Sunday, December 13, 2009

Targeting Higher-order Thinking in Classroom Walkthroughs

The LoTi Classroom Walkthrough process is intended to promote continuous improvement and reflective practice in the classroom. Teachers are observed on their level of H.E.A.T. or H.E.A.R.T. which stands for Higher-order Thinking, Engaged Students, Authenticity, (Rubrics), and Technology Use in the classroom. Administrators using the Classroom Walkthrough with H.E.A.T./H.E.A.R.T. process are strongly encouraged to provide timely and effective written and verbal feedback to teachers following the walkthrough. This feedback should include a summary of the lesson along with at least one commendation and recommendation regarding the lesson.

Outlined below are commendations and recommendations focusing on the first target area of H.E.A.T./H.E.A.R.T.: Higher-order Thinking

Higher-order Thinking
One of the simplest ways to determine the level of Higher-order Thinking in a classroom is to note the questioning strategies being used; e.g., the types of questions being asked and perhaps, more importantly, who is asking the questions? Which level of Bloom's Taxonomy would these questions be categorized? Classrooms demonstrating "higher-order thinking" typically involve students asking these higher-order questions rather than the teacher. Most data reveals that the level of questioning is often teacher-led and at the knowledge/comprehension or application level of the Bloom's Taxonomy. So what feedback can we provide teachers to take it to the next level?

Higher-order Thinking Commendations
Start with a positive comment! Administrators can commend teachers on the level of Bloom's being achieved in the classroom walkthrough and/or the questioning strategies being used. Including specific examples of questions that were asked during the observation and discussing the level of Bloom's of the questions is an extremely valuable exercise to do with teachers.

Higher-order Thinking Recommendations
The most productive feedback is usually discovered through reflection after a lesson. This is why the feedback is such a vital part of the Classroom Walkthrough with H.E.A.T./H.E.A.R.T. process. As mentioned earlier, discussion of the lesson regarding the type of questioning strategies and questions asked will surface many ideas for future planning. An approach that often works is listening to the teacher reflect on the lesson and then providing advice and suggestions based on that reflection. In regards to Higher-order thinking there are many helpful resources available to direct teachers in order to enhance their current practice. Check out some of the recommended higher-order thinking sites that follow and utilize these in your own recommendations to teachers.


By the way, elevating the Higher-order thinking in the classroom also increases the level of student engagement and promotes authentic connections to the content.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

LoTi Administrator Orientation

Provided below is the agenda for our LoTi Administrator Orientation "snapshot."

Let's first explore digital-age learning by viewing the short video clips below.

Now, rank the videos from Lowest (1) to Highest (4) in terms of representing digital-age teaching and learning.


Discussion: If you have access to a laptop, add a comment at the bottom of this blog post now about the specific "look-fors" that separated your highest rated video from your lowest rated video.

What is H.E.A.T.?

• Discussion: Conduct a H.E.A.T. analysis of the Hermit Crabs video. Was it bringing the H.E.A.T. to student learning in terms of Higher order thinking, Engaged learning, Authentic connections, and Technology use. Discuss with your colleagues how you would have scored this video based on the H.E.A.T. rubric.

What is LoTi?

• Discussion: Conduct a LoTi Sniff Test of the Food Chains and Biology videos. What was the LoTi Level of each video? Discuss with your colleagues how you scored each video based on the LoTi Sniff Test.


• Discussion: How does LoTi relate to H.E.A.T.? If you have access to a laptop, add a comment at the bottom of this blog post now about the relationship between LoTi and H.E.A.T.

What is the LoTi Continuous Improvement Cycle?
• Assess
• Plan
• Implement
- Sample H.E.A.T. Strategy-Web 2.0 Tools
• Sustain
- Classroom Walkthroughs with H.E.A.T (User ID: lotiguest/Password: lotiguest)

• Discussion: As an administrator conducting classroom walkthroughs, what criteria or "look-fors" do you currently use to gauge acceptable instructional practices? How do these criteria compare with the H.E.A.T. look-fors?


Professional Development Opportunities:
LoTi Administrator Institute (Spring, 2010)
Online LoTi/H.E.A.T. Classes (User ID: lotiguest/Password: lotiguest)

Resources:



Classroom Walkthroughs with H.E.A.T.

 Provided below is the Classroom Walkthrough with H.E.A.T agenda which includes the goals, agenda items, and resource links.

Goals:
• Learn about each step of the H.E.A.T Walkthrough Process
• Using the LoTi Observer, practice gathering data in classrooms
• Acquire a systems approach for continuous improvement
• Develop a plan for conducting regular H.E.A.T.

Agenda
• Welcome and Overview
• Defining Classroom Walkthroughs
• H.E.A.T.
• 
LoTi Framework
• 
CIP Framework
• 5-Step H.E.A.T. Walkthrough Process
• 
LoTi Observer Application
• 
Step 1 - Pre-Walkthrough
• 
Step 2 - H.E.A.T. Walkthrough
• 
Step 3 - Post-Walkthrough
• 
Step 4 - Introduction to Group Data Analysis
• 
Step 5 - Development of Group Action Plan
• Wrap-Up
• Session Evaluation

Resources:

Video Samples - Early Childhood Level
• 
Early Childhood - Lifelong Learning
• 
Early Childhood: Science - Worms
• 
Early Childhood: Math - Counting
• 
Early Childhood: Social Studies - Community
• 
Early Childhood: Science: - Zoo Trip
• 
Early Childhood: Science: - Exploring Balls and Ramps

Video Samples - Elementary School Level
• 
Elementary Math: Fractions
• 
Elementary Science: Food Chains
• 
Elementary Science: Ecology
• 
Elementary Science: Space Day Design Challenge
• 
Elementary Science/Math/Language Arts: Weather
• 
Elementary Science: Electricity
• 
Elementary Math: Tessellations
• 
Elementary Science: Weather
• 
Elementary Science: Maui's Coral Reefs-Echinoderms
• 
Elementary Science: Stopping Distances
• 
Elementary Science: Monarch Butterflies
• 
Elementary Science: Solar System
• 
Elementary Science: Ecosystems
• 
Elementary PE: Pulse Rates
• 
Elementary Math: Luxury Hotel
• 
Elementary Science: Hermit Crabs
• 
Elementary Science: Iron Oxide Experiment

Video Samples - Middle School Level
• 
Middle School Math: Stock Market
• 
Middle School Math: Archimedes Spiral
• 
Middle School Language Arts: Literature Review - Tuck Everlasting
• 
Middle School Science: Properties of Matter
• 
Middle School Science: Air Pressure
• 
Middle School Science: Elements Commercial
• 
Middle School Science: Science Journals

Video Samples - High School Level
• 
High School Technology Elective: Video Editing
• 
High School Math: Pythagorean Theorem
• 
High School Math: Geometry in the Real World
• 
High School English: MacBeth
• 
High School Social Studies: Theodore Roosevelt and Progressivism
• 
High School Physics: Projectiles
• 
High School Science: Starry Night Simulation

Additional Resources:
• 
21st Century Learning Revisited
• 
HEAT Observation Form
• 
LoTi Sniff Test
• 
LoTi Framework