Thursday, 8 October 2015

Knowing Your Students: The First Step Towards A Relevant Curriculum

Throughout the Concurrent BPhEd (Honours)/ BEd Intermediate Senior program at  Brock University I have had many opportunities within my courses to learn about the importance of getting to know your students differing intelligences and learning styles in order to design a relevant curriculum that meets the needs of each and every student in the class.
Retrieved from:https://www.blendspace.com/lessons/fuk9fneGUZ14NA/multiple-intelligences-learning-about-finding-yours
According to Drake, Reid and Kolohon (2014), a diagnostice assessment is a good assessment tool in order to determine "what students already know and can do, their preferred learning styles and multiple intelligences, and their general interests" (p.53). To determine what  student already knows a teacher could have the students brainstorm on a unit of study within the class describing what they already know, what they are wanting to know and how they would like to learn it. 21st century skills are more and more relevant to education and therefore it is also a good idea to determine the students level of technological skills in order to then be able to incorporate technology into the classroom (Drake, Reid, Kolohon,  2014). 
Retrieved from: http://www.communicationstudies.com/how-technology-in-the-classroom-is-changing

This picture depicting a 21st century classroom with technology being used for learning reminds me of a placement I did for one of my courses at Brock University. Throughout each class the students used iPads, laptops and desktops in order to complete assignments and do homework. I found this very interesting because it was the first time I had ever experienced technology being used to that degree in the classroom. Students were making videos, comic strips and using apps which differed from my learning through handing in essays and powerpoint presentations. All of the students were interested, laughing and having fun while learning the information that was supposed to be taught. 


Retrieved from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1FC1ZPN7cw

Learning preferences are important for a teacher to understand about each student because it involves learning styles, multiple intelligences, triarchic intelligences and environmental preferences and thus relates to the way a student will learn best in a classroom. Learning styles is the type of learner a student is and there are 3 main kinds; auditory, visual, and kinaesthetic. Multiple intelligences is an idea that intelligence is fixed however, it can be demonstrated through eight different ways (see Picture 1). The Triarchic intelligences states that students have 3 intelligences (analytical, practical, and creative) and each student uses them in different ways. Environmental preferences relates to the setting in which each student learns best in, for example; brightness of the light, in groups or alone, with music or silent, and etc..
Retrieved from:
https://turnermagic.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/how-to-remember-names-the-memory-mojo-way/



After reading Drake, Reid and Kolohon's (2014) chapter 2 from the text I learnt about an important part of getting to know your student that has never really been discussed in my other courses and is usually a topic that is assumed to know. This topic is  about getting to know a students background; what their interests are, what their nationality is, who they are friends with, what extracurricular activities do they participate in, and therefore getting to know a "student's social, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds" (Drake, Reid, Kolohon, 2014, p.53). In order to find out this information Drake, Reid and Kolohon (2014) state that a teacher should look into the following things (p.52,53):
Retrieve from:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/adorasvita594699.html

  • Review of OSR
  • Consultation with parents 
  • Consultation with previous teachers
  • Consultation with support team
  • Classroom observation checklist 
  • Educational assessments 
  • Multiple Intelligences Survey or Learning Style Inventory 
  • Work samples, assignments and projects 
  • Portfolios 
  • Teacher-student conference 
  • Peer and self assessments
  • Interest surveys 

Therefore after reading chapter 2 by Drake, Reid and Kolohon (2014) I as a future educator plan to know each and every student within my class not only on their knowledge, skills and learning preferences but also on their "social, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds" (Drake, Reid, Kolohon, 2014, p.53).  In doing so I will be able to form relationships with my student and create a relevant curriculum that will allow maximize success in learning for each and every student. 

References 

Drake, S. M., Reid, J. L., & Kolohon, W. (2014). Interweaving Curriculum and Classroom Assessment: Engaging the 21st Century Learner. Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press

Cheers, 

Mr. Bracco