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Hello and welcome to my portfolio page.

Please visit my course on The Gradual Release Model of Responsibility

Introduction/Purpose

The purpose of my course is to assist teachers in the implementation of the Gradual Release Model of Responsibility through their lessons and instruction. My goal is that teachers will be able to include the Gradual Release Model of Responsibility in their lesson plans to help give their students more responsibility in their learning.

After completion of this course learners will be able to:

Describe the gradual release model of responsibility.

Recognize the gradual release model of responsibility as an instructional tool.

Employ the use of the gradual release model of responsibility in their own instruction.

Create a lesson plan that implements the gradual release model of responsibility.

Value the gradual release model of responsibility as an instructional tool.

Needs Assessment

Instructional Problem

Teachers have for years been carrying the load of instruction in classrooms. Teachers have always held the knowledge of their classroom. The recent shift toward inquiry based exploration in classrooms makes the teacher being the sole carrier of the knowledge impossible. Teachers and students need to have a system in place that allows them to engage in educational inquiry. Many educators want to implement a system where students take on responsibility for their own learning but are unsure of how to do it.

New methods have been explored to create a culture where students become more responsible for their own learning. Pearson and Gallagher introduced the idea of the Gradual Release of Responsibility model of instruction in 1938. The process was recently updated by Fisher and Frey in 2008. The gradual release of responsibility model “depicts learning as a purposeful process that allows for a systematic shift in the cognitive load (responsibility) from the teacher to the student.” (Ross & Frey, 2009). This process has created steps that allow educators to scaffold their instruction to promote inquiry and give students the responsibility of their own learning.

What is to be Learned

Educators will learn how to utilize the gradual release of responsibility model in their lessons and instruction. Participants will be introduced to the gradual release of responsibility model. During this they will identify the process. They will see how the model improves classrooms from research done on its implementation. During the second part of the course educators will understand the steps of the process. The final part of the course is where educators will then input this model into their lesson plans and eventually instruction.

The Learners

The learners for this course will be educators in pre-service or actively teaching. The learners will have some familiarity with lesson plans and the lesson planning process. Learners may have some knowledge of the gradual release of responsibility.

Context for Instruction

Participants of this will learn through this mini-course. They will be in the location of their choosing with a computer and a stable internet connection. They will be asked to complete readings, watch videos, and perform various activities to implement the gradual release of responsibility model.

Exploring The Instructional Problem and Solution

Participants will explore the course that will expose them to the gradual release of responsibility model. They will be exposed to the gradual release of responsibility model. Participants will understand the steps of the model and how to use them in the classroom. They will also engage in activities that will allow them to input the model into their lesson plans and eventually instruction.

Goals for the mini-course

The goal of this mini-course if for participants to implement the gradual release of responsibility model. Educators will gain knowledge that the gradual release of responsibility is a process for shifting learning responsibility to learners. They will understand the steps of the gradual release of responsibility model. They will then create lessons that contain the gradual release of responsibility model.

Performance Objectives

Upon completion of this course learners will be able to:

Understand the gradual release of responsibility model.

Analyze the importance of the various types of the gradual release of responsibility model.

Apply the gradual release of responsibility model to their lesson plans.

Create lesson plans that implement the gradual release of responsibility model.

Task Analysis

Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to inform educators about the gradual release model of responsibility as an instructional method.

Learning Outcomes

Describe the gradual release model of responsibility.

Recognize the gradual release model of responsibility as an instructional method.

Employ the use of the gradual release model of responsibility in their own instruction.

Create a lesson plan that implements the gradual release model of responsibility.

Value the gradual release model of responsibility as an instructional method.

Prerequisite Skills

Essential Skills

Have knowledge of how to navigate a wiki-course

Have an understanding/opinion as a teachers role in learning

Have a lesson plan template on which they can create a basic lesson plan using the common core standards

Be able to use basic computer functions such as copying, pasting, and saving documents

Supporting Skills

Have some basic knowledge of who controls the responsibility of learning in a classroom

Be open to the idea of releasing the responsibility of learning in their classrooms and lesson plans

Be willing to modify their current lesson plans to implement the gradual release of responsibility

Be willing to share experiences and resources such as lesson plans with other learners

Be motivated to learn about and implement the gradual release model of responsibility into their current teaching methods

Curriculum Map

Learners will be able to identify what the gradual release model of responsibility is.

Learners will be able to identify the components of the gradual release model of responsibility.

Learners will implement the gradual release model of responsibility in their own teaching.

Unit 1- What is the gradual release model of responsibility?

Learners will be able to: Describe the gradual release model of responsibility. Recognize the gradual release model of responsibility as an instructional method.

Learning Activities:

-Read mini-lecture about the gradual release model of responsibility.

-View and investigate accompanying resources.

-Write online reflection about the gradual release model of responsibility as an instructional tool.

Unit 2- What are the components of the gradual release of responsibility?

Learners will be able to: Analyze the gradual release model of responsibility components. Value the gradual release model of responsibility components as instructional tools.

Learning Activities:

-Read mini-lecture about the components of the gradual release model of responsibility.

-View and investigate accompanying resources.

-Write online reflection about the components of the gradual release model of responsibility.

Unit 3: How can the gradual release model of responsibility be implemented into instruction?

Learners will be able to: Employ the use of the gradual release model of responsibility in their own instruction in order to shift learning responsibility in their classroom.

Learning Activities:

-Read mini-lecture about the components of the gradual release model of responsibility.

-View and investigate accompanying resources; demonstration lessons using gradual release model, lessons using the gradual release model, activities/websites to support the gradual release model of responsibility.

-Review online reflection about the components of the gradual release model of responsibility.

-Create/modify lesson plan in order to implement the gradual release model of responsibility.

-Write a reflection about implementing the gradual release model of responsibility into lesson plans.

References and Resources

Ross, D., & Frey, N. (2009). Learners Need Purposeful and Systematic Instruction. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 75-78.