Universal Constructs
(Part 1)


Playlist Self-assessment

  • Complete this (pre)self-assessment based on what you currently know, understand, and can do today. You will receive a copy of your answers in your email --> hang on to these so you can compare! You can also take the self-assessment in the Checkpoint at the end of any module to reflect on your growth.

PLAYLIST NAVIGATION PANEL

Module 1: What are the Universal Constructs?

This module assumes you know and can do the following:

  • Identify and understand Iowa Core Content Standards.

  • Navigate the Iowa Department of Education Website, including locating different grade levels’ expectations on standards.

Competencies

  • Demonstrate a dedication to all learners reaching college, career and civic readiness.

  • Maintain an orientation toward and commitment to a personalized, learner-centered vision for teaching and learning.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Understand the “Why” of the Universal Constructs

  2. Self-assess current knowledge

  3. Use the “Why” to explore the Iowa Department of Education’s Universal Constructs

What I will DO in this module:

  1. Define which knowledge, skills and dispositions are necessary for learners to be future ready.

  2. Access the Iowa Core Website and navigate to the Universal Constructs as part of the Iowa Core required standards.

  3. Identify components of the Universal Constructs that connect to your ideal graduate.

Module 2: Creating a QFocus

This module assumes you know and can do the following:

  • Be vulnerable to analyze questions used on current classroom practice and determine if they can be improved

  • Be brave to implement a new strategy into your teacher toolkit

Competencies

  • Build curriculum units from essential questions, recognized standards, school-wide and/ or subject-specific competencies and/or real-world problems to be solved.

  • Emphasize regular student reflection about specific questions which draw out the learning within the project.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Develop an understanding of the Question Formulation Technique

  2. Create a QFocus for the classroom

What I will DO in this module:

  1. Create an account for Right Question Institute

  2. Read and watch videos about Question Formulation Technique

  3. Using resources and templates create your own QFocus

  4. Reflect on the learning journey

Module 3: How Might the Universal Constructs Help Learners Be Future Ready?

This module assumes you know and can do the following:

  • You can locate the Universal Constructs on the IDoE’s and/or The Center’s website.

  • You can describe ways the Universal Constructs are connected to the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that will be important for future graduates.

Competency

Understand and manage the face-to-face and online components of lesson planning and organization within a blended course. (Aurora Institute)

Learning Outcomes

  1. Describe each Universal Construct in three skills

  2. Differentiate between 21st century skills standards and the UCs

  3. Identify elements of the Universal Constructs in Iowa’s definition of College and Career Ready (CCR)

  4. MAY DO: Make connections between the expectations for the use of the UCs in the UTT Guide and the expectations for the 21st century skills and the SEL competencies

What I will DO in this module:

  1. Practice matching each Universal Construct with its three key skills.

  2. Create a Venn diagram to show the similarities and differences among the various sets of 21st century skills in Iowa’s required sets of standards and competencies.

  3. Make a list of what support will look like, sound like, and/or feel like for people who are implementing (or supporting the implementation of) the Universal Constructs with learners.

Module 4: Identifying a Problem of Practice


Competencies

  • Customize the learning experience through assessments, supports, progressions, relationships and technology

  • Scaffold, customize whenever possible and provide adequate supports and interventions to appropriately stretch each learner, informed by teacher expertise

Learning Outcomes

  1. Determine the root cause of a problem of practice.

  2. Make connections between my classroom and CCR, SEL competencies, and the 21st Century Skills.

  3. Identify a Universal Construct that will work towards addressing a problem of practice.

What I will DO in this module:

  1. Learn about identifying a problem of practice with root cause analysis.

  2. Use a technique called the 5 Whys to identify a personal problem of practice.

  3. Consider how the Universal Constructs can help us think about our problem of practice.

Module 5: Universal Constructs Learning Progressions

This module assumes you know and can do the following:

  • You can describe ways that standards in your content area increase in complexity over time. I can recall the three key skills for each Universal Construct (from Module 3).

Competency

Utilize in-depth understanding of content and learning progressions to engage learners and lead individual learners toward mastery

Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify the key features of a learning progression.

  2. Describe the function of a learning progression.

  3. Unwrap a Universal Construct to demonstrate understanding of the components within these learning progressions.

What I will DO in this module:

  1. Describe similarities and differences between learning progressions for standards and Universal Constructs.

  2. Create a visual representation of one Universal Construct, highlighting key concepts and skills.

  3. Apply learning targets from one Universal Construct to a lesson sequence.

Checkpoint

Checkpoints include self-assessments, quick checks, peer feedback opportunities, etc. This is a way for you to determine if you are ready to move to the next module and/or if you would like to go deeper or return to previous modules for additional learning or practice.