Use standards to guide every learning experience
Unpacking standards and getting to the heart of what needs to be taught is very important. “Unfortunately, many teachers spend insufficient time identifying clearly what students should know, understand and be able to do” (McFarlane, 2006). As Goodwin and Hubble explained (2013), many standards have more than one skill associated with them. Therefore, it is important for teachers to think about what skills are associated with the standards that need to be taught so that both they and the students clearly understand the learning expectations.
Defining or unpacking learning standards or student learning outcomes are just as important in college and university settings as they are in K12. “A closer look at learning outcomes reveals that they are thought of as tools to shift higher education's emphasis towards student-centered teaching” (Nasrallah, 2014). Whether ones teaches in the K12 or higher educations system, unpacking standards will provide structure and clarification to what should be taught. Standards ultimately set the stage for what will be taught and shines a light for both the teacher and students on the focus of the lessons, assessing what is learned and identifies a starting and ending point for the lesson (Goodwin and Hubble, 2013).
Defining or unpacking learning standards or student learning outcomes are just as important in college and university settings as they are in K12. “A closer look at learning outcomes reveals that they are thought of as tools to shift higher education's emphasis towards student-centered teaching” (Nasrallah, 2014). Whether ones teaches in the K12 or higher educations system, unpacking standards will provide structure and clarification to what should be taught. Standards ultimately set the stage for what will be taught and shines a light for both the teacher and students on the focus of the lessons, assessing what is learned and identifies a starting and ending point for the lesson (Goodwin and Hubble, 2013).
RESOURCES
How to Make Learning Relevant To Your Students
Unpacking Online Outcomes
Think Alouds: Unpacking the Standards
Unpacking Standards
Unpacking Standards to Improve Standards
Unpacking Online Outcomes
Think Alouds: Unpacking the Standards
Unpacking Standards
Unpacking Standards to Improve Standards
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References
Goodwin, B & Ross, E. (2013). The Twelve Touchstones of Good Teaching. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
McFarlane, D. (2006-2007). Unpacking key learning outcomes: A focused approach to assessment and instruction. ATA Magazine, Vol. 87.
Nasrallah, R. (2014). Learning outcomes' role in higher education teaching. Education, Business and Society: Contemporary Middle Eastern Issues, 7(4),
257.
McFarlane, D. (2006-2007). Unpacking key learning outcomes: A focused approach to assessment and instruction. ATA Magazine, Vol. 87.
Nasrallah, R. (2014). Learning outcomes' role in higher education teaching. Education, Business and Society: Contemporary Middle Eastern Issues, 7(4),
257.