CHAPTER 8: Teaching with Contrived Experiences

The model of the atom, the globe, the planetarium, the simulated election process and the preserved specimen fall under contrived experiences, the second band of experiences in Dale’s Cone of Experience.

Contrived Experiences are “edited” copies of reality and are used as substitute for real things when it is not practical or not possible to bring or do the real thing in the classroom. These contrived experiences are designed to simulate to real-life situations.

The atom, the planetarium are classified as models. A model is a “reproduction of a real thing in a small scale, or large scale, or exact size-but made of synthetic materials. It is a substitute for a real thing which may or may not be operational.” (Brown, et al, 1969)

The planetarium may also be considered a mock up. A mock up is “an arrangement of a real device or associated devices, displayed in such a way that representation of reality is created. The mock up may be simplified in order to emphasize certain features. It may be an economical reproduction of a complicated or costly device, to be observed for learning purposes. Usually, it is a prepared substitute for a real thing; sometimes it is a giant enlargement. (Brown, 1969). The planetarium is an example of a mock up, in the sense that the order or the arrangement of the planets is shown and the real processes of the planets’ rotation on their axis and the revolution of the planets around the sun are displayed. A mock up is a special model where the parts of a model are singled out, heightened and magnified in order to focus on that part or process under study. The planetarium involves a model of each of the planet and the sun but it focuses on the processes of the planets’ rotation and revolution and so is also considered a mock up.

            The preserved specimens fall under specimens and objects. A specimen is any individual or item considered typical of a group, class or whole. Objects may also include artifacts displayed in a museum or objects displayed in exhibits or preserved insect specimens in science.

            The school election process described above is a form of simulation. Simulation is a “representation of a manageable real event in which the learner is an active participant engaged in learning a behavior or in applying previously acquired skills or knowledge.” (Orlich, et al, 1994). In addition to the election of class and school officers given above, other examples of these are fire and earthquake drills which schools usually conduct. Organizers of earthquake and fire drills create a situation highly similar to the real situation when a building is on fire or when an earthquake happens.

            Another instructional material included in contrived experiences is game. Is there a difference between a game and a simulation? Games are played to win while simulations need not have a winner. Simulations seem to be more easily applied to the study of issues rather than to processes.

REFLECTION

Contrived Experiences are edited copies of reality that is very much important in teaching it is because it is the substitute of the real object for example globe, maps etc. Teacher used models, mock-ups, objects, games and specimen to overcome limitations of space and time. It also one way of helping the learners to learn easily because of the help of models. A teacher cannot put the earth or the solar system inside the classroom so with the help of planetarium, the students experiencing the beauty of the solar system, they distinguished easily the planets and the other celestial bodies.