Chapterinternational
 
Concept Based Curriculum For Middle School and Lower
Secondary Educators
By Dr. Lynn Erickson
14th February 2012, Adelaide
 
Overview:
Lynn Erickson expands our understanding of the conceptual level of knowledge, thinking, and understanding. In this highly interactive session, Dr. Erickson will challenge your mind as she contrasts the three-dimensional concept-based curriculum and instruction model with the worn out two-dimensional coverage model. You will see a DVD clip of a three-dimensional, concept-based teacher instructing students. You will learn specific instructional strategies that engage the hearts and minds of students. And you will learn answers to questions like these.
Objectives:

You will learn specific instructional strategies that engage the hearts and minds of students. And you will learn answers to questions like these:
  • How is knowledge structured and how does that relate to classroom instruction?
  • What is a conceptual lens and how is it used to develop higher levels of thinking and increased motivation for learning?
  • How can we design instruction to achieve synergistic thinking between the factual and conceptual levels of knowledge and understanding?
  • Why do too many students lose motivation for learning the higher they go in the grade levels and how does decreased motivation relate to conceptual thinking?
  • How do we "scaffold" thinking to deeper levels?
  • How do we develop teacher questions that guide inquiry from the factual to the conceptual level of understanding?
  • What does concept-based instruction "look like" in the classroom?
  • How do we write Performance Assessments that measure deeper conceptual levels of understanding?
You will learn how to increase conceptual depth and understanding for your students. You will practice writing clear and powerful conceptual understandings to guide teaching. You will learn how to write three different kinds of questions to guide unit inquiry; and how to write quality performance tasks.
Agenda:
7.15- 8.00 Registration

8:00-9:30 Understanding the conceptual level of the Middle Years Curriculum
  • Concept based Curriculum as a 3 dimensional curriculum model
  • The Relationship of Concepts & Topics
  • Writing clear and powerful Significant Concept Statements and Supporting Ideas
9:30-9:45 Break
9:45-11:45 Scaffolding thinking from lower to higher levels
  • What is a conceptual lens and why is it important for teaching and learning?
  • Synergistic Thinking—a key to intellectual development and motivation for learning
  • The Significant Concept and Areas of Interaction – What are their roles as a conceptual lens, an interdisciplinary bridge, and setting a global context?
  • DVD clips of concept-based instruction—Evaluation & Discussion
  • The interdisciplinary unit web
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch (the afternoon will be group work in designing components of an interdisciplinary, or intradisciplinary unit)
1:00 - 1:30 Writing the unit generalizations (conceptual understandings) based on the unit web
1.00-1:30 Designing an interdisciplinary unit web (Pre-planning):
  • The Unit Title and Significant Concept related to the Area of Interaction
  • The interdisciplinary or disciplinary strands with sub-topics and sub-concepts
2:30 - 2:50 Writing the Significant Concept Statement and Supporting Ideas to address different disciplines
2:50 - 3:15 Break
3:15 - 3:30 Continue Unit Design 
  • Writing the Central Question and Guiding Questionsin the formative unit work (Factual, Conceptual, Debatable)
  • Writing a quality Performance Task
3:15-3:30 Questions, Sharing and Close
Potential Audience:
  All Educators teaching Middle years in Schools, Lower and Upper Secondary School.
Trainers' profiles:
Dr. Lynn Erickson is a private consultant assisting schools and districts nationally and internationally with curriculum design and instruction. During the past fifteen years Lynn has worked extensively with K-12 teachers and administrators on the design of classroom and district level curricula aligned to academic standards.

Lynn is the author of three best-selling books, Stirring the Head, Heart and Soul: Redefining Curriculum and Instruction, 3rd edition c. 2008, Concept-based Curriculum and Instruction for the Thinking Classroom, c. 2007, and Concept-based Curriculum and Instruction: Teaching Beyond the Facts, c. 2002 Corwin Press Publishers. She has a chapter in Robert Marzano's new book, On Excellence in Teaching, c. 2010, Solution Tree Press.

Lynn is a recognized presenter in the areas of concept-based curriculum design, teaching for deep understanding, and standards alignment. Erickson has worked as a teacher, principal, curriculum director, adjunct professor, and educational consultant over a 43-year career.

Lynn currently lives in Everett, Washington with her family. She and Ken have two children, and two grandsons, Trevor and Connor, who continually stir her heart and soul.
 
Investment:
  AUD 525/- Closing Date 8th February 2012
Venue:
  Blackwood High School Adelaide.
Contact:
  Shonal Agarwal
CEO
Chapters International
Email: shonal@chaptersinternational.com
chaptersinternational@gmail.com

Website: www.chaptersinternational.com
 
  register now
 
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