ImagineIT - Phase 5
CONFERRING WITH COLLEAGUES, STUDENTS FOCUIS GROUP, AND SHORT REPORT

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​                 THE GOAL - PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE

The goal of my ImagineIt project is to enable my students to develop an understanding that there is a cycle of interconnectedness that encourages sustainable life.  Change is going to occur and has consequences that affect life functions.  To accomplish my goal, students will study in science the topic of energy, specifically renewable energy.  The use of renewable energy is becoming more and more popular around the world.  Renewable energy is energy produced from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, water, geothermal heat and various forms of biomass. 
 
TWO DILEMMAS IDENTIFIED IN REGARDS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT

The dilemma of Curriculum and Instruction is a stumbling block I will encounter as I implement my ImagineIt project.  According to Anna Ershler Richert, author of What Should I Do? Confronting Dilemmas of Teaching in Urban Schools, “Curriculum development – deciding what and how to teach – is at the heart of good teaching.”  I know what to teach I need to figure out how to teach the required standards and also prepare my students for standardize testing in science.  My class time is limited and structured to meet the requirements of IB MYP, NGSS, and CPS. To combat this problem, I will examine the pacing of the content I need to cover in my classes.  I can anticipate that if I closely examine the requirements all the programs that I am covering the material that my students will need to be successful.

As I move forward with implementing my project, I anticipate I will face the Assessment dilemma.  Assessment can mean so many things but must not be subjective.  It is difficult not to fall into the trap of “personality grading.”  If the student is nice and compliant, nice personality; they tend to get grades based on their behavior not based on class performance.  I will target this dilemma by using rubrics for all summative assessments.

To complete Phase 5 of my ImagineIT project the first step is to confer with some of my colleagues.  I chose a colleague that is a diverse learner teacher and the IB Coordinator at my school.  I chose these two individuals because I wanted to obtain a cross-section of ideas from different perspectives in the field of education.  Diverse learning teachers are always trying to find new ways to deliver curriculum and instruction.  An IB coordinator must stay on top of all the requirements of the MYP while being cognizant of the requirements mandated by the city and the state.  The suggestions and advice from my colleagues are:
 
Curriculum and Instruction

     Use pacing to combat standardized testing requirements
  • Use concept maps, narrative writing and objective summaries
  • Teach in an integrated fashion (embedding the renewable energy concept) or think about what and how to replace the lesson or concept
  • Teach using a framework with a thread or ribbon going through the classes that connect the concepts you want to teach
  • Think about using a class that you can reflect upon the impact or outcome of the project for enhancements or adjustments going forward (use 6th or 7th grade to be able to analyze the project results)
 
  Assessment
     Increase the use of formative assessment to ensure understanding during the
     course of instruction
  • Formal assessments daily to target growth of the standards taught
  • Create quick formative assessments using a chart to record the date and quantitative data to measure understanding
  • Written assessment for use with documenting and creating a portfolio of learning outcomes
  • Have students share their understanding as the learning objective unfold through oral presentation by using a method called two stars and a wish (name two things you thought was great or good and tell one thing you wish the presenter could have expanded or explored)

The second step of th phase requires a focus group of students to obtain feedback and guidance.  The feedback contained a variety of ideas to consider regarding the project:
 
Curriculum and Instruction
 
  • Plan ahead, organize; use time management
  • Try to create or combine new ways of teaching
  • Look at CPS curriculum and make the lesson fit the curriculum
  • Embed renewable energy into the curriculums
  • Have students do mini activities that include renewable energy
  • Students can use articles and magazines to help us come up with different ideas for renewable energy sources
  • Students can use printed pictures that help better understand renewable resources.
  • Make sure the teacher meets the standards of all three programs
  • Students can have Independent work
  • Class talk / presentation
  • Group teaching
  • Make real-world connections
  • Use concept maps, charts, and tables
  • Time the assignments so all students can accomplish the goals
 
  Assessment
 
  • Group assessments, and group work
  • Observe students as they work
  • Have a conversation about what we learned and report to the class
  • Make an educational game
  • Use task specific rubrics
  • Role play
  • Create posters
  • Design ( build and engineer) a structure
  • Research essays that explain what information you learned
  • Reflect
 
The students had a lot to say about how to implement the project and ways to confront dilemmas.  Based on this process there are some changes I will consider making to my project.  The feedback from the students indicated that the “glass is half full not half empty.”  I will adjust my perspective to accommodate.  I was able to see that I need to narrow my scope and sequence to move my focus toward the essential ideas and learning outcomes that I need to cover.

POTENTIAL RESOLUTIONS FOR THE DILEMMAS AND HOW THESE RESOLUTIONS CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO MY IMAGINEIT PROJECT