Extreme Technology Makeovers

A workshop by Chris Moersch at TCEA 2006. Chris is all about helping teachers elevate the level of their teaching on Bloom’s taxonomy, and thereby make teaching and learning more engaging and worthwhile activities.

These are my notes from his session today.

Chris’ blog: http://lotination.blogspot.com/

Makeover models
– Experiential-based Action model (Moersch)
– Enrichment Triad Model (GT) – Joe Renzulli – 1985
– Five E Model (now the Six E model) – By Bilogical Studies
– 4MAT (Bernice McCarthy)

Research these models and look into how these can be used to integrate your TEKS
– some TEKS lend themselves more to level 3 and 4 than others

All lend themselves to LoTi level 4: getting kids engaged!

Hawaiian school: everything focuses on evironmental issues

Focus activities
– how do you hook kids and get THEM to ask the questions (and not be in

Preparation vs motivation in terms of TAKS readiness
– we need to use focus activities
– using clips from Apollo 13
— when they stirred the tanks and caused the oxygen leak problem
— when they are challenged to build the filter

Team Learning video “Gulf Coast we have a problem” from GLEF
– using real life experiences to make learning fun
– using simulations to immerse

Quality Performance tAsks
– should be student focused, open ended, multiple pathways, complex/critical thinking emphasis, need to be real world

In terms of what students think is relevant
– GADI: Give a darn index
– GASI:

Has to be at least at a LoTi level 3 to be on this website:
http://ww2.ikeepbookmarks.com/lotischools

Lots of great resources
– this preso will be on the TCEA website

Chris’ resource recommendations: Lots of Jamie McKenzie’s stuff – www.fno.org
– originator of the thinking toolkit
The Question Mark: An educational journal devoted to questions, questioning, sound intelligence, strategic reading and quality teaching.http://questioning.org
www.weatherbank.com
Maine Center for Meaningful, Engaged Learning: www.mcmel.org/workshops
www.ecybermission.com
ThinkerTools Inquiry Curricula: thinkertools.soe.berkeley.edu/Pages/curricula.html

Crazy resources for integrated projects:
– special education/early childhood teachers
– K-12 students for projects
– high octane science teachers
– random teacher websites
– Google advanced search
– Corporate America
– Foundations
– Airline Magazines
– Happy Hours
– Teacher workrooms

How else do we know what the kids know unless we setup an environment where we find out?
– performance based assessment is the best way to do this

Closing thought

Karl von Clausewitz
– “Pursue one great decisive aim with force and determination”
– video clip of escape in Shawshank Redemption

“May the LoTi be with you!” 🙂

Technorati Tags: tcea2006

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