Good morning ... I'm playing piano ... but this topic is so important ... so I'm joining virtually and will enjoy extending the conversation this week ... be ready for pictures!
Sylvia, Writing Coach & RDG teacher @BrandonHSEagles & Moderator of #HackLearning slow chat
I'm Connie Hamilton, co-author of Hacking Homework and Curriculum Director in Saranac, MI. I'm very passionate about today's topic: LEARNING TARGETS.
#hackLearning
A1 Effective learning targets
☞ written in language that students connect with (not SWBAT)
☞ put the ownership of learning on the student
☞ can be reached in one lesson
☞ relate directly to a learning goal
#HackLearning
There's no magical formula for how to word a learning target. The point of have a goal for today's lesson is to have clarity and communicate purpose. Don't get hung up on semantics. #HackLearning
A1 LTs are effective because they are the first tool of instruction ... they are also a point of assessment ... "are we learning what is expected?" #HackLearning
A1 “Unpacking” the LT makes it much more effective since we clarify the language & make sure Ss understand what we’re asking for. Unpacking is also a great way to teach or review academic vocab. When Ss clearly understand the target it gives them a map for learning.
#hacklearning
Good morning. Tara Noe here in GA. I am Instructional Lead Strategist @EtowahHigh where I coach individuals and groups of teachers and design professional learning as a partner with my Principal. #hackLearning
A1 “Unpacking” the LT makes it much more effective since we clarify the language & make sure Ss understand what we’re asking for. Unpacking is also a great way to teach or review academic vocab. When Ss clearly understand the target it gives them a map for learning.
#hacklearning
A1: Good morning! Making them relative to what students can understand and use. They also need to be challenging but attainable. If students can’t relate and the target is unattainable, it becomes very difficult to be effective. #HackLearning
A1: Effective learning targets, for me, are purposeful in design to not only meet the curriculum standards but to engage the learner through their interests and frame of reference. #HackLearning
A1 LTs are effective because they are the first tool of instruction ... they are also a point of assessment ... "are we learning what is expected?" #HackLearning
A1) As my students are writing their first lesson plans, I've been noticing that they are figuring out that if they are not clear about their targets, their lessons get pretty wonky and all over the place. Targets provide clarity and direction. #hacklearning
It would still be a LT. However, the teacher may choose to reveal/compare the planned purpose to the student reflection at the END of the lesson rather that the beginning. #HackLearning
A1: we worked on unpacking the standards last year and listing the many instructional implications in ea standard. We then wrote I Can statements. They need to be shared with Ss not just written on the board! #hackLearning
A1: IMO learning targets can't be... the instruction to reach the intended target can be both engaging and effective if planned with relevant content and opportunities for students to own the learning #HackLearning
We often don't realize that Ss may not understand terms we find simple. They may be able to define a term but don't have deeper understanding. #hacklearning
A1 They should be specific and made clear to the students at the outset of learning. They must match a progression of surface toward deep learning that is broken into logical chunks. #hackLearning
A1) Learning targets 🎯 are effective when we include the skill and disposition the students will be enhancing while they learn. @pullED_Learning@CESA6#hacklearning
This is a great way to check your clarity. If students can't identify the purpose of the struggle - maybe the task wasn't defined well enough, the questioning was divergent, or the purpose was just too broad. #HackLearning
A1: Learning targets are effective when they focus on what students should and are capable of learning. They should be specific and measurable #HackLearning
A1: In order for learning targets to be effective, Ss must be able to share not only the why and the how but also their progress towards the goal. Reflection and feedback are what make a learning target effective! #HackLearning
A2 Sometimes at the beginning of a lesson, sometimes at the end (if we want Ss to discover something) & at times we can change it up & let Ss come up with the LT. “Based on what we’re doing, what do you think the LT would be?” is a good critical thinking exercise.
