Monday Mustang Memo: Transfer Learning

Excellence in Education: Transfer Learning

Later this week, Ms. Rowanhill’s physics students will see if their pumpkins survive the drop from a bucket truck. In talking to students about the drop, it’s great to hear how they apply their learning and problem solve. While it’s unrealistic and unnecessary to have students perform higher-order thinking for all learning intentions, for the most important concepts and learning objectives, we should strive to have our students transfer their learning into real-life situations.

What are some ways we can achieve transfer learning?

Persuasive writing can be used in variety of formats beyond current events, social issues or the standard writing prompt. After learning about curves in Algebra II, the student may be asked to persuasively write why a table or graph is most practical. In a tech ed class, the student might write about what tool is best for a given task.
Proposals are in essence persuasive writing but presented in a different way through a presentation or other means, for example. But this could also include a marketing campaign complete with advertisements
Invention tasks where students take what they learn and invent or create something of their own. In an English class, this might be writing a sonnet after reading Shakespeare. While in a history class, after reading the Emancipation Proclamation, students might write their own speech on a current issue.
Decision-making are where students are assessed on their ability to analyze options and reach a conclusion. In science, this might mean choosing the ideal environment for growing corn, and in a health class this might mean defending which health products should or shouldn’t be purchased at GNC. For a math lesson, it might be as simple as having students debate the best way to answer a question with many different paths to the correct answer.
Self-analysis can be accomplished in a variety of ways from writing to vlogging to portfolios. Throughout their learning students should demonstrate their own learning and progress and how they overcame challenges as they relate to the learning objectives. Throughout the unit, students could take pictures, samples/examples, etc. of their learning and select exemplars to justify their grade.

While the above are examples of deeper learning intentions and culminating assignments, I felt it was important to start with the end in mind by providing some examples. Of course, the corresponding lessons must be aligned with the goal of students transferring their learning. By establishing high expectations for students and connecting learning with the real world we can foster true learning and increase student engagement.

I love this quote from Grant Wiggins, Mastery is effective transfer of learning in authentic and worthy performance. Students have mastered a subject when they are fluent, even creative, in using their knowledge, skills, and understanding in key performance challenges and contexts at the heart of that subject, as measured against valid and high standards.

What are some ways you accomplish this in your classes?

PS It’s worth the trip down to the lower parking lot to watch some of the pumpkins drop.

Need to Knows

We have added two ‘reserved’ parking signs installed in our back parking lot for our two athletic trainers (near the crosswalk). They are often among the last persons to leave our campus each night, save the custodians, and this provides them with a safer walk to their cars.

Google Chat/Hangout: After feedback from teachers and others, LEAD has disabled Google Chat and Hangout from school computers.

Students with D’s and F’s Please remember that the family of any student with a D or F should be contacted-preferably by phone call. You’re also encouraged to reach out to school counselors and case managers (ELL/Special Ed/504) as well as discuss struggling students as part of your PLC, if applicable.

Peer Nomination and Computer Check

Directions for peer nomination survey are here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iRuniN9L3NwAsnmY45hCkHEgx7DCOF2i/view?usp=sharing

Form for students to complete: https://goo.gl/forms/LAUaZArZpUUxWFGL2

While students are completing the peer nomination process, you can begin the laptop check process. The purpose of this laptop check is to ensure that students have working laptops and chargers. We are trying to cut down on lost laptops. We will also do our best to use this information to contact families so that we can ensure students are coming to school with working devices. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_y1ITrsCMGAQH1AzpuKV4I7gaXJRzhhd/view?usp=sharing

Important Dates

November 5: Green Teacher Work Day

November 6: Election Day

Grades due November 8 at 9am

November 9: Anchor Day, Extended 1st block for Peer Survey and Computer Check

Open Enrollment through November 16.