Probing Questions

Teacher: Kim Reed 

Interview

Overview

Principles of Learning

Information Processing

Content Standards

Tenets of Democracy

Questions

Interview: Previewing Questions 

1.      In the video you are about to watch, Reed develops an activity stemming from the written reports the children have done on a historical character. They then portray their character in front of their parents and peers. Have you ever been involved in this type of activity while you were in school? How did this affect your learning?

2.      Reed states in his lesson plan that this is the second CD-ROM he is making with the same class. Do you think that working with a class that has already experienced this type of project could enhance learning? Explain.

3.      How do you feel about teachers using cooperative learning in school?  Reflect on your school experiences.  How did cooperative learning affect you as a learner?

Interview: Post-viewing Questions

1.      Review Reed’s lesson plan. Describe the purpose of the activity.  How does he manage to accomplish his goals through the lesson?

2.      In this activity, students will construct a CD-ROM by splitting off into various groups for completing a particular task that is important for the project. To what extent does decision-making relate to teamwork?

3.      Reed’s lesson is a three-stage activity: a written report, the portrayal of the character, and the making of the CD-ROM by processing the data the students collected. Do you think the activity is too complex for fifth graders? If you were the teacher of the class, would you have given your students less responsibility than he did? Explain. 

Overview: Previewing Questions

1. Do you think that brainstorming improves student learning? Why or why not?

2. Describe some techniques teachers can use to motivate their students. How do motivated students learn differently from unmotivated individuals?

3. As a teacher, how do you plan to encourage your students to take responsibility for their projects and work? What techniques will you use? Explain.

Overview: Post-viewing Questions

1. Reed starts his lesson by critiquing the old CD with the class and then he has them brainstorm in groups improvements for the new CD. What is the role of the teacher in this activity? What kind of feedback does he give to his students?
   
   
2. Reed helps organize small groups that will be responsible for one portion of the CD-ROM. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having small groups account for a certain part of the CD-ROM, and then compile it together at the end to get the whole picture?
   
   
3. Throughout the project, students must work with a variety of technology tools in order to create the final project. Do you think that technology holds the major role in this lesson? Which is, according to you, the most important element of this lesson? Explain why.

Principles of  Learning: Previewing Questions

1.        Reed states in his lesson plan that he uses Frequent Feedback in his classroom. In what ways do you think frequent feedback could enhance student learning?

2.         Describe the importance of reflection in the process of learning.

3.         Define Patterns and Connections in your own words. Explain how creating links among people, experiences, and concepts could improve the learning process. 

Principles of  Learning: Post-viewing Questions 

1.      What does Reed do to encourage his students to be actively involved in the lesson? Assume the role of the teacher. How would you have encouraged active involvement?

2.      Review the checklist of observable behaviors for Patterns and Connections as found in the model. How does Reed incorporate these principles into his lesson?

3.      How does Reed’s lesson use Direct Experience to activate students’ background knowledge? 

Information Processing: Previewing Questions

1.      Review the Evaluation Stage of Information Processing. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of letting children evaluate their own work.

2.      Review the definition of Appreciation as found in the Technology as Facilitator of Quality Education Model. To what extent does it enhance student learning?

3.      Kim Reed allows his students to evaluate their work with the help of technology. Assume the role of a teacher. How would you implement technology in your lesson to enable the students to progress through the Evaluation Stage of Information Processing? 

Information Processing: Post-viewing Questions 

1.      Read the explanation of the Evaluation Stage of Information Processing, as found in the model. How does Reed’s project allow his students to go through this stage?

2.      How do the students demonstrate the Interpretation Stage of Information Processing? What role does the teacher have in this process?

3.      How does technology play a role in the students’ Communication Stage of Information Processing? 

Content  Standards: Previewing Questions 

1.      Review the Social Studies Standards. Explain the ten thematic strands in Social Studies from the National Council of the Social Studies.

2.      Read the summary of Content Standards. In what ways do you think the presence of standards could hinder or help teachers in their profession?

3.      Review the English Language Arts Standards. Explain how technological tools could be incorporated with some of these Standards in order to make a lesson more effective. 

