Promoting Students’ Construction of Knowledge :
Promoting Students’ Construction of Knowledge Connecting new information to what is already known
Requiring students’ active participation in solving authentic, open-ended questions
Fostering peer collaboration
Connecting ideas and information across subject areas
Using assessment to promote creative problem solving
Connecting New Information to What is Already Known :
Connecting New Information to What is Already Known Students come to school with prior knowledge
Teachers tap prior knowledge through questions and discussion
Prior knowledge provides a base for developing new knowledge
Art provides an alternative means to tap prior knowledge, especially for language minority students
Requiring Students’ Active Participation in Solving Authentic, Open-Ended Questions :
Requiring Students’ Active Participation in Solving Authentic, Open-Ended Questions Active participation promotes deeper engagement in learning
Open-ended questions have multiple solutions
Authentic questions make connections to social issues or personal experiences
Fostering Peer Communication :
Fostering Peer Communication Teachers model appropriate forms of discourse
Individual students’ thinking enhanced by collaborative problem solving
Teachers ensure that all students participate
Connecting Ideas and Information Across Subject Areas :
Connecting Ideas and Information Across Subject Areas Interdisciplinary teams of teachers support integration of subject matter
Interdisciplinary instruction builds on engaging, multi-dimensional concepts
“Essential questions” can stimulate interdisciplinary inquiry
Using Assessment to Promote Creative Problem Solving :
Using Assessment to Promote Creative Problem Solving Performance assessments require students to apply knowledge to solve complex, meaningful problems
Performance assessments provide opportunities to transfer knowledge from one context to another