engaging students in learning
What is Component 3C?
Component 3C brings up the need to keep students involved in their learning, and excited about the material and their intellectual growth. Students learn best when they are invested in what they are learning, and enjoying it.
Why is Component 3C important?
This is an important element because the students need to be invested in the material in order to learn. If the student is not understanding the material, it is the teacher's job to provide the scaffolds to help the student learn, and revisit the structure of the lesson to ensure that the lesson is arranged in a manner most conducive to student development. The understanding of the students is evident by the students' actions that result from the teacher's efforts.
What are the Elements of Component 3C?
The first element of Component 3C focuses on Activities and Assignments. The activities and assignments turned in for a class are a significant part of the evidence of the students' learning. Students should successfully complete tests, quizzes, and a wide variety of other types of projects in order to prove that they have a holistic understanding of the subject matter.
The second element of Component 3C mentions the Grouping of Students. Though this element borders on classroom management, it is also important to student engagement. Students must be seated such that they learn best. This entails splitting up students that are inclined to talk to each other, distracting themselves, and others during class, as well as arranging students according to learning styles and levels so that the students can help one another, and in so doing, communicate the material the most effectively, and help to solidify their own knowledge of the content by teaching it to their peers.
The third element of Component 3C relates to Instructional Materials and Resources. The teacher must be aware that the resources that he selects for the students to use will impact the students' learning. The teacher must be careful to select credible, valuable, clear resources that best communicate the material to each specific grade level. Occasionally, the student may be able to select which resources he would prefer to use, and specify how he learns best, so that the teacher has a deeper comprehension of what tools to use to benefit all of the students.
The final element of Component 3C mentions Structure and Pacing. Each lesson that the teacher creates must flow logically, such that the students can piece together the information that they are given. The lesson should typically include a reflection time for the students, in which they can remind themselves of what they learned, and make sure they know their material. Even with this added step, the teacher must make sure that the lessons are paced such that no students are left struggling by material taught too quickly, and the students are not bored and time wasted by a lesson paced too slowly.
What are some artifacts displaying Component 3C?
One possible artifact would be a lesson plan allowing for a variety of ways for students to show their comprehension, such as creating videos, papers, tests, or any other such assessments.
Another would be a homework sheet that would push the students without frustrating them.
A final would be evidence that students work well together in groups, and are able to make the most out of that time that is proven to be most effective for learning.
Danielson, C. (2007). Enhancing professional practice a framework for teaching (2nd ed.). Alexandria, Va.: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.