Instructional design/R2D2/(Doing)-Hands-On

Phase 4 of the R2D2 model is primarily focused on those learners who like to "do" something with the knowledge that they have acquired, reflected on, and represented in some way. This phase is concerned with the application of knowledge toward a complex task. Phase 4 allows learners to experiment with their knowledge and attempt to evaluate or solve a complex task without much outside guidance. It is a great way for you, as the instructor or trainer, to analyze where strengths and deficiencies lie in learner understanding and then supply scaffolding as necessary to help the learner in their complex task.

The authors caution that these activities can be integrated into other phases as well, allowing you to know where your learners are having difficulty. However, be careful that you do not overwhelm your learners by giving them a task for which they do not yet have enough background knowledge. Doing so may result in frustrated learners who have difficulty knowing where to begin. The authors recommend that you provide practice activities within each step of the R2D2 model, but keep complex tasks as an activity that you take on once knowledge acquisition, reflection, and representation of knowledge has been completed successfully.

Learners who will prefer this phase (kinesthetic) are those who enjoy trying out what they have learned. These learners prefer to manipulate what they have learned and learn from feeling, interacting, and repetitive practice. Here are some examples of ways in which these learners can interact with their learning in an online environment:


 * Simulations (Interactive animations for learners. For physics teachers, PhET is the best: http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/physics)
 * Games (Review for assessments using popular games. Here, a Jeopardy Game Review for multiplication facts: http://www.math-play.com/Multiplicaton-Jeopardy/Multiplication-Jeopardy.html)
 * Cases and Scenarios (Learners analyze and learn from real cases. Here is a link to 18 virtual autopsies:  http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=78489)
 * Wikipedia (Online encyclopedia where learners share knowledge and anyone can edit. http://en.wikiversity.org/)
 * Real-World Data Collection (Learners perform research on the internet to collect, analyze, and report information.)
 * Learning by Doing Galleries (Create a course website or gallery to show previous completed student work.)

Please click on the "Segment 7" link to proceed to the next segment in this Wikiversity lesson on the R2D2 model.

R2D2 Navigation


 * Segment 1: Introduction to R2D2
 * Segment 2: R2D2-The Four Phases Overview
 * Segment 3: Phase 1 (Reading)-Verbal/Auditory
 * Segment 4: Phase 2 (Reflecting)-Reflective/Observational
 * Segment 5: Phase 3 (Displaying)-Visual
 * Segment 6: Phase 4 (Doing)-Hands-On (You are here)
 * Segment 7: Activities per phase
 * Segment 8: Your thoughts...
 * Segment 9: Conclusion/Resources
 * Instructional Design Main Menu