Category Archives: Lesson Updates

Debriefing the 1st School Visit, Mind Map Assessment, Microteaching Topic Selection, Ukuleles, & Lesson Design: Update for Wednesday, 5 October 2011

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It was  a fast and full lesson today.  Here’s what went down:

EDUC 315 School Visit Debrief

We used a value lines strategy as a means to have you consider your experience in the field.  To wrap up, I noted that we will all meet in the Hillcrest Middle School Library at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, 11 October.  At that time, we’ll discuss the morning’s school visit and get some feedback from you on placement preferences.

Field Trip Fair Mind Map Assessment

For this part of the lesson, we asked you to connect with another TC that had chosen a similarly themed field trip to explore in their mind map.  Then, a discussion ensued that focused on the degree to which the MM meet the criteria.   The MM rubric is here:

Here are a couple sample MMs.  T’he first is John’s and the second is Dave’s:

We wrapped by asking you to give a 20-30 second “elevator pitch” on your chosen field trip.  Hopefully, by the end of today’s lesson you have a good sense of what sorts of outings you might want to pursue while on prac.

Microteaching Topics

Seeing as we have an extra long class on Monday, 24 October, Dave and I reckon we can get all the micro lessons delivered in one day.  Here are the topics that will be presented in a series of 15-20 minute lessons:

Lesson Design:

After a few minutes to review your particular LD component in Expert Groups, Dave presented a mini-lesson on playing the ukulele.  Jerin and Jess were his eager students.  J and J were definitely quick studies but they still have a way to go to catch up to this ukulele virtuoso, Jake Shimabukoro (Whoa!  This clip has over 8 million views!):

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

When the lesson was over, each of the 7 groups analyzed his lesson through the lens of their particular LD component.  We wrapped by letting you know that we’ll Jigsaw all of the components in a future lesson.

Au revoir,

– Lawrence

315 Dress & Protocols, Voice, Microteaching, & Lesson Design: Update for Monday, 3 October 2011

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Getting Ready for the Tuesdays Practicum

After touching on dressing for success for your first school visit, we outlined some protocols to follow during your initial day in the field:

  • Arrive at the school by 8:15 am
  • Check in at the office
  • Look for the organizing SA
  • Observe and take notes on what you see
  • Take the initiative and get involved whereever possible

Have fun tomorrow!

Voice

Today we played with credible and approachable voice.  Maybe one day you’ll become as proficient at using voice as Ron Burgundy of Anchorman fame:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmDgl-Y-kiU[/youtube]

We used breakout groups to teach you one of the voices, you peer taught a classmate, and then we gave you a chance to practice a few line using both credible and approachable voices.  To wrap, we asked you to introduce yourself – in an approachable voice – as if you were speaking to a middle school classroom and then to deliver a control statement – “Pencils down and eyes on me, please.” – in a credible voice.  We also noted that the voices aren’t totally distinct from one another but, rather, are on opposite ends of a continuum.

Here’s are some of the resources we used to teach voice:

Credible Voice – The Paper Chase

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx22TyCge7w&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

Approachable Voice (& Credible, too) – School of Rock

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZCuHXs3Qi8[/youtube]

 

One-Pager on Using Voice Pattern to Signal Our Intention In The Moment

A search of the interwebs will reveal a lot more information about the importance of choosing voice wisely.

Prepping for Microteaching

After taking time to brainstorm your areas of passion, expertise, and fun, we handed out the task sheet and read it over.  Here it is for your reference along with the rubric and lesson planning model we’re suggesting you use:

For class on Wednesday, 5 October you should know your partner and your microteaching lesson topic. Please keep the topic as narrow as possible, as you only have 15-20 minutes to teach.

Lesson Design

In preparation for your microteaching task, we started to look at Lesson Design in the final minutes of today’s class.  We started with a pre-reading strategy, an Anticipation Guide, that had you consider key aspects of the Lesson Design content I was about to present.  Here’s the AG graphic organizer we worked with:

I plan to revisit the statements in the AG once we’ve finished looking at all the material on LD.

