What does learning look like in our classroom?
What does learning look like in our classroom?
Introduction
Introduction
At the start of a new topic, I introduce the concept by reading to the class, a demonstration, and/or a class discussion. We also review the timeline and goals for the learning target.
At the start of a new topic, I introduce the concept by reading to the class, a demonstration, and/or a class discussion. We also review the timeline and goals for the learning target.
Previewing
Previewing
Next, students preview material using this website and/or Google Slides on Schoology making their best attempt to follow the directions and learn the basic material. Students are encouraged to ask questions if they get stuck. Learning occurs from thinking and doing.
Next, students preview material using this website and/or Google Slides on Schoology making their best attempt to follow the directions and learn the basic material. Students are encouraged to ask questions if they get stuck. Learning occurs from thinking and doing.
Discussion
Discussion
After previewing material, students participate in short, small group discussions and activities with myself and classmates. Here, I combine questions and answers with demonstrations and analogies. The objective is to confirm and deepen learning which has already taken place, clear up misperceptions, and customize the content to the interests of the students.
After previewing material, students participate in short, small group discussions and activities with myself and classmates. Here, I combine questions and answers with demonstrations and analogies. The objective is to confirm and deepen learning which has already taken place, clear up misperceptions, and customize the content to the interests of the students.
Here are my present goals...
Here are my present goals...
1. Allow students to work in any environment and at their own best pace. The steps I have taken toward this goal include creating my custom website and giving students plenty of work time in class.
1. Allow students to work in any environment and at their own best pace. The steps I have taken toward this goal include creating my custom website and giving students plenty of work time in class.
2. Give individualized attention - One of the things I love best about individualized pacing is that I have extra time to meet with students individually and in small groups. Students are generally more comfortable asking questions without a large audience and we can talk about things they have experience with, or curiosity about. It's not a "one-size fits all" approach to education.
2. Give individualized attention - One of the things I love best about individualized pacing is that I have extra time to meet with students individually and in small groups. Students are generally more comfortable asking questions without a large audience and we can talk about things they have experience with, or curiosity about. It's not a "one-size fits all" approach to education.
3. Help students organize and manage their own time - By modeling and teaching various organizational strategies, students can figure out what works best for them. By helping them set goals and giving them unstructured time, they learn to structure and manage that time. **Note - this is not easy. Students generally struggle to manage their time in the beginning of the year, but learn from their experiences as the year progresses.
3. Help students organize and manage their own time - By modeling and teaching various organizational strategies, students can figure out what works best for them. By helping them set goals and giving them unstructured time, they learn to structure and manage that time. **Note - this is not easy. Students generally struggle to manage their time in the beginning of the year, but learn from their experiences as the year progresses.
4. Giving students autonomy to make choices and learn from them - For most people, parents and teachers alike, it is hard to allow students to make poor choices and live with the consequences, but experience is life's best teacher. My goal is to give guidance to help students make their own choices and learn from their good choices as well as their bad. If I observe poor choices, I first intervene with the student and if that doesn't work, I will involve parents, counselors, and case managers.
4. Giving students autonomy to make choices and learn from them - For most people, parents and teachers alike, it is hard to allow students to make poor choices and live with the consequences, but experience is life's best teacher. My goal is to give guidance to help students make their own choices and learn from their good choices as well as their bad. If I observe poor choices, I first intervene with the student and if that doesn't work, I will involve parents, counselors, and case managers.
Here are the four core principles behind personalized learning.
Here are the four core principles behind personalized learning.
Flexible content and tools - Core objectives are met through a choice of various materials, products, and individualized pacing. The increased power of students who have control over their education should lead to increased student ownership of not only their grades, but more importantly, their learning.
Flexible content and tools - Core objectives are met through a choice of various materials, products, and individualized pacing. The increased power of students who have control over their education should lead to increased student ownership of not only their grades, but more importantly, their learning.
Student reflection and ownership - Students learn to reflect on their own work and performance and set their own goals. Over time, this will help shift students' perspectives from the opinion that "teachers give grades" to "students earn their grades." As students take ownership for their own learning, the knowledge is deepened and becomes lasting, due to the intrinsic reward of knowledge for the sake of knowledge.
Student reflection and ownership - Students learn to reflect on their own work and performance and set their own goals. Over time, this will help shift students' perspectives from the opinion that "teachers give grades" to "students earn their grades." As students take ownership for their own learning, the knowledge is deepened and becomes lasting, due to the intrinsic reward of knowledge for the sake of knowledge.
Targeted instruction - As students set their own goals and reflect on their progress toward those goals, the learning can begin to take an individualized path. Although there are certain course standards that students must learn, they will choose paths that are more meaningful to their own interests or career goals. We all learn better when we are personally connected to the content through our interests.
Targeted instruction - As students set their own goals and reflect on their progress toward those goals, the learning can begin to take an individualized path. Although there are certain course standards that students must learn, they will choose paths that are more meaningful to their own interests or career goals. We all learn better when we are personally connected to the content through our interests.
Data driven decisions - Data collection is used by teachers and students alike to drive decisions that help students achieve their goals. There is a wide variety of knowledge and interests within a class of students. Our goal is to advance everyone's knowledge through challenges specific to the student, rather than turning out students who all know the same things.
Data driven decisions - Data collection is used by teachers and students alike to drive decisions that help students achieve their goals. There is a wide variety of knowledge and interests within a class of students. Our goal is to advance everyone's knowledge through challenges specific to the student, rather than turning out students who all know the same things.
