Learning
Assessment
Homework
Tracking
100
What are the stages of memory? Where does thinking occur?
Information is taken in from the environment --> stored in the working memory/short term memory <-->Long Term memory (which informs information occurring in working/short term memory to help develop schemas) Thinking occurs in the working memory when you combine information from your environment and long-term memory in new ways
100
When should assessment be done? Why?
When the learning is complete If assessment is done before a concept is fully understood the results do not reflect well on the student or teacher, and also don’t give the student a fair chance to demonstrate understanding of the material
100
Why is homework so engrained in the educational system despite little evidence to support that it is beneficial?
It has been given for so long that people are fooled into thinking that it works. Parents had to do homework so they assume their children should need to as well Parents believe that if their children are doing homework they are learning, more homework = more learning People don’t know that data is mixed and assume that schools are giving homework enhance learning Teachers think need to assign homework to appease the parents
100
What is tracking?
Separating students into groups based on their academic ability for some or all subjects. Once categorized the students are placed on tracks that are more rigorous or slower and less advanced.
200
As a teacher what are three ways to help students retain information?
Make the information relevant Make work an appropriate level/individualized Don’t give too much information at once Change the pace of the lesson if students are loosing attention Track what lessons work and which do not, and adjust based on how they went Additional answers may be accepted
200
What are three examples of ways to assess student learning outside of taking a test?
Create a project that has real world applications for the material Use technology to create presentation, podcast, Prezi, iMovie Make something using a different media form, poem, song, painting, diorama, etc. Have the students create a portfolio of all their relevant work on a topic and present it Writing an essay Additional answers may be accepted
200
What kind of homework is typically given to students? What skills does this homework help to build?
Instructional homework This type of homework is practice, preparation, extension and integration homework. This builds very little skills for students other than rote memorization, regurgitation, and low level thinking.
200
Who are typically placed on the more rigorous tracks? Who are placed on the lower tracks? Why is this?
Wealthier white and Asian students are usually placed on more rigorous tracks. They have more resources to support their learning and get ahead academically Often it is minority and poor students placed on the lower academic tracks because they have less support and often fall behind due to their social and economic circumstances.
300
What is required to engage in critical thinking tasks? Why is this so difficult?
Critical thinking processes (reasoning and problem solving) are intimately intertwined with factual knowledge stored in long-term memory Difficult because it requires us to use transference. Make connections between previously known knowledge and apply it to something new
300
Why should students be included in the discussion on how they will be assessed and their own assessment? Provide at least two reasons.
Helps students create realistic goals for themselves Students take agency in their own learning Students want to feel included in their learning process Makes expectations of learning more clear Allows students to self-assess and reflect on their work
300
List two negative effects associated with homework?
Decreases motivation and interest in learning Children often become frustrated and exhausted Lack of time for other activities Takes away from peer to peer interaction at home and with friends outside of classroom Students may not be able to get help at home feel more incompetent when they return to class with nothing done
300
What are two ways that a teacher can differentiate a lesson plan to cater to student’s differences in prior knowledge and ability?
Provide open ended activities Tiered activities Giving students choice/using centers or stations Create worksheets/assignments that cater to different levels of learning Teach concepts through multiple modalities
400
What are two ways to help students comprehend abstract ideas?
Use analogies – combine something we are familiar with to something new Use concrete examples – help to explain abstractions meaning with something familiar Rely on student’s previously developed schemas Demonstrate concepts with multiple modalities (visuals, stories, hands on activities, etc.) Provide students with ample time to practice and apply more abstract concepts
400
What is necessary to provide students when doing assessment? Why?
Constructive criticism/feedback It makes the expectations that the teacher has for the students clear so students know how and what to improve going forward to get a better grade
400
What can educators do to minimize amount and improve quality of homework? Provide three ways.
Educate themselves on the fact that homework hasn’t been proven effective and share the information that they learn with other teachers, parents and administrators Rethink their own standardized homework policies and try to assign homework only when absolutely necessary Make homework assignments more individualized to ensure students can complete work at home comfortably without extra assistance Allow students to provide feedback on assignments, if it was helpful or not, and adjust Make sure homework is checked and gone over in class not just graded and handed back without first talking about it, or provide feedback on each assignment Allow students to decide what homework should be based off of the work done in class
400
What are two arguments used against, and two arguments to support tracking?
Against Tracking: Detrimental to young adolescent peer relationships Harmful to low-achievers self-esteem Perpetuates class and racial inequalities (school to prison pipeline) Grouping is biased Reinforces inaccurate assumption of intelligence Less experienced teachers placed in low-achiever classes Research shows tracking largely benefits high-achievers (gifted and talented) Pro Tracking: Schools can meet the varying needs of student abilities Low achievers get slower paced curriculum they need High-achieving students get more challenges when tracked Necessary for individualized instruction Low-achievers won’t hinder high-achiever progress Easier to plan lessons when everyone is on the same level
500
Explain shallow versus deep understanding? How does Blooms Taxonomy function as a tool to increase understanding?
Shallow understanding – the basic ideas of a concept are known, usually memorized Deep understanding – information is understood and can be transferred and applied to new concepts Blooms Taxonomy – by encouraging students to apply higher levels of thinking to concepts it allows for increased understanding of the concept
500
What is one effect of assigning grades?
Make students less interested in whatever they are learning for a grade Students are less likely to pick a more difficult assignment/topic to ensure they get a higher grade because it is less challenging When graded students do work at a more shallow level as opposed to challenging themselves to think more deeply about a subject
500
If homework is given to students, what type is shown to be more effective than just rote memorization and mindless worksheets? Provide two characteristics of this type of homework.
Noninstructional homework which focuses on: Personal development like behavior skills Improves communication between family Increases peer interaction Helps attach meaning to assignments Meets policies and time requirements set by the school or district without becoming a chore
500
Why do some teachers favor ability grouping?
It is easier to teach students who all have the same ability and prior knowledge With everyone having the same level of knowledge I is easier to determine the pace of lessons Classes cater to student’s individual abilities (better math skills more advanced math class, lower English ability attend lower level English) Students with a higher ability aren’t being held back by slower students
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