When I first thought about lifelong learning, I planned to focus on learning that continues after high school and/or higher education is completed. But a recent experience made me realize that an interest in lifelong learning can be nurtured or destroyed at a very early age.
So, I'm going to begin this series by talking about the impact that teachers can have on young minds. As educators, we know how important it is to create a positive learning environment that sets learners up for success. I recently audited twenty-eight classes at elementary, middle and high schools in a rural South Carolina school district. What I saw occasionally gave me hope and more frequently filled me with absolute horror.
The audits were intended to answer three questions:
1. Does the teacher know how to write an effective lesson plan?
2. Does the lesson result in specific, observable and measurable learning?
3. Does the teacher create and maintain an effective learning environment?
Teaching Decisions
According to Dr. Madeline Hunter, teachers continually make decisions about what will be taught and how it will be taught. It is possible to determine the probability of learning in the classroom by evaluating these decisions, which fall into three discrete categories. The first two categories help to answer the first two questions that relate to specific, observable and measurable learning. The last category helps to answer the last question that relates to an effective learning environment.
1. Learning Content: What content to cover in the class.
2. Student Activities: What the student will do to learn and to demonstrate that learning has occurred.
3. Learning Facilitation: What the teacher will do to facilitate the acquisition of that learning through stand up presentation, group facilitation, and classroom management.
The audits assessed teacher performance based on four categories of teaching best practices that fell within these three decision-making categories.
Application of Teaching Best Practices: Learning Content
1. Content Decisions
a. Focuses in on the key content.
b. Defines key terms and key concepts.
c. Provides an organizing principle.
d. Has an obvious and logical flow to the lesson components.
e. Uses relevant examples to explain and model key concepts and behaviors.
f. Teaches one concept at a time using at least three examples.
g. Shows connections between current, prior and future learning.
h. Keeps interesting but unimportant content to a minimum.
Application of Teaching Best Practices: Student Activities
2. Student Centered
a. Draws input from the students whenever possible and appropriate.
b. Focuses on the students rather than the teacher.
c. Relates to the students' prior learning or experience.
d. Uses variety, novelty and creativity to stimulate student interest.
e. Meets the needs of different learning styles.
f. Provides opportunity for individual, small group and large group activities.
g. Builds on the students' strengths.
h. Enjoys and appreciates the students.
Application of Teaching Best Practices: Student Activities
3. Participatory Activities
a. Actively engages the students in discovering answers.
b. Sets the students up for successful learning.
c. Has a hands-on activity to check learning and comprehension.
d. Checks for comprehension before leaving a key topic area.
e. Allows students to practice what they've learned as they learn it.
f. Builds student confidence in their own competence.
g. Ensures student mastery of the content before independent practice given.
h. Re-teaches content when necessary.
Application of Teaching Best Practices: Learning Facilitation
4. Facilitation
a. Maintains a positive, warm and respectful relationship with students.
b. Uses a calm and supportive tone of voice.
c. Encourages and validates students' involvement and responses.
d. Coaches students to discover the correct answer.
e. Provides an effective and emotionally safe learning environment.
f. Refocuses inappropriate behavior in a clear, constructive and firm manner.
g. Ensures that all students can see and hear.
h. Makes transitional statements between sections.
In next week's Tip, I will share my audit observations of two different third grade classes in the same elementary school. These two classes exhibit opposite sides of the spectrum in terms of teaching practices.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Laurel Learning Tip #294: Making a Career Switch #4
In this week’s Tip, we continue our look at resources to help folks who are considering making a career switch and want to start their own business.
There are many internet resources with information and advice for individuals who are interested in starting their own business. Here are a few national and state resources:
If you are interested in starting your own business:
• http://www.sba.gov provides a wealth of information on starting a business under "Small Business Planner.”
• http://www.score.org and local Small Business Development Centers usually located at state universities (such as http://www.wisconsinsbdc.org) provide free one-on-one counseling to those interested in starting and expanding a business. In addition, the Small Business Administration offers free online classes for small business, federal post-disaster contracting opportunities, and the SBA 2009 Resource Guide online.
