图:学习支架帮助学生穿越邻近发展区(闫寒冰,2003)
在合作学习过程中,具体可操作的学习支架形式没有一定之规,随任务的不同、支架目的的不同而变化。从支架的表现形式来看,学习支架可以分为范例、问题、建议、向导、图表等。除了这些可设计的支架外,支架还有更为随机的表现形式,如解释、对话、合作等。
四、实例分析
笔者将结合“第一届全国英语特级教师论坛”上开设的一堂关于有效教学的研讨课,具体分析在小组合作学习中引入支架理论进行的教学设计和实践。
1.实例教案
(1)教学内容
《新视野英语》第三册第二单元“Interview with a Nutritionist”
(2)教学预设
① Students will be able to use the following language points:
nutritionist, a TV program, *affect, absolutely, moody, bad-tempered, *suggest, soft drink, artificial preservative, fiber, fat, *cut down on, *cut out, dairy, grain, *high in, *low in
② They will be able to make comments on a diet and exchange opinions of what a balanced diet is with the suggested words and patterns.
③ They will be able to skim and scan for extra information in the reading material.
④ They will be able to take advice as well as give suggestions on diets.
⑤ They will be able to make a small research as to find out the difference between Chinese diet and American diet or if the cafeteria provides us with a balanced diet.
(3)简略步骤
I. Pre-activities
① A chat “what’s new today” is to warm students up.
② Students will present their oral homework.
③ Students will look at the man of p18 (A Balanced Diet) and his breakfast list. They are to think of the question: Does he truly have a balanced diet? (cooperative learning)
④ Students will discuss in groups the topic “What’s the matter with his diet?” so as to practise the vocabulary and usages. (cooperative learning)
II. While activities
① Listening to the recording
While enjoying the beautiful language, student will get ready to answer some questions.
② Repeat after the tape with books open.
③ Summarize the suggestions Mr. Fong gave out to be a healthier, happier person in groups. Underline his suggestions on the book.
④ Add more to the suggestion list as his think tank (Extra reading material may be referred here). (cooperative learning)
⑤ Exchange the information in class.
III. Post-activities
① Dialogue time (cooperative learning)
Students will make up a dialogue based on the content of p 18 and p 20.
② Discussion (cooperative learning)
The central topic is: how to eat healthy; it should be a demonstration of students’ grasp of language, and a positive attitude towards advice.
IV. Homework
Extend the topic discussion to after class independent research study.
Two research topics (optional):
* Why is Chinese diet a healthier one than American one?
* Does the cafeteria provide us with a balanced diet?
2.实例分析
在本实例中,教师设计了五次小组合作学习活动(见“实例教案”)。在教学活动设计和课堂生成实施中,教师搭建了许多积极有效的支架,并在适当的活动中有效地撤卸支架。以下是其中几个支架案例及分析:
[案例六]
T : Still remember the man in our textbook on p18? What’s the title of the passage about the man?
Ss : A balanced diet.
T : What does he look like? Can you describe him?
Ss : Overweight.
T : Any more words?
Ss : Fat.
T : Is he husky?
Ss : No.
T : Let’s look at the food list he has. Does he truly have a BALANCED DIET?
[PPT: Man and His Food List]
Ss : No.
T : No, ABSOLUTELY not.
Ss : [Repeating] Absolutely not.
T : Does the food that he eats have something to do with the way he looks? What’s the matter with his breakfast? Can you discuss in groups and tell us? What’s the matter with it?
[Group discussion: Ss start discussing immediately after the teacher’s instruction. Each of them takes turns expressing their ideas in groups. The teacher pays attention to where the Ss are in their task process. Finding the discussion has been done, she raises her hand, suggesting it is time to share the opinions.]
T : If you are ready, just grab your microphone. Harry, please. Your group.
Harry : We think his breakfast has too much sweet and too much beverage.
T : Too many beverages?
Harry : Yes.
T : If people have too much sweet, how will they feel? Check your preview work!
[More students from other groups make presentation of their discussion.]
