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Gaining Clarity on Our Goals
By way of introduction, our goals are not as clear as we think and this might be due to different kinds of objectives which altogether take place in the classroom. One way to solve this ‘chaotic’ situation is by clearly state our desired results. On one hand, we must identify the learning outcomes and how these understandings will be transfer. On the other hand, enabling knowledge and skills needed to perform a particular task.
Wiggins and McTighe (2005) claim that understandings are the attempts students undergo to make sense of the contents by using inquiry, performance and reflection. In other words, understanding must be comprehended. This chapter outlines the ways in which we can promote this complex task. One of these is called ‘enabling skills’ i.e. the abilities the students need to succeed in transferring what they have learnt.
Another issue described in this chapter is the amount of contents which exceeds the time needed to learn them. The authors suggest the concept of ‘unpacking contents’, "by clustering the specifics under two broader conceptual umbrellas containing the big ideas and core tasks" (p.53). The function of big ideas is to establish the learning priorities, they help the facts and skills stick together, and therefore they will remain in the learner’s mind. Moreover, we must seek that each learner grasps the idea and use it to hold together related contents. Core tasks can be understood as the opportunities for learning that are aimed at helping teachers use subject matter knowledge to figure out what their students know, to make questions, to evaluate and modify their textbooks.
If we don't have enough time, surely our plans will not be well developed, therefore I think the most important issue is to pay a lot of attention to priorities and big ideas which will help us and students too.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you on the fact we do not have time! We think there is so much contents for the students to learn but we don´t realize that we need to set priorities and to make choices.
ReplyDeleteYeah you are right, sometimes teachers do not have goals clearly determined or they are confusingly organized. That issue contributes to make students feel confused about their own learning goals.
ReplyDeleteVery good point! Sometimes goals are a terrible issue to deal with. It is really hard to fulfill all of those objectives without time and resources sometimes...It is an endless vicious circle...
ReplyDeleteI agree with you!, we must be able to give our learners what they need to face a real life. Our goals should be on the ground of that precept.
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