朱成明
深度學習這一術語源于機器學習領域,是指機器領域中一系列試圖使用多重非線性變換對數據進行多層抽象的算法(孫志軍、薛磊,等 2012)。當這一術語被引用到教學領域,國內外許多教育專家學者對其作出多種分析解讀。美國學者馬頓和薩廖(Marton&Saljo 1976)在《學習的本質區別:結果和過程》一文中闡述了深度學習的內涵,強調對內容的整體認知。我國學者何玲、黎加厚(2005)從認知結構、知識遷移、能力培養等角度對深度學習進行分析與解讀。張浩、吳秀娟(2012)對深度學習的核心特征進行了界定。
長期以來,在高中英語課堂教學中存在這樣一種現象:過度注重知識的講授而缺乏啟發學生進行知識的有效融合,以致學生成為學習的“容器”,而沒有進行知識的有效建構;缺乏自己的思考,不能認知與理解文本內在的邏輯關系;缺乏將文本知識與自己生活實際有效結合,沒有運用知識清晰表達自己的見解與思想;在賞析西方文化時,沒有對比本土文化,從而難以理解西方文化的真正內涵。
深度學習是指借助英語文本,促進英語學習深度與廣度得到提升與發展的過程。具體來說,深度學習是幫助學生融合文本知識,重組建構;借助文本話題,發展運用;理解思想內涵,提升思辨;解讀西方文化,對比賞析等。預設是學生進入深度學習的重要保證,是在動態的、充滿生命力的課堂中生成的。教師在充滿活力的課堂中善于捕捉深度學習的契機是教學的關鍵。
“英語課堂是向求知方向挺進的旅程,隨時都有可能發生意外的通道和發現美麗的風景,而不是一切都必須遵循固定線路而沒有激情的行程。”(多爾 2009)這種英語課堂,一定是充滿不確定性因素的,注定不會平鋪直敘,這些不確定因素是引發學生投入深度學習的契機。當教師敏銳地察覺到學生對深度學習的極度渴望時,就應捕捉這些稍縱即逝的深度學習契機,立即調整教學安排,重新設計或引導,與學生一起進入深度學習。
預設是課堂教學正常開展的重要保證。英語課堂是動態的,當學生融入英語課堂教學時,課堂一定會充滿活力和靈性,學生的思維會隨著課堂教學的進展而閃爍智慧的光芒。當預設的內容或環節不符合學生學習的實際要求時,教師就要適時作出改變。
例如:在教學譯林版高中《英語》Module 2 Unit 2 Wish you were here Reading部分時,在學生熟悉文本結構和內容后,教師提出問題:“Can you conclude the phrases to describe in Morocco?”原打算讓學生說出從出發地London到目的地Morocco和the Sahara Desert,以及活動的相關詞匯、短語等,以幫助他們積累與歸納與旅游相關的詞塊與句型等。但是,發現學生對碎片化的知識概括與積累毫無興趣。在這種情況下,教師將這些知識點與學生的生活結合,構成一個有意義的語篇,從而激發他們進一步構建知識的熱情與智慧。于是,隨即提問:“Could you introduce one of your favourite places to your favourite teacher?”問題一拋出就激發了學生的熱情。有的學生回答:“Last summer holiday my parents and I travelled to the Sahara Desert in Africa.It took me almost a week there.I travelled through the desert by camel,which were so friendly to all of us,even though riding them was very uncomfortable.We had traveled with local guides,camping in tents and sleeping on the ground.Obviously,so dark was there at night that I couldn’t see anything whatever I wanted to do,so I brought a flashlight with me.The scenery was so fantastic that I hope you would have a chance to visit it.”
這位學生一說完,掌聲就響起來了。可以看出,學生創造性地用自己的語言融合文本中所學的詞匯、短語巧妙而深情地表達,教學效果較好。
總之,教師抓住契機,巧妙設問,讓學生把碎片化知識進行有效組合,以語篇的形式進行有意義的輸出,能夠調動學生參與課堂的積極性,提高課堂教學效率。
課文不僅是學生學習英語知識的載體,還是他們走進深度學習的階梯,更是培養其核心素養的重要資源。教師的眼光不能僅停留在課文所提供的語言知識、邏輯結構、文化素材及情感表達上,而要借助課本話題,幫助學生捕捉契機,進行深度學習,讓他們在知識層面、文化層面、情感層面及思維層面得到最大發展。
例如:在教授譯林版高中《英語》Module10Unit1 Building the future Reading部分 Teach a man to fish時,教師預設教學完這篇課文后,學生能夠從話題角度認識與理解課文的中心:Give a man a fish and you feed him a day.Teach a man to fish,and you feed him for the rest of life。教師借助Reading部分提出以下問題:“If you have already learned how to fish,what kind of spirit should you have?”預設的答案是從環境保護的角度思考與拓展知識。但是,一名學生回答:“The craftsmanship spirit.”比預設的答案更貼合課文中心思想,也更貼合學生的生活,能更好地引導學生。于是,教師在肯定該學生的答案后,繼續提問:“How do you understand the craftsmanship spirit?”學生瞬間投入積極思考并給出答案:“Personally,the craftsmanship spirit refers to being dedicated to work heart and soul.Whatever a trivial task in hand,one will invest his time and endeavor to perfect it.It stands for seriousness and responsibility.In addition,the craftsman spirit is a reflection of self-pride and self-fulfillment.He prides himself on his craft and does his part to make contributions to the community.”,對 the craftsmanship spirit進行了詮釋。教師趁熱打鐵追問道:“Can you say some significance of the craftsmanship spirit?”把學生引入更深層次的思考。此時,教師決定讓每一個學生都發表自己的觀點。于是,先將學生分成小組,相互討論,而后以小組為單位進行匯報。其中一名學生的匯報如下:“The craftsmanship spirit is of overwhelming significance.To begin with,it plays a significant role in increasing the products’quality,which benefits consumers at home and abroad.Moreover,emphasis on the craftsmanship spirit can help our country turn into a powerful manufacturing country,contributing to the economic flourishing.Most importantly,it’s traditional Chinese culture to take everything seriously.By promoting craftsmanship spirit,we are in a better position to inherit the cultural legacy and spreading Chinese values.”
