ThE bIg pIcTuRe

According to the author programs and courses should be conceived in terms of essential questions, enduring understanding, key performances and rubrics. I believe that the programs I have read did not include all these elements. It is very difficult to follow the approach established in this book, although it can be considered as an important way of visualizing the big picture.

The element I considered has been left behind in programs or courses is mainly “essential questions”, I assume that teacher ask themselves these kinds of questions, but they do not considered when writing down programs or courses.

What I consider important to include are the course understanding, the course skills and rubrics.

PlAnNiNg FoR lEaRnInG

      When planning or designing our lessons we as teachers tend to think many ideas or ways to accomplish the lesson objectives, after this brainstorming is important to identify if these ideas will be meaningful for learners, we need to consider learners’ needs, interests, learning styles, motivation among others.  I agree with the old Chinese proverb “I hear, I forget; I see, I remember; I do, I understand”.  As the author says it is important to be mindful of who the learners are and design so that they all maximally engaged and productive.

      Effectiveness should be our last goal, students engagement will show us if our planning provoke the ideal response. In the book research showed that students are most engaged when the work is hands-on, involves mysteries or problems, provides variety, offers opportunities to adapt, modify, or somehow personalize the challenge, balance cooperation and competition, self and others and built upon a real-world or meaningful challenge.