Looking at Lessons
After today's class, the question that pops into my mind is where should we look first in deciding that a lesson is a good one. Perhaps the task or problem needs to be open-ended enough that there is space for students to exercise higher-order thinking. Perhaps the evaluation or rubric is the road map for students. Perhaps, as Tom March believes, it is important to give students reasons to reach beyond the classroom.
Then there are the mechanics of creating a lesson that is useful and doable within the "real" classroom.
Lots of ground to cover!
posted by Pat at 4:30 PM
5 Comments:
I agree that the higher level concpet would be a good place to start but I also think that you need to look at the big idea you are trying to cover and decide if the task or project meets that big idea and is the best way to teach the idea. I mean there are projects out their that may spend more time than needed on the small ideas and not really get to the big idea. So i would think you need to start on the BIG idea and work from there.
6:28 AM
I think working from the big idea definitely keeps all lessons focused and purposeful. I also believe most educators strive to give students reasons to reach past the classroom--these are the most exciting lessons for students but the most time consuming to prepare and process (but worth it!).
7:11 AM
When looking at the big idea / end product for a lesson, that's where collaboration is desparately needed between teachers. They need to really reach out to one another and make sure that not only the end product, but the methodology used to achieve that is of a higher oredered variety.
9:57 AM
Recently joined the blog.
4:12 PM
It is absolutely essential to give students a reason to reach beyond the classroom. If they are aware that all they have to do to "pass" the class is regurgitate some facts, then they will be doing themselves a severe injustice. This does not help to shape them into the strong-minded, independent thinkers/problem solvers of the world we want them to be.
7:37 PM
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