How will your interactive learning resource specifically ensure that the needs of all learners can be met?

In order to ensure that learners can successfully use our learning resource, our learning pod will implement a few design features that will increase its accessibility to those who may not speak English as their first language as well as to those who may have difficulty meeting precise deadlines due to busy schedules or emergency situations. 

Outside of terms specific to control flow in Python, only simple terms will be used throughout the course to make it easier for those not fluent in English to understand. Words and terms that may be more difficult to understand but are necessary for the learning resource, such as boolean, will be put into a glossary that will describe the term in detail to ensure all learners can use the terms appropriately in the context of Python. For ELL students and others who may not be as fluent in English, we will ensure that there are opportunities for them to be able to receive clarification on what is required for projects or to help explain the meanings of certain concepts if needed. They will also be placed in groups where other members of their group will also be able to aid them in their understanding. 

To ensure those with busy schedules, like single mothers, have full access to the course we will also give students the ability to request extensions to help those who may need a little more time to complete assignments. These extra days will also be available to anyone who is experiencing issues with unforeseen circumstances or in case of emergencies. We hope that by providing more lenient due dates we can remove any undue stress that would otherwise prevent the learner from completing the resource.

Inquiry-Based learning

Inquiry-based learning is a student centered learning approach that focuses on questioning and research. There are different types of inquiry-based learning, each with a different level of structure for the student to follow. 

The most structured version is confirmation-inquiry. In this version, the instructor provides the students with a question, an answer, and the method used to find the answer with the goal being for the students to figure out how the given method works.

Next is structured-inquiry where the students are given a question and a method for the students to come up with their own conclusion.

Then there is guided-inquiry. For this, the instructor only provides an open question. The students must design their own method for finding an answer.

The least structured version of inquiry-based learning is open-inquiry. For this, students pose their own question they wish to answer with their own methods to come up with a conclusion. (Guido, 2017)

Each type of inquiry-based learning aims to promote high-level critical thinking and to increase a students learning motivation by focusing on a curiosity driven approach. 

There are 4 steps in the process: 

1. A question to be answered is posed
2. Students conduct research on the topic and find resources
3. Students evaluate their sources and compile information
4. Students present their findings

The learning approach encourages independent learning in students as it gives more freedom to the student on how they learn and answer a given question. This approach aims to help students develop their abilities to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information. By giving students more freedom in the work it can increase their engagement with the material. Since everyone can access this learning strategy through their own questions, inquiry based learning is also inclusive. 

Alignment with control flow in python

Although inquiry based learning usually matches well with computer science topics as there are plenty of resources that can be found online, it can also lead to students over complicating simpler tasks such as the basics of control flow. Since the course is meant to be short and only covers the basic parts of control flow we will not be using an inquiry based learning structure in our learning resource.

References

Guido, M. (2017, January 19). What Is Inquiry-Based Learning: 7 Benefits & Strategies You Need to Know. Prodigy Education. Retrieved November 27, 2021, from https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/inquiry-based-learning-definition-benefits-strategies/.

Take online courses. earn college credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers. Study.com | Take Online Courses. Earn College Credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2021, from https://study.com/teach/inquiry-based-learning.html. 

What is one idea from the readings or videos that you disagree with, and why?

In the video by Destin Sandlin at Smarter Every Day he claims that his experiment to prove that he could “free his brain from a cognitive bias” only proved that he “can only redesignate that bias” as he had seemingly forgotten to ride a regular bike after training his brain to ride the backward bicycle. I disagree with this statement as during the video he attempts to ride a normal bicycle again and instead of the 8 months, it took him to learn the backwards bike he only needed 20 minutes to be able to ride the regular bike again. This makes it seem as though instead of changing his biases completely he instead was building a new pathway alongside it. It may have been possible that if he had continued to practice both bicycles simultaneously he may have been able to accomplish his initial task to try and remove his cognitive bias. His inability to ride the regular bike may have also been due more to him being out of practice rather than having learned a different way of riding a bike. Destin also compares his experiment to learning a new language when comparing his sons and his experience with the bicycle and how it relates to neuroplasticity. Although he makes a good point here, when you compare his experiment to learning a new language in terms of cognitive bias you also bring up an example in which does not redesignate their bias as a person can learn multiple languages without losing the previous languages they knew provided they continue to practice those languages. This shows further that his statement about proving that he “can only redesignate that bias” may not be entirely accurate.

References

destinws2. (2015, April 24). The backwards brain bicycle – smarter every day 133. YouTube. Retrieved November 27, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFzDaBzBlL0.