“If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.” -Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Estrada
Having extensive knowledge of various instructional delivery methods is one of the most important things a teacher can do in preparation for teaching a classroom full of students who learn differently. By using a variety of instructional strategies, teachers can increase student engagement and appeal to all types of learners. The instructional delivery standard promotes differentiation, clear lesson goals, and the use of various instructional strategies such as hands-on learning, group work, individual work, and role playing. Instructional technology is also an important aspect of this standard.
Technology in Education
Technology is an important aspect of education today and all students should have access to a variety of different technologies in the classroom. Current common technologies include smart boards, laptops, tablets, cloud based software programs such as Google Drive and SMART Amp, digital storytelling, gamification, and more. Some current emerging technologies include wearable technologies, virtual reality, and 3D printers. Below is a video I created about 3D printers and how they are being used in education.
Bloom’s Taxonomy
As a teacher, I will use Bloom’s Taxonomy to guide my instructional delivery and to ensure that my students are reaching all levels of the taxonomy. Bloom’s Taxonomy was created in 1956 by Dr. Benjamin Bloom and was designed to encourage higher levels of thinking in education. Opposed to rote memorization, Bloom’s Taxonomy promotes cognitive development through incorporating the following objectives: remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating.
Here is a lesson plan I created that utilizes all levels of Bloom’s taxonomy. In this lesson plan, students create their own simple machine using a 3D printer.
3D Printing Lesson Plan – Simple Machines (VA SOL – Science 3.2)
Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences
In 1983, psychologist Howard Gardner identified eight types of learners in his theory of multiple intelligences. While some students prefer to learn through hands-on methods and group work, others prefer more solitary assignments such as reading and writing. Gardner’s multiple intelligences include verbal/linguistic, logical/mathematical, visual/spatial, bodily/kinesthetic, musical/rhythmic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist. Teachers’ instructional delivery methods should include activities and assignments that touch on all of Gardner’s multiple intelligences so that every student has an opportunity to thrive. For example, a lesson that incorporates multiple intelligences may include a hands-on group experiment, a reading assignment, a journal entry, and listening to or writing a song about the topic. While it is impractical for a teacher to incorporate an activity that uses every intelligence in every lesson, teachers should strive to use at least a few of the intelligences in each lesson and vary which intelligences they are using from lesson to lesson. As a teacher, I will aim to use a variety of delivery strategies to ensure I am including all of Gardner’s multiple intelligences throughout the year.
Here is a lesson plan that I created that utilizes all of the multiple intelligences: Barter System Lesson Plan (VA SOL History & Social Sciences 2.8)
Here is a video of the first lesson (Barter System) I taught during my internship at Fishburn Park Elementary School:
For further information, please see my Professional Practice Standard Paper on Instructional Delivery.