This week
the readings and videos that I enjoyed and learned from were about cooperative
learning groups and accurately assessing our student progress.
I am always
amazed that there are teachers that do not buy into the Cooperative Learning
theory. When I Read Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works (2012) I
completely agreed with the statement that said
“Cooperative
learning can also increase motivation for learning by establishing a strong
kinship and a sense of obligation to one another among students, which can lead
to greater buy-in and increased achievement.”(p. 73)
Cooperative
learning groups work because teachers are allowing the students to talk as well
as listen amongst themselves. They are permitted
to learn and deepen their understanding through their social interactions. Pittler, Hubbell and Kuhn (2012) recommends three
things that we should incorporate into the cooperative learning groups. The three things include small group size, both
positive interdependence and individual accountability, and to use cooperative
groups consistently. (p. 74)
Reading
about the UDL framework in Teaching Every
Student in the Digital Age: Universal Design for Learning, Chapter 7 I
learned that assessing my students progress should not be completed by the same
written test. Rose & Meyer (2002),
stated that “when teachers give the same written test to all students it is
neither fair not accurate”. All students
have different learning styles and we differentiate instruction so we should
also be differentiating assessments.
Technology is one possible way to track differing individual
assessments.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., &
Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom
instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for
Supervision and Curriculum
Development, 139-154.
Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002).
Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for
learning. Alexandria, VA:
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Chapter
7. Available online at the Center for Applied Special Technology Web
site. Retrieved from
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