This module has definitely made me think about my role as an instructional designer. It is vital to make our lessons/units and projects fun for our students. If the students are engaged in what they are learning then you will most likely keep and maintain their attention. Everything that we do derives from the Standards that need to be met; therefore, why not make their activities and assessments/projects fun for all involved? What we design as teachers for our plans is what our students need to accomplish by the end of that strand. Incorporating a higher-level thinking, along with open-ended questions and real-world applications through a student-centered learning environment are ways that will help to motivate our students and engage their learning process. We may think that we have the answer, but there is always more to learn!
I already tried to actively engage my students in my lesson units but after learning more today, I see that there is so much more to be done. I as a student learned a great deal more with hands on actions and that is probably why I am an Agriculture teacher today due to the endless hands on incounters in the field. After learning what I did today and seeing the detailed instruction samples that can be uncovered, I can create more hands on experiments, projects and even hands on tool and machine test instead of traditional pencil/paper handout test.
It occurred to me today that it's possible to close the gap between us "older" teachers and young students by "doing what comes naturally" to them. They are from the video game generation instead of being creative with outside games of hide and seek, red rover, riding bicycles, etc. They prefer games in the classroom, albeit educational games, to lecturing and note taking. We are fortunate in having the latest technology at our disposal and now with all of these websites, we need to take advantage of them in order to engage our students. I need to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE navigating. It was a great day!
Before today I did not think of myself as an instructional designer, but as a teacher. I now realize that as a teacher it is not just our job to present material to the students. We need to make each lesson relevant to the students' world. I hope to use a lot of the resources shown to us today to bring more technology to my lessons as well as make it more project based. This way the students will be more engaged in their learning. I also need to provide continuous assessments of the students' learning using various methods. I hope to learn more this week to become more than just the teacher but actually an instructional designer!
This module provides many sample units for me to share with teachers to help them think about completing their own unit plan templates. I think when a teacher first looks at the unit plan template, it appears overwhelming. However, once teachers begin working on their own unit, I believe it helps to take small sections and let the teachers collaborate if they wish. Creating the publication for the unit prior to writing the unit seems premature. I think it makes more sense to complete the unit which then probably would give teachers more ideas about the best ways to publicize the unit. I am all for project-based learning because it makes the students active learners. Encouraging teachers to create more project-based learning activities is an important role for me as an instructional designer.
As many of my classmates have so eloquently stated, I also considered myself a teacher not an instructional designer. My focus has been on the Standards of Learning, our pacing guide, benchmarks, and tests, tests, and more tests. Module 1 has provided me with the opportunity to think about my role as an instructional designer and facilitator of learning. I understand that technology has to be incorporated in a meaningful way that is connected to the real world. I also have a better understanding of how project-based learning can weave the content standards with higher order thinking and engage all of my students in the learning process. Assessments are ongoing throughout a unit and must be more than a quiz or a test. I am encouraged and inspired to become an instructional designer and facilitator of learning. There is so much to learn!
It is often easier to develop lesson plans using content questions (teachers are very time-crunched). Using Unit and Essential questions also is more time consuming but will reach more students.
Too much precious time trying to figure out, write, lose, rewrite blogs, twitter, Face book - just don't like - but will learn to do for this class, one way or another. I must! I thank the person/s who came up with the phrase/title "Curriculum Designer." Just this view of myself helps me to relate to today's fast paced, oft times overwhelming, class in a very positive way. I am rejuvenated in my attitude, already, at facing the same lesson plans after just 3 years, even though the students have enjoyed them, and I presenting them, we all just didn't get the "HOTs" - didn't include enough of the Higher Order Thinking. I love, truly <3, and am really excited about all the organizational and instructional aides I experienced today: Porta Portal, Wiki Spaces, Intel Essentials etc. Wow! The Unit Plan will be a challenge, even though I had already been utilizing 21st Century Skills - and didn't know there was name to it all. It is a challenge, I've discovered, because I think I am trying to make a lesson plan, rather than a unit - it is a different model. I need to kick it up a notch. I am realizing also that I need to put more focus on Formative Assessment, and I look forward to these particular sessions in the days ahead. And in the text I appreciate the 'tips' offered. One, in particular, on page 1.06 is about giving students specific directory structures. I am going to make this a goal for my Language Arts classroom this year. We do so much binder and written paper folder work, especially for poetry, but also for novel work, book reports, and other writing projects - it makes sense to me to do more than just a "safety in technology" session in the computer lab and then use the lab mostly for testing or Study Island. I believe I am an effective teacher, but I believe this Intel class is going to assist me in being an Efficient, Productive, well-tuned Instructional Designer! Hot for CFQs!
Today's discussions on CFQ's helped tremendously in going from specifics to generalizations. It's a great strategy to use especially with LD students who have a difficult time using higher order thinking skills. Open ended questions will force them to think, unlike multiple choice questions that they are so used to. Navigation went better today so maybe by Friday, I'll know how to get where I need to be with less effort.
