Question: Do we need to create a rubric for every single worksheet/ assignment given? You said that rubrics are not checklists, but if I have a worksheet that have "right or wrong answers" (ex. 2+2=___), does there need to be a rubric created or is it not necessary since there will not be partial credit given, it's either right or it's wrong.
Kira thank for posting your question. The short and answer is no. You do not need to create a rubric for everything you will be assessing. You will need to have at least one, but some people that I have worked with in the past have wanted to create a rubric for one final project and then a rubric for small group discussions/collaboration etc.
In relation to your checklist versus rubric question I agree that there are times that there is only one correct answer; however, if that is all you are assessing you are assessing learning at the knowledge level only (e.g., What is . . ? Where is . . ? Who was . . ?). It is imperative that we engage our students in deeper level thinking. Since you used a math example I will continue with it. As a teacher I would want my students to be able to do more than just get the correct answer. I would want them to explain and illustrate how they got the answer they did (Comprehension Level). I would then want them to be able to apply what they learned to new situations (Application Level). And being the greedy teacher I am, I would then want my students to be able to tell the parts of the equation and explain the relationship between them (Analysis Level). Next I would invite them to take what they have learned about addition (per your example 2+2), and see what would happen if we looked at other addition problems (e.g., repeated addition, addition of base ten numbers, addition of even numbers, addition of odd numbers), and invite them to formulate a theory for each (Synthesis Level). Finally, I might show them an addition problem with the answer already a part of the equation and then ask the student to assess the equation. I might ask a question like this: Based on what you know about addition, how would you explain why this answer makes sense and what information would you use to support this view (Evaluation Level).
If we move beyond the knowledge level (which is the lowest level of thinking) to the highest, we are truly engaged in what real teaching and learning looks, sounds and feels like. If you are finding that you are doing a lot of assessments that are basically looking to see if an answer is correct, it might be a clue that you are only engaging your students in lower level learning activities.
I guess my point is do you see how if we are teaching critical thinking versus knowledge level questions how it opens the door for more than just a correct answer? We may need a tool to help us evaluate this thinking (to determine [assess] if our students are able to climb up the critical thinking ladder [Bloom's Taxonomy]). One tool that helps us to do that is a rubric.
What do others think? Please feel free to add to this great question that Kira has posed. I love it, Kira! Way to get us thinking right off from the start.
This video is going to come in handy for me as we work on this project more intently in the future. I know that I will be viewing this video more than once as I try to make sure that I hand in everything correctly. I also know that as I work on these assignment that I may have questions so this space will be a nice spot to pose those.
This video is a good reference point. I also will be frequenting it. I am not familiar with blogs though, will the vidoe always be right on the front page like that or will I have to search for it?
Jo, The blog should look the same each time. Sometimes you might only have one video/post presenting itself at a time, but you can find all the titles to the different posts/videos on the right hand side of the screen.
This is a good question. Yes, I would get the three lesson plans done first and then complete the commentaries and other documents that are required in the thematic unit.
It's nice to have a video that explains everything we need to turn in. I agree with Tony about reviewing this video as I design the unit to make sure I have all the pieces done correctly. We should continue to use this to ask questions so questions about the unit don't get repeated!
I agree Anna. It is very helpful to have a video that explains what we need to do and turn in. Having a blog that explains in detail a unit or a project would be a great teaching tool as a future educator.
Sean, This is a great question. All materials need to be included in your 3-ring binder. I am working on an electronic way to turn this in, but it won't be ready this semester. Sorry.
This was also my question. Thanks for clarifying! Having to turn in a paper copy is almost better for me because it helps to visually organize the material, and then mentally organize it.
I already have an 8 lesson unit in progress for one methods class, and was just assigned a 5-7 lesson unit due at the same time for another, so before watching this video I was feeling pretty apprehensive about having to do this one too. After watching it, I feel A LOT better. I think you did a really good job making it very clear what needs to be turned in and telling us exactly how it should be done, and that really helps. I'll definitely be coming back to this video while working on my unit to be sure I am hitting all the points.
The video says that we should include three tpa lesson plans. What if the unit that we were given to plan is more than three units? Should we hand in all of the lesson plans that we put together? Also, if we plan more than those three, do we take those lessons into account when were are doing our self-assessments with the rubrics?
