When we were asked to compare search engine using some tips and the related documentation, I thought that this was exactly what I needed.I have been searching the web for quite some time now, mainly for professional reasons, but if I have to describe my skills in this matter two words come to my mind :BASIC and INEFFICIENT.Notwithstanding very useful website discoveries instantly bookmarked, it was time-consuming.Add to this web exploration, the necessary time for processing the information or resources found,and you have hours and hours spent to prepare the instructional materials, sometimes for only lesson.
If myself I struggle when web searching, what about my dear students to whom I give assignments requiring intensive web search.
On this matter , I remember one of my students who not satisfied with her assignment who made this insightful remark about her urgent need for developing web searching skills. I couldn't tell her that I , her teacher, wasn't a skilled web searcher too, but I promised her that I would devote a lesson to this vital college study skill.
I wasn't self-confident enough then.With the information and resources I got on this question this week, I think that I can practically tip them on how to use the web for research. But the question of how to assess internet resources remains, and I need some time for that.
Another extremely relevant topic this week: learning objectives.Most teachers when lesson planning muse on this issue. How to state clear learning objectives for a class?
For a teacher knowing how to write learning objectives is essential.Myself, I already know that when it comes to defining the qualities of a learning objective 'SMART' is the word:
S for SPECIIC
M for MEASURABLE
A for ACHEVABLE
R for RELEVANT/ REALISTIC
T for TIME-BOUND
I also use the SWAT formula:
" By the end of the lessson Student Will be Able To do something using something"
This is very close to the ABCD method.The additional information the latter is the "Degree of Mastery".Generally teachers expect 100% mastery , but I think that 80% is quite acceptable, and depends on the difficulty of the task.
What is appealing with this method is that when you state your class or lesson objectives , you must think in advance about the way you're going to assess the fullfillment of the objective , and I must say that as an educator assessment is my nightmare.
A great deal of our students think that teachers' evaluation is often based on subjective criteria. To get this idea out of their heads and insure theit total acceptance of evaluation outcomes we need to share these class objectives with them something that we do not often do.
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Hello Hassina,
ReplyDeleteGreat reflections for this week. I feel the same way about my web searching skills. Isn't it nice to know that there are a lot of possibilities?
When you talk about the learning objectives, SMART is the acronym I have been using to write my objectives. With the ABCD method, I found it easier to write them.
Cristian Meléndez
Hi Hassina,
ReplyDeleteYou have had a great week, full of emotions.
You sound an experienced professional always having to share interesting ideas. I didn't know about the A.B.C.D. method of setting objectives, I learned useful things about it during this week. I find your SMART method very interesting, as well. Why not sometimes try the two methods in combination?
My best regards to you,
Zlatka
You have rightly stated about webquest habit of our students. We at times are more demanding from students. This course along with other usefull lessons, teaches us to be more emphathetic with students. SMART, very well said!
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