LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

CEU courses open for enrollment

The Civil Rights Movement in Context
Investigate the precursors to the Civil Rights Movement, its leadership, its opposition, and its legacy, including lesser-studied events of the movement and primary sources.
Take this course: Begins February 2.

From the education reference

collaborative learning
An umbrella term for the variety of approaches and models in education that involve the shared intellectual efforts by students working in small groups to accomplish a goal or complete a task.
collaborative teaching
Instructional strategy used across subject areas primarily in middle grades in a variety of methods. Teams are typically composed of between two and four teachers working collaboratively to plan thematic units and lesson plans in order to provide a more supportive environment for students. Also known as team teaching or co-teaching.
service learning
Intentional combination of community service objectives and learning opportunities that benefits both the recipient and provider of the service. Student service learning projects should be structured to link learning tasks to self-reflection so that they enrich learning, strengthen communities, and teach civic responsibility.
discovery learning
Learning that takes place, not through instruction, but through examination, analysis, or experimentation.
cooperative learning
Instructional method in which students work together in small, heterogeneous groups to complete a problem, project, or other instructional goal, while teachers act as guides or facilitators. This method works to reinforce a student’s own learning as well as the learning of his or her fellow group members.
learning contract
An agreement between a teacher and a student regarding how that student will achieve specified learning goals or objectives.
learning disability
A discrepancy between expected achievement and observed achievement, also known as "unexpected underachievement."
project-based learning
Teaching approach that engages students in sustained, collaborative real-world investigations. Projects are organized around a driving question, and students participate in a variety of tasks that seek to meaningfully address this question.
Dimensions of Learning model
Model of learning developed by Marzano et al (1988) that links content area knowledge, metacognition, and critical and creative thinking with a taxonomy of thinking skills and thinking processes.
problem-based learning
Model of instruction in which the teacher poses an authentic problem for student resolution. PBL may be one among many strategies in a classroom or an entire curricular and instructional approach. In the course of problem-solving, students work cooperatively in groups to learn content and skills related to real world problems. The teacher acts as a facilitator to learning.
digital game-based learning
Instructional method that incorporates educational content or learning principles into video games with the goal of engaging learners. Applications of digital game-based learning draw upon the constructivist theory of education.

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Alternative discussion formats
Class discussions often take one of two forms — either question-and-answer sessions, in which the teacher throws out questions and students answer them, or debates. Both of these formats are useful, but adding a few more ideas to your teaching repertoire can make for more variety in the classroom and provide more opportunities for engaging discussions. This edition explains how to manage dicussions in the form of a public relations campaign, a trial, a talk show, or the design of monuments, memorials, and museum exhibits.
Format: series (multiple pages)
Round robin
In this structure, each student takes turns sharing something new with members of the collaborative group. Round robin offers students the opportunity to express ideas and opinions while learning more about their teammates.
Format: article
By Heather Coffey.
Teaching mathematics through literature
This lesson is a collaborative pair learning activity which uses the book Jumanji to teach Probability.
Format: lesson plan (grade 5 English Language Arts and Mathematics)
By Brenda Davis.
Team teaching
Also known as co-teaching or collaborative teaching, team teaching is an instructional strategy used across subject areas primarily in middle grades in a variety of methods. Teams are typically composed of between two and four teachers...
Format: article
By Heather Coffey.
Developing and teaching an online course
Basic information for teachers considering developing and teaching an online course.
Format: article/help
Project-based learning
Project-based learning is a teaching approach that engages students in sustained, collaborative real-world investigations. Projects are organized around a driving question, and students participate in a variety of tasks that seek to meaningfully address this...
Format: article
By Heather Coffey.
Meaningful mathematics: using balances for problem solving
Using balances to represent equations forces students to find their own meaning in mathematical problems.
By Grayson Wheatley and George E. Abshire.
Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative
Grassroots museums annually serve millions of citizens through general visitation, teacher training and special programs. Programs include both onsite and offsite presentations and reach students in every North Carolina school district.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
Rocket launch
Students will work individually and in collaborative pairs or groups to solve a rocket-launch problem. The pairs/groups will then present potential solutions to the class for discussion. Similar problems will then be solved and created by students.
Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Mathematics)
By Ron Hann.
Selection policy and disclaimer for "Best of the Web"
The purpose of LEARN NC's Best of the Web collection is to provide web resources that support the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. These resources have been selected according to our selection policy.
Format: article/help
Kid-created biographies
In this lesson plan, the students will create biographies on the people they know best-- their teachers! The students will use various skills to collect information, organize details, publish the biographies and present the information.
Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Computer/Technology Skills, English Language Arts, and Information Skills)
By Gregg Farr, Lynn Beatty, and Tricia Freeze.
Teaching Online Courses: Online course syllabus
Syllabus for the online class Teaching online courses which examines online pedagogy and practical strategies for the online teaching and learning environment.
Teaching English Language Learners in Your Online Course: Online course syllabus
Syllabus for the course Teaching English Language Learners in Your Online Course which examines the needs of English Language Learners and students with low academic literacy skills within the context of online courses.
Four myths about online learning
There are a number of myths circulating about online courses. This article explains what online courses are and debunks some of those myths.
Format: article/help
By Ross White.
Participating in online discussions
Guidelines for participating in discussions in LEARN NC's online courses.
Format: article/help
Alternative discussion formats: Museum exhibit design
In Alternative discussion formats, page 6
Designing museum exhibits encourages students to think creatively and to use a wide range of thinking skills.
By Kathryn Walbert.
High school history and English: Natural partners
In Where English and history meet: A collaboration guide, page 1
Strategically plan a collaborative unit and overcome those everyday obstacles that prevent success. While this article focuses specifically on English-history collaboration, there is much to kindle the interest of any high school teachers.
By Karen Cobb Carroll, Ph.D., and NBCT.
Singing the "Song of Life"
This lesson requires students to use their reading, comprehension, and analysis skills to analyze a poem and respond creatively to the selection.
Format: lesson plan (grade 11 English Language Arts)
By Angela Taylor.
Cooperative learning
Cooperative learning is an instructional method in which students work together in small, heterogeneous groups to complete a problem, project, or other instructional goal, while teachers act as guides or facilitators. This method works to reinforce a student's...
Format: article
By Heather Coffey.
An introduction to slave narratives: Harriet Jacobs' Life of a Slave Girl
This lesson is intended to enhance student knowledge about the life experiences of a slaves in America during the 1800s by using the story of a North Carolina slave woman who eventually escaped.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)
By Joe Hooten.