ACTS

There are four considerations in the design of instruction with databases. This was what we discussed in class last week as one of the tools in teaching. ACTS accounts for An Authentic problem, Clear outcome/product, Thinking skills and Software skills.
Every teacher, designing a lesson plan for class had better follow these steps.
Many of us might not yet have noticed this, or even we might have followed all these considerations while teaching without knowing it, but Being aware of the process brings out more success both for teachers and learners.
When a topic is introduced in class, it should have been pre thought of it as an authentic problem, and more importantly a real life touching problem. Learners respond better to real life situations rather than just telling them this is your assignment and you have to do it to pass the course. Many of us have seen it in movies that those teachers dealing with the real problem of students, can bring a better and even sometimes astonishing educational results in their schools.
It is also important to ask the students to perform,show or report what they have done. Not just giving them more tasks or homework but making them responsible for what they have done and what impact they have had in their society after solving the problem. Be it a fund raising, helping the members of the community, choosing a president or just their experiments in the rain forest, it can all be delivered as to show who I am in my civilization.
Teachers are also required to clearly analyze students' cognitive thinking skills . Giving samples and guiding them through out the thinking process.
Llast but not the least, the software used for bringing a solution to that problem should also be introduced well. Working with that particular software should also be well explained. Taking the students just to the computer lab and asking them to work on the software, would be never sufficient and of course we are to be blamed if we see them playing games. Giving full instruction and acting as a meta cognitive guides help students to walk on the right path, work toward finding the solution and thus a better self satisfaction and confidence by the end of the day.
We are not just teachers teachers, we are architects, we are builders, we are creators and yes, we are designers.