Chad Shippee's Portfolio Page
Chad Shippee's Project Potfolio
Project Purpose
The intent of this project is to create a mini-course focused on instructional design as it relates to teaching for understanding and critical thinking, while successfully satisfying the requirements of the newly implemented Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) and Student Learning Objectives (SLO) in New York State. The information presented can also be used and adapted to fit the needs of other teachers outside of New York state, as it relates to their teacher evaluation systems. This project comes from a personal struggle with the increased regulations. I was trying to find a way to satisfy the requirements, while at the same time teaching in a way that fosters understanding and critical thinking, rather than just simply information and performance regurgitation.
Performance Objectives
1. The learner will understand the education theories related to teaching for understanding.
2. The learner will be able to understand the purpose and origin of current evaluation systems and APPR for teachers in New York state.
3. The learner will be able to apply strategies of teaching for understanding and critical thinking in alignment to APPR requirements.
Needs Assessment
Instructional Problem
With the recent changes in teacher evaluation regulations in New York state it is becoming increasingly difficult to make creative lessons that teach for understanding and critical thinking. Increased testing, less preparation, and inflexible curriculum are some of the biggest constraints on teachers with the new Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) mandates and regulations.
What is to be learned
This course will give teachers the ability to apply the theories of Teaching for Understanding in a way that will have students better understand what they are learning and be successful on the testing required for APPR.
Learner Base
This course is for teachers who are affected by the new APPR mandates from NYSED. This course can be adapted however to meet the needs of teachers in other states with APPR mandates.
Content of Course
This course will have three basic units/sections.
1. Understanding teaching for understanding
2. Understanding APPR and Student Learning Objectives (SLO).
3. Using teaching for understanding to create successful students, and proving you are a highly effective teacher.
Potential Instructional Problems and Solutions
1. Not all school districts have the same APPR plan or evaluation criteria. General information about APPR may work best, avoiding specific terms and possible variations.
2. Teachers may feel like they are already short on time and do not have enough time to adapt their teaching. Success stories that prove it can be done may help. Make things sound like suggestions, not mandates. Teachers have plenty of those!
Goals
Learners will be able to take basic concepts of teaching for understanding and apply them in their class rooms in a way that will strengthen student performance on assessments and growth measures that will be used for teacher evaluations.
Task Analysis
Course Purpose
The purpose of this course is of a professional development nature. The issue many educators face today is having to adapt teaching so that student progress is demonstrated in an assessment of Student Learning Objectives (SLO) to satisfy newly adopted teacher evaluation mandates and regulations. This has led to a "teach to the test" type of classroom for many as a necessity. This course will help those teachers understand how they can use critical thinking skills to produce students who will be successful on assessments and will also have a deep understanding of learned concepts.
Learning Outcomes
As a result of taking this course the learners will know more about teaching for understanding and how they can apply methods and strategies to their teaching in order to prove positive student growth and successfully complete requirements for the new APPR mandate requirements.
Prerequisite Skills
1. Learner must have some experience in a classroom setting.
2. Learner must have a basic knowledge of APPR requirements.
Curriculum Map
File:Chad Shippee Curriculum Map.pdf
References/Resources
Usable Knowledge from Harvard Graduate School of Education. http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/teaching/TC3-1.html
ALPS: Teaching for Understanding. http://learnweb.harvard.edu/alps/tfu/index.cfm
PBS.org Teacher Line - Constructivist teaching. http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/courses/inst335/docs/inst335_brooks.pdf
Bloom's Taxonomy: An Overview. http://www.teachervision.fen.com/teaching-methods/curriculum-planning/2171.html
Engage NY Teacher/Leader Effectiveness. http://engageny.org/resource/teacherleader-effectiveness-evaluation
Teaching for Understanding. David Perkins American Educator: The Professional Journal of the American Federation of Teachers; v17 n3, pp. 8,28-35, Fall 1993. http://www.exploratorium.edu/IFI/resources/workshops/teachingforunderstanding.html
Teaching Today. http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/educationupclose.phtml/49