Today as we reviewed many of the year's pictures, study, and related information, students' questions and conversation followed many tangents. It was a lot to do at once.
In days of old, students contributed to their portfolios throughout the year rather than during one or two times. I want to do that again in the future.
Today's efforts reminded me that I have to add more time for reflection after each significant learning event, and that's when we should add evidence of that event and the reflection into a showcase portfolio. That's a more logical process. We'll do it that way for the rest of the year.
Good learning design should include the following steps:
1. Identify learning objectives and goals.
2. Identify the end product including the reflection time/effort.
3. Chart the learning path.
4. Study, review, assess, revise/adapt continuously as students reach for the final goal.
5. Final assessment by students followed by teacher's comments.
6. A final reflection, selected representation, and inclusion in the students' portfolio.
This will help students to gain a deep understanding of what it means to learn, what they like to learn, and how they learn best.
