Design Not Plan. How the Heck Do I Do That?!
Even after our first class, I wasn’t quite certain what our first principle, Design, meant in terms of planning lessons. I had to come home and look at the PowerPoint and re-read the articles we were given in class again. How could planning a lesson not be the same as designing one?! What I learned was that planning a lesson which incorporates technology (such as reviewing for an assessment using Kahoot! or using a math game on the computer to practice a concept) is completing different than designing a lesson that incorporates technology. In the planned lesson, students are not using the technology to help facilitate or strengthen their learning. They are basically using it as an output device to regurgitate a previously taught concept. Lessons which are designed using technology allow students the ability to have control over their personal learning. They can work at their own pace, at any location (classroom, library, home, etc…) and be able to determine which information they will need to get a deeper, more thorough understanding of the concept they are learning.As a math teacher, I had always been under the assumption that math is not a subject which lends itself with lessons in which students can learn a concept on their own. However, now I believe math is the perfect subject! Since math is everywhere, students can use real-world problems and technology to determine answers on their own or working in collaborative groups. For example, if students are proposed the problem: Plan a party for the entire 6th grade class, including food, drinks, supplies, and games with a budget of $500. Students will need to work on budgeting, adding, subtracting, multiplying (and many more math concepts) in order to plan their party. They would also have to make decisions on how much money they are willing to spend for each part of the party. Some students would think food is more important than games, while others will think the opposite. I look forward to designing more math lessons rather than planning them. I think that these types of lessons are ones that students will remember and be able to implement in the real-world.
Kelly, I had to re-read everything, too! I love your criticism of tech as an "output device" rather than a tool that helps facilitate and deepen understanding. There's a big difference there that is often overlooked. I also love your party idea! Students would be so motivated to make their party happen, they would work hard learn the necessary content to get the math right.
ReplyDeleteLaura, thank you for telling me you had to re-read everything too. I was starting to think it was my age (; Math is a difficult subject for many students and designing lessons that they can incorporate real-word problems will help to strengthen their skills.
DeleteKelly, I felt the same way. After I left I kept thinking did I miss something or was I the only one who didn't grasp the concept of design. Re-reading and talking it over with the people around me helped me get a better handle.
ReplyDeleteI too felt that grammar and language are subjects that do not lend themselves to be design. I kept thinking it's very one way, but the reality is that if we want global citizens they to be able to problem solve with all of our subject areas. I love your party design and it's definitely something your students will relate to.
Mel, ha! I am so glad that I wasn't the only one who struggled with this design principle. I think one of the obstacles with learning how to design rather than plan lessons is that change is hard. Learning a new way of doing something isn't what most people like to do. However, I think once we implement what we learn, it will get easier and easier. Just in time to learn another new way of teaching!
DeleteI definitely sympathize with still teasing out the differences between planning and truly designing. After the second class, I think it may be a process that takes at least this whole first semester.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that Math is a great place for this grow naturally in a meaningful way. And the activity you described will help students learn a lot about themselves as they learn about math and "21st century" skills
Will, thanks! I think you're exactly right; it will take the entire semester to figure out the difference between planning and learning.
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