Chapterinternational
  Concept-based Curriculum and Instruction for Elementary Schools
Dr. Lynn Erickson
14th - 15th February 2012, Melbourne		  
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 IB 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.
Objectives:
  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?

You will learn how to increase conceptual depth and understanding for your students. You will practice writing clear and powerful Big Ideas to guide inquiry. You will learn how to write and use different kinds of questions to develop deep understanding and you will appreciate concept based curriculum and instruction as an idea-centered model.
Agenda:
  Day 1
  8:00 - 9:30
    Understanding the conceptual level
 
  • Two-Dimensional versus Three-Dimensional Curriculum and Instruction
  • The Relationship of Concepts and Topics
  • Writing Clear and Powerful Big Ideas
  9:30 - 9:45 Break
  9:45 - 10:15  Scaffolding thinking from lower to higher levels   
  10:15 - 11:00  The Conceptual Lens and the Goal of Synergistic Thinking (synergistic thinking is an interactive energy between the factual and conceptual levels of thinking)
  11:00 - 11:30 DVD clips of concept-based instruction—Evaluation & Discussion
  11:20 - 11:45  The interdisciplinary unit web
  11:45 - 12:00  Questions and Answers
  12:00 - 1:00 Lunch
  1:00 - 1:30  Designing an interdisciplinary unit web (Pre-planning):
 
  • The Unit Title and Conceptual Lens
  • The interdisciplinary strands with sub-topics and sub-concepts
  1:30 - 2:15 Writing Big Ideas to Guide Inquiry
  2:15 - 2:30 Break
  2:30 - 3:00  Writing the Teacher  Questions (Factual, Conceptual, Debatable) to guide inquiry 
  3:00 - 3:30  Writing a quality Performance Task 
  3:30   Questions and Close
  Day 2
  9:00 - 10:00 Chapter sharing and discussion from Concept-based Curriculum & Instruction for the Thinking Classroom
  10:00 - 10:15 Questions and Answers from Lynn
  10:15 - 10:30 Break
  10:30 - 11:15 Continue the design of a concept-based unit of instruction
  Step 2 : Writing clear and powerful conceptual understandings (also known as Enduring or Essential Understandings, Big Ideas ,Central Ideas, Significant Concept Statements…)
  11:15 - 11:40
  Step 3 : Designing guiding questions to path student inquiry from the factual to the conceptual levels of understanding: Factual, Conceptual, and Provocative (Debate) Questions.
  11:40 - 12:00  DVD Clip - A high school concept-based teacher - What similarities do you see between the elementary and high school concept-based teachers?
  12:00 - 1:00  Lunch
  1:00 - 1:30
  Step 4 : Identifying critical content knowledge and key skills for a concept-based unit - Examples of KUD’s (Know, Understand, able to Do)
  1:30 - 2:15
  Step 5 : Writing a quality performance task - How to ensure a performance of deep understanding vs. a lower level “activity”
  2:15 - 2:30 Break
  2:30 - 3:00
  Step 6 : Designing the Scoring Guide
  3:00 - 3:10
  Step 7 : Designing learning experiences (Backwards Design) that address Know, Understand, and able to Do (Design backwards, but teach forward)
  3:10 - 3:30 Checking for Understanding - a fun whole group Quiz Game
  3:30 - 4:00  Bringing it all together (table task)& - Creating a visual of  the components of Concept - based; Share out; Close.
   
Potential Audience:
  K-6 teachers, principals and assistants, central office curriculum and instruction coordinators, university instructors in teacher training, as well as all levels of International Baccaluareate Programmes
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 720/- Closing Date 5th January 2012
  AUD 670/- Early Bird Offer till 15th  November 2011
Special Group Discount till 1st November 2011
AUD 650/- per participant for a group of 5 or more
AUD 570/- per participant for a group of 10 or more.
Venue:
  Melbourne
Contact:
  Shonal Agarwal
CEO
Chapters International
Email: shonal@chaptersinternational.com
chaptersinternational@gmail.com

Website: www.chaptersinternational.com
 
register now
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