#HackLearning
A2 Learning targets work best for me and my students when
☞ posted for the duration of the class
☞ in the same place every day
☞ clearly articulated to students at the start of class
Students look for them and refer back to them; routines work #HackLearning
Help students keep the learning goal in mind as you launch them off to perform a task. There is a purpose for "doing" this - the purpose is learning. So help students to focus on the learning - not the doing. #HackLearning
A1 It's not easy to get somewhere, if you don't know where you're going. 1st, understand where you want to be & WHY you want to be there. Only then can you have a successful journey. Ss need to understand the what & why of learning targets, so they are effective. #hacklearning
A1: we worked on unpacking the standards last year and listing the many instructional implications in ea standard. We then wrote I Can statements. They need to be shared with Ss not just written on the board! #hackLearning
A1: Learning targets keep evereyone on the same page and honest about outcomes. Without them, we lose purpose and real learning becomes harder to attain. #HackLearning
We unpack standards at my school ... I have 122 US History standards ... on any given day I am covering 4 - 8 ... not all of them fit into an "I can statement". My best teaching comes from creating a learning target based on a big question and not a single standard #hacklearning
Hey Heidi, Thanks for helping us #HackLearning today. Great to have you here. We continue this chat daily throughout the week. Hope you'll weigh in anytime Monday through Saturday.
I see your point. I use learning target for milestones for myself and students to show progress toward the goal. All of these must be explicit to work and of instruction must support the target. #HackLearning
A2: Students should know the target of the lesson at the onset, but should be reminded of it throughoutsonthey know what they are striving for. It also doesn’t hurt if the students are setting their own targets and tracking their progress toward achievement #HackLearning
A2 LTs should be visible and verbal ... and should be addressed at the beginning of a lesson, in the middle of a lesson, and at the end of the lesson ... like traveling ... always check the road map. :) #HackLearning
A1 Learning targets are effective because they give a clear understanding on when to reteach/change instructional method. Ss have a clear understanding of what the objective is. #HackLearning
Are they always measurable? I pose mine as essential questions. It may because of my specific content, but it works well for me. So, a target for my class might be: "How would you describe the roles and responsibilities of teachers?" - #hacklearning
I’ve always posted LTs on the board and discussed them at the beginning of class... but I like these ideas as well. I like the idea of discovery. #HackLearning
Yes - but the objectives I've seen usually say "the student will...." I think the "I can..." wording of a learning target is more powerful #HackLearning
A2: Early and often. But I wonder, does it depend from class to class? Knowing our students and our class to effectively communicate these learning targets? Or are there set ways which work all the time , every time? #hackLearning
A2: right at the beginning of learning. We are not in the business of tricking or keeping kids in the dark. Easier to know where to go if you can have a visual road map and those are the targets and your plan is the roadmap #hacklearning
Depends on the target, but students need to know the target before, during the approach, and when they've reached it. Refer to the target constantly. Your airline pilot does. #HackLearning
Hope you are having great thoughts ... will you continue the conversation by reflecting on your practices AND sharing some great ideas this week? Join the slow chat #HackLearning
A2: LTs should be transparent to everyone. If provided early on then the connection between the curriculum becomes evident and builds greater capacity for learning. #hackLearning
I was once that teacher in the sense of posting them to meet a requirement and never referencing them with Ss. However I did make sure Ss knew curriculum and were successful on assessments over standards. #HackLearning
A2 Learning targets work best for me and my students when
☞ posted for the duration of the class
☞ in the same place every day
☞ clearly articulated to students at the start of class
Students look for them and refer back to them; routines work #HackLearning
A2) I watched a teacher last week effectively communicate her learning targets with her students by telling them, having them share with each other, by posting them, and by creating visuals. #HackLearning
I continuously remind the students of what we are striving to learn ... all the activities ... the research ... is tying all the pieces together as we shoot for the target. #hacklearning
YES! when students are encouraged to work on authentic tasks they need to be able to refer to the "roadmap" to make sure they are on the right course #HackLearning
It's important for us to ask Ss to reflect on learning targets/goals often to check their own understanding. If they aren't where they want to be, teachers can offer more help or guidance. #hacklearning
How do you know if they really “get it”? I think measurable goals come in different shapes and sizes. Not always measurable in the traditional sense, but we should always know if our students understand whatever it is we are teaching. #HackLearning
We start with three ?s to warm up ...