教师在此设计了一个小组合作讨论活动,讨论话题是:What’s the matter with his breakfast? 在课堂组织合作讨论前,教师搭建了两个支架:
(1)重提上课话题“A balanced diet”和话题的主人公。教师通过与学生互动问答(见案例六),找到他们的最近发展区(他们在上课学的内容与本合作讨论内容的差距),激活他们已有的背景。
(2)在投影屏幕上打出PPT课件页面:A fat man and his food list。教师通过这个课件页面内容,自然地引出讨论话题:What’s the matter with his diet? 并借助第一个支架的参照,帮助学生了解小组合作活动所要解决的任务内容。
这两个支架成功地导向学生的思维和讨论,在一定程度上内框定了讨论的范围和活动的趋向,减低了合作学习的盲目性,提高活动的质量。
[案例七]
T : So in our fast track, we have learned, “we must give the trees and plants…”
Ss : “A measured amount of water.”
T : What about people? Should we have a …
Ss : A measured amount of food.
[Back to PPT: Man and His Food List]
T : Is it a measured amount?
Ss : No.
T : Shall we change it a little bit? Or give him some suggestions? What do you suggest? I suggest one piece of toast instead of two without jelly. [Using the paintbrush to alternate the PPT] What’s your suggestion? Can you work in groups and tell us.
[Group discussion: Ss start discussing after the questions are raised, however, in a quite low voice. The teacher walks from desk to desk, paying attention to the possible difficulty Ss may encounter. She bends over and answers a question on language.]
T : If you are ready, show your hands please. Lisa, please.
Lisa : I suggest a cup of tea with no milk or sugar.
T : What you mean is to CUT OUT sugar. Daisy, please.
Daisy : I suggest pancakes without butter or syrup.
T : So you suggest (pointing to the blackboard)
Ss : Suggest cutting out butter and syrup.
T : Nice job. Cherry please.
Cherry : I suggest a cup of water instead of a cup of coffee.
[Fourteen more students from different groups rise to make their different suggestions on how to change the man’s unbalanced diet.]
在这个教学活动实例片断,教师要求学生通过小组合作,讨论课文中主人公的不健康饮食习惯,并使用英语对此进行评论和建议,以此在认识上形成健康饮食的意识,为逐渐养成良好意识习惯打下基础。针对这个活动,教师设计了话题和语言上的支架:
(1)通过问答互动,教师把学生的关注点引到课文主人公,并重现PPT课件页面“A fat man and his food list”。这样一个步骤为小组合作学习的主题搭建了一个背景支架,有利于学生明确活动的目标。
(2)教师提出几个问题作为小组合作学习的内容,同时又提供一个示范“I suggest one piece of toast instead of two without jelly.”,在语言上搭建了一个支架,降低语言的难度,有助于学生正确使用语言表达自己,为有效的合作学习打下基础。
从学生在合作学习活动后的表现(共有十八名同学提出不同的建议)可见,教师设置的支架是有效的。由此保证了学生合作学习的质量。
[案例八]
IV. Homework
Extend the topic discussion to after class independent research study.
Two research topics (optional):
* Why is Chinese diet a healthier one than American one?
* Does the cafeteria provide us with a balanced diet?
教师提供支架的目的是为了有一日能撤走支架,使学生能够独立的学习。在提供支架的过程中,随着学生能力的提高,教师应逐渐地将学习地控制权交给学生。这一点体现在回家作业的设计上。教师在课堂主题的基础上,根据学生能力的发展情况,布置两个研究性的学习任务,供学生选择。在这两个任务设计上,教师显然撤去了原先搭建过的支架,任务的主题也更加开放。这样设计能够真正培养和发展学生学习能力。
五、结论与启示
支架式教学强调在有教师指导的情况下的发现,同时强调教师指导成分的逐渐减少,最终使学生达到独立发现的地位,将监控学习和探索的责任由教师为主向学生为主转移。可以说,教师的角色意识和调控能力是小组合作学习取得成功的关键。在小组合作学习中,教师应是向导、合作者和促进者,必须具备协调意识、参与意识、激发意识。
通过深度分析本文案例可知,在小组合作学习下重提教师的调控作用,引入支架式教学不但不会削弱“以学生为中心的课堂”,相反,会促进小组合作学习发挥更大的作用。