Lastly, we started a Jigsaw on the 7 components of effective Lesson Design.  Each of you has a number between 1 and 7 and that corresponds to one of the LD components (1 = Mental Set, 2 = Sharing the Objective & Purpose and so on down the list).  Your job is to read your assigned section and fill out the LD Jigsaw Graphic Organizer with the following information about the component:

  • Brief description
  • Critical attributes
  • When used
  • Why used
  • Considerations

Please have that one section of the LDJGO completed for class on Wednesday, 5 October.

Here is the LDJGO and the reading in case your hard copies go walkabout:

That’s all for today.

Toodles,

– Lawrence

Me In A Bag Analysis Task Gallery Walk & EDUC 315 Planning/Preparation: Update for Wednesday, 28 September 2011

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MIAB Gallery Walk

The cohort’s creativity shone clearly as, after a quick PMI + Metacognitive Q on the process of completing a differentiated end product, we went on a Gallery Walk to examine all the tasks.  Everything from maps to game boards to mind maps to mirrors to film canisters to toolboxes t0 Prezis to film reviews to videos to… you get the picture!  There was an incredible array of items on display thus emphasizing the exciting possibilities when students are given choices to express themselves through means consistent with their abilities and interests.

Here are a small sampling of the MIAB tasks (posted because they are on my HD or easily accessible on the interwebs at the moment -LH).  First up is Paisley’s, followed by a screen capture from Will’s Prezi and wrapping up with John and Jan’s video:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFsosVUtYu4[/youtube]

Classroom Observation Task

While on the Tuesdays Practicum, we want you to be thinking critically about the role of communication in your SA’s classroom.  To that end, we are assigning the EDUC 316: Classroom Observation Task.  This assignment asks you to analyze four aspects of classroom communication:

  • Map of the Room
  • Use of Questions
  • Interpersonal Interactions
  • Lesson Flow

The task is due on Monday, 14 November 2011.  For ease of reference, the task handout is below:

School Visits Rotation Schedule & Planning Time

Dave and I handed out the schedule for our upcoming school visits rotation and gave you time to meet with the classmates that you’ll be touring with to arrange transportation.

We asked you to arrive at the school office by at least 8:15 am on the morning of your visit.  We’ve alerted the office staff, administrative officers, and SAs to your arrival and chosen one SA to greet you and facilitate the organization of your day.

Below you’ll see the Practicum Rotation Visits Schedule and a map of the Coquitlam School District to help find out exactly where you need to go:

Later alligators.

– Lawrence

Team Building, Potluck, & Pre-Practicum Seminar: Update for Tuesday, 27 September 2011

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We started the day by separating the cohort into two groups so both Dave and I could run a few games designed to develop teamwork and communication skills.  My first group engaged in:

  • Circle story
  • Hey, what are you doing?
  • Evolution

to get warmed up.  These activities (and more) can be found in this file:

Then, we played:

  • Tanks
  • Alligator Pond Game

Guidelines for these games (and more) can be found in this document created by TCs from a previous year’s cohort:

In Dave’s session, you had a go with:

Potluck

Thanks to everyone who brought an item to share as part of this delicious smorgasboard.

Preparing For A Successful Practicum


We started with a free write on your expectations and segued into a setting out of the big picture of the Tuesdays Prac… and beyond.  Here are the key dates:

  • Education 315, the Tuesdays Practicum, consists of 6 school visits on Tuesdays beginning October 18th and finishing November 22rd
  • Education 323, the Two Week Practicum, takes place Tuesday, January 3rd to Friday, January 13th with students in the schools full-time
  • Education 419, the Long Practicum, runs from Monday, March 26th to Friday, June 22nd

Next were presentations on The Exemplary Middle School and SRL in the Middle Years.  Here’s that info:

At long last, we asked you to give us your practicum preferences.  The information we requested is shown in this one-page slideshow:

Then, after outlining some the goals of EDUC 315: The Tuesdays Practicum:

Dave took some time to outline some of the key expectations we have of you in terms of professional conduct.  Here’s the PPT slideshow:

To wrap up, we had some fun as you created and presented professionalism role plays, short skits demonstrating no and yes examples of how a TC should conduct herself in a middle school setting.

