From Mentor to Mastery: The Techy Teacher's Insights

Personal Learning Network (PLN) is a community of educators who connect and collaborate online to share knowledge, resources, and innovative ideas, fostering continuous professional development. It's essentially a group of teachers who help each other learn and grow by sharing ideas and support online. Building a PLN is an important task for all teachers because it offers a wider range of ideas and resources than is available elsewhere. How can you build one? ● Identify your learning goals and assess your current network. What do you want to learn? Who do you already know who can help you? ● Research and choose suitable platforms. Some popular platforms for building PLNs include X, Facebook, LinkedIn, blogs, and educational websites. ● Create and optimize profiles with relevant keywords. Make sure your profiles are up-to-date and include information about your interests and expertise. ● Connect with colleagues and join relevant groups. Reach out to people you know and join groups t...

Assessment for learning is a continuous process of gathering information about student learning to inform instruction and empower learners.   It uses assessment data to identify students' strengths, weaknesses, and misconceptions, and adjusts teaching strategies to meet their needs. Here are some key strategies for implementing assessment for learning: ● Clarifying Learning Intentions and Success Criteria: This involves teachers making learning intentions and success criteria clear to students and helping them understand what they mean.  Teachers may use student work samples to help students understand what quality work looks like. ● Eliciting Evidence of Student Learning : This involves using various techniques to gather information about students' understanding and progress throughout the learning process, allowing teachers to adjust their instruction accordingly.  Some methods include: ○ Random Calling ○ Question Shells ○ Hand signals ○ Exit Passes ○ Popsicle sticks...

This table applies the Taxonomy Table framework from source 1 to the topic of cell structure and function, based on the learning objectives you provided. It illustrates how the table can be used to understand, align, and potentially improve the teaching and learning of this topic. The Cognitive Process Dimension The Knowledge Dimension Remember Understand Apply Analyze Evaluate Create Factual Knowledge List the main structures of plant and animal cells. Define the terms: cell, tissue, organ, organ system, microorganism. Label diagrams of plant and animal cells, identifying key structures. Distinguish between the structures found in plant cells and those found in animal cells. Judge the relevance of different sources of information about cell structure and function. Develop a mnemonic device to help remember the functions of the different cell organelles. Conceptual Knowledge Name the functions of basic cell structures (membrane, cytoplasm, etc.). Explain the roles of different cell st...

 In the world of International Baccalaureate (IB) education, two frameworks stand out for their importance in shaping both leaders and learners: the IB Leadership Capabilities and the Learner Profile . These two concepts are not just parallel paths, but interconnected roadmaps that guide the development of well-rounded, globally-minded individuals. The Interconnection The IB Leadership Capabilities and the Learner Profile share many traits and values. Effective leadership in the IB context involves not only embodying these attributes but also fostering them in others. Let's explore how these capabilities align with the Learner Profile: Strategic Intelligence This capability resonates with several Learner Profile attributes: Being "forward thinking" and recognizing "emerging trends" aligns with Inquirers and Thinkers Translating "strategy into action" and aligning people behind shared values reflects the Principled and Communicator traits Cultu...

Formative assessment is a powerful tool for improving student learning outcomes, and Dylan Wiliam’s five key strategies provide a comprehensive framework for teachers to apply in their classrooms. When used effectively, these strategies help teachers understand where their students are in the learning process and how they can be guided to achieve their academic goals. Let us have a closer look at these strategies and some practical ways teachers can use them to help students succeed. 1. Clarifying, Understanding, and Sharing Learning Intentions Strategy Overview:  Teachers need to clearly define and communicate the learning intentions for each lesson, ensuring that both they and their students understand the objectives. This involves spelling out what knowledge and skills students are expected to acquire, and how they can demonstrate their understanding. How to Use It- Plan curriculum with clarity:  Teachers can ensure that learning objectives are transparent and provide stud...