Aspiring Teacher
InTASC Standard #8
The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways (InTASC, 2013).
Brief Description of Evidence
During the Spring semester of 2019 as a part of EDUC 224- Introduction to Scientific Inquiry, I was able to devise and deliver a lesson plan to four different groups of learners. Our instruction was to create a science lesson plan that students would enjoy participating in. I chose to partner my science standard with social studies and construct a cross-disciplinary lesson on tornadoes. I focused on forecasting to prepare for and respond to severe weather, and how these natural disasters affect different areas in different ways. My lesson plan included a detailed outline of what I planned to take place the day I presented. I allowed for flexibility and adaptations in multiple different places of the plan. My lesson plan was reviewed by my professors many times, giving me the opportunity to revise according to their experiences and suggestions. This lesson plan included an illustrated nonfiction book, a vocabulary game, a fact game, an experiment, a “real-life” simulation, a virtual reality simulation, and finally, the chance to be a meteorologist.
Analysis of What I Learned
Whilst planning my lesson, I learned how to take age-appropriate academic standards and organize an appealing lesson plan focused on those standards. In this class, I was faced with the challenge of how to make science fun for learners. Discovering methods to incorporate excitement into the classroom to make students eager to learn about science was a great experience for me. This is important to be able to do in the classroom, as science is often shoved under a mat and not enjoyed by most learners.
How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the InTASC Standard
I have demonstrated my competence on Standard 8- Instructional Strategies by actively planning a lesson following state scholastic standards which includes a variety of instructional strategies. Using Charles Bonwell’s Active Learning Theory, I made sure that this lesson plan consisted of multiple different hands-on activities, which engaged the learners. The lesson also included a wide variety of resources, technological and manmade. The focus of the lesson was for the students to gain a deep understanding of how to forecast and prepare for a tornado. Living in Tornado Alley, it was made clear to learners that this easily connects to them personally. This lesson plan deepened the learner’s awareness and understanding of a topic relevant to their lives. Students were taught skills to use in the time of a tornado, and how to use those skills most efficiently.
Click here to see more assessment videos!