Hopefully, at the end of today’s lesson you feel more comfortable facing the challenge that is your first foray into the field as part of your teacher education program.

’til next time.

– Lawrence

 

Middle Years TCs HIt the BC Field Trip Fair: Update for Monday, 26 September 2011

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Dave and I hope you enjoyed your time at the 9th Annual BC Field Trip Fair for Teachers.  Please check the BC Field Trips website for a list of exhibitors and much more information related to co-curricular opportunities.

Please remember that your Field Trip Fair-themed mind map task is due in class on Wednesday, 5 October. Please see an earlier post for all the details and the task handout.

Please take a moment to gaze into the eyes of Tony Buzan for inspiration:

– Lawrence

MIAB Wrap Up, Mind Mapping, & the Field Trip Fair: Update for Wednesday, 21 September 2011

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Here’s what happened today in the Wide World of POT/COM.  Luckily, there were no “agony of defeat” moments:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2AZH4FeGsc[/youtube]

Administrivia

After a short debrief of the Digital Tattoo presentation, we asked all persons interested in sitting on the MY Cohort Social Committee to seek out Andrea.  Then, we took some time to outline our plans to get you ready for EDUC 315: the Tuesdays Practicum.  Here’s the plan:

  • Monday, 26 September: Submit completed TC Profile to Dave and Lawrence vie email
  • Tuesday, 27 September: Attend Pre-Practicum Seminar (more details below in this post)
  • Tuesday, 4 October: Middle School Rotation, Day 1 (AM and PM)
  • Tuesday, 11 October: Middle School Rotation, Day 2 (AM) and Post-Rotation Debrief (PM)
  • Tuesday, 18 October: 1st Day in Practicum Placement for EDUC 315
  • Tuesday, 22 November: 6th (and final) Day in Placement for EDUC 315

Pre-Practicum Seminar

Before you enter the field, Dave and I want to cover “Everything You Wanted to Know About Having a Successful Practicum Experience But Were Afraid to Ask”. We’ll do that in a two-part Pre-Prac Seminar on Tuesday, 27 September.  Here’s how the day breaks down:

  • Part 1: Getting Energized – 11:00 am – 12:30 pm in Scarfe 204
  • Lunch: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm in Scarfe 1328
  • Part 2: Getting Informed – 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm in Scarfe 1328

Traditionally the lunch on this day has been a potluck.  It’s up to you and the Social Committee to make this happen, of course.

More MIAB Speeches & the MIAB Speech Analysis Task

When the final four speakers per group had presented, I took some time to outline the post-speech task.

In an effort to stimulate improvement in your verbal and non-verbal communication skills, what you need to do is watch the video of your speech and consider the following questions:

  1. What are my strengths as a speaker?
  2. What challenges did I face when delivering this speech?
  3. What goals will I set for my next speech / presentation?

You can use the “Me in a Bag Speech” Assessment Criteria / The 8 Ps of Powerful Presentations as a framework for this analysis and you can touch on any other aspects of your talk that strike you.

Now, the beauty of this task is that you can present this content information – your thoughtful and detailed answers to the 3 questions above – via any end product you see fit.  This approach to the assignment is consistent with the princicples of differentiated instruction (DI):

Here’s a 6 minute clip with some basic info on DI at the K-12 and university levels:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJmEiQ4HmEc&feature=PlayList&p=4C5E68673251FE37&index=1[/youtube]

To get you personally connecting with the task, I asked you to brainstorm a list of product options in class – which I promptly forgot to write down.  That said, you could consider analyzing your speech using:

  • a map
  • a song
  • a poem
  • a comic strip
  • a dance
  • a news article
  • a poster
  • a graphic organizer
  • a Prezi presentation
  • a game show
  • a model / diorama
  • a sculpture
  • a collage
  • an interpretive dance

The possibilities are well and truly endless.  The key, however, is to ensure that whatever product you choose is conducive to clearly demonstrating the content. Some products may need  to be accompanied with a one-pager that makes all three aspects of the analysis clear.

