Assignment

Guided response: Respond to at least two classmates. Think back to the learning module you interacted with pertaining to Paul and Elder's essential elements of thought and apply some of what you learned in this discussion. For example, when you respond to a peer's analysis of this case study ask him or her to clarify the purpose behind what he or she wrote, consider alternative perspectives, examine assumptions, and support thinking with evidence, facts, and research

Manage Discussion Entry

Part One

1. Why does Mr. Rodriguez credit his teaching ability to understanding how students learn?

Mr. Rodriguez realizes that students are individuals and is able to differentiate his teaching based on student learning profiles.

2. What possible benefits come from daily reflection on teaching practice?

Through reflection he is making formative assessments of his methodology and can then adjust his teaching based on student performance.

3. How does Mr. Rodriguez's use of a daily mantra relate to verbal anchoring? What is its effect?

By having the students repeat his mantra, he is preparing them consciously and subconsciously for the days learning activities. He uses this as a means of motivating students.

Part Two

1. How does group work help to create a flexible environment and serve as an avenue to tap into student's learning modalities?

Group work gives students a choice in how they learn. It encourages collaboration and allows teachers to observe students within different ability groups. It enables teachers to better understand how receptive their individual students are in differing learning environments.

Part Three

1. Besides the exit slip, what other informal assessment strategy could be used to identify what it is that students know and are able to do?

Aligning with KUD, students could be asked to write a paragraph on how the information from the lesson relates to them or real world events.

2. How is Mr. Rodriguez creating a personalized learning experience?

Mr. Rodriguez personalizes his students learning by addressing each one individually. This gives him the ability to tailor content, process, and product, based on the student's cognition.

Manage Discussion Entry

Part one

1. Why does Mr. Rodriguez credit his teaching ability to understanding how students learn?

This credit is due to his grasp of student learning as a listening and attentive educator, Mr. Rodriguez uses the theories of: maturationist, environmentalist and constructivist to aide in his approach, assessment and comprehension of his students.

2. What possible benefits come from daily reflection on teaching practice?

Knowing what went well, what needs to change, what new ideas to implement.

3. How does Mr. Rodriguez's use of a daily mantra relate to verbal anchoring? What is its effect?

In anchor learning the "use of repetitive verbal responses" (Shean, 2012, p1.1) puts the learner in a prepared mental state with the mantra's repetitive nature it is actually putting students in the mind-set to begin their day of learning and open the avenue into the brain. Its effects are prideful encouragement as in the adrenaline rush a player receives when a chant is being shouted by fans. This mantra, if delivered correctly, will encourage the students.

Part two

1. How does group work help to create a flexible environment and serve as an avenue to tap into student's learning modalities?

By the expressed experiences of peers. We, as educators, should be able to notice that students coming from similar environments and how, through experience, the students gather knowledge there from.

Part three

1. Besides the exit slip, what other informal assessment strategy could be used to identify what it is that students know and are able to do?
An open discussion (Socratic method) in which the questions are asked to the whole class and individuals are picked to answer while others are picked to either elaborate on the initial student's response or answer the question in their own words another way.

2. How is Mr. Rodriguez creating a personalized experience?

In acknowledging student needs, assessing those needs and implementing strategies to enhance individual learning while caring about the whole class.

Reference

1. Shean (Ed.). (2012). The Final Step: A Capstone in Education.