Evaluating Learning

Weekly Writing #8

In order to teach efficiently we must be able to evaluate if learning has occurred. Many teachers provide students with quizzes, ticket-outs, homework, etc. However how are we really sure that they are not just memorizing the information and then forgetting it later. This is where can assign assignments that are particular to the subject area in which we are teaching, but before we can assign these assignments we should create effective rubrics for the each corresponding assignments. It is important that we design the rubrics that outline that helps the students dig into the information and really understand it. 

Now only do rubrics help the students when they are doing classwork, but it helps the teacher stay consistent throughout the school year. Installing rubrics into the classroom can really help the student see what the teacher expects from you and outlines what the student needs to know in order to complete the assignment correctly. Rubrics are a useful way to ensure that assignments are consistent with course objectives and state standards. Which is really a helpful way for the teacher to make sure that they are getting differentiated learning throughout the course and reaching the PA academic standards. 

Rubrics allows for a greater accountability and reliability in grading and offers a structure and guidance to students as they create their projects. Working with this tool enables teachers to quickly grade assignments and remain objective in their grading. Consistency allows higher standards to be set and works the students to achieving those standards. By following the rubric guidelines, higher rates of success will happen on not only the teachers part but the students as well. 

Overall rubrics are a great way to measure the level of comprehending and understanding of learning of students. It is important for us as educators to implement this in our classroom. Assessments are a great tool and important in the school setting. 

Link(s);

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMn-5Ito4D8

The Problem Solving Approach

Weekly Writing #7 

Our main goal as educators is to make sure that learning has occured in each and every student, in each of the classes we have taught, and each and everyday. It is important that we set higher level of thinking standards for our students by using Problem-Based Learning (PBL). As many of you may know Problem-Based Learning is a teaching strategy that includes problem solving, inquiry learning, project-based learning, and case studies. This makes the student dig deep into their thinking and sets that standard of learning being taken placed. The goals of  the PBL method is to develop students ability to solve problems, create self-directed learners, and facilitate the acquisition of new knowledge. It is important that we understand what PBL is and what the outcome of implementing this into your program will be. PBL is a great learning method for students because new learning is occurring. As well as using their prior knowledge to figure the problem out. 

Now that we know about PBL we need to implement this into our program by Problem-Based Teaching (PBT). PBT sets the goal of education: to develop independent-minded, self-directed citizens who can effectively solve problems in a highly complex social environment, into action by using problem solving. I will implement this into my program by confronting my students with a current issue in agriculture. They will identify the problem and investigate a strategy that  they would do if they were in a similar position. With students using this method of learning they will be able to retain what they learned longer and transfer the learning when other scenarios are presented to them later on down the road.

However we need to make sure that we implement this method of teaching and learning correctly. So engaging the students by giving them a current issue in agriculture gets their minds turning. We need to make sure that they we provide opportunities for them to apply what they have learned in many different contexts. As well as always creating the learning environment similar to the real world. Also when students repeat something enough it gets engrained in their minds so they won't forget it. So by repeating everything they begin to get a mastered skill and eventually the performance will become automatic to them, and along the way continuing to make those connections between previous experiences and current opportunities to keep their thinking skills in check. Doing this process in the classroom could only lead to student success.

Link:  Check this video out! Great Inspiration to implement Problem-Based Learning!

Individualized Teaching Techniques: Independent Study

Hey!
Check out my video on the Independent Study Individualized Teaching Technique.
Hope ya like it!

