Module 5: Universal Constructs Learning Progressions
This module assumes you know and can do the following: (click to open drop-down)
I can describe ways that standards in my content area increase in complexity over time.
I can recall the three key skills for each Universal Construct (from Module 3).
Click here to receive additional resources related to this module to put in your educator toolbox.
Competency
Utilize in-depth understanding of content and learning progressions to engage learners and lead individual learners toward mastery.
Learning Outcomes
Identify the key features of a learning progression
Describe the function of a learning progression
Unwrap a Universal Construct to demonstrate understanding of the components within these learning progressions
What I will DO in this module:
Describe similarities and differences between learning progressions for standards and Universal Constructs.
Create a visual representation of one Universal Construct, highlighting key concepts and skills.
Apply learning targets from one Universal Construct to a lesson sequence.
LEARNING PATHWAY
If you want to move through this pathway at your own pace, consider starting with the pre-assessment (below) to determine the best place to start for you.
Use the Module Slide Deck in the Module Resources below to begin your learning pathway.
The learning tasks below are in a similar order to the order of the Module Slide Deck, and slide numbers are often referenced for your convenience.
Module 5 Universal Constructs Pre Assessment.pdfLAUNCH
PREDICT
Based on the competency and learning targets for this module, predict how your new learning might inform your QFocus (or if you did not complete Module 2, how your new learning might inform your goals for engaging with this module)
LEARN
LEARN ABOUT
Watch this screencast on the features of the Universal Construct learning progressions
Are there any concepts that cut across what you learned about the Universal Construct learning progressions and what you know about your content area standards?
What is similar to the way your content area standards are arranged and what is different?
What do you wonder?
DO
Select one Universal Construct (scroll down after you click the link to the embedded PDFs) that you want to unwrap to better understand its parts.
Identify the three skills within your selected construct
Identify key concepts, skills, and dispositions within each of those three skill areas
MAY DO: Use this template to unwrap your competency
COLLECT AND RECORD
Design a model (infographic, Sketchnotes, drawing, mindmap) with key words/phrases to represent one Universal Construct (Adobe Spark, Canva, Google Draw, Google Jamboard, MindMeister, poster paper, etc.)
COLLABORATE
Participate in a physical or virtual gallery walk protocol.
Make connections with the Universal Construct you unwrapped and leave physical or virtual sticky notes describing the connections on your colleagues’ models.
MAY DO: for a virtual option with other participants in this module, post your visual to this Google group and leave virtual responses.
REFLECT
DO / APPLY
Locate places in existing curriculum that offer opportunities to practice the Universal Construct you unwrapped (guiding questions)
Consider focusing on one key skill at a time
Consider individual learning targets if the skills are too broad to see connections yet
If you are bound by district/school goals for the timing of this implementation, base your goal on those parameters
DO / APPLY
Use your answers to the guiding questions in the previous column to set a goal for where you might use Universal Construct learning targets to help learners deepen their understanding or connect with others more authentically
MAY DO: Use learning targets from one or more Universal Constructs to set your goal
THINK ABOUT
Revisit your QFocus from Module 2 again (you did this in the LAUNCH portion of this module) → make a note about what you are learning and/or revise your QFocus based on what you know now
MODULE RESOURCES
UC Learning Progressions.mp4
CHECKPOINT
Use the Checkpoint to help you check your thinking and doing with the learning targets in this module, determine whether you are ready to move on to the next module, and select “must do” or “may do” content of this module that is needed for additional clarification and/or practice.
SELF-ASSESSMENT:
Complete this check for understanding to update your current understanding and comfort level with each Universal Construct.
Connect with a local instructional coach and/or the instructor of the course you are taking for feedback.
CELEBRATION OF LEARNING
Use the Celebration of Learning to synthesize key ideas gained, network with others inside and outside of your district, crowdsource knowledge and/or design ideas, and to extend your learning beyond this module.
SHARE: Post your goal with the learning community in this Google group. Use the praise, question, suggestion feedback technique (PDF overview and video example of PQS) to leave a comment for a colleague about their goal.
SHARE: Tweet one way the Universal Constructs will improve teaching and learning for all students to @MBAEA, @TheCenter_Iowa, and #IACompEd.
