Module 6 - Alternative Instructional Methods
March 10, 2015
As teachers in the School2Home program focus on CCSS and how students can meet them, it is important for them to know about alternative instructional methods for student learning. Since each child has a device, it is easier to include these alternative methods in everyday instruction. This module addresses an alternative for classroom instruction when NOT every child has a device.
Objectives: Teachers will
- become familiar with the concepts of blended learning.
- become familiar with rotation as a good blended learning strategy.
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Activity |
Handouts/resources |
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Blended learning opening Activity: Introduction to blended learning 1) Blended Learning in Plain English -- describing blended learning. 2) Teachers discuss at tables the positive and negatives of blended learning. |
Opening video “Blended Learning in Plain English” Edutopia Blended Learning video Start at 2:24 to 5:15 |
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Activity: Convert a lesson you currently teach to a blended learning rotation model lesson. Model: Whole group instructions by a teacher making sure deliverables are clear and concrete. 3 rotations of 15 minutes each, debrief of session. All students asked to reflect in a lesson summary. Rotation directions:
Teacher Planning- Working with shoulder buddy to modify one lesson you currently teach. Write on chart paper |
for those of you who did not bring a lesson: Math-7th grade Proportions Choose one section to modify. Science: Choose one lesson as appropriate to your current content/level to modify. English: See longer list in the resource section Social Studies:See longer list in the resource section |
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Activity: Gallery Walk-- Questions, critiques on post-its. |
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Activity: Magic Moment NewsELA |
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Reflection: Session evaluation Emphasize reciprocality of/ interdependence of classroom use and home use. If not textbooks then going paperless. |
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Next steps:
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Teachers create/revise a few lessons with the rotation map included
Teachers present the lesson and reflect on its success
Teachers continue using a rotation method for differentiation and student-engaged learning.
Follow-up suggestions:
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Coaches continue conversations about blended and flipped classroom, providing implementation models.
PD regarding other tools for screencasting.
PD or other methods of providing resources for blended learning and flipped classroom.
Resource for other Blended Learning Models http://www.dreambox.com/blog/6-models-blended-learning
Exemplars of ELA and Math lessons that support core www.achievethecore.org
Resources for Social Studies and ELA
Teaching Tolerance: Perspectives for a Diverse America--Register; build lessons based on questions and primary
sources! http://perspectives.tolerance.org/
The Perspectives Integrated Learning Plan accompanies the Central Text Anthology and offers a wide variety of Common Core-aligned strategies and tasks for English Language Arts and literacy instruction across disciplines. The tasks and strategies within each phase allow for differentiated instruction by providing teachers choice and flexibility.
The Big Question Project https://www.bighistoryproject.com/home
Big History Project Curricula: https://www.bighistoryproject.com/curricula https://www.bighistoryproject.com/chapters/4#human-evolution 8:07: “The first possible sign of tinkering and improvement of technology that may have been transmitted by social learning.”
Students can earn badges thru quizzes. A blend of science and history. Sponsored by Bill Gates. Targeted for high schoolstudents but good ideas that could be adapted to middle school. With the right framing would be good for middle school students.
The MY HERO Project www.myhero.com
Teacher’s Room: Resources: Educator’s Guide2 (PDF) http://myhero.com/teachersroom/resources.asp
Teacher’s Room: Resources: Lesson Plans http://myhero.com/teachersroom/lessonplans.asp
Global SchoolNet www.gsn.org
International CyberFair http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsncf/
Doors to Diplomacy http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsndoors
Global Project Registry http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsnpr/
Read:Write:Think Lesson Plans http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/
National Council of the Social Studies http://www.socialstudies.org/teacherslibrary
Smithsonian: Historyhttp://www.smithsonian.com/history/
Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/lessons/
National Endowment for the Humanities: EDSITEment http://edsitement.neh.gov/subject/history-social-studies
National Council of the Teachers of English: Middle Level http://www.ncte.org/middle
Share My Lesson: Middle School http://www.sharemylesson.com/middle-school-teaching-resources/