Week #10 - Case-Based Learning

What is learning and how can it best be effectuated by a teacher (according to this learning theory)? I really enjoyed this weeks readings and lesson planning particularly because it worked in the classroom. I had great success with it. So here is my example:

This week was challenging BECAUSE of the subject matter. We delved (not too deep) into the writings of Isaiah as found in the Isaiah chapters of 2nd Nephi. I asked the students several questions about Nephi choosing to use the writings of such a cryptic prophet that seems to obscure almost everyone's understanding. When they came to the conclusion that Nephi was an Israelite and the Nephites were mere descendants living on another far-removed continent having not learned Jewish customs, etc. it started to make sense to the students. No wonder Nephi said Isaiah's words were "plain to understand." He grew up in Jerusalem.

We then looked at the Isaiah chapters using a principle that teenagers were VERY familiar with: sins and consequences. We used a worksheet that allowed the students to view the Isaiah chapters using only this point of view. Once they identified as many sins and consequences as they could they answered 5 poignant questions that took Nephi and Isaiah's experience to "high school life." They were able to make past connections (problems and solutions) with present and future personal applications. One girl even commented, "Isaiah isn't hard at all when you tackle him using one principle at a time." WOW! Success with Isaiah. I think even he would be happy to hear a seventeen year-old senior girl say that.