Paradigm Shift in Teaching
My students working on their concept map
AFTER TEACHING for over a year, I have realized that one of the most important tasks of a teacher is assessment. During our annual performance evaluation, I have always emphasized that I need more training on developing and using authentic assessment techniques as well as interpreting results and utilizing them in planning future learning activities.
About a month ago, I was sent to a Professional Development Program at the University of the Philippines-National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP-NISMED) for a training on the Backward Design Process in creating Unit Plans with focus on enduring understanding.
It reinforced my belief that determining the understanding that you want your students to gain should first be done before planning the learning activities. That way, you can be sure that the activities you are giving them are congruent to what you expect them to learn.
Last week, my lessons were videotaped by the Division Office. They wanted to document our use of non-traditional assessment. Luckily, we were having a laboratory activity in my junior class and I presented my rubric for participation. As our culminating activity for hydrostatics and hydrodynamics, we had concept-mapping with my fourth year students to check how well they have understood the relationships between the quantities and principles we have studied.
Supervising (distracting?) the kids (lol)
I was able to see the videos and I am glad that I am telegenic. Lol. Kidding aside, I observed that my voice is well-modulated. It is audible but not too loud and to irritate the ears. The problem is my posture. I slouch a bit too much that somewhat indicates that I lack confidence.
Tomorrow, they are going to videotape my class again. This time, my students are going to present the results of their laboratory actvity. We will have our rubric for presentation
I am loving how the school administration helps me become a better teacher. Every weekend, we are having a session on classroom-based assessment and I continue to learn more about peformance-based tasks and non-traditional assessment.
