Graduate Education Assistance

Please answer each discussion questions in 150 words each and each response in 100 words each!

Discussion Question 1: Many teachers begin planning by deciding on an instructional activity first and then writing objectives and assessments to fit the activity. Discuss the benefits and possible challenges of planning instruction in this manner.

Response Question 1: Jennifer wrote: The benefits of planning curriculum around a specific activity is that the activity is likely going to be engaging since the teacher made the effort to design their whole lesson around it, and it will reflect information on the assessments, since you wrote those after the fact. However, the disadvantage around planning an entire lesson around a single activity is that it seems to be starting in the middle, and you have to figure out how to connect the beginning to the middle, as well as the middle to the end goal. This means that not only do you have to connect previous material when introducing the activity, but you also have to make sure the activity will meet the content standards of that particular lesson.

Unlike backwards design that starts with the standards and works backwards (Alber 2012), this idea sounds like too much could go wrong if the teacher doesn’t plan carefully enough. From my understanding of backward design, it sounds like it goes standards à important new knowledge à assessments à new lesson/activity à connection to old material/previous knowledge, while designing a lesson around an activity seems more for special occasions (i.e. really fun activities) than everyday lesson planning.

Disussion Question 2: The concept of backward design starts with the goals, creation of assessments, and then development of lesson plans. Discuss the benefits and possible challenges of this curriculum design method.

Response Question 2: Jill Wrote: The backward design mode of instructional planning has numerous benefits. By having knowledge of learning standards prior to planning, the educator can be assured that all facets of the student learning objectives will be addressed and later assessed. The intentionality of backwards design sheds greater light on the goals for student learning and understanding throughout the unit of learning (Bowen, 2017).

I have found it to be extremely helpful to always bring attention to the learning goals for the unit as well as each daily lesson. For example, at the beginning of each unit of study I will share what students will understand or be able to do at the conclusion of the unit. On a daily basis for each of my classes, I post an essential question or learning objective that will be addressed. By opening sharing and discussing what we will be exploring/learning during any given class period allows my students the opportunity to process what and why they are learning as well as provides an intention of focus for my instruction.