Bryan Van Pelt's bportfolio

Reflection #3 EDU 6600 Models of Collaboration Lesson Study: One model of collaboration presented by Sally Zepeda (2012) is lesson study.   As mentioned in the text, lesson study is a “professional development process that Japanese teachers engage in to systematically examine their practice, with the goal of becoming more effective” (p. 225). Lesson study allows opportunities for teachers to work together to improve their pedagogical craft.   All too often teachers must learn a new method of instruction or a new curricular idea or goal.   However, lesson study gives teachers a chance to plan, instruct, analyze, and tweak a lesson in which they already instruct, thus deepening their instructional capacity.   When implemented effectively, lesson study has a lasting impact on a teacher’s ability.   According to Zepeda, some of the opportunities for growth include increased knowledge of the subject matter, increase knowledge of instructi...

Course goals 1. Use a review of current educational literature and research examining best practices in the classroom setting. 2. Explore and apply the Action Research process to provide the foundation for continuous inquiry and an effective solution to an issue. 3. Understand that Action Research is a distinctive approach to inquiry that is directly relevant to the classroom setting and that it provides the means for teachers to enhance their teaching and impact student learning. 4. Reflect on the Action Research process by sharing identified research focus, rational, collection and analysis of data,and inquiry next steps through a presentation to peers . Teacher Leadership   Standards : Teacher Leadership Standard #2: Analyze learning to promote student growth Teacher Leadership Standard #3: Improve teaching and learning through the use of educational research at the classroom and school levels Prior Thoughts:      ...

Teacher Leadership Standard #6 - Communicates and collaborates with a variety of stakeholders Theories of Adult Learning Takeaways:             In summary of this week’s readings three important overarching themes presented themselves: 1.        Relevance 2.      Organization 3.      Mobilization Adults must connect to the material being presented in a personal and meaningful way.   As stated by Zepeda (2013), “Regardless of its form, professional development is effective if it is ongoing, long term, and related to the teacher’s content area” (p. 8).   The last portion of this quote struck me as a key ingredient to adult learning.   Teaching students is a multi dimensional, complex practice with too many ideas for improvement, however PD opportunities must contain information in which the faculty agrees is relevant ...