Course Activity: Classroom Look-fors End of Course Self-assessment

In this activity you will conduct an assessment focusing on your understanding of authentic instruction. When you have finished, your will compare your results to the preassessment taken at the beginning of the course.

1. 
   Review the "Teaching Authentic Classroom Look-fors Rubric."
   
2. 
   Close the "print" window.
   
3. 
   Revisit your self-assessment from the “Classroom Look-fors Precourse Self-assessment.”
   
4. 
   Enter the preassessment scores in the appropriate column.
   
5. 
   Using the "Authentic Instruction Classroom Look-fors Rubric" and having completed a majority of the course content, self assess your current implementation of the authentic standards and enter your new score in the appropriate column.
   
6. 
   Identify specific evidence of improvements made as a result of completing the course content and insert in the appropriate column in the chart.
    
   

7. 
   Complete the following questions in the space provided:
   
   • 
     What areas of authentic implementation did you find lacking in your evaluation of your instruction?
     

• 
  What changes will you implement as a result of your evaluation?
  

• 
  From whom could you ask for assistance in making changes? Describe your plan for implementing changes.
  

• 
  How did higher order technology extend, enhance, enable, or deepen the lesson, or provide added motivation for your students?
  

8. 
   Enter a summary of the responses in your Learning Log by clicking on "Resources" and then "Learning Log." (Label your entry "Classroom Look-fors End of Course Self-assessment")
   
9. 
   Close the Learning Log window to return to the course.
   

Now that you have reached the end of the final content unit, you will take part in a discussion meeting with other members of your study group. This will be a 3-hour session that will enable you and your fellow study group members to debrief on the experiences in the course, as well as to see samples of student work from other teachers and discuss it in order to improve instruction and student achievement.

In this activity you will participate in a discussion with the other members of your study group regarding the key concepts considered in this unit.

1. 
   The Sync Point Discussion will take place in a document in Google (www.docs.google.com).
   
2. 
   Please log into your Google account.
   
3. 
   Locate the file labeled “Sync Point Discussion 4: Teaching Authentic.”
   

Action research is an empowering experience that is enriched throughout the process by collaborating with peers. How do the individual steps of the process fit into your authentic lessons? Discuss the importance of collaborating with peers and the benefits, as well as how using higher order technology in authentic instruction might enhance action research. Are the students achieving the intended academic standards? What insights or observations do they (the teachers) have to share after looking at the work samples? What instructional response is needed to improve the students’ performance?

You may meet with members of the group to share your student work samples for what can be learned about improving instruction, you will be asked to look at the work samples of students of your study group members. You will be asked to make recommendations of what they could do for each student and make suggestions on what they could do differently next time to improve student achievement with respect to academic standards.

4. 
   Respond to the members of the group.
   
5. 
   Please complete this assignment by February 27, 2009.
   
   

UNIT 5: CULMINATING ACTIVITY

In this unit, the learner will tie together all aspects of the course. He/she will synthesize the information learned in the course and will consider how to use this information and data to improve their teaching skills.

Course Objectives

1. 
   analyze and adapt current instructional practices to reflect appropriate elements of authentic instruction and to create an authentic learning environment.
   
2. 
   incorporate authentic instruction while focusing on the achievement of academic standards by all students.
   
3. 
   implement authentic instruction as a means of increasing student engagement.
   
4. 
   utilize technology effectively in authentic instruction to promote higher level thinking skills, and
   
5. 
   develop and implement appropriate assessment strategies for an authentic learning environment.
   

As a result of this course, you are now able to:

• 
  Analyze and adapt current instructional practices to reflect appropriate elements of authentic instruction incorporating technology and to create an authentic learning environment.
  
• 
  Incorporate authentic instruction with technology while focusing on the achievement of academic standards by all students.
  
• 
  Implement authentic instruction as a means of increasing student engagement.
  
• 
  Utilize technology effectively in authentic instruction to promote higher level thinking skills.
  
• 
  Develop and implement appropriate assessment strategies for an authentic learning environment.
  

Personal Notes for Implementation:

 
Section 5.2: Plan Step 2

1. 
   Select one or two of the critical actions from the DO section of the K-L-D that you want to accomplish.
   
2. 
   Write an action plan to implement or enhance 21st Century teaching in your classroom. Use the suggested changes you circled in the "D" column of your K-L-D as the basic framework for your action plan. Use the following resources when developing your plan:
   
   • 
     Your current school district curriculum.
     
   • 
     What is already in place? Where are the gaps?
     
   • 
     Information from your principal, colleagues, and stakeholders.
     
   • 
     How can these individuals assist you in implementing or improving your teaching methods?
     
   • 
     Data you collected on students in your classroom.
     
   • 
     Quantitative data (ex., assessment scores).
     
   • 
     Qualitative data (ex., observation in the classroom, interest surveys).
     
   • 
     Based on the data, what are your students' strengths and areas of need?
     
   • 
     The K-L-D Charts (prior knowledge, new learning, and ideas for implementation).
     
   • 
     Ideas you gained from the narration, course documents, course activities, and online discussions.
     
   • 
     Notes, reflections, and responses to questions recorded in the Learning Guide.
     
   • 
     Understanding of higher order technology infusion and what technology can bring to lessons and projects that is unique, enabling, enhancing, engaging, motivating and facilitates collaboration, analysis, problem-solving and synthesis.
     
3. 
   On which area of improvement will you focus?
   

4. 
   What are the steps you will follow for your action plan? Be sure to include student experiences and activities as part of your plan. (please number your steps)
   

5. 
   For each step in your plan, what resources will you need?
   

6. 
   For each step in your plan, how will you know it worked?
   

7. 
   Return to the course and prepare to submit your plan online.
   

Personal Notes for Implementation:

Personal Notes for Implementation:

Personal Notes for Implementation:

  

Section 5.4: Share

Personal Notes for Implementation:
 

  
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