Standard+4

=Marian University EDT 678 =

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Standard 4 **Teachers know how to teach. ** The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies, including the use of technology, to encourage children's development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.


 * Evidence 1: ** AP Statistics 1st Quarter Project


 * Rationale 1: ** This project was developed as part of the Advanced Placement Statistics course criteria. For this project the students are required to find a set of data that they can analyze. The students are given a list of different tasks they need to perform on this data. All of these tasks were learned during the 1st quarter of this course. The data analysis is performed by applying multiple functions they have learned on their graphing calculator. Then they have to interpret this information and communicate what it means in context of their data.

Implementing this project was important for my development as a teacher because it gave me a feedback on what the students had really learned and understand from the material in the first quarter of this course. It also gives the students the opportunity to review the material. It makes them apply what they have learned in a way that they would understand why they need to know it. Since everyone has their own set of data they have their own unique set of solutions that require them to think for themselves.

// 4.K.3 The teacher knows how to enhance learning through the use of a wide variety of materials and technological resources (e.g. computers, audio-visual technologies, videotapes and discs, local experts, primary documents and artifacts, texts, reference books, literature, and other print resources). // The students are required to find their own data. They can search the internet for anything that is of interest to them. All they have to do is site the reference for where they find the data. For this projects the students also have to utilize many functions on their graphing calculators that are skills needed for the AP exam later in the year. It gives them a hands on reason to practice and review these skills. Since interpreting the information they find on their calculator is just as important for the AP exam, they are required to do that too.
 * KSD: **

// 4.S.1 The teacher carefully evaluates how to achieve learning goals, choosing alternative teaching strategies and materials to achieve different instructional purposes and to meet student needs (e.g. developmental stages, prior knowledge, learning styles, learning differences, and interests). // The project is a different way to assess if the students understand the concepts that were taught in the first quarter of the class, rather than a traditional test. It gives them a way to review and make sure that they really did understand the concepts that they were expected to learn. Letting them choose their own data lets them pick an area that may be more interesting to them.

// 4.D.1 The teacher values the development of students’ critical thinking, independent problem solving, and // // performance capabilities. // This project is a good way to have the students not only review the first quarter’s material but make sure that they understand it, not just be able to “do’ it. The tasks they have to perform and the questions they have to answer require the students to communicate an understanding of the concepts, another skill that is needed for the AP exam.