2.4 Higher Order Thinking Skills
Candidates model and facilitate the effective use of digital tools and resources to support and enhance higher order thinking skills (e.g., analyze, evaluate, and create); processes (e.g., problem-solving, decision-making); and mental habits of mind (e.g., critical thinking, creative thinking, metacognition, self-regulation, and reflection). (PSC 2.4/ISTE 2d)
Artifact: Engaged Learning Project
Reflection:
The Engaged Learning Project was completed during course 7400, 21st Century Teaching and Learning. For this project we were asked to create technology-supported learning experiences that promote student engagement, deep understanding, higher-order thinking, and transfer of knowledge. As this was completed during the summer semester, I completed the project alone. However, the project does include collaboration between my classes at both the middle and high school level, as I am the choral director for both schools.
Standard 2.4, Higher-Order Thinking Skills asks that we demonstrate the ability to model and facilitate the effective use of digital tools and resources to support and enhance higher order thinking skills, processes, and habits of mind. Throughout this project I was able to model and facilitate the use of several digital tools and resources such as a wiki, YouTube, Edmodo, and the J.W. Pepper online music catalogue. The students used these tools and resources to evaluate music and its appropriateness for the given event. They also analyzed various arrangements of the music to ensure that their singers would be able to perform it. Once the music was chosen, the students had to use their prior knowledge of good concert programming to decide on a concert order. After the final performance of the program students were also asked to reflect upon their work.
Completing this artifact pushed me to create a truly authentic learning experience for my students that would help them to think critically and make sound decisions. The ability to analyze music critically is a skill that I hope each of my students takes away from my class. One thing I would change about the creation of this artifact is that I would like to have some type of collaboration with an expert outside of my classroom. I think that the students would gain deeper understanding of the process if they talked to another choral director or a conductor from one of the state-wide choral festivals to ask them about their selection of repertoire.
The work that went into this project will impact student learning, not just in the context of my class, but throughout the school. As students learn to use various digital tools and resources like the ones used in this project, they will be able to transfer their skills to other classes and other tools. This will help improve student engagement throughout the school and help our students reach higher levels of thinking.
The Engaged Learning Project was completed during course 7400, 21st Century Teaching and Learning. For this project we were asked to create technology-supported learning experiences that promote student engagement, deep understanding, higher-order thinking, and transfer of knowledge. As this was completed during the summer semester, I completed the project alone. However, the project does include collaboration between my classes at both the middle and high school level, as I am the choral director for both schools.
Standard 2.4, Higher-Order Thinking Skills asks that we demonstrate the ability to model and facilitate the effective use of digital tools and resources to support and enhance higher order thinking skills, processes, and habits of mind. Throughout this project I was able to model and facilitate the use of several digital tools and resources such as a wiki, YouTube, Edmodo, and the J.W. Pepper online music catalogue. The students used these tools and resources to evaluate music and its appropriateness for the given event. They also analyzed various arrangements of the music to ensure that their singers would be able to perform it. Once the music was chosen, the students had to use their prior knowledge of good concert programming to decide on a concert order. After the final performance of the program students were also asked to reflect upon their work.
Completing this artifact pushed me to create a truly authentic learning experience for my students that would help them to think critically and make sound decisions. The ability to analyze music critically is a skill that I hope each of my students takes away from my class. One thing I would change about the creation of this artifact is that I would like to have some type of collaboration with an expert outside of my classroom. I think that the students would gain deeper understanding of the process if they talked to another choral director or a conductor from one of the state-wide choral festivals to ask them about their selection of repertoire.
The work that went into this project will impact student learning, not just in the context of my class, but throughout the school. As students learn to use various digital tools and resources like the ones used in this project, they will be able to transfer their skills to other classes and other tools. This will help improve student engagement throughout the school and help our students reach higher levels of thinking.