My First Unit Plan....Many More To Go

First Unit Plan Reflection

I really enjoyed putting this unit plan together. Honestly I love to be organized and when I was able to lay out how I wanted the unit to go made me feel very accomplished. It made me plan ahead and get student teaching semester one step closer to being completely planned out. However it definitely was not an easy task and was definitely time consuming since I am not yet a professional at doing them, but I felt that I had a better understanding of what I was going to teach during the spring semester. I decided to break the unit into three parts : Monogastric, Ruminant, and Avian digestive systems.Each of the systems have a specific part in the overall unit. As well as having a project due at the end of each section. I decided to have two of the sections (Monogatric and Ruminant digestive systems) projects be the same, because to me they will be able to utilize this more by actually seeing the difference between the systems rather than doing to different projects. What I will have the students do is make a "Travel Guide" through ruminant and monogastric digestive systems. I really liked the way the project came across because it helps the student be creative in how they want to display their guide. However the avian digestive system project is a diorama of digestive system and the students will have to go through and display the different parts and functions of the that digestive system. I felt by planning it this way would show that the avian digestive system is very different compared to the monogastic and ruminant digestive system.

I believe that this is going to be one of my favorite units to teach, because I really enjoy animals and understanding how their bodies work. This will be great for the animal science class that I am teaching because it will allow the students to get an idea of how each system works, because most of the kids either work or grew up on a farm and have worked with animals before. I enjoy how I am ending the unit with avian digestion,  because I found out from my cooperating teacher that we are going to teach a poultry unit and hatch some chicks during the time of the unit. So this helps the students have an understanding of the digestion system,so when we begin poultry this portion of the unit would be review. This helps the students get their hands-on learning.

Like I said before in putting this unit plan together it wasn't all cake and ice cream. I did have some trouble getting all of the PA Academic Standards. I feel like there has to be an easier way to find these. I know how important these standards are so you would think that they would make it easier for us to find and mark on our unit/lesson plans. Also distinguishing what objectives would be covered during each lesson, that was very troubling for me because how do you know what exactly would be covered during each lesson?

Overall I feel as though my unit plan could use some improvement, however I am not sure where. So it should be interesting to see when Dr. Foster gives feedback. Until then we will see!

Individual Teaching Techniques

Weekly Writing #6

It is very important that we as pre-service teachers understand the student learning process. This process is not only designated to student's learning but everybody's everyday learning. As a pre-service teacher it is my duty to make sure that in my classroom/laboratory that I make sure to address each of the six steps of the learning process.Which are the following: 1.Experiencing a proactive situation, 2. Defining the problem, 3. Seeking data and information, 4. Formulating possible solutions, 5. Testing proposed solutions, and 6. Evaluating. By addressing each of the six steps I will have a understanding that learning has occurred. However if any of the six steps are not addressed or gone unnoticed it is key to integrate the problem-solving approach of teaching. When doing the reading on this method of teaching, I actually appreciated it more, because I feel that it is addressing more and having the students actually understand and learn the material that is being taught.

However before we can even get students to learn, we must stress on how important an interest approach is in each lesson that you are teaching. Having an interest approach is important when teaching because you are grasping your learners attention and engaging them before you move to tackle on the content area of your lesson. By being in 412  I can only see improvement in this area, especially in lab because we actually have to get up and give our lesson. Therefore if our interest approach isn't doing what it should then we will know whether or not we need to change it. Also students will be most likely unengaged throughout your whole lesson. It is crazy to think how much the interest approach weighs on a lesson, but it is true if you want  your students to learn, you must have a great interest approach.

Like the interest approach, having a evaluation or assessment is important when you are teaching a lesson because it helps determine if learning has occurred for the student.Not only does it assess the students learning but it helps give you as the teacher an idea of where your students learning and understanding is. It is important we address this so we know what we need to cover again or if we can simply move on with lesson. There is many ways in which you can assess your students learning, you can do a ticket out, homework, or even a quiz. Anything that can "test" your students learning.
Overall by incorporating these techniques into teaching, it can only move us forward in to becoming  better teachers. Also by stressing on these two ideas in your lessons, you can only make your teaching improve and become more effective by having students go through the learning process. I cannot wait to implement these ideas into my teaching and hopefully by doing this, seeing positive results!
Link(s):
I found this video created by our very own Penn Stater Mrs. Laura Rice! This video gives an understanding of what exactly is an Interest Approach and how to apply one effectively to your lesson plan.

Engaging Students in the Learning Process
This link provides different ways of engaging your students into the learning process. Great tips!