Archive for category UbD
Meeting the “So What?” Test
Posted by wcarozza in Technology, UbD, Web 2.0 on December 24, 2008
In my Curriculum and Instruction course for mostly seniors in education at New England College, I have coined a phrase (likely borrowed from Grant Wiggins and/or Jay McTighe) which is used to test any part of the instructional planning process. Does your favorite lesson relate to the goals of your unit? Did you develop a performance task just for the sake of impressing your students and showing them how clever you are? So what?
I’ve been reflecting on the appropriate use of technology in my school while always placing the “So What” test front and center. I have a wonderfully competent staff at Harold Martin School and they are generally very willing to try new ideas and take risks. But I am well aware that if a new initiative is proposed, there better be a good reason for it.
This year I have entered into a collegial partnership with Nancy Alibrandi, our Media Specialist, in exploring the richness of Wed 2.0. Both of us have started blogs, we are regular podcasters, and we are experimenting with wikis with the goal of introducing them to our staff. We are building our networks on Twitter and have already made wonderful connections with like-minded educators throughout the world. This is in addition to our work on digital portfolios which has had numerous advantages for technology throughout our district. As a part-time musician, I have enjoyed the fruits of digital recording and I am a bit of a Mac fanatic as well.
Yet, how much of this technology is a love for its “wow factor”? Am I certain that my passion for technology will inspire others to use it to improve their instruction and therefore enhance student achievement? Or do I simply love gadgets? It likely comes down to needing to siphon the fun from the function. Thankfully, the two often intersect.
I will continue to apply the “So What Test” to balance my love for cool technology with what is truly useful for teachers and students. In the meantime, excuse me while I check my recent Tweets on my iPod Touch, edit a podcast in Garageband, and then touch up a digital pic in Aperture.
Jay McTighe and "Schooling By Design"
As part of my role as a Board member for the NH chapter of ASCD, I had the honor last month of interviewing well known educational writer and speaker Jay McTighe, co-author with Grant Wiggins of Understanding By Design (UbD). He spoke as part of our NHASCD conference series. Jay and Grant’s latest work is entitled Schooling By Design (SbD) which brings UBD into a more systemic, school and district based view. I have always found Jay to be a humble, articulate teacher with a vision for what makes schools more effective.
Yes, we can get sidetracked by the world. A friend of mine who has been a mentor to me has all of these sort of aphorisms. (By the way, it’s Frank Lyman who is the creator of “think,pair, share” in the 1960s.) One of his aphorisms is “schools are like the intellectual rock and roll dance of death. It’s frenzied.” We need to slow down and have some minuets. Schools get so frantic, unreflective, and wild. We have to slow down and be clear about what we’re doing and be able to reflect on it. In a sense, UbD helps to do that and give you clear focus and priorities. For instance, “here are three essential questions for the next six weeks guys. This is what we’re focusing on”, you put them on the wall and we’re going to come back to them.
We have to slow down and have some minuets. Perhaps that’s a good metaphor for life and certainly for our schools.
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