Internship Post 4

Standard:

2.1 Using Questioning and Discussion Techniques

2.2 Engaging Students in Learning

Interpretation:

2.1: Teacher uses a question-based method to help students reach information and conclusions.
2.2: Students are asked questions appropriate to their level, and are interested in the lesson by the teacher’s efforts.  

Evidence:

In my class last week, we discussed human rights. The lesson plan I used was one my mentor teacher found on the internet and asked me to try. I would cite it but I have no idea where she found it – I only have a printed copy. It was largely question-based, and focused on asking students questions to get them thinking about, and defining in their own words, the topic and vocabulary for the lesson. I found it interesting how successful the kids were at tackling such a complex topic, and I was proud of them for how well they did with it. The lesson started by asking kids what made someone human, with the teacher writing the answers on the board in a bubble. Outside the bubble went student-volunteered words that described what one would need to protect the things that make us human.

It should look like this:

The teacher was then, according to the lesson plan, to explain that these things were human rights – what makes us human, and the things we require to protect that which makes us human. And that we get human rights just for being human.

For me, this exercise proved that my students can operate at this higher level of questioning, and that this was a style of teaching that the kids not only can access, but can do well with. I worry though that they did not take notes, or appropriate notes that will be useful later when they are tested on the material. I wonder if there is a good way to show students to take notes on this.

Summary:

Asking questions of students to help guide their learning can work very effectively and can allow students to show an ability to handle higher-level questions. But I wonder what the best way to teach students to take notes from this style of teaching is.

Next Steps:

Continue to use question-based learning methods

Research note-taking methods that might be effective for this style of lesson

              Consider Cornell note style

              Consider teaching a lesson that is purely about how to take notes from a speaker