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Using Learning Targets for Effective Instruction

Gain an understanding of the research on using Learning Targets in the Classroom. Learn how to differentiate between Learning Targets and Activities/Assignments. Practice writing effective learning goals and designing tasks to accompany learning goals.

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Using Learning Targets for Effective Instruction

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  1. Learning Targets In The ClassroomOur goals: To gain an understanding of the research on using Learning Targets in the Classroom. Teachers will be able to differentiate between Learning Targets and Activities and Assignments. Teachers will practice writing effective learning goals and design tasks to accompany learning goals.

  2. The Research Mike Schmoker: “The single greatest determinant of learning is not socioeconomic factors or funding levels. It is instruction…Instruction itself has the largest influence on achievement.” “In most cases neither teachers or students can articulate what they are supposed to be learning that day; they can only describe the activity or assignment. There is a glaring absence of the most basic elements of an effective lesson: an essential, clearly-defined learning target.”

  3. More Research “A recent meta-analysis of 53 research studies (Marzano, 1998) found that when students were clear in advance about what they were learning, their achievement was, on average, 34 percentile points higher on tests used in these studies than students in the control groups.” (McRel, 2000)

  4. Why are we doing this?Learning Targets and Assessment • The starting point for effective assessment is clarifying the Learning Target or Goal. • It’s hard to hit a Target… If you can’t see it!

  5. Identify Intended Learning • What is the intended learning? - That is your target! • Learning Targets may also be called: • Standards • Benchmarks • Grade Level Expectations • Learning Outcomes • Essential Learnings • Power Standards

  6. Learning Targets/Goals • All the synonyms represent Learning Statements or Statements of Intended Learning. If we don’t begin with clear statements of intended learning, we won’t end with sound assessments.

  7. Target or Activity? • Learning Targets (or Goals) –vs- Activities and Assignments -Learning Targets or Goals are the ends -Activities and Assignments are the means to those ends • After developing a clear Learning Target or Goal, teachers construct a task or tasks that will help determine whether students have attained the goal.

  8. A Learning Target or Goal is a statement of what students will know or be able to do. Statements begin with: “Students will be able to” or “Students will understand” or “I can” statements.

  9. Activities and Assignments These are stated in less structured ways. Example: Students will successfully complete the exercises in the back of chapter 3.

  10. Practice • On the worksheet, write whether the statement is a Learning Goal or an Activity/Assignment. • When finished, compare answers with your table partners.

  11. Translating General Statements into Learning Goals • Example of a General Statement (Grade Level Standard): Understands and uses a variety of sentence types. • Example of a Learning Goal that would be developed: Students will be able to produce examples of simple, compound, and complex sentences and write a brief essay that includes all three types.

  12. Your Turn • On the back of your worksheet, translate the following statements into learning targets or goals. Example: Writing Effective Paragraphs “Students will be able to write a paragraph that includes clear transition statements from one paragraph to the next.” • Reducing fractions • Understanding photosynthesis • Reading comprehension

  13. Designing Assessment Tasks for Learning Goals • We should examine whether or not our assessments reflect clear learning targets. Intentional teaching means that all instruction and activities are aimed at specific learning targets. • Examples of Assessment Tasks for Learning Goals • Target: Students will determine the main idea and supporting details of an expository text. • Assessment: Read the following excerpt. Write a few sentences describing what the main idea is and name at least two supporting details you found in the text.

  14. Summary • A Learning Target or Goal is a specific statement of what students will know or be able to do. • Learning Targets are different from Activities and Assignments • Learning Targets and Assessment Go Hand in Hand- When we begin with well defined targets, we are able to develop assessments that reflect exactly what we teach our students and what we expect them to learn. • When students clearly understand the learning target, they are able to take responsibility for their own learning.

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