A teacher must understand how students learn and develop and must provide learning opportunities that support a student's intellectual, social, and personal development.
Description of Artifacts
Artifact 1: Jean Piaget's Cognitive Theory
This artifact is a presentation I put together for Winona State University's Learning Theories course, which highlights Jean Piaget's Cognitive Theory of Development. |
Artifact 2: 4th Grade Math Lesson
This math lesson that I have included to represent the student learning, standard 2, is very detailed in presenting all of the necessary requirements of planning, instruction, and the assessment of student learning. |
Analysis
Artifact 1: Jean Piaget's Theory Presentation
Artifact 1 represents a learning theory that was developed in the 1900's and is still present in our classrooms today. Piaget's theory defined 4 levels of learning: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational and formal operational. Because of these stages of development, we teach according the needs of the child and at their own pace. We allow students to discover learning through play and discovery. Piaget's theory has changed how we view a child's world and the methods of studying and teaching children. His research has also given us a better understanding of cognitive development. |
Artifact 2: 4th Grade Math Lesson
This artifact is a math lesson that I created to teach my 4th graders how to partition rectangles, a strategy used to multiply multi digit numbers easily. This was a fun lesson in that the students used thier iPads to work on problems in class. They were then able to project their work onto the Smart Board using Air Drop. This is a wonderful way for students to learn from one another and not just directly from the teacher. This lesson plans for English Language Learners in using sentence stems for Turn and Talks. It also uses scaffold questioning for differentiated learning within the classroom. This math lesson includes several formative assessments to gauge student learning during the lesson, as well as one technological assessment after using the Class Kick app on the iPad. |
Synthesis
Artifact 1: Jean Piaget's Cognitive Theory Presentation
I have come to realize how important Jean Piaget is to student learning and teacher planning, instruction and assessments, based on his research. Even though some parts of his theory have been criticized by other researchers like Lev Vygotsky and Bruner (that development is continuous and communication is more important than interaction with the environment) his theory, has significant relevance to how our students learn today. In conjunction with other research, our progress towards "best practice" of teaching methods and strategies is forever ongoing. |
Artifact 2: 4th Grade Math Lesson
After completing this math lesson, I understand the importance of assessments in teaching. I also look to personalize lessons and knowing your students is the best way to teach to their needs. With having ELL students and those with reading difficulties in my class, I am also more aware of the language needs students have, even as we teach math. Scaffolding questions in order to differentiate instruction is also something that I am more conscience of. I am purposeful in my own thinking as I teach, to better guide my students through their own thinking. |