Cathy Manduca and the Mini-lesson Testing Team What Makes a Good Mini-lesson? Lessons from reviewing, research and experience Cathy Manduca and the Mini-lesson Testing Team (Karen, Sue, James, Stacia, Laura, Cindy, Gerry, Glenn, Rosemary, Geoff)

What Makes Mini-Lessons Work Really Well?

Wisdom from Learning Science (How People Learn, NRC,1999) Learning is additive, it builds on current understanding Understanding is actively constructed Students must refine and connect their knowledge to be able to use it further Learning to learn (metacognition) is an important aspect of becoming an expert Cognitive and affective domains are both important in learning (http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/affective/index.html)

What experiences will they have in this activity? Principles of Design 1) Students must be engaged to learn How does the activity engage them? 2) Students must construct new knowledge incrementally as a result of experience. What experiences will they have in this activity? 3) Students must refine and connect their knowledge to be able to use it further How will the activity promote reflection on and application of the new knowledge? Edelson, 2001, Learning for Use A Framework for the Design of Technology-Supported Inquiry Activities: Journal of Research in Science Teaching, vol 38, no 3, p 355-385

Does it work? How did you know?

Reasons to Assess To understand how to help the students In real time For the next class Before the test To determine if the lesson worked To assess if the learning goals were met To understand what the students have learned As a basis for evaluation (fairness is a concern here)

Assessment and Experimental Design Alignment Scale Data source Analysis and Interpretation

Sharing your Mini-Lesson– Reflections on Activity Sheets Summary Goals Context Materials Teaching Tips Assessment Resources 2 purposes – get an audience, support use Audience is faculty

Is it Good? Will the activity lead to the desired learning? Will I be able to tell? Does the pedagogy promote learning? Are the materials I provide for students complete and helpful? Could someone else implement this from the information I provide?

Resources Activity Design Resources 32648 Interactive lecture Investigative cases Assessment Metacognition Affective domain Activity review