總之,只要抓住契機,圍繞相關話題,恰當地設問與引導,就能激發學生無限的想象,進行深度思考,做到學以致用,讓課文閱讀成為發展思維的載體。
在英語課堂教學中,當師生共同完成課文知識內容,理清文章的邏輯關系和情感脈絡之后,往往會忽視批判性思維訓練。只有將課文內容與實際生活及社會狀況相結合,經過適當點撥,才能把學生引入深度閱讀,從而深化他們對文本的理解,提升其批判性思維能力。
例如,在教授譯林版高中《英語》Module10Unit1 Building the future Reading部分 Teach a man to fish時,在師生共同歸納課文的中心思想后,一名男生突然說:“Give a man a fish and you feed him a day.At last you will raise an adult babies.”這似乎與課堂教學毫無關系,但是是一個引發學生深度思考的契機,不僅可以深化他們對課文的認識與理解,而且可以拓展他們的批判性思維。于是,教師提問:“Why do adult babies now spring up?”學生經過認真思考后給出答案:“The reasons why adult babies now spring up can be complicated.To begin with,as China’s economy has developed dramatically,many parents feel it affordable to deny their children nothing.Plus,the previous one-child policy may add fuel to the flames,making the whole family unconsciously show excessive love,care and concern for the only child,the apple of their eye.”很明顯,學生的回答并沒有結束,于是教師追問:“Can you give some advice on the solution to the problem?”學生再次進入思考,并給出答案:“It is never too late for parents to reflect on their educational ways and make adjustments.At home,parents should grant their children opportunities to go about daily routines in person.For children,they should stop hiding under the parents’protection and move forward by assuming the responsibility of themselves.”
在課堂上,教師開發偶然性資源,抓住時機,巧妙引導,能為學生批判性思維的發展創造條件。
英語課本不僅是學生學習英語知識、發展思維的載體,還是學生認識與了解英語國家文化,傳播祖國文化的載體。高中生積累了許多文化知識,形成了一定的文化素養。在高中英語課堂教學中,如果能充分利用挖掘課文的文化因素,加以巧妙引用和開發,引發學生的知識和智慧產生強烈的碰撞,讓他們自由發表觀點,不僅能促進其對知識的理解與掌握,還能激發其在對比中西方文化的同時,更好地認識與理解祖國文化,形成文化自信,提升文化素養。
例如,在教授譯林版高中《英語》Module 9 Unit 1 Other countries,other countries 的 Project部分時,學生通過共同努力已形成共識“Australia is really a sporting nation.”突然,一名學生提出疑問:“Australians’loving sporting reflects Australian culture.What about our Chinese classic culture?”很明顯,他是想比較兩國文化,于是教師提問:“As one of the four ancient civilizations,China has a long history and has created many splendid cultures,which once had a great influence on the world.Which one impressed you most?”學生通過積極思考,給出答案。以下是一名學生的答案:“Personally,the Spring Festival reflects the culture of our country.It is more than a vocation but a tradition we must value and pass down from generation to generation.Every time I go home,I will have a heart-to-heart talk with my parents to learn whether things are getting well along with them.And I also enjoy the ceremony like making jiaozi and appreciating lanterns.”教師繼續提問:“Why do young people have various plans for their Spring Festival rather than go home?”本以為會難住學生,沒想到他們對這種現象的理解與認識充滿新意。通過討論,學生說得頭頭是道,而且用了一些剛學的短語與表達。以下是一名學生的匯報:“What lies behind the phenomenon is not difficult to find.What comes first is that as different cultures are blending with each other worldwide,young adults nowadays have a weak consciousness of the importance of traditional festivals.Additionally,with pressure of living and working building up,quite a few young adults choose to work extra hours during the Spring Festival to make the ends meet.So crowded journey and expensive tickets are bound to lead to their reluctance to go home.Also the Internet provides considerable convenience for people to reunion at any time,making people’s reunion during the Spring Festival of less significance.”從學生的回答可以看出,學生思維活躍,與時俱進,不局限于傳統的、狹隘的文化范疇,體現了其尊重與包容的人文情懷。
在高中英語課堂教學中,教師應立足學情,以語篇為基礎,專注課堂教學發展,關注學生的學習狀態,捕捉瞬間閃現的生成性資源,并巧妙加以開發與利用,引發學生深思。這樣的英語課堂是充滿靈性、活力、思考的,是精彩紛呈的,有助于培養學生的核心素養,為其終身學習打下扎實的基礎。