Week 13

Where in your school or the school that you are observing are the characteristics of best design most likely to be seen in action? In what programs and subject areas would we most expect to see these characteristics, compared with other programs or subjects? Are there any patterns, If so, why?

After a study of sample units, and one of your own designs, edit or amend your list of characteristics of the best designs, as appropriate. 

Thinking back on my experiences as a learner, the best in school experience I had was in High School. I think this was one of the best learning experiences I had because I remember it the best. It was my senior year of high school and I was in an English class that was designed around New York City. We read stories that took place in New York, and then we went on a few weekend walking tours. It was fantastic to see my teacher so involved, and get so excited about the topic that learning was almost contagious. I think one of the reasons that the class was so exciting was because it was about our city. It was fun to learn about the way that the city has changed, and the people who influenced the change. 

Personally, it's very hard to see a good design at my school, it's not because of the teachers, but because of the students. Our school is comprised of a lot of "Newcomer" students the academy is called. These newcomer students are just that, new comers. They come from different countries, and they speak little to no English. They are put into regular classes, and it becomes difficult to differentiate the class when the teacher doesn't speak the language, and they are spending more time getting someone to translate than teaching the class. I feel that the classes that usually have the best design as classes where the students are able to express their learning in the best way they can. I would love to have a classroom that is a flipped classroom, and the everyday the students would be able to show me what they have learned and apply it into the music classroom. 

I still believe that students learning using PBL benefit the most out of regular classrooms. I believe that during PBL units they really jump in and the outcomes are greater than when you give them a set list of instructions and specific criteria that they must meet.