Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Making Sure They Are Learning

Campbell, Margaret (webpage and video via Jennifer Gulassa and Dr. Loertscher)

Dr. Loertscher's discussion question:
When students in our units are doing inquiry, what would you be doing alongside this teacher?

Sticky notes facilitate high-level analytical thinking in Sarah Kaufman's 6th grade humanities class. The teacher uses the notes to help students break down complex ideas or projects into manageable pieces that help students learn to master challenging assignments.


Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/stw-assessment-authentic-reading-skills-teacher-video?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_content=video&utm_campaign=STWauthenticassessment

The process allows for ongoing formative assessment throughout assignments, flexible differentiated instruction, and for learners to start within their own "comfortable learning zone" (ZPD in socio-cultural learning theory - Vygotsky), so that they have a chance to gain confidence and competence step-by-step (constructivism).

2 comments:

  1. thank you for this post. I think what I like best about this teacher and her continuous assessments is the validation students get from the process. I think there is nothing worse than when a teacher knows where a student struggles, but does not communicate this to the student. The same idea goes with strengths. So often teachers tend to use the assessments for themselves, but it is the students who will benefit from the results - if there is action like the teacher said.

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  2. Using sticky notes are often recreational and more familiar with adult, this implementation introduces an important yet simple approach. Very clever and intuitive stepping out of the box with available resources, It is sure to be an effective means for kids to utilize and develop.

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