tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649011417136906486.post7864732368626170251..comments2024-03-26T23:33:43.000-07:00Comments on wwwatanabe: Striving for Higher-Order Thinking and Depth of KnowledgeTracy Watanabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720820771623655582noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649011417136906486.post-81622880350600044772016-01-16T21:23:53.659-08:002016-01-16T21:23:53.659-08:00Hi Tracy!
I'm reviewing ideas for questioning...Hi Tracy!<br /><br />I'm reviewing ideas for questioning and Genius Hour. I'd like my students to think more clearly about those "thick" and "thin" questions. I revised your flow chart in this presentation to help students think about it. I also included your DOK image because it so clearly explains Webb's Depth of Knowledge. Thank you for sharing your work so we all can learn. https://goo.gl/ZB1Cdw<br />Sheri42https://www.blogger.com/profile/06110059329788147499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649011417136906486.post-44558061490243656682013-12-05T07:20:08.745-08:002013-12-05T07:20:08.745-08:00Hi Nancy,
What's interesting is our teachers ...Hi Nancy,<br /><br />What's interesting is our teachers know and comprehend Bloom's Taxonomy, and they are beginning to really comprehend DOK as well, but they've never actually assessed the application of it in the classroom. While they are asking higher level Bloom's questions, students (on average) weren't responding with that same depth. So, now we are focusing on creating the learning environments that promote that.<br /><br />When our teachers record the questions/responses, there aren't any names on the Google Docs. Thus, it's not a teacher evaluation, but rather they are looking at trends so together they can create goals and collaborate with one another on those goals.<br /><br />Thanks so much for sharing the Edutopia article! Great 5 questions to ask and have as mantras!<br /><br />Kind regards,<br />TracyTracy Watanabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06720820771623655582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649011417136906486.post-22928561819306253182013-11-26T18:25:22.136-08:002013-11-26T18:25:22.136-08:00Tracy -
Your posts are always chock full of g...Tracy - <br /> Your posts are always chock full of great information and inspiring questions. The comments between you and Sheri add to this post. <br /><br /> I'm going to say that it would be hard for teachers not to reflect honestly with those DOK verbs staring you in the face. I'm going to see if I can have a colleague come into my classroom and take some data - would love to see the outcome (although I think I have an idea already).<br /><br /> Just read this great article over the weekend in <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/five-powerful-questions-teachers-ask-students-rebecca-alber?utm_source=googleplus&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=blog-simple-questions-link" rel="nofollow">Edutopia: 5 Powerful Questions</a> which has set the stage for your great suggestions. <br /><br /> Will be seeing how I can incorporate more of these over the coming months. <br /><br /> As always, thank you for sharing great information and insights. Your district is lucky to have such a thinker in their midst who is so dedicated.<br /><br /> Thank you.Nancy Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17785303835521700957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649011417136906486.post-30159172711424333462013-11-24T14:10:00.169-08:002013-11-24T14:10:00.169-08:00Thank you for a writing about it on your blog as w...Thank you for a <a href="http://whatelse.edublogs.org/2013/11/24/nablopomo-nablopomoed-blog-a-day-24-if-only-professional-development/" rel="nofollow">writing about it on your blog</a> as well. Tracy Watanabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06720820771623655582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649011417136906486.post-45421624932776093692013-11-24T12:00:39.650-08:002013-11-24T12:00:39.650-08:00Thanks, Tracy, for presenting your district's ...Thanks, Tracy, for presenting your district's process of growing a culture of learning for students and staff. Sheri42https://www.blogger.com/profile/06110059329788147499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649011417136906486.post-2933585745770308702013-11-24T11:23:46.646-08:002013-11-24T11:23:46.646-08:00Another great question, Sheri. It's no longer ...Another great question, Sheri. It's no longer based on a one time all or nothing lesson. It's based on an accumulation of learning that takes place in the classroom, and the professional learning. Some of the big ideas on the evaluation are: Planning; Instruction (standards-based, differentiation, monitor/adjust, active student engagement); Collaboration; Classroom management (behavior, classroom culture, procedures/routines); and Assessment.<br /><br />Hope that helps!<br /><br />Kind regards,<br />TracyTracy Watanabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06720820771623655582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649011417136906486.post-20251143453250531062013-11-24T11:10:26.677-08:002013-11-24T11:10:26.677-08:00Thanks, Tracy. I would say because of the culture ...Thanks, Tracy. I would say because of the culture of trust and professional collaboration which you are creating, that your district will definitely move forward.Your staff feel "safe" and are respected to find their own solutions. So you have provided an environment that builds success -- shared purpose through autonomy to reach mastery. Wowser! I have one more question. You said "Teacher evaluations were based on direct instruction lessons (which then became the "model" of a good lesson)." What are teacher evaluations based on now? Thanks, Tracy! I learn so much from you and the work of your staff!Sheri42https://www.blogger.com/profile/06110059329788147499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649011417136906486.post-22789955925995679072013-11-24T10:59:42.104-08:002013-11-24T10:59:42.104-08:00Hi Sheri,
You have asked some huge questions. Mor...Hi Sheri,<br /><br />You have asked some huge questions. More and more teachers in our district are implementing PBL in the classroom. Beginners usually plan a PBL unit, and on average, those are typical of a beginning PBL with it being mostly directed by the teacher (common in elementary), or have teacher-given parameters (common in secondary). However, those who are experienced PBLers, don't always "plan" their PBL units, but their class naturally goes in that direction because of all inquiry that goes on in the classrooms... which leads to PBL. <br /><br />What are the reasons for lower DOK? Our teachers work very, very hard, and are transitioning out of what NCLB created for us. Teacher evaluations were based on direct instruction lessons (which then became the "model" of a good lesson), and students were not used to opportunities to critically think because "frustration" was seen as a "bad" thing. --So, on the whole, its a transition for teachers, students, and parents.<br /><br />How do we change the focus? -- I think two things need to take place: 1) Admin & Teachers need to have the same vision of what good teaching/learning is, and 2) Teachers must come to this conclusion collaboratively. <br /><br />For us, Instructional Rounds helps with this. Our Instructional Rounds are done by teams of teachers (rather than administrators as a site), and they then are in charge of their own solutions. In other words, they own it because it's not an administrator telling them they have to do something else; but rather, it's them choosing what their next steps are and why it should replace other focuses. <br /><br />It's exciting to see the growth and professionalism. It's also exciting to know that administratively, Instructional Rounds are safe, and we are building a culture of "risk" -- "risk" to try something new and to innovate. I would say that risk to innovate is becoming the expectation, the norm.<br /><br />I hope this discussion is helpful! It helped me think through how we are growing, and some replicable solutions for how to grow this elsewhere. <br /><br />Kind regards,<br />TracyTracy Watanabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06720820771623655582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649011417136906486.post-76039220499225819582013-11-23T19:23:46.728-08:002013-11-23T19:23:46.728-08:00Thanks, Tracy. This is a powerful post. I'm pr...Thanks, Tracy. This is a powerful post. I'm printing it out to share as well as linking to it. I'm wondering, how often do your teachers implement PBL units? Is your school focus to instruct at Levels 3 and 4? Or, is the reason for the Level 1 and Level 2 results this year and last year because the emphasis is on passing tests, on getting enough "right answer" skills practice? How do we change the focus? These are the questions I'm dealing with. If CCSS promote Depth of Knowledge, will the required tests reflect that? Can they? If not, will we ever move to more of a focus on Levels 3 and 4 of DOK? Thanks for the great graphics, strategies, and for stretching my thinking. SheriSheri42https://www.blogger.com/profile/06110059329788147499noreply@blogger.com