Teachers as designers How have your decisions in the
process been an example of teacher creativity?
As a Social Studies instructor in an Virtual & Online
School Environment (Indiana Connections Career Academy” our/my Pedagogical
approach focuses on giving our online students “traditional” classroom instructional
experiences via google classroom. Using online google slides with embedded
video access, google forms for demonstration of understanding, choices to demonstrate
understanding by supplying self-evaluation questions regarding individual
mastery levels and breakout rooms for discreet and 1-1 direct instruction
opportunities. I believe that my lesson plan is “Novel” by way of providing
a variety of examples of “Indiana Boarding School” primary source materials
such as Narratives, Photographs & added video that depicts ways in which
Native Americans experienced forced “Assimilation” and ask students to
collaborate and discuss different points of view regarding Westward Expansion.
The lesson demonstrates “Effective” use of technology and
pedagogical formats in that students are provided with a variety of ways to receive
and experience content knowledge regarding the Westward Expansion and the Native
American Experience while still adhering to structured learning and assessment
options to gage learning and demonstrate knowledge and practice expressing what
they learned through essay reflections and class discussions.
The lesson demonstrates "Wholeness" and "Understandability" by
the way students are allowed to view primary sources, utilized Historical
Analysis Questions provided by the National Archives and reflect upon the
content, objectives, and essential questions drawn from US History State
Standards in a way that is personal, meaningful and individualized based upon student
abilities, independent critical thinking skills and ability to work through a variety
of primary sources and points of view of major historical events that occurred
in US History during the period of Westward Expansion. While provide traditional
classroom level collaboration, discussions as well individualized support for
students who need additional guidance and mastery support. "Teacher as Designer" is signified based up utilizing a variety
of Primary Sources, Media, and various instructional and assessment practices that
are available through the Zoom Classroom Setting such as Breakout Rooms, Video
link embedded within google slides and Green light, Red Light, and Yellow Light
Google Forms and Links that allow for students to evaluate their own mastery
and allow for the teacher to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of
students in the classroom via whole group, small group, or individualized
instruction.