It sounds as if you are asking if you need to write more than three lessons even if you will be teaching more than the three--is this correct? You only need to turn in the three lessons. If you remember that in the introductory/standards/objects section you need to tell me how your lessons fit into the larger picture. In this section write about the larger unit, what did the students learn before the three lesson included, what will they learn after? How many of these lesson will you teach? Review this video again and review the first tab after the cover page. It will help you guide you in providing the information needed to situate your three lessons in the larger context of what is happening. So I guess the answer is NO. You only need to write three lesson plans to be included. BUT . . . if you have already written them and you want to house them all together in one binder that is ok. Just make sure that the three lessons that you want me to correct are clearly labeled.
Do you want any hand outs or worksheets we have that go along with the lessons in the same tab as the lesson plan or in the tab under instructional materials? The way I watched it, it looked like you want them in both places. Is that accurate or do you just want them in one or the other?
Another great questions. You only need to have it under your instructional materials. Please just make sure they are clearly labeled so I know which lesson it goes with.
This blog is going to be extremely helpful as I continue working on this assignment. Nicole and Kale asked some good questions that I was also wondering about, and reading your answers to their questions helps clarify things for me as well. I'm also glad you helped clarify with Jo where to find everything, as I hadn't been familiar with blogs either. Thank you for posting this.
Really fun videos! I love that they are informative, but also include your personality. To clarify, because I am kind of confused. We are submitting both a 3 ring binder and via dropbox?
I was wondering how you would want us to submit the technological sources that we use in this unit. So like if I have a power point or smart lesson did you just want us to print out every slide and turn it in or do you want them electronically?
Please print it out and submit it in your 3 - ring binder. Please know that you have printing options that allow you to print multiple slides per page. I would suggest this option.
The videos are huge! In one of my lessons I am using a sticky board with a number of different terms. I am wondering if I can just type up the terms on one sheet of paper or if you want the big cut outs in the unit. If that makes sense?
Question: Do we need to create a rubric for every single worksheet/ assignment given? You said that rubrics are not checklists, but if I have a worksheet that have "right or wrong answers" (ex. 2+2=___), does there need to be a rubric created or is it not necessary since there will not be partial credit given, it's either right or it's wrong.
ReplyDeleteKira thank for posting your question. The short and answer is no. You do not need to create a rubric for everything you will be assessing. You will need to have at least one, but some people that I have worked with in the past have wanted to create a rubric for one final project and then a rubric for small group discussions/collaboration etc.
ReplyDeleteIn relation to your checklist versus rubric question I agree that there are times that there is only one correct answer; however, if that is all you are assessing you are assessing learning at the knowledge level only (e.g., What is . . ? Where is . . ? Who was . . ?). It is imperative that we engage our students in deeper level thinking. Since you used a math example I will continue with it. As a teacher I would want my students to be able to do more than just get the correct answer. I would want them to explain and illustrate how they got the answer they did (Comprehension Level). I would then want them to be able to apply what they learned to new situations (Application Level). And being the greedy teacher I am, I would then want my students to be able to tell the parts of the equation and explain the relationship between them (Analysis Level). Next I would invite them to take what they have learned about addition (per your example 2+2), and see what would happen if we looked at other addition problems (e.g., repeated addition, addition of base ten numbers, addition of even numbers, addition of odd numbers), and invite them to formulate a theory for each (Synthesis Level). Finally, I might show them an addition problem with the answer already a part of the equation and then ask the student to assess the equation. I might ask a question like this: Based on what you know about addition, how would you explain why this answer makes sense and what information would you use to support this view (Evaluation Level).
If we move beyond the knowledge level (which is the lowest level of thinking) to the highest, we are truly engaged in what real teaching and learning looks, sounds and feels like. If you are finding that you are doing a lot of assessments that are basically looking to see if an answer is correct, it might be a clue that you are only engaging your students in lower level learning activities.
I guess my point is do you see how if we are teaching critical thinking versus knowledge level questions how it opens the door for more than just a correct answer? We may need a tool to help us evaluate this thinking (to determine [assess] if our students are able to climb up the critical thinking ladder [Bloom's Taxonomy]). One tool that helps us to do that is a rubric.
What do others think? Please feel free to add to this great question that Kira has posed. I love it, Kira! Way to get us thinking right off from the start.
This video is going to come in handy for me as we work on this project more intently in the future. I know that I will be viewing this video more than once as I try to make sure that I hand in everything correctly. I also know that as I work on these assignment that I may have questions so this space will be a nice spot to pose those.
