"Odds and Ends"

This is where you can post anything you want to share with peers that doesn't fit anywhere else.

Assessment

There are many forms of assessment. The news has been filled with reports of use of assessment data (standardized tests given to groups of students) to determine the effectiveness of teachers. Standardized tests are also used to determine if students are "ready for" college, etc. Grades in classes are usually based on summative (end of course) tests. These tests are tests OF learning. What did students learn?

Teachers need to pay more attention to assessment FOR learning. This type of assessment tracks readiness (do they have prerequisite skills or knowledge) and process (check for understanding by asking probing questions, observing students and/or reviewing practice assignments along the way).

In INED 3304 - several types of assignments were used for assessing student progress. They were developed to give feedback to both students and instructor. If YOU were the INED 3304 instructor - how would you assess progress? What type of assignment would you develop to provide input on student progress and learning? Which assignment was most helpful to you?

Learning Strategies

Select one learning strategy presented in Chapter 10 or 11. Develop a study guide/outline for concepts in ANY text chapter using this strategy. Submit through assignments link and post this on the blog.

Teachers and bullying

How does a teacher recognize bullying? What is the teacher's role in addressing bullying?

Classroom management Discussion

There were many approaches and strategies included in this week's unit on classroom management. Now it is time to share your experiences, questions and reflections with your peers.

For example: My exposure to classroom management in my undergraduate teacher education program included only an article by a nun on how straight rows and attractive bulletin boards promoted better behavior.

As a first year teacher, I had given my secondary students class time to review for the test scheduled the next day. Yes, that was all I told them. Of course, within a short period of time the noise and activity level (not related to class material) was becoming a problem.

Naive teacher that I was, I told them, "Since you've wasted this study time, you MUST come for an after-school study session here. Any student that does not show up will be withdrawn from this course (remember - we are in a secondary school).

I found out during my planning period that I could not enforce this. I waited in my classroom that afternoon (very nervously) - and to my surprise, EVERY student showed up and began quietly studying.

As an experienced teacher - I now know what I did was wrong - but I also know why it worked - let's see what you think.

Unit 3 Blog

Reflect on what you learned from the power point presentations and chapter 6. Which approach did you prefer? Why? How do they relate to each other. What questions do you have. This is your opportunity to share with your peers and instructor.

Unit 2 Review

Feel free to post any questions about Unit 2.