Learning Experience

Throughout the semester, we will engage in many small group discussions and a variety other types of learning experiences. While I will lead many, so you will have opportunities to design and lead learning experiences as well.

To help facilitate this, the ED253 class is divided into learning circles (LCs) with numerous responsibilities associated with three different assignments. For the Learning Experience assignment, LCs are responsible for planning and teaching a lesson for the whole class (~45 minutes). On three (3) occasions across the semester, your LC will take on this responsibility. LC members engage in a During Reading learning experience in advance of the lesson they will plan and teach (˜500 words). Following the in-class lesson they teach, individual LC members also post a self-reflection essay to their blogs (˜250 words) (Details below).

Learning experiences are based on the assigned reading(s) for that week. The readings are selected from the field of educational foundations also referred to as education studies. This sub discipline of the field of education concerns all matters relevant to the historical, political, economic, philosophical, legal, socio-cultural study of the field of education. (There are even more areas, such as ethics and theology).

Readings have already been assigned to LCs from the selection of the eReadings. Assigned readings are also posted on the course calendar week by week: Click on Calendar & Agendas. The Schedule for when your LC is teaching a learning experience is available under the Learning Circles tab on the ED253 Course website. It’s also posted on the left sidebar of the course website.

This project has three phases. Your responsibilities include

  1. prior to class |
    • read and discuss the assigned reading including active participation in the online During-Reading learning experience (~500 words).
    • meet and discuss with Dr. Shutkin, (at least once).
    • plan and develop your lesson.
  2. during class | engage our class in the lesson you developed.
  3. after class | write a brief essay (~ 250 words) and post it to your blog
    • about the assigned reading,
    • about the lesson.

Prior to teaching your first lesson, together with your LC, you are required to meet with me outside of class for approximately one (1) hour to discuss the reading and to think about how to design and teach a lesson about the reading.

During Reading Learning Experience Guide

Directions →

  • Log in to the reading using your JCU email through Google.
  • Highlight the part of the text you are commenting on.
  • Comments are to be about 100 words each / 500 words all together
  • *Starred comment types are required. 
  • **At least two replies are required.
  • Replies take the form of one of the other types of comments

 Five Comments in all –>

  • One nearer to the beginning,
  • One towards the middle, and
  • One closer to the conclusion.
  • Two replies to other LC member’s comments.
  • One “word definition.”
  • One “Implication.”
  • Two additional comment types.

 Types of Comments –>

  • **Reply to someone else’s comment
  • *Word Definition → with a reference to a dictionary.
  • Interpretation of a few sentences –> This is what I think this means and this why it is important.
  • Lived Experience –> a story from your life in three parts: beginning, middle and end with a direct connection made to the reading.
  • *Implications for → 1). the field of education and/or 2). my work as a teacher.
  • Question → Thoughtfully asked about something you don’t understand.

Learning Experience (Lx) BlogPost

Learning Experience Blog Post essays are due at midnight on the Friday following your classroom learning experience. (~ 250 words)

Elements to address in your Learning Experience BlogPost in four (4) parts

Following the learning experience (lesson) you taught with your LC, and to earn credit for your work, each LC member writes a first person narrative essay (~250 words).

Part 1 | About the lesson that your LC planned and taught, please discuss

  1. Themes from the reading your LC chose to emphasize in the lesson and why,
  2. Student learning goals or objectives,
  3. Intention to actively involve your students in your lesson,

Part 2 | Self-Reflection

  1. What you learned about the topic
  2. Why the topic matters to you
  3. Your contributions planning of the lesson,
  4. Your responsibilities teaching the lesson.

Part 3 | References consulted for the lesson and/or blog post.

Your contribution to the development and staging of your class lessons will be assessed using the Learning Experience Assessment Rubrics. 

Designing & Leading Learning Experiences

Follow the link above to identify a few websites with pedagogical ideas and tools to consider as you design and plan your learning experiences.