The Jasper series was responding to the need for inquiry-based anchored instruction in math by using audio-visual technological advances to frame the problems for the students. The series encouraged student engagement and active learning. The design addresses the problem to a certain degree by creating problem-embedded videos. The issue that arose was that students needed to rewind or pause the videos to record information and facts. With only one laserdisc in the classroom it would make it difficult for students to rewind or pause when they need to. The the discussion threads it was evident that this problem could now be solved with YouTube and iPods.

The technology enhances collaboration through group problem solving. Once the necessary facts and figures are recorded from the Jasper videos the groups work on solving the multi-step problems. There is more than one way to solve some of the problems and group discussion can explore the various solutions.

Professional development for the teachers seemed to be a bit of an issue for the program as the teachers undertook a 2-week training session before implementing the program and then did not always find time to use the resource in their lessons. This created a gap in the scaffolding as some videos were skipped throughout the unit.

If I was to create a math or science adventure similar to the Jasper series I would use a current technology available to students such as YouTube and Web tools. The videos loaded on YouTube could frame the problems as well as give suggestions for searching background knowledge. Web tools could be used to compose a rational and create group discussion on the topic. The students would have to show the rationale for their answers as a web-based presentation, available to the rest of the class. It would be constructivist, problem-based technology embedded learning.

References:

Cognition and Technology Group at Vanderbilt (1992a). The Jasper experiment: An exploration of issues in learning and instructional design. Educational Technology, Research and Development. 40(1). 65-80.

Cognition and Technology Group at Vanderbilt (1992b). The Jasper series as an example of anchored instruction: Theory, program description and assessment data. Educational Psychologist. 27(3). 291-315.