Module 5: Create Your Own Playlist!
Objectives:
- Learners will be able to create their own playlist that meets the needs of their individual students
- Learners will be able to provide students with flexible path and pace
- Learners will be able to provide students with differentiation
Module 4 Refresh:
In Module 4 we discussed the benefits of project-based learning, and how we will be using it to support the creation of your own playlist. In the Google Form, please write a brief summary as to why you personally think we are using project-based learning, and how you think it will help you as a learner.
Project Time!
It is finally time to begin creating your own playlist! In Module 4, and before, you began brainstorming, and providing/receiving feedback for creating your own playlist. Much like flexible path and pace in and ofitself, creating a playlist is just that; flexible!
My thoughts: My goal is for your playlist to be representative of you, your students and your classroom! With that said, please create a playlist that will be beneficial, and applicable to you! You can be as creative as you would like in creating your own playlist as it needs to fit you and your students. Your playlist will likely not look like your classmates, and that is okay!
As long as you follow the steps below, you will be in good shape! The following steps will guide you through this final process!
Examples:
The following links will provide you exemplar examples of different playlists. As I mentioned above, the design and formatting of your playlist is entirely dependent to you and your students!
Example #1 Research Based Argument Writing Playlist
Example #2 Digital Citizenship Playlist
Example #3 Decimals Playlist
As you can see, all of these playlists are very different from one another in terms of formatting, sequencing, and content; yet they are all effective! In the chart below, please share which example resonated with you the most and why!
| Example 1: | Example 2: | Example 3: |
|---|---|---|
Before you begin: Please be aware that the platform in which you develop your playlist is entirely up to you. The most broadly accessible tool to use will likely be Google Docs, but if you would like to work within another platform feel free to do so. If you would like to discuss other options please reach out!
Step 1:
Collect the resources and activities that you want students to explore and complete -
Things to include and consider:
- Determine your final learning goal/assessment - This step is KEY! If you have not already determined what the final learning outcome, or authentic assessment should be, STOP, and do so now!
- Texts at different reading levels, audio-texts, podcasts, etc.
- When providing texts, be sure to consider optional readings and student choice as well. That can be in the form of extension activities, texts of different topics, the opportunity for students to select a text entirely of their choice.
- If it is necessary for your students' needs, you may need to indicate which level of text that they should be reading. This should be done in a way that is private and/or discrete.
- Different pathways through activities
- Provide students with opportunities to work independently, in small groups, 1:1 with a teacher. These groupings can be heterogeneous, or homogenous.
- Allow the activities to fit students learning styles, personal preferences, etc.
- Collect all resources digitally (or by hand) and begin to organize them however you see fit; level of difficulty, particular pathway, etc.
In this phase of creating your playlist you should also be honing in on your specific design/format. Further, your objectives should become clear!
My thoughts: This phase is not an end all, be all. As you continue to progress through building your playlist you will find it necessary to revisit this step and make adjustments.
Step 2:
Logically sequence the content, resources, and activities for students to progress through -
Things to include and consider:
- Compare your content with that of your schools' curriculum and state standards and ensure that it aligns
- Consider your students - how will they learn best?
- How much scaffolding do you need to provide students with?
- How will students progress to the end goal? Will certain materials build off one another?
- How will you provide students with flexible pacing? Consider providing timers, deadlines, etc.
My thoughts: This step will likely appear very straightforward to you, or may be more challenging. If you have worked within a certain curriculum for a longer period of time, the progression will likely come more naturally, but if you are working with new materials, you will probably need to make more adjustments! Do not get frustrated!
Flexibility remains key - All teachers have experienced a time where we believed that students would work through assignments much quicker than they did, or vice versa. Be prepared to make changes; allow more time for students that need it, and have extension activities prepared for students who move quicker through the playlist.
Step 3:
Incorporate personalized learning strategies into the playlist
Things to include and consider:
- Develop small groups with various focuses
- Provide opportunities for goal setting, and opportunities for reflection, on more than one occasion
- Allow students to have choice in how they reflect and set goals, as these processes are personal, and should be able to be meaningful for students individually
- Provide student choice!
- Once students receive the need-to-know content, allow them to explore further in ways that are meaningful to them; videos, articles, research, etc.
My thoughts: While the things to include in this step may seem more vague, it is because you as the teacher know your students the best! Consider what your students as individuals, but also as small groups need to be the best learners that they can be!
Step 4:
Consider where and how you can differentiate instruction
Things to include and consider:
- Determine your must do, and may do activities; emphasize what students truly need to know, but also provide insight to certain students as to where they can extend their knowledge further
- Gather tools that will benefit certain students such as;
- Speech to text technology
- Links to content at different levels
- Continue to provide students with choice, and activities with varying degrees of difficulty
- Consider providing students with different rubrics, or different point values for their assignments/assessments
My thoughts: Similarly to step 2, this phase of building your playlist may continually be a work in progress. As students progress through the playlist you may find that further differentiation needs to occur.
Now what?
Once you have gone through all of the steps in building the playlist, it is time to peer review with a classmate! Please connect with the same classmate that you were paired with back in Module 4, and share what you have created! It is critical to provide your partner feedback regarding each step in the building process. I will also provide feedback to you to consider before finalizing your playlist!
Once finalized, please send me your playlist via email. Also include your finalized copy of your vocabulary notebook!
Final reflections:
Congratulations! You have completed the Flexible Path and Pace mini-course! I would first like to thank you for working through this mini-course, it has been a great time collaborating with all of you! As we conclude, I hope that you have seen the benefits of providing flexible path and pace for all students in your classroom, but also yourself as their teacher!
As a final reflection piece, I would like for you to take some time to consider how implementing flexible path and pace has worked for you. Also think about the positives, and negatives of using a playlist in your classroom. Further, feel free to share about what your greatest takeaways were from this course as a whole, along with any feedback for the course itself, or me as your instructor! Complete the reflection in the Google Form Here!
Thank you again for all of your hard work in this mini-course!
Home Page: Shannon Gallagher's Mini-Course on Flexible Path and Pace in the Special Education Classroom
