It is my belief that students learn best in a cooperative learning environment.Within this environment, it’s my feeling that all students should be held to high expectations. These expectations will be achieved through the implementation of the following characteristics as outlined by the idea of complex instruction. First, the criteria for success in the classroom should be multidimensional to highlight the variety of skills beyond the traditional metric of having the ability to independently solve problems quickly. Instead, student success will be viewed in a broad sense that will include creativity and collaboration. Secondly, students should be assigned to groups and roles. These roles will give students direction and promote teamwork. Within these groups, there should be a significant emphasis on responsibility for one another’s learning. Finally, in my classroom, I will emphasize justification of answers in order to promote the idea that science is a process and to demystify the processes that lie behind results in an effort to dismantle myths of inherent superiority and inferiority. 

 

Student knowledge will be assessed through meaningful, group worthy tasks. These tasks will be complex and challenging enough to require the significant effort of a group. These projects will contribute to a classroom culture of cultural relevance, where students are encouraged to view information critically. I’ll highlight the parallels between  this way of thinking and the critical questioning required in science. Student projects will draw upon existing student knowledge and experiences  and connect them to the material currently being covered in class. When possible these assignments will tie in to topics and events that are significant to my students. It is essential to me that while these projects will be challenging, they will not perpetuate a system that punishes students who have additional responsibilities beyond school or who must complete schoolwork without access to a traditional network of resources. This will be achieved by emphasizing collaborative work and work that draws heavily upon students' own experiences. Homework and quizzes will be used as check ins and formative assessments. Emphasis will be on mastery and students will have the opportunity to go back and make revisions as needed. Higher stakes summative assessments will be based on the large scale student group projects and will include reviews and progress checks prior to final submission.

 

It is my hope that in creating a challenging, yet collaborative classroom environment that values students' experiences and interests, that I’ll create an equitable learning environment that fosters empowerment and emphasizes the value of scientific literacy in our society, regardless of a student’s future path and goals.