Research and publish the best content.
Get Started for FREE
Sign up with Facebook Sign up with X
I don't have a Facebook or a X account
Already have an account: Login
Eclectic Technology
224.6K views |
+4 today
Tech tools that assist all students to be independent learners & teachers to become better teachers
Curated by
Beth Dichter
 Your new post is loading...
Your new post is loading...
Scoop.it!
Beth Dichter's insight:
One of the buzzwords in education today is rigor, but what does that mean? This post shares seven myths about rigor, providing a deeper look at each one if you click through. What are these myths? Three are below. * Is asking students to do a lot of homework a sign of rigor? Not if it is busy work, or if it leads to burnout. Although parents may define it as rigor what do you think? * Rigor is not for everyone. How do we help students if we request less of them? Rigor may not be the same for each student but each student should be asked to reach their highest level. * Standards alone take care of rigor. The Common Core Standards tell us they will increase rigor, but it is the instruction that will make this happen, not the standard. Much more information on this issue is available in the post. 
Scoop.it!
Beth Dichter's insight:
A great find from Larry Ferlazzo but what are the other five? A bit of research led me to a presentation by Rick Wormeli "Fair isn't always Equal: Assessment and Grading an a Differentiated Classroom" and sure enough the other five were located in the presentation. The are listed below: * Assessing students in ways that do not accurately indicate students’ mastery (student responses are hindered by the assessment format) * Grading on a curve * Allowing Extra Credit * Defining supposedly criterion-based grades in terms of norm-referenced descriptions (“above average,” “average”, etc.) * Recording zeroes on the 100.0 scale for work not done To check out the full presentation (and it is a long URL): http://www.vashonsd.org/mcmurray/science/justin/Resources/Wormeli/Annual_Wormeli_Fair%20Equal.pdf.
Scoop.it!
From
edudemic
A study is making the rounds that details a few of the best ways to improve student achievement. It also touches on the least useful methods.
Beth Dichter's insight:
How can we best improve student achievement? This infographic states that it has looked at "over 50,000 studies including over 240 million students!" The work was done by one small organization and aside from the infographic it is difficult to determine the studies used. However the findings are worth looking at. The seven areas that are most beneficial are shown in the infographic above (and listed below). Click through to see the infographic and learn more. * Self reported grades/student expectations * Teacher credibility * Feedback * Phonics instruction * Classroom management * Parental involvement * Cooperative learning
Scoop.it!
Read on to learn why so many education reformers are enamored with Finnish education and what their system can teach us about reforming our own. Why are people looking at Finland? Their students have "consistently scored near or at the top of international assessments regardless of economic or social background, despite spending fewer hours in school that their American counterparts." Some of the 15 points listed are below, and each point is followed with additional information. * Schools don't assign much homework. * Classwork focuses on creativity. * All schools in Finland are public schools. * Finland is all about cooperation in education, not competition.
Scoop.it!
...So in changing gears for this new year, step two is "rejecting the flipped classroom." Let me begin here: Any pedagogical design which relies, in essential terms, on homework is a problem for me, and many others.
|
Scoop.it!
Traditional education focuses on assessment, giving students one chance to get their homework right. Games can provide immediate feedback and teach core prob...
Beth Dichter's insight:
This is the first of a series of videos being produced by ExtraCredit this month that explores why games can create changes in education. This one focuses on homework and how games allow you to fail and try again...and we know that students do try again...and again...and again. The second video in this series is called How Games Can Help People (by giving instantaneous feedback amongst other things). The link to that video is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzmdx7ZL8OM.
Isa Sanchez's curator insight,
May 13, 2014 11:36 AM
I think this video is a good resource because first it starts talking about homework cons, but then it starts giving solutions and ideas about overcoming the fear of doing homework. Also it isn't long and it is not boring so people that see it will learn in a fun way. Last but not least it will give you a lot of ideas and examples you can put in your persuasive essay.
Alejandro mejia's curator insight,
May 13, 2014 1:07 PM
This source is useful cause it gives a reason to make homework a better opportunity to like it. And in the way it gives a why take it out and to still keep it. It also has a lot of star statements. That's what makes it a convincing video. 