• http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98810,00.html provides a checklist for starting a business.
• http://www.okcommerce.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2537&Itemid=769 is offered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, but it provides useful suggestions that can help you find comparable resources in your own state- as well as necessary federal information.
This concludes our look at resources to help folks who are considering making a career switch. Next week, we will begin a discussion of lifelong learning.
May your learning be sweet.
There are many internet resources with information and advice for individuals who are interested in starting their own business. Here are a few national and state resources:
If you are interested in starting your own business:
• http://www.sba.gov provides a wealth of information on starting a business under "Small Business Planner.”
• http://www.score.org and local Small Business Development Centers usually located at state universities (such as http://www.wisconsinsbdc.org) provide free one-on-one counseling to those interested in starting and expanding a business. In addition, the Small Business Administration offers free online classes for small business, federal post-disaster contracting opportunities, and the SBA 2009 Resource Guide online.
• http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98810,00.html provides a checklist for starting a business.
• http://www.okcommerce.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2537&Itemid=769 is offered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, but it provides useful suggestions that can help you find comparable resources in your own state- as well as necessary federal information.
This concludes our look at resources to help folks who are considering making a career switch. Next week, we will begin a discussion of lifelong learning.
May your learning be sweet.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Laurel Learning Tip #293: Making a Career Switch #3
In this week’s Tip, we continue our look at resources to help folks who are considering making a career switch and want to get additional education or experience.
There are a large number of internet resources available to assist individuals who know are interested in getting additional education or would like experience in volunteer jobs or internships.
If you are interested in getting additional education:
• http://www.doleta.gov provides a comprehensive list of adult programs including "America's Labor Market and Information System."
• http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college identifies and ranks colleges.
• http://www.wisconsincontinuingeducation.com provides reviews and recommendations of vocational and technical schools.
• http://www.rwm.org/rwm/tf_wis.html offers a vocational school database. Many vocational schools provide career counseling and assessment.
• http://litlink.ket.org provides an integrated instructional system of video and online computer technology to help adult students advance their GED and workplace skills.
If you are interested in volunteer jobs or internships:
• http://www.idealist.org/en/about/firsttime.html
• http://www.retirementjobs.com/
• http://home.monster.com/
Next week, we will continue our look at resources to help folks who are considering making a career switch and want to start their own business.
May your learning be sweet.
There are a large number of internet resources available to assist individuals who know are interested in getting additional education or would like experience in volunteer jobs or internships.
If you are interested in getting additional education:
• http://www.doleta.gov provides a comprehensive list of adult programs including "America's Labor Market and Information System."
• http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college identifies and ranks colleges.
• http://www.wisconsincontinuingeducation.com provides reviews and recommendations of vocational and technical schools.
• http://www.rwm.org/rwm/tf_wis.html offers a vocational school database. Many vocational schools provide career counseling and assessment.
• http://litlink.ket.org provides an integrated instructional system of video and online computer technology to help adult students advance their GED and workplace skills.
If you are interested in volunteer jobs or internships:
• http://www.idealist.org/en/about/firsttime.html
• http://www.retirementjobs.com/
• http://home.monster.com/
Next week, we will continue our look at resources to help folks who are considering making a career switch and want to start their own business.
May your learning be sweet.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Laurel Learning Tip #292: Making a Career Switch #2
In this week’s Tip, we continue our look at resources to help folks who are considering making a career switch and know what job they want.
There are a large number of internet resources available to assist individuals who know what job they want. I've listed a number of State of Wisconsin sites, but you should be able to find comparable sites in your own state.
If you know the type of job you want:
• http://www.Workforce50.com serves older workers with a full service job board and career site. All jobs are placed by employers specifically interested in staffing from the over-50 workforce. Their employment and education resources cater to mature workers searching for employment, in transition or approaching retirement.
