We have just added a new section to the site where we will begin to add content on Learning Management Systems (LMS). If you aren’t familiar with LMS’s take a look. These systems provide organizations with the ability to better manage the learning process. This includes the ability to track who has learned what and should allow monitoring of results and even follow-up discussions. In the coming weeks we’ll add posts that cover the topic in greater detail. Our goal will be to start with LMS’s and evolve to the point we consider means and methods for measuring and assuring effective learning. These topics are particularly important in the corporate training departments of Corporate America. Please take a look at the new page and let us know if there is more you want us to address.

A reader from India posted a question on our Constructivism page, asking how constructivism would be applied to a poetry class. Let’s imagine that a teacher were interested in teaching students the poetry of Shakespeare. Constructivism would challenge the teacher to:

• assure the students draw from their experience to relate to the poem
• keep a larger context, where they don’t just break down the poem into small pieces but keep the ‘whole’ in mind
• somehow, someway learners get involved in constructing their own poems and through them, find a way to relate to the poems being taught

(more…)

The Coaster Simulation needs 10 seconds to load! Please, be patient!

To run the coaster applet, you’ll need a java-enabled browser.

Welcome to the death defying Funderstanding Roller Coaster!

This simulator is designed for people who want to design their own thrilling coaster and educators who want to use a cool activity to simulate the application of physics by using an exciting interactive tool and access to a wonderful reference source.

It is your mission to design the coaster so that you can achieve maximum thrills and chills without crashing or flying off the track (unless that’s how you like your coaster to work!).

If you accept this mission you must decide on a number of factors. You are responsible for setting the controls for the height of hill #1, hill #2, the size of the loop, the initial speed of the coaster, its mass, the gravity at work and the amount of friction on the track.

This tool offers a great way to play a roller coaster game, and learn while doing it. Hopefully you’ll enjoy this simulation and it will encourage you to think about how simulations can help you improve the way you teach.

If you need help, click on the ‘?‘ that relates to each slider. A second browser window will open to display the information. You can also get help on the topics listed below.

• Acceleration
• Centripetal Force
• Energy
• Force
• g’s
• Inertia
• Momentum
• Sir Isaac Newton
• Velocity
• Weightlessness
• Weight
• Work

Contact us for more information.

Kids, be sure to get your parents permission before you email us. We don’t use this information to contact you with promotions, news about Funderstanding or changes on the site. We don’t share any of this information with advertisers, marketers or any other third parties. We do, however, save emails. See our full Privacy Policy for more information.

People are best engaged when they are actively involved in an activity. This means challenging learners with something they want to achieve. We do this by drawing on what leading educators, psychologists, and other experts have learned. Read on!

Theories–Explore the many theories that directly impact education today.
Influences–Check out the innovators and schools of thought that have influenced Funderstanding’s views on teaching and learning.
History–Take a look at the roots of our current education system.
Patterns–Examine how the work of architect Christopher Alexander has influenced and enhanced Funderstanding’s design of educational products.
Emotional Intelligence–Learn about the tremendous impact Emotional Intelligence–the ability to apply intelligence to your feelings–has on learning, both in the classroom and on the job.
Benefits–Discover how your organization can benefit from improving the way your employees, members, or students learn.
Education Reform–See what our nation’s most progressive thinkers in education are up to.

We welcome your links to relevant websites. If you’ve got a topic you’d like to share–either inside or outside the learning realm, please use our feedback form to let us know.