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Personalized Science Prototype 

 

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Objectives:
  1. Explore a learning menu.
  2. Develop 2 learning menus for your own classroom.
  3. Plan class time for 2 learning experiences: learning menus and group labs.
  4. Introduce students to a learning menu and expectations.
  5. Conclude that week’s menu with a facilitated group discussion.
 
Suggested Timeline: 2 weeks

Stage 2: Differentiate Instruction with Learning Menus 

Note: This module could be modified to implement a different adaptive math program if desired. 

Implementation

 

  • Learning menus include resources that appeal to different types of learners, allowing students to watch, listen, read, examine, research and play.

 Objective 1: Explore a learning menu. 

  • Step 2: Think about the path you selected through the photosynthesis learning menu. How might this type of learning menu work with learners in your classroom?

  • Learning menus allow students to select the resources that best fit them as learners.

 

 Objective 2: Develop 2 learning menus for your own classroom.

  • Step 1: Select a subtopic in an upcoming science unit you teach (e.g. photosynthesis). The topic should last 1-2 weeks of the overall 4-6 week long unit.

 

  • Step 2: Create a list of resources and links for your topic using your own resources, or the list below, to find content to support a variety of learning styles.

 

  • Step 3: Make a copy of this template or create one of your own to paste in your resource links and images to share with students.

    • Use action verbs in your directions for the resources: Listen, read, watch, manipulate, interpret, build, model, create, etc.

 

  • Step 4: Following the steps above, create a second learning menu for the the next subtopic in your unit. You should have two complete learning menus.

Objective 3: Plan class time for 2 learning experiences: learning menus and group labs.

 

  • Step 1: Determine your student to device ratio and days of the week you will have access to devices. (Note that you should have no less than a 3 to 1 student to device ratio.)

    • There should be 70-90 minutes of device time per week for every student to complete your learning menu.

 

  • Step 2: Students will alternate class periods between lab work and learning menus. In this way, learning menus will reinforce, connect and extend their understanding in their lab experiences.

    • Example:

 

 

  • Step 4: Create a document to track students as they complete menu items.

Congratulations! You've completed Stage 2. Move on to Stage 3: Assess Learning Needs.

The 5 Stages of PL Prototype Implementation

 

 Objective 4: Introduce students to a learning menu and expectations.

 

  • Step 1: With the whole class, review your first learning menu.

    • Ask students to think about how they learn best -- do they like to listen to a song, watch a video, read an article, play a game, try a simulation?

    • Explain that for this science unit, students will be using learning menus, which provide them the opportunity to select different types of resources to learn with that best fit their learning needs.

 

  • Step 2: With students, examine the resources on the menu. Ask them to turn to a neighbor and explain which resources would be a good fit for a visual learner, auditory learner and so on.

 

  • Step 3: Direct students to fold or divide a piece of paper into four quadrants to take notes on their learning.

    • Have students label the four quadrants with these note taking strategies: 1. key words 2. big ideas 3. drawings or diagrams 4. questions. Example.

 

  • Step 4: Students will use 4 different resources and 4 different note taking strategies. As students select a resource to learn with, they will choose a quadrant on their paper and a note taking strategy to complete.

    • For example, they may choose to listen to a song, and fill in the key words from the song in the corresponding box.

 

  • Step 5: Throughout the week, circulate, support lab groups, reinforce learning during laptop time and record student progress on the class tracking sheet.

 Objective 5: Conclude that week’s menu with a facilitated group discussion.

 

  • Step 1: Review this discussion sample. Through dialogue, students will solidify their understanding and reflect on their learning choices.

 

  • Step 2: Make a copy of the discussion sample and modify as desired for your classroom needs.

    • Have students select a group member to lead the discussion about the learning menu and lab experience.

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