What are we doing ?
Why are we doing it?
How can we show Learning?
Displays are Colored coded for the littles ... 1 for red like 🎯
2for purple /purpose 3~Green like go sign ~ never done Learning
Works for us 😊 #HackLearning
Thanks for helping us #HackLearning today, Dennis. Did you know that we continue the discussion throughout the week in our slow Twitter chat, moderated by @SylviaEllison? She'll drop questions on Monday and Thursday. Please weigh in daily, when you have a moment.
In reply to
@D4Griffin3, @pullED_Learning, @CESA6, @SylviaEllison
A2: right at the beginning of learning. We are not in the business of tricking or keeping kids in the dark. Easier to know where to go if you can have a visual road map and those are the targets and your plan is the roadmap #hacklearning
We start with three ?s to warm up ...
What are we doing ?
Why are we doing it?
How can we show Learning?
Displays are Colored coded for the littles ... 1 for red like 🎯
2for purple /purpose 3~Green like go sign ~ never done Learning
Works for us 😊 #HackLearning
Spot on. I debated this with a principal once, when he asked why I didn't post standards on my white board. I told him I wanted my kids to discover the learning outcome. If I did my job well, they'd write it for me. #HackLearning
A2: Once I realized the power of including the Ss in their learning (imagine that) I started putting them on the common notes, referenced them at the beginning/end of the lesson, and they were on the assessments #HackLearning
A2~ use of visuals, whole group chats, learning partner chats ~ works when it is ongoing throughout day ~ models connections in Learning quite nicely ✅ #HackLearning
Thanks for your ongoing support. Did you know that we continue the discussion throughout the week in our #HackLearning slow Twitter chat, moderated by @SylviaEllison? She'll drop questions on Monday and Thursday. Please weigh in daily, when you have a moment.
Love this approach to checking for alignment. The teacher should have purpose for the activity or lesson, but s/he doesn't have to communicate it in the first minute of class. Discover and inquiry learning still needs purpose. #HackLearning
Spot on. I debated this with a principal once, when he asked why I didn't post standards on my white board. I told him I wanted my kids to discover the learning outcome. If I did my job well, they'd write it for me. #HackLearning
Consider this list of questions. How do you know which question is BEST - without a clear learning target? If you don't know what students are supposed to learn, Choosing aligned questions is impossible. #HackLearning
Hey Jove, Thanks for joining #HackLearning live chat. Did you know that we continue the discussion throughout the week in our slow Twitter chat, moderated by @SylviaEllison? She'll drop questions on Monday and Thursday. Please weigh in daily, when you have a moment.
A3 Learning targets are the way I track my progress toward guiding students to larger goals.
Especially in science 3D instruction: have students experience, model, write, read, research, reflect, and publish for each unit #HackLearning
While these are low level questions, they are clearly aligned to the learning target. If you're looking for more critical thinking, design a Q that aligns with the lesson purpose. Don't diverge with something like, "Which pig was the smartest pig?" #HackLearning
Ron Berger's book Leaders of Their Own Learning is a must read! We've been implementing his ideas in our school for the past 3 years & it has made such a difference. #HackLearning
While I love this structure, some teachers may find it a bit contrived. Is it okay to change the wording? Maybe something like, "What were you hoping to learn (or accomplish) today?"
#HackLearning
Just for the sake of thinking, what kind of learning target would you create if you didn't start it with either "The student will" or "I can"? #hacklearning
I used the same when I taught! Helped Ss know if they needed extra support so they could take more ownership of their learning. Sometimes Ss think they have it but may have a misconception that needs clarity. Ss often said it helped them. #hacklearning
A3: I think all aspects. I like to look at the targets, build your plan to then build learning activities and supports to drive instruction #hacklearninghttps://t.co/wnvTbSNGcZ
A3: We are teaching our students how to be intentional and follow a plan. Learning targets take the mystery out of the game. Students who look for meaning and have a purpose are more likely to exceed expectation! This is a teachable skill!! #hacklearning
A2(b): I have a student tech team this year and the Ss asked the other day the purpose behind the lessons. They thought they’d just be sitting around doing nothing until called to do something despite the LTs being posted and discussed prior to. #HackLearning
A1 LTs and success criteria go together. It is giving the kids a sense of what is the purpose of what we are learning today, like kids playing video games. They know what it means to be successful to get to the next level. #hacklearning
While I love this structure, some teachers may find it a bit contrived. Is it okay to change the wording? Maybe something like, "What were you hoping to learn (or accomplish) today?"
