| Principle |
Rating |
Explanation |
| Open-Ended Instruction
Lessons are structured so that multiple/complex answers are possible; students are not steered toward one 'right' answer.
| Very Good | There are many appropriate open-ended situations presented here. Students are encouraged to consider and develop their own thoughts and opinions throughout the lessons. |
|---|
| Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Learning Multidisciplinary= addresses a number of different subjects
Interdisciplinary= integrated approach that blurs subject lines
Good: The resource provides opportunities for learning in a number of traditional 'subject' areas (eg. Language Arts, Science, Math, Art, etc.).
Very Good: The resource takes an integrated approach to teaching that blurs the lines between subject boundaries. | Very Good | With the language and communication skills used in the talk show/TV show, the research and analysis techniques of the surveying and tabulating results, the looking at the geographical and biological nature of the various biomes, and the study of the inter-relationships of the ecosystem, many subjects are covered. |
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| Discovery Learning Learning activities are
constructed so that students discover and build knowledge
for themselves and develop largely on their own
an understanding of concepts, principles and relationships.
They often do this by wrestling with questions, and/or solving problems
by exploring their environment, and/or
physically manipulating objects and/or performing experiments.
- Mediocre = Students are provided with intriguing questions, materials to use &
some direction on how to find answers. The learning involves unique experience & provides
some opportunity for an 'ah-hah' event
- Good =
Students are provided with intriguing questions, materials to use, &
make their own decisions on how to find answers. The learning involves unique experience & provides
definite opportunity for an 'ah-hah' event.
- Very Good =
Students choose what questions to investigate as well as the materials/strategies
to use to answer them.
| Good | Students can choose their area of research. Through their own research, surveys and analysis they come to their own conclusions on which they will make decisions and offer suggestions. |
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Values Clarification Students are explicitly provided with opportunities to identify, clarify and express their own beliefs/values.
- Poor = Students are not explicitly given an opportunity to clarify their own values.
- Mediocre = Students are given a formal opportunity to clarify their own values. The range of perspectives in the resource is limited, therefore, students do not have an appropriate amount of information to clarify their own values.
| Very Good | |
|---|
| Differentiated Instruction Activities address a range of learning styles/different intelligences. They teach to both cognitive and affective domains. Accommodations are suggested for people with learning difficulties. | Good | While accommodating students who struggle is not specifically addressed, the organization and suggested implementation of the lessons allow for students to participate in many ways and with this open format different learning needs can be met quite easily. |
|---|
Experiential Learning Direct, authentic experiences are used.
- Mediocre = simulation
- Good = authentic experience
- Very Good = authentic experience related to the primary goal of the lesson
| Mediocre | If the extension activities are implemented, this would be considered a strength. |
|---|
Cooperative Learning Group and cooperative learning strategies are a priority.
- Mediocre = students work in groups
- Good = cooperative learning skills are explicitly taught and practiced
- Very Good = cooperative learning skills are explicitly taught, practiced and assessed
| Mediocre | It is assumed that students already know how to work in groups and/or with a partner cooperatively. |
|---|
| Assessment & Evaluation Tools are provided that help students and teachers to capture formative and summative information about students' learning and performance. These tools may include reflection questions, checklists, rubrics, etc. | Good | Throughout the lessons, according to their described outcomes, there are questions and suggested formats to follow for assessment.
- Students pass in brochures, presentation work, graphic representations, research notes and analysis of results.
- There are no specific tests or formal evaluations provided
|
|---|
Peer Teaching Provides opportunities for students to actively present their knowledge and skills to peers and/or act as teachers and mentors.
- Mediocre = incidental teaching that arises from cooperative learning, presentations, etc.
- Good or Very Good = an opportunity is intentionally created to empower students to teach other students/community members. The audience is somehow reliant on the students' teaching (students are not simply ‘presenting')
| Good | I would rank this as very good if teachers provide opportunities for the students to complete the extension activities. |
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| Case Studies Relevant case studies are used. Case studies are thorough descriptions of real events in real situations that can be used to examine concepts in an authentic context. | Very Good | Case studies and examples are current, authentic and relevant to the concepts studied. |
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| Locus of Control Meaningful opportunities are provided for students to choose elements of program content, the medium in which they wish to work, and/or to go deeper into a chosen issue. | Very Good | Many of the lessons involve the students choosing their own area/species to research along with the topics they would like to address. |