An iPad Keynote presentation accompanies her delivery, which includes pictures and captions. In addition, she is armed with possible answers to would-be peer skeptics as they try to “poke holes” in the logic of her findings and projections.
The debate ensues, yet she is able to diffuse the counter arguments as well as collaborate on logical solutions to potential challenges posed by others students...all on the fly.
Since the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) provide objectives to be accomplished, but don’t provide a step-by-step process to achieve them, teachers may easily find themselves at a loss on exactly how to implement them.
Just as teachers are expecting students to practice the art of critical thinking, evaluation, analysis, and synthesis, so also teachers must practice this art in their instructional design.
Explaining to the students what the CCSS are designed to accomplish can really help them understand why they are asked to approach their assignments in a more analytical and investigative way.
When we work with informational documents in my Language Arts class, I tell them to picture a board meeting. In a board meeting an individual gets up, presents his or her findings on a particular data-driven item, has an accompanying slide show presentation, prepares answers to thoughtful questions and opposing views, and explains how this information can be beneficial or harmful to the company’s position.
A debate ensues, and the presenter must either defend his or her logic or find ways to integrate the suggestions and insight of the others on the team.
This type of preparation, organization, and presentation of ideas is what the workforce is seeking and one example of what the Common Core Standards are ultimately after.
For seventh-grade students, putting together this type of research and presentation covers several of the standards in one assignment, and consequently, they are left with a great deal of confidence from the experience.
They’ve investigated a relevant topic, analyzed and synthesized the information, learned to write concisely within a structured format, practiced their public speaking with real-time feedback from their peers, drawn out key points to support their reasoning as to the impact the information will have on society, and utilized technology to give the audience a clear and simple snapshot of the findings. It’s practical, useful, and efficient.