Concept CartoonsActive Learning

Learning Outcomes and Success CriteriaLOUnderstand how Concept Cartoons can be used in the classroom to enhance learning and teaching.

SCYou take part in activities demonstrating the use of Concept Cartoons.You can describe a variety of ways that Concept Cartoons can be used in lessons.You can create a Concept Cartoon you could use in your own classroom.

Dont put a coat on the snowman, it will make him melt.The coat will keep him cold and stop him melting.I dont think the coat will make any difference.

Why use them?Promote thinking and discussion

Consider ideas/viewpoints of others that you might not have thought of before

Recognise prior learning and misconceptions

Put theory into everyday contexts

When you could use themIntroduce a new topic / lesson/ project

Assess a topic / lesson /project

Sometimes there are definite right and wrong answers

Sometimes there is no right or wrong answer

Task 1

What is global warming?Its to do with the Earth heating up and if we dont do something about it were all going to die.Humans are causing it.Its caused by carbon dioxide, which is a very dangerous gas.

What would happen if you stepped out of a spaceship without a spacesuit?

There is no air in space so you would suffocate.The pressure of space would crush you.I think you would explode.I think you would just float away.

What happens to the weight of a balloon when you blow it up?The more you blow into the balloon, the heavier it gets.Air doesnt weigh anything, so it stays the same weight.Air is light, so blowing air into the balloon makes it lighter.

What students saidMr Greedy is right because if you blew up 1 balloon and left the other flat and chucked them in the air the flat one would land first so the flat one is heavier.

Air does not weigh anything so it doesnt matter how much you put into it it will never get any heavier.

Air doesnt weigh anything. If it did we would feel the weight of it on our heads.

The more air you blow into a balloon the more it floats so the lighter it gets.

Examples from subjects

If you multiply two numbers together do you always get a bigger number?If you multiply by a fraction I think you get a smaller number.I think you get a smaller number if you multiple by zero.

What are metaphors?They are when you compare one thing to being like another thing.Homer is as fat as a whale is an example of a metaphor.Sometimes people use the word simile instead of metaphor but they mean the same thing.

Task 2Create a Concept Cartoon

Final thoughtsStudent answers and ideas can be put into future concept cartoons

Students can make their own concept cartoons

Concept Cartoons could be incorporated into end of topic tests

Students enjoy using Concept Cartoons

Pupil commentsI like using them because they make it easier to understand.

I like using them because they make the lesson more exciting.

I like using them because they make it interesting.

I like using them because it is fun and it helps me learn more.

Questions?

Active Learning is about getting learners actively ENGAGED (rather than actively doing something).

This presentation aims to show you how you can use Concept Cartoons toGet learners THINKINGGet learners DISCUSSINGGive 2 minutes to think and discuss in groups, then draw together. Who is right, who is wrong, WHY?They get students to really think about their own ideas and the ideas of othersHave three large pictures for groups to write comments on, then move round (carousel), read each others and amend/comment.Create a concept cartoon for your subject on a large piece of paper.e.g. from tests/exams, from discussions