I’m  looking forward to seeing what sort of creations you come up with by the due date, Wednesday, 28 September 2011.

Introduction to Mind Mapping

We are asking you to attend the 9th Annual Field Trip Fair for Teachers on Monday, 26 September 2011 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Science World.  After the event, we are expecting you to choose one of the available field trips to mind map.  Here’s the task handout:

To prepare you for this task, Dave took some time to highlight the salient aspects & advantages of mind mapping as presented in this video clip starring Tony Buzan, the “inventor” of mind mapping and, I believe, past-president of the Hair Team for Men:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlabrWv25qQ[/youtube]

Here are some model mind maps for you to look at:

This next one’s pretty meta as it’s a mind map on how to mind map.  Whoa!  The only thing cooler is Kramer’s coffee table book about coffee tables!

If you’re interested, here’s a link to Mr. Orr’s website with instructions on The Steps in Creating a Basic Mind Map.  If you prefer your info in PDF form, here’s a two-pager on Mind Mapping.

As a guided practice piece, Dave asked you to mind map information you found on the SD43 website.

That’s all for today.

Cheers,

– Lawrence

SRL Presentation Materials: Update of Update for Monday, 12 September 2011

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As promised, here are the files that Lynda Hutchinson used in her intro to SRL presentation last week.  The first is a Word document with some background on SRL and the second is the PPT slideshow she spoke to:

– Lawrence

What You Want to Learn & Me In A Bag Speeches: Update for Monday, 19 September 2011

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We had a packed class today and here’s a rundown of all the goodness we could wedge in:

Administrivia


  • Digital Tattoo Presentation
    • All TCs are expected to attend the Digital Tattoo (in essence, your digital identity) presentation that will be held on Tuesday, 20 September 2011 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am in SCARFE 100.  For more information on your DT, lease see the presenters’ website at digitaltattoo.ubc.ca.
  • TC Profile
    • Please see the previous post for information about what the TC Profile is and how to complete it.  This task is due on Monday, 26 September 2011.  Please email your completed profile to both Dave (dunnigan@mail.ubc.ca) and I (lholbrook@sd43.bc.ca).
  • Laptops and Flash Drives to Class on Wednesday, 21 September 2011
    • We will be using the flash drives to store your MIAB speech video and the laptop to surf the interwebs.  If you don’t have a laptop, that’s OK.  You’ll be able to complete the in-class task we’re working in with a partner.
  • Social Committee
    • If you are interested in sitting on the Middle Years Cohort Social Committee – a group that organizes potlucks, outings, and gatherings – please see Dave or I.

What You Want to Learn

Dave led you in a brainstorming and categorization session all aimed at figuring out the teaching-related topics you are keen to know more about.  Dave will type up the topics in their categories and we’ll post the results on the blog soon.

Me In A Bag Speeches

After considering:

  • a rationale for public speaking tasks
  • reviewing the MIAB Speech criteria (“The 8 Ps of Powerful Presentation” + Content Criteria)
  • A/B partner rehearsal
  • choosing a speaking order

    we started delivering the speeches for real!

    Thanks to all those that presented and to all those that gave feedback using a…

    We’ll finish the speeches in Wednesday’s class.

    ‘Til then.

    – Lawrence

    SRL in the Middle Years Cohort EDUC 310 & 316 Course Outlines & Calendar

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    Below you will find the course outlines for EDUC 310 and EDUC 316, the two courses that Dave and I are teaching you this term.  Also, you will find the calendar, a class by class breakdown of how we envision the sessions unfolding:

    Look at it this way.  Even if our projected calendar doesn’t go exactly as planned, it couldn’t possibly be as wrong as the calendar shown below.  Who buys this stuff?

    – Lawrence