Today, we focused on several areas impacting instruction, assessment, and technology use in the classroom such as how to design individualized professional development plans for staff based on their LoTi, CIP, PCU, and DETAILS profiles as well as how to conduct a makeover of a lesson plan by first assessing its critical attibutes (e.g., Validity/Reliability, Authenticity, Challenge, Critical Content, Differentiation, Technology Use).
Besides the LoTi Sniff test, I also introduced another concept to help us think about LoTi and the eight stages comprising the LoTi Framework. I used a lava lamp as a metaphor to represent the different levels of LoTi in the classroom. I also provided you with a sample H.E.A.T. Observation form that can be used by classroom teachers (for self-reflection), peer mentors, instructional coaches, and administrators to conduct classroom walkthroughs. What causes one lesson to be at a higher level than another relates directly to the amount of HEAT generated.
HEAT
- Higher order thinking
- Engaged learning
- Authenticity
- Technology tools
Keep in mind that the H.E.A.T. acronym represents four of the dimensions from the larger scoring guide that we used today to evaluate a lesson plan. The reasons for addressing only four dimensions are threefold: (1) KISS principle, (2) reduce the amount of staff anxiety-already too many competing priorities going on in the classroom, and (3) hit the critical elements first.
May the LoTi Be With You Always!
Chris
