Teaching+For+Understanding

Teaching for Understanding Pre Assessment

[|Post Assessment]

Slide Presentation from Workshop

Please reflect on todays workshop. Think about one, some, or all of the following questions and then note down a few reflections in the space below What made sense to you? What made you reflect on your teaching the most? How will you use the material presented in your teaching? What needs more clarification?

__Reflections:__ Today’s workshop was very helpful to me. I felt it was a much needed synthesize of the theories and topics covered in teacher education classes that specified how to put philosophy into practice. Rather than seeing theories such as Bloom’s Taxonomy and Understanding by Design as separate pedagogical approaches, the workshop emphasized and clearly detailed how to collaborate and mix them into fluid practice as if we were putting a puzzle together to create one picture, or one classroom. In the past, I have observed lower grades being based only on “fun activities,” however; Understand by Design made much more sense to me because it is reflective and proactive in nature. It allows students to learn by transferring their knowledge. Using enduring understandings and essential questions to shape units provides meaning to the unit.

I reflected the most on my teaching when we were asked to distinguish between good and effective teaching. The question allowed me to contemplate how I want to be viewed by my class and school as well as enabled me to outline specific goals to meet as a professional. As I reflect on these goals and becoming an effective teacher, I know I will be incorporating the material covered today in my daily lesson plans, giving special attention to essential questions and formative/summative performance tasks.

Overall, I don’t feel I need much clarification, however, more models and concrete examples of unit plans would be helpful. - Katherine

I like the idea about posting the essential questions in the room as a constant reminder to my students as well as myself on what the big idea is to stay focused. I am very familiar with backward design therefore the information today put me at ease. I also agree with Katherine, I would like to see an example of a unit plan including objectives for the days just see if my format can be improved. Is there a format that teachers currently write their unit plans on first class?Marla

I really enjoyed getting pumped up and enthusiastic about this year! The distinction between a good teacher and an effective teacher had a huge impact on me. I am motivated to be more effective primarily by rethinking my design process. I also think that defining essential questions and "starting at the top" will really change the way I approach my lesson plans and delivery! -Ali

Oops, I typed my comments into the optional space at the bottom of the page. I really enjoyed the class so far, but would greatly appreciate more concrete examples of the unit plan. I want to be able to see the entire process that follows from beginning to end. I was familiar with the backwards design process, but not from the "big idea" approach. I really like how that works and hope to implement it successfully. The brain based learning was also familiar, but I was shocked to hear about the waiting time and down time.

Though I was familiar with backward planning, neither of my previous districts implemented UbD. Prior to today’s workshop, I had been really apprehensive about having to rethink and reformat the way I designed units, lesson, and assessments. It was a relief to find that it is quite similar to how I have been creating units and lessons for the past few years. The format in which we’ll be completing our unit plans is quite different for me. I like having the opportunity to work on a unit design tonight and receiving feedback on it tomorrow. The idea of posting the “essential questions” is something I will definitely use in my classroom. I think that its an excellent way to remind students (and me) of the big idea and to ensure that each day's objective is promoting the understanding of that larger concept. - Jessica

Today’s professional development reiterated to me the importance of constantly reflecting on how we design and deliver our lessons. Especially key for me was the focus on enduring understandings and essential questions. While much of the material covered was a well-done and worthwhile review of educational research, one thing that struck me was the information about retrieval. I am going to try to watch students who struggle in class for clues to their learning style (audio, etc.) to help them when needed.

I really enjoyed the workshop. I always reflect on everything I do with the purpose to improve, I'm also very open to learning new things. The workshop is giving me the opportunity to do both. I was familiar with UbD, but it is nice to get a more in depth explanation. I think the approach is refreshing and I'm really pumped to plan my lessons accordingly. As an ICS teacher I am curious to see my co-teacher's plans to learn from them. My concern is not so much with UbD as it is with co-planning and modifying and adapting. I think posting essential questions is a great idea to indeed keep the lesson focused. Bas

The Design, Deliver, Manage cycle and the steps to curriculum planning (identify goal, identify evidence, plan learning) are helpful elements of my developing conceptual framework for teaching that I understand. I can envision having these steps nearby when I prepare units and lessons, so that I can always have relevant guidance to turn to. Thank you!