Best Practices

Academy Orientation-Chapter 5

This Session…

•Definition of Best Practices

•Lab-Centric Instruction

•Project-Based Instruction

•Instructional Strategies

•Assessment Strategies

What are Best Practices?

• Practices and strategies that help teachers maximize student learning

• Some examples: – Student centered learning– Brain compatible learning – Multiple Intelligences

• The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

• ISTE has written National Educational Technology Standards for– Students (NETS)– Teachers (NETS•T)– Administrators (NETS•A)

Nets

Literacy, Math and Science Standards

• Raising standards in core subjects has become elevated in importance

• State and local standards keep the education system accountable for results in student achievement

• Educators have gradually generated agreement about standards which have been published in the Goals 2000 Act

The Third International Mathematics and Science Study

• The US leads the world in the amount of math and science objectives covered within curriculum.

• Other countries are better at teaching students how to apply their knowledge.

Student Centered Learning

• Students building their own knowledge through:– Experimentation– Inquiry– Problem-solving– Decision-making– Communication

Multiple Intelligences

• Howard Gardner finds there are multiple intelligences we use to help us master new learning.

• Verbal/Linguistic

• Logical/Mathematical

• Bodily/Kinesthetic

• Musical/Rhythmic

•Visual/Spatial

•Intrapersonal

•Interpersonal

•Naturalist

Inquiry Based Learning A cycle of inquiry for learning

One example is KWHL:1. What do we think we Know about the subject? 2. What do we Want to find out about the subject? 3. How are we going to go about finding our

answers? 4. What do we anticipate Learning? What have we

learned? 5. Can we Apply our learning to other subjects or

projects? 6. What new Questions have surfaced through our

time of inquiry?

Special Needs

Visually Impaired

Hearing Impaired

Physically Impaired

Special Needs/Learning Disabilities

• Sight Impaired

• Hearing Impaired

• Physical Impairments

• Learning Disabilities

CCNA Labs

Curriculum consists of four courses:

•Networking Basics

•Routers and Routing Basics

•Switching Basics and Intermediate Routing

•WAN Technologies

CCNP Labs

The curriculum consists of four courses:

•Advanced Routing

•Remote Access

•Multi-layer Switching

•Network Troubleshooting

Netlabs

•To boost student access to hands-on experiences

•To host live router topologies and curriculum over the internet

•To review students’ work on real equipment

Simulations

Three levels of academy simulations

•Syntax drill

•Lab drill

•Simulations

Sponsored Curriculum Labs

IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software IT Essentials

IT Essentials: Network Operating Systems

Fundamentals of Voice and Data Cabling

Fundamentals of UNIX

Fundamentals of Java Programming

Fundamentals of Web Design

Emerging Technologies

Network Security

IP Telephony

Wireless LANs

Troubleshooting

Challenges and Projects

•Problem-based labs

•Opposite of cookbook or step-by-step

•Two Basic Parts

Solve a given problem

Create a product

Design Activities

•Starts with brainstorming

•Research

•Problem solving

Brainstorming

•The wildest possible ideas are accepted

•There will be no censorship of ideas

•They are looking for quantity

•Build on the ideas of other people

Case Studies

•Can integrate concepts

•Grown in importance

•Used in many professions

Web Research

•Research specific products

•Research questions

•Research extension activities

Instructor-Led Classrooms

Most common approach to teaching and learning

Take entire class period

Mini-lectures (consist of the following)

A hook

A pre-test

The actual lecture

A short question

A test

Self Paced Instruction

Speed of comprehension that fits student learning style

Allows students to go through competencies in a flexible time and space

Study Guides (provide)LearningVocabularyNotesActivityApplyingReflecting

Cooperative/Collaborative Work

Example of cooperative or collaborative work•Studying online curriculum •Doing cabling, lab, and programming activities •Taking oral exams, working as network or programming teams/groups

Types of teams/groups include:Pairs or PartnersSmall GroupsTeamsCompetitive TeamsLarge GroupsWhole Class

Jigsaws

Group setting activity

Three groups

Home groups

Asking The Right QuestionsGraphic Organizers

Types of questioning

Low-level

High-level

PMI

•Plus

•Minus

•Interesting

Graphic Organizers

Examples include:

•Cluster Diagram

•Problem-Solving Matrix

•Flowchart

•Block Diagrams

•Topologies

•Spectrum Diagram

Setting Goals

Truths for students setting personal achievement goals

•Purpose for reaching their goals

•Make connections with other people

•Process of evaluation

Kinesthetic Activities

•Refers to the body to act

•Refers to the body to communicate something

Review Strategies

•Individual students answer review questions on their computer. •Pairs of students discuss and answer review questions on their computer. •Pairs or small groups of students discuss and answer review questions before each student takes the review. •The entire class or groups of students discuss review questions and connect to prior understanding through explanation of the questions. •Small groups each discuss a portion of the questions and demonstrate understanding by explaining to other groups (jigsaw technique). •The entire class plays a Jeopardy-like game. •Student teams or small groups design analogies to explain concepts to other teams of students.

Journals and Reflection

After a lesson, reflection is done the following categories:

•Elements

•Content

•Product

•Process

•Progress

Rubrics

•Criteria established for outcomes

•Two primary functions for teaching and learning

Communicates the expectation

Gives student a target

Portfolio

•Authentic assessment

•Show growth over time

•Student’s reflection

Oral Exams

Centered on job interviews and graduate exams

One method is to give teams of students in advance the:

• Exam questions

• Answers

• Rubrics

Lab Exams

Lab exams include all of the following: •Practical exams •Performance exams •Demonstration labs •Skills-based and performance assessments •Authentic assessment •Mastery learning •Formative and summative exams

Six Lenses

Six perspectives that will be supports:•Equity •Curriculum •Teaching •Learning •Assessment •Technology