Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating Meaningful Learning Experiences
For this Competency, you will be working with your Host Teacher as well as drawing from the resources to design, implement, and evaluate at least 3 learning experiences that integrate content areas and support the focus of an integrated Unit. The content areas you will be integrating are language arts, social studies, math, science, physical education and health, and the creative arts. You are required to integrate at least two content areas in each of the learning experiences you design and include all of the content areas at least once across the three experiences you develop. You are also required to collaborate with your Host Teacher as much as possible and then reflect on each of the learning experiences afterwards as well as your experience as a whole.
Aside from those specifics, your goals are to:
- Build on children’s interests
- Create developmentally appropriate experiences
- Engage in meaningful learning with the children
To complete this Performance Task:
- Meet with your Host Teacher and working as collaboratively as possible:
- Share the goals and the components of the Assessment
- Discuss the Unit Plan template, and your Host Teacher’s experiences with integrated learning and unit planning. Begin to formulate the focus of your unit based on children’s interests and goals of the classroom.
- Review and discuss the Learning Experience Template. Ask for your Host Teacher’s help and input in deciding on and designing learning experiences that integrate content areas, provide child-centered, developmentally appropriate experiences, and support the focus of the unit
- Make a timeline together for checking in with your Host Teacher on the development of your learning experiences and when you are going to be implementing them with the children
- Complete the Unit Plan Template:
- Explain why you chose the focus of the Unit and the ways it builds on children’s interests and supports the goals of the classroom
- Explain the structure of the unit, i.e., how you plan to integrate at least two content areas in each of the 3 learning experiences and ensure that you are including each of the six content areas at least once
- Complete at least 3 Learning Experience Templates:
- Design at least 3 integrated learning experiences
- Implement your learning experiences in your field experience setting
- Review the directions on the Field Experience Verification and Evaluation Form, complete Section I and send it to your Host Teacher to complete the remaining sections. Submit the completed from with your assessment.
- Complete the Reflection Questions:
- Review the Reflection section of each of the Learning Experiences
- Evaluate your experience of designing and implementing integrated learning experiences with young children by completing the Reflection Questions