Content  Standards: Post-viewing Questions

1.      Reed’s lesson plan integrates English Language Arts Standards 3,4,6,8 and12.  Explain which activities in the lesson addressed each of these standards.

2.      For both the Language Art Standards and the Social Studies Standards, explain how Reed utilized technological tools to fulfill the Standards.

3.      Explain two ways in which Reed implements Social Studies Standard 2 for Early Grades into his lesson.

Tenets of Democracy: Previewing Questions

1.     Review the checklist of observable behaviors for Thinking Together and Making Meaning. Describe a situation from your own school experience in which your teacher encouraged you and your classmates to work and make meaning together. How   did this affect your learning experience?

2.     Review Reed’s lesson plan and describe the way students demonstrate Individual Responsibility. How would you, as a teacher, encourage individual responsibility in the classroom?

3.     Assume the role of a teacher.  How comfortable do you feel in giving your students certain responsibilities and duties to carry out?  How might this affect their learning experience?

Tenets of Democracy: Post-viewing Questions

1.      How does Reed create opportunities for critical thinking in his classroom?  Explain other ways he could have encouraged critical thinking.

2.      The children in this video display Tolerance in the way they work together, listen to each other, and consider each member’s group opinion. Explain how Reed models tolerance.  Do you feel it is necessary that he do this?

3.      Review the checklist of observable behaviors for Power Sharing and Empowerment. How do the students in this video display these behaviors? 

Technology: Previewing Questions

1.      How might the use of technology, such as the Internet, scanners, and PowerPoint slides, improve student learning?

2.      Assume the role of a teacher. Devise a social studies lesson in which you incorporate three different technological tools.

3.      What role do you think technology plays in an ever-evolving society? Do you think it is important for both teachers and students to constantly update their knowledge of technology?  Explain.

Technology: Post-viewing Questions

1.      Refer to the list of the Technology Competencies (1 through 20). Which of these competencies does Reed use during the lesson?

2.      Reed used various technological tools in his classroom. If you were to set up the same lesson, how much money do you approximate this project to cost?  Do you think it is worth the cost? Explain.

3.      In the lesson, Reed displayed Technology Competency Number 13, the use of Multimedia Presentation Software. Do you think this helped the students with their project? Explain why or why not. 

Teacher Knowledge : Previewing Questions

1.      Review the description of Gardner’s eight types of Intelligences.  Briefly describe interpersonal intelligence.

2.      Review Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences.  Describe the “intelligences” you possess.  Also, reflect on the ones in which you are not as strong.  Do you feel that a teacher should be knowledgeable about his/her own strengths and weaknesses?  Why or why not?

3.      Review the summary for Teacher’s In-Depth Content Knowledge. Choose three points you felt were most important and briefly describe the implications for teachers.

Teacher Knowledge : Post-viewing Questions

1.      Reed demonstrates good in-depth content knowledge by using questioning strategies that promote critical thinking on the part of his students.  What are some ways to involve students in critical thinking?

2.      Explain how Reed addresses his students’ visual/spatial and linguistic intelligences in the video.  Assume the role of a teacher.  Devise a brainstorming activity for a history class in which you address your students’ multiple intelligences.

3.      Reed allows his students to brainstorm in order to find improvements they could later implement in the new version of the CD-ROM.  Describe how his Knowledge of Student Characteristics enabled the students to learn more effectively. 

Teacher Behavior: Previewing Questions

1.      Refer to the checklist of general professional teaching standards in the Pedagogy section of the Technology as Facilitator of Quality Education Model. Select three and discuss them. How would knowledge of each affect teachers in their teaching process?

2.      Do you feel that a teacher’s expectations may impact student achievement? Why or why not?  How might these expectations affect a student’s learning?

3.   Reflect back on your school experiences.  Do you feel that you received enough positive feedback?  How did it affect your learning experience?  As a teacher, do you plan to provide positive feedback?  How will you monitor yourself? 

Teachers Behavior: Post-viewing Questions

1.      What are the three ways in which Reed demonstrates good Pedagogy in class? Which one do you think enhances learning the most and how?

2.      The teacher in this video allows his students to have an active role in determining the format and content of the project. What are some other situations in which his students prove to be active participants in this project?

3.      Watch the video and explain how Reed’s Classroom Management affects student’s group work.