One basic finding confirmed in countless studies is that learning results from thinking. When students actively try to make sense of what they are learning they understand it better, they remember it better, and they can even use it to solve new problems. And so, whatever the subject, research tells us that the goal is to encourage students to reach a genuine understanding which goes well beyond rote memorization.
Students can enter text and graphic notes into the database on any topic their teacher has created.
All students on the network can read the notes and students may build on, or comment on, each others' ideas. Authors are notified when comments have been made or when changes in the database have occurred. Various note formats and supports have been designed to enhance the potential of the communal database for collaborative knowledge-building. In Knowledge Forum, you will find 'Notes' that represent student ideas and questions. Scaffolds' are built in and provide support in areas such as text analysis, theory-building, and debating.