Research On Resource-Based Thematic Learning (RBTL)

Content: Based on the development of curriculum innovation in k-12 education and the trend of e-education, this thesis explores the model of Resource-Based Thematic Learning( RBTL). Guided by the ideas of inquiry learning, this thesis takes activity as its framework, and emphasizes on utilizing IT to optimize learning process and learning context. With the guideline of modern educational ideas and principle of instructional design, this thesis also discusses the main structure of RBTL and its application from five aspects: theme development, activity inquiry, evaluation, template and examples. We argue that this research on RBTL can not only facilitate the integration of ideas of new curriculum innovation and e-education, but also integrate IT with disciplines. Meanwhile, it is helpful to promote teacher and student's information literacy, and push on the implementation of inquiry learning. In this sense, the research on RBTL is an attempt to transform learning style.In order to construct the theoretic framework of RBTL, in the first section, we articulate the main concepts, characteristics, and components of RBTL, and then discuss the purpose and the realistic significance of RBTL.In the second section, we discuss and exemplify the models of theme development based on four dimensions: discipline, society, student and nature.The third section is the core of this thesis, we outline the main steps of activity inquiry and put forward the methods of carrying out autonomic inquiry and collaborative inquiry, analyze teacher and student's roles in the process of inquiry learning, and discuss how to utilize IT tools to create successful inquiry learning environment.The fourth section constructs a model of evaluation, which contains three dimensions: question consciousness, inquiry competence and reflective competence and discusses a variety of available evaluating methods that are suitable to evaluate the whole process of RBTL.In the fifth section, for the purpose of application, the general model and the template of RBTLand two typical templates--problem-solving learning and WebQuest, and some relevant cases areprovided.