EDPC605 Curriculum Design and Instruction

Teaching Philosophy – Technology in the Classroom Educators have always held the key to students’ success. As teachers, we must ensure to provide our students with a great education that prepares them with essential knowledge and skills to face adulthood. In today’s 21 century, where technology is a part of every aspect in our lives, educators need to be trained and equipped with the skills necessary to appropriately use and integrate technology tools in instruction. The ITST teacher and student standards define the skills and pedagogical insights teachers need to know in order to best educate the children in this digital age. I will create my lesson plans meeting the ITST standards, which will thereby empower students to take charge of their education and ensure that learning is a student-driven process of exploration, creativity and discovery. The variety of software tools available for educational purposes makes it possible for individuals to perform and learn in a far more co...

View my presentation on Backward Design Stage 2 at:  https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cFnYrEoP4O

As teachers we have so many goals and skills we’d like our students to acquire throughout the year. By dividing our goals into step by step procedures we can actually get there. When beginning to form my lesson last week I used Gran Wiggins’s method of Backward Design. My first step was to identify my desired results – what life skill will the students gain from this lesson? By reading through the state standards on the given topic, that’s in accordance to the student’s grade level, I was able to establish my goals. With my objectives in mind I was able to determine the key understandings I want my students to know at the end of the unit. By applying Backward Design I found myself thinking of essential questions that if answered correctly will prove to me that all students achieved my desired goals. When forming my lessons I’ll base it on my Stage 1 chart to verify that it’s organized, relevant, and ensures that all students have mastered the new concept.   It’s the educa...

STAGE 1 – DESIRED RESULTS Established Goals: W.6.2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content. Understandings: Students will understand that… An informative/explanatory essay conveys information about a specific topic. It’s important to have a good introduction, to tap into the reader’s interest. The introduction should give the reader an understanding of what they are about to read. Essential Questions: How will I gather information relevant to my topic? How do I organize my introduction in a clear fashion, so that readers understand the topic being presented? Are all ideas expressed in my text relevant to the given topic? Students will know… How to gather accurate information. How to use strategies to help them organize information, such as a semantic web, and graphic organ...

STAGE 1 – DESIRED RESULTS Established Goals:      RI.6.3. Students will be able to analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text.     RI.6.4. Students will be able to determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative and technical meanings. Understandings: Students will understand that…      There are a variety of text types - narrative, expository, and poetic.        A text conveys information about individuals, events or ideas.      By analyzing details of a text one fully perceives the key information the author expresses.      There are many strategies to use to understand the meaning of words and phrases. Essential Questions:      What type of text is this? What type of  information will...

Grant Wiggins’ explanation on Backward Design is enlightening. It provides educators with the vital method to be used when designing their lessons. Backward Design emphases on the teacher to first have a performance goal for the students to accomplish, and only then work with the curriculum to reach that objective. The goal should be an actual life skill they’ll be able to utilize in their real life, and not the knowledge they will attain from the lesson. Teachers need to provide the student with the right combination of tools for them to explore the new concept independently. Educators should remain goal oriented throughout their teaching, and make sure that every activity, motivation, and lesson really brings them a step closer to their objective and enables their students to fully master this new concept. The students should be aware of the goal and understand what they are to acquire. By following the method of Backward Design one will be certain that they are providing their stud...