Introduction to Practice Four

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Practice Four

Learning experiences are integrated, related to the real world, reviewed consistently, and connected to subsequent curricula.

Contents include
Materials, Strategies, and web links in the following sections:

Implementation Basics

Ideas for Implementation

Implementation Evaluation and Goal Setting

Life Principle

Expectation

Quotes

Hand Signs

Practice Connections

Practice Characteristics

Evidence of Practice

Research

Literature

Vocabulary

Music & Video Links

Learning Strategies

Mind Map

Goal Setting Process with Individual and Class Forms and Examples

Printable Material links are found in each section.

Introduction to Practice #4

The following guide contains some practical resources to aid in the implementation of Practice #4. It includes the characteristics and evidence of the practice with direct links to specific online materials available on the Great Expectations website, http://www.greatexpectations.org/. Ready-to-use strategies and printable documents are available for immediate use.

Practice #4
Learning experiences are integrated, related to the real world, reviewed consistently, and connected to subsequent curricula.

The WHY? of Practice #4!!

Implementation supports a Culture of Respect by:

  • Enriching the curricula by making connections and extensions with real world experiences. 
  • Offering opportunities for learners to understand and participate in the global community through technology. 
  • Taking into account the learners’ skills, interests, and needs, the learning environment sets the stage for exploration, discussion, and the sharing of perspectives. 
  • Providing balanced learning experiences in which learners are valued as contributors in designing goals and activities based upon current standards and objectives. 
  • Using flexible group instruction to build a common base of information and experiences. 
  • Having learners take more responsibility and ownership for their learning changing from a passive to an active role.

Benefits that contribute to Academic Excellence include:

  • Integration offers a format for critical thinking, cooperative learning, and
    debate.
  • Gaining perspective and becoming a contributing part of the global community by sharing through the use of technology.
  • Review links information with prior learning creating more relevance and understanding and aids in the retention of new information or skills.
  • Relating content to the real world helps to personalize the learning and increases learner interest.
  • The brain innately seeks meaning through seeking patterns. The patterns give context to information that may otherwise be discarded by the brain as meaningless. Hence offering integrated lessons increases the chance that students will make sense of a lesson being taught. Coward, L. A. (1990). Pattern Thinking. New York: Praeger.

    For Research: see Rationale for 17 Practices Practice #4 - pages 10-11
    on Great Expectations website,

The WHO? EVERY LEARNER!

The WHERE? EVERYWHERE learners are engaged in the instructional process.

The WHEN? Integration, relating to the real world, reviewing consistently, and connecting to subsequent curricula - all critical to any learning experience!
Question? - When wouldn’t it be pedagogically advisable to incorporate these elements?

“Go put your creed into your deed.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson 
(Printable Poster)

Main objection: "This takes too much time!"
Response: What are the goals for all learners?

Goals

  • To personalize learning and increase learner interest. 
  • To address the uniqueness and multiple styles of all learners. 
  • To expand learning by developing an awareness of everyone’s voice and responsibilities as a contributing member of the global learning community 
  • To integrate content disciplines using thematic units with real world applications

Practice 4 supports the Problem-solving and Decision-making skills and Commitment to the Job skills listed under The 8 Keys to Employability:

Problem-solving and Decision-making Skills 

  • Flexible 
  • Creative & Innovative 
  • Adapt to change 
  • Plan & organize work 
  • Reason & make objective decisions

Commitment to the Job

  • Punctual & good attendance 
  • Consider work more than a job 
  • Enthusiastic 
  • Loyal to the organization & its employer 
  • Interest in future advancement 

Maturity 

  • Dependable 
  • Accept responsibility 
  • Don't let personal problems interfere 
  • Willing to perform extra work 
  • Pride in their work 

 

http://educationnorthwest.org/sites/default/files/DevelopingEmployabilitySkills.pdf