This module has definitely made me think about my role as an instructional designer. It is vital to make our lessons/units and projects fun for our students. If the students are engaged in what they are learning then you will most likely keep and maintain their attention. Everything that we do derives from the Standards that need to be met; therefore, why not make their activities and assessments/projects fun for all involved? What we design as teachers for our plans is what our students need to accomplish by the end of that strand. Incorporating a higher-level thinking, along with open-ended questions and real-world applications through a student-centered learning environment are ways that will help to motivate our students and engage their learning process. We may think that we have the answer, but there is always more to learn!
ReplyDeleteI already tried to actively engage my students in my lesson units but after learning more today, I see that there is so much more to be done. I as a student learned a great deal more with hands on actions and that is probably why I am an Agriculture teacher today due to the endless hands on incounters in the field. After learning what I did today and seeing the detailed instruction samples that can be uncovered, I can create more hands on experiments, projects and even hands on tool and machine test instead of traditional pencil/paper handout test.
ReplyDeleteIt occurred to me today that it's possible to close the gap between us "older" teachers and young students by "doing what comes naturally" to them. They are from the video game generation instead of being creative with outside games of hide and seek, red rover, riding bicycles, etc. They prefer games in the classroom, albeit educational games, to lecturing and note taking. We are fortunate in having the latest technology at our disposal and now with all of these websites, we need to take advantage of them in order to engage our students. I need to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE navigating. It was a great day!
ReplyDeleteBefore today I did not think of myself as an instructional designer, but as a teacher. I now realize that as a teacher it is not just our job to present material to the students. We need to make each lesson relevant to the students' world. I hope to use a lot of the resources shown to us today to bring more technology to my lessons as well as make it more project based. This way the students will be more engaged in their learning. I also need to provide continuous assessments of the students' learning using various methods. I hope to learn more this week to become more than just the teacher but actually an instructional designer!
ReplyDeleteThis module provides many sample units for me to share with teachers to help them think about completing their own unit plan templates. I think when a teacher first looks at the unit plan template, it appears overwhelming. However, once teachers begin working on their own unit, I believe it helps to take small sections and let the teachers collaborate if they wish. Creating the publication for the unit prior to writing the unit seems premature. I think it makes more sense to complete the unit which then probably would give teachers more ideas about the best ways to publicize the unit. I am all for project-based learning because it makes the students active learners. Encouraging teachers to create more project-based learning activities is an important role for me as an instructional designer.
ReplyDeleteAs many of my classmates have so eloquently stated, I also considered myself a teacher not an instructional designer. My focus has been on the Standards of Learning, our pacing guide, benchmarks, and tests, tests, and more tests.
ReplyDeleteModule 1 has provided me with the opportunity to think about my role as an instructional designer and facilitator of learning. I understand that technology has to be incorporated in a meaningful way that is connected to the real world. I also have a better understanding of how project-based learning can weave the content standards with higher order thinking and engage all of my students in the learning process. Assessments are ongoing throughout a unit and must be more than a quiz or a test. I am encouraged and inspired to become an instructional designer and facilitator of learning. There is so much to learn!
It is often easier to develop lesson plans using content questions (teachers are very time-crunched). Using Unit and Essential questions also is more time consuming but will reach more students.
ReplyDeleteFirst do the least, then the probable, soon you do the impossible
ReplyDeleteToo much precious time trying to figure out, write, lose, rewrite blogs, twitter, Face book - just don't like - but will learn to do for this class, one way or another. I must!
ReplyDeleteI thank the person/s who came up with the phrase/title "Curriculum Designer." Just this view of myself helps me to relate to today's fast paced, oft times overwhelming, class in a very positive way. I am rejuvenated in my attitude, already, at facing the same lesson plans after just 3 years, even though the students have enjoyed them, and I presenting them, we all just didn't get the "HOTs" - didn't include enough of the Higher Order Thinking.
I love, truly <3, and am really excited about all the organizational and instructional aides I experienced today: Porta Portal, Wiki Spaces, Intel Essentials etc. Wow!
The Unit Plan will be a challenge, even though I had already been utilizing 21st Century Skills - and didn't know there was name to it all. It is a challenge, I've discovered, because I think I am trying to make a lesson plan, rather than a unit - it is a different model. I need to kick it up a notch.
I am realizing also that I need to put more focus on Formative Assessment, and I look forward to these particular sessions in the days ahead.
And in the text I appreciate the 'tips' offered. One, in particular, on page 1.06 is about giving students specific directory structures. I am going to make this a goal for my Language Arts classroom this year. We do so much binder and written paper folder work, especially for poetry, but also for novel work, book reports, and other writing projects - it makes sense to me to do more than just a "safety in technology" session in the computer lab and then use the lab mostly for testing or Study Island.
I believe I am an effective teacher, but I believe this Intel class is going to assist me in being an Efficient, Productive, well-tuned Instructional Designer!
Hot for CFQs!
Today's discussions on CFQ's helped tremendously in going from specifics to generalizations. It's a great strategy to use especially with LD students who have a difficult time using higher order thinking skills. Open ended questions will force them to think, unlike multiple choice questions that they are so used to. Navigation went better today so maybe by Friday, I'll know how to get where I need to be with less effort.
ReplyDelete