Peer Teaching 1

Choose a single standard from the 32 different Pennsylvania Science and Technology Standards (pdf format). For example, Standard 3.6A concerns Biotechnology (it is a standard in the category, "Technology Education"). The standards have the following structure:

The specification of the standard varies by grade level. For example, standards for the higher grades are likely to have more components and to include words from higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy (e.g., "analyze" instead of "know").
Under the standard "statement," there is a series of bulleted "descriptors," which are intended to "benchmark" the statement in practical and concrete terms.

Prepare a 2-3 minute presentation about the Grade 7 version of the standard, which you will deliver to the class. Your goals are to

Communicate to us what the standard says (this can be in your own terms).
Explain and/or demonstrate a couple of the descriptors. You are free to give examples or elaborations that are not written in the standards document (to help bring them to life).

I strongly encourage you to use props and other visual aids and to make your presentation memorable. If you wish to use the overhead projector, please prepare your transparencies ahead of time (I'll have film on hand in class on Tuesday). Because we'll be zipping through many of these at a brisk clip, don't plan to write much on the whiteboard. You can, however, bring newsprint or posterboard with prepared illustrations or text. Be sure that visual aids can be seen from the back row of the classroom. Also, don't use handouts (it will take too long to distribute them).

This initial peer teaching exercise is intended to be a performance, not an interactive lesson. Don't plan questions, discussions, or group work. You're free to sing, dance, juggle, or wear goofy clothes, however, if it will help you teach us about the standard.

I encourage you to consult the National Science Education Standards to see whether a national standard exists comparable to yours. This may help you put your standard into some perspective. You are not required to include a comparison to national standards in your presentation, however.

Keep your lesson plan for this assignment; to include in your course portfolio. After you've completed the exercise, you may want to append some reflections on how it went, while the experience is fresh in your mind. Your presentation will be evaluated by your peers, using these criteria:

Please provide anonymous evaluation and comments (use the back) on your colleague’s first Peer Teaching. The best evaluations are substantive and constructive.

Please score the presentation: 1 = less than adequate; 2 = adequate; 3= good; 4 = very good; 5= perfect

Teacher is well prepared (has evidently planned carefully, needed props on hand, etc.):
____

Teacher makes use of visual aids, models, music, food, or other non-verbal representations:
____

Presentation is engaging and comprehensible:
____

Teacher effectively communicated the nature of the standard:
____

Bonus points for creativity, humor, courage:
____

TOTAL (sum of above five categories, range 5-25)
====

Teacher is well prepared (has evidently planned carefully, needed props on hand, etc.):	____
Teacher makes use of visual aids, models, music, food, or other non-verbal representations:	____
Presentation is engaging and comprehensible:	____
Teacher effectively communicated the nature of the standard:	____
Bonus points for creativity, humor, courage:	____
TOTAL (sum of above five categories, range 5-25)	====