EDUC 405

Lesson Analysis / Midterm Project

 

The Task:

Your task will be to observe Math and Science teachers in action on the Annenburg Foundation web site (www.learner.org) and analyze their classroom decisions around Madeline Hunter’s Decision-Making Model of Instruction, course readings and class discussions.  You will need to . . .

·        view and analyze approximately 40 minutes of recorded classroom experiences from elementary Math AND Science classrooms.

·        describe the connections you made and how the lessons you observed support or dispute what you have been learning in class, in your text, and in your field experience classrooms. 

·        discuss what you have learned about effective math or science instruction by watching the classroom situations.

·        create one lesson that extends or supports any of the lessons you observed. 

 

Your “Ticket in the Door”:

Analysis—typed; 11-12 font; 5-7 pages; citation system; bibliography of classroom texts and articles used

 

Lesson—typed; Hunter’s Lesson Design Template applied; NYS Standards, Key Ideas and specific indicators identified

 

The Criteria:

Analysis

·        The paper clearly analyzes the lessons observed around Hunter’s Decision-Making Model of Instruction.  Many of the concepts addressed in the model are discussed in the analysis.  These concepts include:

~ Objectives

~ Task analysis

~ Active participation

~ Anticipatory set

~ Closure

~ Modeling

~ Checking for understanding

~ Monitoring and adjusting

~ Practice (independent and guided)

~ Meaning (use, purpose, value, interest, organization)

~ Variables of motivation (feeling tone, level of concern, success etc.)

~ Higher level thinking skills (concepts, generalizations, discriminations)

~ Efficient use of time

·        Analysis makes specific, clear reference to current research on learning (Learner Centered Psychological Principles) and how the teaching strategies applied in the video support or do not support this research.

·        Analysis makes specific, clear connections to class readings (Hunter text and additional articles) and to your field experience (optional).

·        In addition, the writer engages in an insightful, thoughtful dialogue regarding effective instruction in the Math and/or Science content areas answering the question “What do you THINK you know about effective Math and/or Science instruction?”   Generalizations are clearly based on your observations and on what you have learned about effective instruction in general.

 

The Lesson

·        A lesson is designed that clearly extends the learning from any lesson observed.

 

·        The objective is clearly stated and defines what the student will learn and how that will be demonstrated.  The objective is written using clear, measurable verbs.

 

·        NYS Standards and indicators that the objective supports are accurately identified.

 

·        Opportunities are provided for all of the learners to focus, engage in and summarize their learning.  Teaching behaviors—providing information, activities and questions relevant to the learning--are obvious and clearly stated.  Engagement is consistent throughout the lesson and clearly aligned to the objective.  Description is specific—a reader could replicate the lesson.

 

·        Opportunities for modeling and practice are provided thoughtfully as needed.

 

·        An activity (or activities) designed to check for understanding is evident.  This activity allows for all students to demonstrate where they are in meeting the objective provided.