STAR.Legacy Cycle

The STAR.Legacy Cycle is one method of challenge-based instruction that creates many of the elements of a Natural Critical Learning Environment. The diagram (below) shows the main elements of teaching using this approach. VaNTH modules use many different variations on the Legacy Cycle, and with varying blends of in-class and asynchronous activities.

The STAR.Legacy Cycle is based on these general principles of instruction:

Contextualize the knowledge – Challenges provide a goal statement for the students to see how knowledge is applied.
Generate and demonstrate what you know – The cycle provides for multiple opportunities for student expression and activities.
Illustrate knowledge in multiple contexts – the opportunity to explore several challenges aids in understanding the general conditions under which the knowledge can be used.

STAR.Legacy Activities:

Identify course objectives – these are statements of what a student will know and do as a result of instruction.
Design challenges for instruction – these are statements that pose a complex goal to the students. Interesting challenges engage students in a process of inquiry that requires them to apply the desired concepts beyond simple manipulation of mathematics.
Generate ideas – Students have an opportunity to explore what they currently know about the challenge. This includes their naïve concepts or models of the domain and will provide a baseline or pre-assessment of what they know about the challenge.
Confront multiple perspectives – These are statements by “experts” describing what they see in the challenge. Their comments provide insights into various dimensions of the challenge, but do not provide a direct solution to the challenge. Students can compare their initial thoughts with the experts.
Research and revise – Students engage in a series of learning activities (such as simulations, lectures, homework, labs, and readings) designed to help them focus on the important dimensions of the challenge. These activities are designed to help the students make a link to the original “Challenge.”
Test your mettle – this assessment method (homework questions, online quizzes, essays, etc.) provides students the opportunity to apply what they know and evaluate what they need to study more. It also allows the students to reflect on how well they’ve learned the content and to evaluate if they are ready to Go Public with what they know.
Go Public – this is the final assessment of what students know at the end of the module. This assessment could be a presentation of the content, a quiz or test, an essay, homework, etc.

The Legacy Cycle is based on these general principles of instruction:

Contextualize the knowledge – challenges provide a goal statement for the students to see how knowledge is applied.
Students need to generate and demonstrate what they know – the cycle provides for multiple opportunities for student expression and activities.
Illustrate knowledge in multiple contexts – the opportunity to explore several challenges aids in understanding the general conditions under which the knowledge can be used.