key="S5hsfNo2JRU" height="315" width="420" align="center"

=__**Jigsaw**__=

Jigsaw learning is when students are split into "home" groups and given a certain topic, for example: The California Gold Rush. Within that group, each member should have a certain job to do (the students may assign themselves or the teacher can assign them). Each student will research something about their topic. An "expert" group is a group of students (from other "home" groups) with the same topic. To go along with the example mentioned earlier, some ideas for topics are as follows: History, The 49ers, Legal Rights, and Profits. Each student will research their part in their "expert" group, share with their "home" group, and put all the information together in their "home" group. It is very collaborative (like this Wiki) and requires cooperation on each student's part.
 * What is Jigsaw learning? **



Jigsaw learning allows students to be personable and cooperative with their peers, as well as giving them their own responsibility. Researching their topic and sharing it with the group will also help show that they know their topic well.
 * Why choose Jigsaw learning? **

Yes, it has proven to be an effective teaching/learning method.
 * Is it effective? **

//"Within a few weeks, the success of the jigsaw was obvious. Teachers told us how pleased they were at the change in atmosphere.// //Visitors expressed amazement at the transformation. Needless to say, this was exciting to my graduate students and me."//
 * Professor Aronson**

Read the whole account of Prof. Aronson's Jigsaw Experience.

The following video further explains the Jigsaw learning strategy: media type="youtube" key="ocflomXm06I" height="315" width="420" align="center"