Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact Rationale/Reflection

InTASC/NAEYC Standard: Standard #8: Instructional Strategies. The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways Brief Description of Evidence: A partner and I designed a lesson plan for EDUC 101 in the fall semester of 2015. The lesson plan was designed to teach a group of fifth grade students the difference and relationship of and between weight, mass, volume, and density. Analysis of What I Learned: As a result of designing and executing a lesson plan I now have a better idea of what it means to do so, obviously. I have a better idea of the amount of preparation necessary and what composes a lesson plan. Less specifically, I also now know what a lesson plan can be about; I have become acquainted with academic standards. How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the InTASC/NAEYC Standard: A list of instructional strategies used:

Jeopardy Worksheet Lab activity Video Lecture

The game of jeopardy, the lab activity, and the worksheet all allow students to apply their learning. The game of jeopardy is compelling because it allows for constructive competition. The worksheet serves as a test of knowledge as well as an additional way for students to apply their knowledge, if only in theory. The lab activity is superior in terms of showing students how their knowledge can be practical.

The lecture (along with the powerpoint) and the video don’t give the students the chance to apply their knowledge, but they can and do present the idea that what students are learning can be practiced and applicable. The video in particular is valuable in that it is capable of illustrating things which otherwise would not be possible.