#HackLearning
A3: LTs should be followed with a discussion of how mastery of that target can/will be achieved and then intentional thought on how to provide an experience to get to that target. #hackLearning
Ron Berger's book Leaders of Their Own Learning is a must read! We've been implementing his ideas in our school for the past 3 years & it has made such a difference. #HackLearning
When the teacher and the student are clear on today's learning target. The teacher has direction in where to start with feedback and the student is not surprised when feedback about character development is provided. Keep it focused and intentional. #HackLearning
Without a learning target. How is a teacher going to decide where to begin with feedback for this writer? Spelling? Punctuation? Word choice? Voice? #HackLearning
I'm not sure. In our school all teachers use "I can..." Ss are familiar with this & when they present or teach other Ss, they also include LTs
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Hey Tamra, thanks for your contributions today. Did you know that we continue the discussion throughout the week in our #HackLearning slow Twitter chat, moderated by @SylviaEllison? She'll drop questions on Monday and Thursday. Please weigh in daily, when you have a moment.
A3 Angela MS science T joining in while watching The Ryder Cup! Learning targets coincide with 3D teaching of NGSS. Focus on SEP and CC in all lessons. Not just content! #HackLearning
A3~supports teamwork, collaboration among all of us ~ align with praising, supporting , encouraging each other to help meet & exceed goals & supports Individual & collective growth 🌎 win win #HackLearning
A lifetime ago, I used to call this "Focus Correction Areas," not my own creation. I think it's similar to targets. It's so important to help kids focus on only a few problems, especially in writing.
#HackLearning
I think the ‘I can’ or ‘I understand’ or the like help put it in Ss friendly language that supports Ss ownership of their learning. Just what I’m thinking.....
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A3 I think that its important for teachers to remember that behind every learning target is a broader purpose to inspire Ss & help them develop a passion for exploration & learning. If we have to take a detour from the primary objective along the way, that's okay. #hacklearning
You may be interested to check out the #HackLearning twitter chat happening right now, being facilitated by a friend - @conniehamilton. It’s focused on Learning Goals/Targets, so very timely to your newest blog post :)
Thanks for contributing to our #HackLearning chat today, Dan. Did you know that we continue the discussion throughout the week in our slow Twitter chat, moderated by @SylviaEllison? She'll drop questions on Monday and Thursday. Please weigh in daily, when you have a moment.
Explicit kid friendly language that uphold high expectations! Look closely at the VERB of the learning target and where it is taking your students! #HackLearning
A3 Knowing when/how to scaffold instruction, special education accommodations, language barriers-The LT remains the same but the instructional method adapts to students #OneSizeDoesnotFitAll#HackLearning
I'll admit - as an administrator, having the LT visible in the classroom when I walk in is convenient for me. However, I'm careful to look for how it's embedded in the learning and not just checking a box that the teacher is using LTs just b/c it's posted. #HackLearning.
The learning target drives all that we do. Getting them properly fleshed out is best done with our PLC so we have some collective decision making regarding what that standard really means. Them we can compare student work along the journey and ensure all kids learn. #hackLearning
Not only student friendly, but if possible student DRIVEN. My students use the Question Formulation Technique to create our essential questions. Then we move forward into the content. They own the class. #HackLearning
Thank you for a really great morning #HackLearning chat. You guys are a great crew! Wow! Off to break bread with my 81 yr old Ma ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Have a great week! 😊
I think it helps to have a stage setting discussion w examples of the target .. then to keep them side by side as conferencing occurs w kids / always wonder how to have learners more a part of creating the target and language - how do these create authencity? #HackLearning
