Selecting and Evaluating Hands-On Activities

By

David Agnew

Arkansas State University

Objectives

• Identify sources of hands-on activities

• List the14 requirements of Hands-on activities

• Evaluate the potential for using a Hands-on activity.

Where do Hands-on Activities Come From?

• You have state department references– Old references

– Supplement

– Note: most of these have been teacher developed

• Publishing Companies– Your text (the old one) has a workbook with activities

• State Career Orientation Conference (August)• You can develop your own

Self Developed

• Requires some creativity, but easy to take an idea you like and make changes.

• Remember to not make it just a vocational type hands on activity.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ACTIVITY-BASED LEARNING

EXPERIENCES1. The activity should stress safety. Some activities

may not lend themselves to classroom use because of safety hazards. Examples: working with explosives, acids, toxic chemicals, dangerous machines, etc.

2. The activity should relate specifically to the given clusters.

3. The activity should be convenient to the situation.

4. The activity should be representative of several current or future occupations.

REQUIREMENTS, continued….

5. The activity should be appropriate for the skills of the student.

6. The activity should give the student an opportunity to determine if he is interested in the job family as a future vocation.

7. The activity should be a realistic task or simulative.

8. The activity should utilize available materials and resources.

9. The activity should be economically feasible.

REQUIREMENTS, Continued….

10. The activity should be manageable in its particular setting.

11. Follow the prescribed format. 12. Avoid gender stereotyping13. Be used after appropriate introduction

of related content.14. Provide students a copy of procedures

of the activity as needed.

Requirement #1

1. The activity should stress safety. Some activities may not lend themselves to classroom use because of safety hazards. Examples: working with explosives, acids, toxic chemicals, dangerous machines, etc.

#1 Key Word -- Safety

Requirement #2

• The activity should relate specifically to the given clusters.

# 2 Key Words – Cluster Related

Requirement # 3

The activity should be convenient to the situation.

# 3 Key Word – Convenient

Requirement # 4

The activity should be representative of several current or future occupations.

#4 Key Words -- Representative

Requirement # 5

The activity should be appropriate for the skills of the student.

# 5 Key Words -- Appropriate Skill Level

Requirement # 6

The activity should give the student an opportunity to determine if he is interested in the job family as a future vocation.

# 6 Key Words-- Interest

Requirement # 7

• The activity should be a realistic task or simulative

#7 Key Word -- Realistic

Requirement # 8

The activity should utilize available materials and resources.

#8 Key Word -- Available Resources

Requirement # 9

The activity should be economically feasible.

# 9 Key Word -- Economically Feasible

Requirement # 10

The activity should be manageable in its particular setting.

# 10 Key Word -- Manageable

Requirement # 11

• Follow the prescribed format.

# 11 Key Word – Follows Format

Requirement # 12

Avoid gender stereotyping

#12 Key Word -- Stereotyping

Requirement # 13

• Be used after appropriate introduction of related content.

# 13 key Word -- Introduction

Requirement # 14

Provide students a copy of procedures of the activity as needed.

#14 Key Word -- Copy

Guiding Principle in Selecting a Hands-on Activity

REMEMBER: An activity is intended to open up the minds of students to possibilities. Try to be positive. Chose activities which are likely to provide a good experience. Everyone may not think to highly of an activity, but that is ok. Try to discourage students from being overly negative about their perceptions of what they don't like. Sometimes that will influence others who would enjoy but instead respond to peer pressure.

Who is Going to Select the Hands-On Activity?

You Will ! ! !

Lets Practice the Process of Selecting a Hands-on Activity

In Review

• Where do you find hands-on activities?

• What are the 14 requirements of a Hands-on activity