Module 3:Principles of Learning Design and Active Learning

My major is Pacific Asian Studies (PAAS), and this major is mainly unfolded by the three parts of language, media, and translation. During my summer vacation from May to June this year, I learned some basic daily greetings and grammar in French. This learning experience has given me a sense of how learning a new language such as French not only allows me to learn practical language skills outside of my native tongue but also to get a closer look at the cultures of other countries. The core of this module is a lesson on French greetings and basic grammar learning designed for French beginners. The best method for beginners to understand and learn French, I decide to give specific words and grammar, but also add the corresponding English meaning with two or three specific examples.
Lesson Design planning template:
 Big Idea:
What is the big idea that the learner will walk away with at the end of the lesson that is critical for learners at this stage of their learning path?
 Learning basic French greetings and understanding basic French grammar is essential. It is only by learning and progressively mastering these basics of French that students will be able to understand the meanings of various word in French, expressions, and how to carry on a simple conversation in French.

 

Learning Outcome(s):
What specific things will the learner know or be able to do by the end of the lesson?
At the end of this lesson, French beginners will know several common French greetings. Such as: Bonjour (Hello), Salut (Hello/Hi), Bonsoir (Good evening), Au revoir (Goodbye), Comment allez-vous? (How are you?), Merci beaucoup! (Thank you so much).
They also learn how to use the French greeting to ask their classmates/friends about their name, age, where they come from, and what’s their preference and give responses to the following questions in French. For example: Comment tu t’appelles? (What’s your name?), Answer: Je m’appelle…(My name is…), Quel age avez-vous?( How old are you?) Answer: J’ai … (I’m … years old), Ou tu habites? (Where do you live?) Answer: J’habite a…(I live in…), D’ou tu viens? (where are you from?) Answer: Je viens de… (I come from…) , Qu’est ce que tu aimes en general? (What do you like in general?) Answer: J’aime… (I like…) 
 The overall structure of a French sentence is the same as in English, consisting of a subject, auxiliary verb, and object. Subject + Verb + Object (SVO).
In addition, they will master some grammar and use rules in French. For example: 
Nouns and Article: French nouns are masculine or feminine and accompanied by articles.
Definite Articles: le (masculine singular)
la (feminine  singular)
les chiens (the dogs)
indefinite Articles: un (masculine singular) → un chat (a cat)
une (feminine singular) → une table (a table)
des (plural) → des fleurs (some flowers)
Forming questions:  (1)can use the phrase “Est-ce que”?
Example: Je mange le sushi. Est-ce que tu manges le sushi? (Do you like to eat sushi?)
(2) use Inversion: Switch the subject and verb
Example: Parles-tu anglais? (Do you speak English?)
Forming  Negative Sentences Structure like Subject+ne + origin form of Veb + pas
Example: Je n’aime pas les mathématiques. (I don’t like Math)
Nous ne regardons pas la télévision. (We don’t watch television)
Common Verbs: être and avoir(conjugation)
Etre- to be:
Je suis (I am )    Tu es (you’re)    il/Elle/on est (he/she/it is)
Nous sommes ( we are)    Vous êtes (you (plural) )      ils/Elles sont
Example: Je suis étudiant. (I am a student)
Tu as un livre. (You have a book)
Avoir– to have:-( see er Verb, drop er, and according to the Subject add relevant uffix):
Je+ e Tu+es il/Elle/on+e Nous+ons Vous+ez ils/Elles +ent
Example: paler (to speak) : Je + parle Tu+parles il/elle/on+ parle nous+ parlons ils/Elles+ parlent
manger(to eat): Je +mange Tu + manages il/elle/on+mange nous+ mangeons
 

 

 

 

 

Reflections:

Constructive alignment and backward design have been broadly incorporated into various segments of the course. Various activities undertaken in the module, assessments, and outcomes are directly aligned with past knowledge of activities. Nonetheless, I have seen gaps in other courses where the correlation between learning activities and outcomes is not always clear. This confuses the importance of certain concepts

However, in my experience, I have noticed that this alignment is not always present in other courses. In some instances, there is a lack of clarity regarding how the learning activities are related to the course outcomes. This disconnect can lead to confusion among students, as they may not fully understand the importance of certain concepts or why they are being asked to engage in specific tasks. Without a clear correlation between activities and outcomes, students may struggle to see the relevance of their learning experiences and, as a result, may not be as motivated or engaged in the material. This gap highlights the importance of consistently applying principles like constructive alignment across all courses to ensure that students are supported in their learning journey.

In contrast, this module demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating and harmonizing all learning activities and assessments. By ensuring that each task, assessment, and outcome is interrelated, the module promotes a deeper understanding of the content. Students are more likely to grasp the meaning of each concept because they can see how it fits into the learning objectives. This consistency not only improves the clarity of the course structure but also contributes to a better learning experience for students. Ultimately, when activities and assessments are thoughtfully designed and aligned with the intended outcomes, students are better able to achieve the learning objectives and apply what they learn in the real world.

The use of H5P has been an eye-opening and enjoyable experience for me. It’s not just a tool, it’s a platform that opens up new possibilities for creating engaging and interactive content. When I first started exploring H5P I found the features of the “Interactive Video” tool particularly appealing. With this tool, you can embed quizzes, questions, and other media directly into the video to make the video content more engaging. Instead of passively watching the video, learners can actively interact with the video at various points. This not only keeps them engaged but also reinforces the learning objectives. For example, after watching a video, you can ask a question to make sure the viewer understands the content before continuing. This type of interactivity can greatly improve learners’ retention and help them apply what they have learned. I’ve found that when learners are actively involved in the learning process, rather than just watching from the sidelines, they retain information better and are more motivated to continue learning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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