David Mireles's curator insight,
May 15, 2014 8:28 AM
This video meets the standards set, it has apropiate language, it válida moverlo emocional words, it has proper grammar and spelling.
Scoop.it!
"Do American students have too much homework, or too little? We often hear passionate arguments for either side, but I believe that we ought to be asking a different question altogether. What should matter to parents and educators is this: How effectively do children’s after-school assignments advance learning?" Do American students have too much homework, or too little? We often hear passionate arguments for either side, but I believe that we ought to be asking a different question altogether. What should matter to parents and educators is this: How effectively do children’s after-school assignments advance learning?
Beth Dichter's insight:
Homework - where do you stand on this issue? This post by Annie Murphy Paul provides information that looks at current research on the brain and a new field called "Mind, Brain and Education, that is devoted to understanding and improving the ways in which children absorb, retain and apply knowledge" The post discusses specific ways that homework may be designed to help learners. These include spaced repetition, essentially exposing students to the same information over a longer period of time; retrieval practice, using a test to reinforce what a student knows; and interleaving, mixing "up different kinds of situations or problems to be practiced, instead of grouping them by type." You will find more information on this research as well as evidence that points to pretty significant increases in students grades when utilizing these methods. Well worth a read as we enter a new school year and have to look at the issue of homework yet again.
Scoop.it!
Beth Dichter's insight:
What if instead of giving homework to our students we asked them to come up with ideas? This chart provides a variety of alternative ways to look at homework. The post describes this as "Rather than simply a list of alternatives to homework, it instead contextualizes the need for work at home (or, “homework”). It does this by taking typical classroom situations–the introduction of new material, demonstrating a procedure, etc.), and offering alternatives to traditional homework assignments." Consider asking your students what they would suggest doing instead of homework. What might you be able to add to these suggestions?
Nancy Jones's curator insight,
June 19, 2013 9:40 AM
Love this! 21st century learning isn't as much about technology as it is thinking .allowing choices and options like this not only allow students choices but the opportunity for deeper thinking. 
Laura Jane's curator insight,
December 16, 2013 12:17 AM
I stole this from Jamie, and couldn't agree more! What a great [and practical] resource to have as we go into the final semester of our internships. This chart is chock full of ideas for creating more authentic and less monotonous homework for students. It focuses on reinforcing, and not memorizing.
These strategies could work for all grade levels, to different extents. This again addresses the quality vs quantity debate. One of my favorite examples is to reinforce a skill that has been taught. It suggests that, instead of asking students to solve 10 word probelms to prove that they know a skill, to have them work in groups to solve, model, and present one deeper thinking word probelm.
This allows students to work in harmony to formulate their ideas, and is a more productive approach to learning. Although some cognitive struggle is good, too much leads to frustration and defeat. Allowing students to work together helps them to actively participate in student-centered learning, and they can better understand what they've learned. I will definitely be printing this chart to put in my lesson planning binder.
Scoop.it!
We may forget that humor may be used as an incentive for homework. Although this post is geared to homework (and therefore parents) much of it is applicable to the teacher in the classroom. With suggestions of different ways to use humor as well as links to a variety of resources available online there is much fun to be had as you explore this post!
Scoop.it!
Education reform is something just about everyone agrees is needed, but the hard work is done in the field by teachers, administrators, and support staff. Here are some things that improve educatio...
Scoop.it!
Check out these stories of schools, from elementary to college, who have given flipped classrooms a go, often with amazing results. It may motivate you to try it yourself or might open your mind to the new possibilities tech offers educators.
Joserra Mosteiro's curator insight,
June 12, 2015 2:32 PM
Flipped classroom value should be flipped books for publishers |
Here is a great idea to provide differentiation in homework. The Heat-ometer provides four levels, from mild (not shown in the image above) to medium (also not shown) to hot and extra hot. each level is more complex than the previous level, and 3 options are provided for each level.
The designer of this image also provides links to the original design, which is located at Take Away Homework.