Thoughtful educators are always looking for effective strategies to foster student learning. Using technology and asking engaging questions are great ways to help students connect to their prior knowledge, encourage exploration, and problem solve within the content area.
In this field experience, observe the technology and questioning strategies used by professional educators as well as develop your own questions to be incorporated during lessons.
Allocate 5 hours in the field to support this field experience.
Observe and assist with teaching two lessons, one science and one health/PE/nutrition (an integrated health and science lesson may count for either requirement), led by certified K-8 grade teachers. If possible, observe more than one classroom/teacher. During your observation, pay specific attention to the following:
- Technology used by the teacher to enhance instruction
- Technology used by students to enhance engagement and learning
- Questioning strategies utilized during instruction and/or as formative assessment
With the mentor’s permission, prepare and implement three effective student questions for each observed lesson. The questions may be designed for the whole class, small group, or one-on-one to support the observed lesson objectives. The questions should stimulate students’ prior knowledge and encourage exploration and problem-solving within the content areas.
Use any remaining field experience hours to assist the mentor teacher in providing instruction and support to the class.
In 250-500 words, reflect on the lessons you observed, the questions you developed and implemented, and your additional experiences in the classes, describing the following:
- Technology used to enhance instruction of science/health content. If technology was not used, discuss how it could be integrated into the lesson/s you observed .
- Questioning strategies used to enhance learning of science/health content . If not implemented, discuss where and how they would have been effective.
- How the questions you developed stimulated students’ prior knowledge and encouraged exploration and problem-solving
- How you plan to apply what you learned to your future professional practice.
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.