| The following example illustrates how
participatory observation can be used to help students learn and apply the Law of
Reflection. This example is directed towards students being able to model the
cognitive processes of experts (an extension of Bandura's Social Learning theory; see cognitive modeling strategy). Instructional Objective:
Recognize that the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence.
Methodology:
Show a 6' x 12' pool table, a cue ball, an object
ball, the cue stroke of an expert pool shark, and three possible points of impact (aim).
Ask the learner to guess what point the expert pool shark is hoping to hit the object ball
and sink it after four banks.
Show answer.
Show an irregularly shaped miniature golf putting green, a
golf ball, the putting stroke of a world famous golfer (e.g., Tiger Woods, Gary Player),
and three possible points of impact (aim). Ask the learner to guess what point the expert
golfer is hoping to hit the golf ball to get a hole-in-one.
Show answer.
Show a room consisting of highly polished mirror-like
stainless steel walls, a sniper (James Bond) with a laser sight, a direction of aim, and
three possible targets (Bandura, Carroll, or Vygotsky). Ask the learner to guess who the
sniper is aiming at.
Show answer.
Ask the learner to guess what the pool shark, expert golfer
and sniper are thinking when they stroke the cue, putt the ball, or aim the rifle. Provide
several possible choices of insights into their cognitive reasoning.
Show an incident light ray hitting a mirror at an angle of
38 degrees. Ask the student to guess what the angle of reflection will be.
Show answer and state the Law of Reflection:
"the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection."
Provide another example of this law (define terms).
Discuss the similiarities between the reflection of light
rays off mirrors and the reflection or motion of billard balls on billiard tables.
Provide a few quiz questions.
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