ReplyDeleteThis video is a good reference point. I also will be frequenting it. I am not familiar with blogs though, will the vidoe always be right on the front page like that or will I have to search for it?
DeleteJo,
DeleteThe blog should look the same each time. Sometimes you might only have one video/post presenting itself at a time, but you can find all the titles to the different posts/videos on the right hand side of the screen.
What is the date we need to put on the cover page? Is it when we started putting the unit together or when we finished?
ReplyDeleteThe day you turn it in: October 31st.
DeleteSo we should get our 3 lesson plans done before anything else?
DeleteLiliana,
DeleteThis is a good question. Yes, I would get the three lesson plans done first and then complete the commentaries and other documents that are required in the thematic unit.
It's nice to have a video that explains everything we need to turn in. I agree with Tony about reviewing this video as I design the unit to make sure I have all the pieces done correctly. We should continue to use this to ask questions so questions about the unit don't get repeated!
ReplyDeleteI agree Anna. It is very helpful to have a video that explains what we need to do and turn in. Having a blog that explains in detail a unit or a project would be a great teaching tool as a future educator.
DeleteWhen we submit digital material can we do that through D2L or would you like for us to print all slides?
ReplyDeleteSean, This is a great question. All materials need to be included in your 3-ring binder. I am working on an electronic way to turn this in, but it won't be ready this semester. Sorry.
DeleteThis was also my question. Thanks for clarifying! Having to turn in a paper copy is almost better for me because it helps to visually organize the material, and then mentally organize it.
DeleteI already have an 8 lesson unit in progress for one methods class, and was just assigned a 5-7 lesson unit due at the same time for another, so before watching this video I was feeling pretty apprehensive about having to do this one too. After watching it, I feel A LOT better. I think you did a really good job making it very clear what needs to be turned in and telling us exactly how it should be done, and that really helps. I'll definitely be coming back to this video while working on my unit to be sure I am hitting all the points.
ReplyDeleteThe video says that we should include three tpa lesson plans. What if the unit that we were given to plan is more than three units? Should we hand in all of the lesson plans that we put together? Also, if we plan more than those three, do we take those lessons into account when were are doing our self-assessments with the rubrics?
ReplyDeleteKale,
DeleteIt sounds as if you are asking if you need to write more than three lessons even if you will be teaching more than the three--is this correct? You only need to turn in the three lessons. If you remember that in the introductory/standards/objects section you need to tell me how your lessons fit into the larger picture. In this section write about the larger unit, what did the students learn before the three lesson included, what will they learn after? How many of these lesson will you teach? Review this video again and review the first tab after the cover page. It will help you guide you in providing the information needed to situate your three lessons in the larger context of what is happening. So I guess the answer is NO. You only need to write three lesson plans to be included. BUT . . . if you have already written them and you want to house them all together in one binder that is ok. Just make sure that the three lessons that you want me to correct are clearly labeled.
Do you want any hand outs or worksheets we have that go along with the lessons in the same tab as the lesson plan or in the tab under instructional materials? The way I watched it, it looked like you want them in both places. Is that accurate or do you just want them in one or the other?
ReplyDeleteNicole,
DeleteAnother great questions. You only need to have it under your instructional materials. Please just make sure they are clearly labeled so I know which lesson it goes with.
This blog is going to be extremely helpful as I continue working on this assignment. Nicole and Kale asked some good questions that I was also wondering about, and reading your answers to their questions helps clarify things for me as well. I'm also glad you helped clarify with Jo where to find everything, as I hadn't been familiar with blogs either. Thank you for posting this.
ReplyDeleteReally fun videos! I love that they are informative, but also include your personality. To clarify, because I am kind of confused. We are submitting both a 3 ring binder and via dropbox?
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking this. NO! You will only be turning in your 3 ring binder.
DeleteI was wondering how you would want us to submit the technological sources that we use in this unit. So like if I have a power point or smart lesson did you just want us to print out every slide and turn it in or do you want them electronically?
ReplyDeletePlease print it out and submit it in your 3 - ring binder. Please know that you have printing options that allow you to print multiple slides per page. I would suggest this option.
DeleteThe videos are huge! In one of my lessons I am using a sticky board with a number of different terms. I am wondering if I can just type up the terms on one sheet of paper or if you want the big cut outs in the unit. If that makes sense?
ReplyDelete