Ideas for thoughtful teaching & learning.
Practical approaches, considered tools and useful resources for the learning you design.
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Keep the Goal, Change the Scaffold: One Lesson, Three Entry Points
Keep the learning goal constant and vary the support that helps learners reach it. A vocabulary aid, a model of the reasoning, and a response frame can provide different entry points without creating three separate lessons or quietly reducing expectations for one group.
Build a Misconception Map Before Changing the Activity
A misconception map helps you decide what to change before you replace an activity. Write down the reasoning you want to see, the wrong answers you might encounter, and one question that could distinguish their causes. Then revise the smallest part of the lesson that would make the reasoning visible.
Cognitive Load Theory: What It Explains and Where the Design Advice Has Limits
A clear screen is useful. A clear account of what learners must think about is more useful. Start with the task and what learners already know.
How to Refresh a Lesson Without Rebuilding It
Refresh one task in a lesson you already teach. Follow a worked example to connect the learning goal, student action, and evidence of understanding.