• http://www.opportunity.gov was just created to inform all workers receiving unemployment benefits of the training programs and financial support open to them. However, the resources at this site are invaluable to anyone seeking a new career and will give you a direct link to the following sites:
• http://www.servicelocator.org can help you find a One-Stop Career Center based on ZIP code, along with hours of operations, services offered, and driving instructions. The Service Locator also provides links to state job banks.
• http://www.usajobs.gov is the online directory of available positions within the federal government.
• http://wisc.jobs/public/index.asp is the official State of Wisconsin government job site. It also lists job vacancies in Wisconsin cities, villages, towns, counties, school districts, technical colleges and Tribal government.
• http://oser.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6541 provides information to contact Wisconsin state agency human resources offices to inquire about possible Limited Term Employment (LTE) and/or project opportunities.
• http://jobcenterofwisconsin.com enables you to conduct a job search and create up to three resumes or work applications. The 'Job Seeker Tools' link includes other resources.
• Toll-Free Help Line (1-877-US2-JOBS; TTY:1-877-889-5627) provides information about workforce, education and support services across the United States.
Job Boards:
• http://www.job-hunt.org offers help and links to 12,096 employers and job search resources.
• http://www.monster.com has 200 million postings, but registration can be tedious and there are a lot of pop-ups.
• http://www.careerbuilder.com has paid listings and classifieds for 200 newspapers across the country. It lists more clerical and blue collar openings than most other sites.
• http://www.hotjobs.yahoo.com has plenty of ads and less spam than most other sites.
Job Search Engines:
• http://www.indeed.com
• http://www.simplyhired.com
• http://www.jobster.com
• http://www.jobfox.com is the e-harmony of job search that uses a 5 point method to match employers and job hunters.
• http://www.craigslist
• http://www.oodle.com
Next week, we will continue our look at resources to help folks who are considering making a career switch and want to get additional education or experience.
May your learning be sweet.
There are a large number of internet resources available to assist individuals who know what job they want. I've listed a number of State of Wisconsin sites, but you should be able to find comparable sites in your own state.
If you know the type of job you want:
• http://www.Workforce50.com serves older workers with a full service job board and career site. All jobs are placed by employers specifically interested in staffing from the over-50 workforce. Their employment and education resources cater to mature workers searching for employment, in transition or approaching retirement.
• http://www.opportunity.gov was just created to inform all workers receiving unemployment benefits of the training programs and financial support open to them. However, the resources at this site are invaluable to anyone seeking a new career and will give you a direct link to the following sites:
• http://www.servicelocator.org can help you find a One-Stop Career Center based on ZIP code, along with hours of operations, services offered, and driving instructions. The Service Locator also provides links to state job banks.
• http://www.usajobs.gov is the online directory of available positions within the federal government.
• http://wisc.jobs/public/index.asp is the official State of Wisconsin government job site. It also lists job vacancies in Wisconsin cities, villages, towns, counties, school districts, technical colleges and Tribal government.
• http://oser.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6541 provides information to contact Wisconsin state agency human resources offices to inquire about possible Limited Term Employment (LTE) and/or project opportunities.
• http://jobcenterofwisconsin.com enables you to conduct a job search and create up to three resumes or work applications. The 'Job Seeker Tools' link includes other resources.
• Toll-Free Help Line (1-877-US2-JOBS; TTY:1-877-889-5627) provides information about workforce, education and support services across the United States.
Job Boards:
• http://www.job-hunt.org offers help and links to 12,096 employers and job search resources.
• http://www.monster.com has 200 million postings, but registration can be tedious and there are a lot of pop-ups.
• http://www.careerbuilder.com has paid listings and classifieds for 200 newspapers across the country. It lists more clerical and blue collar openings than most other sites.
• http://www.hotjobs.yahoo.com has plenty of ads and less spam than most other sites.
Job Search Engines:
• http://www.indeed.com
• http://www.simplyhired.com
• http://www.jobster.com
• http://www.jobfox.com is the e-harmony of job search that uses a 5 point method to match employers and job hunters.
• http://www.craigslist
• http://www.oodle.com
Next week, we will continue our look at resources to help folks who are considering making a career switch and want to get additional education or experience.
May your learning be sweet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
