Understanding by Design and Differentiated Instruction are both very helpful in producing effective lessons. By using the Understanding by Design we are able to create lessons by looking at the main idea of what we want our students to learn and the breaking it down into individual concepts and sections. This is easier for us to keep track of our main goal in teaching and allows us to stay on a direct path toward learning. Typically by using the design we are able to avoid including assignments and lessons that are unrelated to the material being taught at the time. It also allows for sequential learning. With differentiated instruction we are able to address to learning needs of all of our students. We are aware of the different learner types and can mold our lessons so that we implement various teaching strategies. This is essential to a productive classroom because not all students learn in the same ways and it is important that we provide an equal learning opportunity for everyone in the class.
My question to fellow tutors is: Although we are only in our PDS one day a week, I believe that it is important for us to begin practicing the Backward Design Plan. In doing so, do you all coordinate with your host teachers and focus on a particular area of focus from their lesson plan? Or do you create your own lesson based on what you want the students to learn and work your way down from that?
I completely agree with your statement that not all students learnin the same ways and it is important that we provide an equal learning opportunity for everyone in the class. As teachers we should strive to make sure that each student can learn information equally even if it is not taught the same to each student.
ReplyDeleteThe Backward Design Plan is an interesting and helpful strategy that teachers can use in order to effectively plan lessons. With my host teacher, she tells me what I need to focus on for a particular lesson. She looks at the curriculum mapper and her lesson plans a week before I need to teach and tells me what she is planning on covering. I am then in charage of taking what she wants students to learn and building activities from these goals.
Understanding by Design and Differentiated Instruction were helpful strategies for me this semester. I've also found that designing al esson around the main goals allows teachers to focus on the important material so the students learn what he hope they will earn. I've laso seen numerous examples of differentiated instuction in my PDS. My teacher has shown me how different students learn in different ways, so it's important for teachers to be open-minded when it comes to lessons.
ReplyDeleteI've really enjoyed the Backwards Design concept. It was a little tricky for me to udnerstand at first, but once i got the main idea of it I've found it to be very beneficial. For my lessons plans I've always consulted with my mentor teacher. She explains to me what she sees are the important ideas for the lesson. From there I design my lessons to teach the material in the most effective way I can, and my mentor teacher has been very helfpul with tips and ideas to better improve my lessons.