Inspired by the Quality Teaching Elements in NSW Public School(2003).I realized there are some basic guideline to produce quality teaching
and learning. Thus, I am using this guideline to reflect and evaluate my
programme plan in details.
According to the research, there are three
dimensions of quality teaching elements including intellectual quality, learning
environment quality and significance of the knowledge.
Intellectual Quality
Deep Knowledge-knowledge is deep when it
concerns the central ideas or concepts of a topic.
Deep Understanding-Deep understanding is
evident when students explore relationship, connection and draw conclusion in
relatively systematic and complex way.
In my programme plan, the big idea (Key concept,
significant concept, Area of interaction) is the main core of the entire
programme plan. My learners were given different approaches to develop their
understanding of the significant concept. For instance, they read “The little
prince”, investigate on the Avant Garde movement, Dadaism, and hence make
connection. Besides, graphic organiser such as words splash, mind mapping, Traffic
light, Think pair share were used as a ongoing reflection template to determine
their level of understanding after each lesson. I think my learners did
construct deep knowledge in the learning process.
Problematic Knowledge-Knowledge is treated as
being socially constructed, and hence subject to political, social and cultural
implications.
My learners were using different subject context,
including Language A and Humanities to elaborate the key concept: change and
its impact to the society. Besides, they were exploring specific skills and
techniques to accomplish their summative task. They faced difficulties
throughout the whole development process of creating their final art work. They
start from simple initial ideas and slowly develop into comprehensive process
which is another evidence of learning
problematic knowledge.
Metalanguage-Lesson high in metalanguage
has high levels of talk about language and how texts work.
In the first session of
visual arts class, we always discuss about the significant concept, unit
question and Area of Interaction in depth. My learners studied the original
meaning of each word and interpret it in various perspectives. For instance, in
our first lesson, we discuss about the word “change” as a verb, a noun and the
etymology of the word because I always impose that knowing the origin of the
word is important in order to have a deep understanding of the concept.
Quality Learning
Environment
Explicit Quality Criteria-High explicit criteria
identified by frequent, detailed and specific statement about the quality of
work.
High expectation-Emphasises the high
expectations is not about how many students are participating in the lesson,
but about how many students are participating in challenging work.
Based on the feedback from
my learners to the formative assessment, I recognised some learners have
difficulties in conceptualise ideas. Some
learners were not aware of the objective and expectation of the task. Although
most of my learners enjoyed the process of completing the formative, but
learning outcome for each task was not clear. And I realised the importance of
Task Specific Rubric for each formative task.
Student Direction-Included choice of
activities, time spent on activities, pace of the lesson, criteria by which
they will be assessed.
In the practical learning
session, some of my learners were not engaged, I should have prepare handout or
worksheet as a task for them to fulfil while I was having individual tutorial
for the photo editing learning session. Besides, learners will have a better
understanding if the basic guideline of the software tools was given at the
beginning of the lesson. They can explore and develop their skills more in
depth.
I need to improve on
appropriate time management and allocate relevant material and resources in the
learning session. Use of variety of effective and engaging activities can
improve the quality of learning environment.
Learning environment is
part of my evaluation practice. Having an Art room with proper art facilities
such as easels, drawing boards, various media for drawing and painting would be
more efficient for learning. I need to make sure the facility room is
well-equipped before I start the lesson. Besides,the physical change of the
learning environment will make a great impact on learners’ interest and passion
for Art. Learners would feel the artistic environment to learn and paint.
Social support-Encourage and value
effort, participation and the expression of one’s view in the pursuit of
learning.
At the beginning of the
programme, I faced difficulties in differentiation teaching strategies. Some of
my learners were not engaged at the first lesson. After seeking advice from my
colleagues and coordinators, they suggested scaffolding or mentor mentee system
in group activities. I
choose the pairings based on which students I knew can work well together &
have different strengths & weaknesses. Each
group was given a set of questions (structured) to help with research. I also
encouraged the more passive students to participate by speaking up their
opinions.
Background Knowledge-May include prior
knowledge or “out –of –school” knowledge, such as local knowledge, cultural
knowledge, personal experiences and knowledge of media and popular culture.
During my teaching session in programme plan, some of my learners
suggested to visit art gallery or filed trip. I think a visit to a graphic
design company would be relevant to this programme because it involves a lot of
software editing skills and techniques. Thus, I will try to implement field
trip or gallery visit in the following programme plan to allow them explore and
experience the “out-of-school” knowledge.
Narrative-Use of narrative is high
when stories are written, told, read and viewed or listened to help illustrate
or bring to life.
I have included the literature book “The little prince”, “The colour
purple”, poem “The important Book” and a series of formative task in this
programme plan. They wrote poem as self evaluation. I think narrative is a good
approach to construct abstract perception, hence develop cognitive thinking
skills. Besides, learners were creating their story behind the final art work-photomontages.
I realised narrative is really a provoking creativity.
As conclusion, I feel that the evaluation stage is the most difficult
among all Modules, but it reflects my strength and weaknesses, area I need to
improve on and action need to be taken.
I gained a lot of experiences and knowledge from completing this
assignment but I always feel that knowledge is never ever enough. I will continue to reflect and evaluate my
professional ongoing practice.
