Assessment Description
Pedagogy is a broad term used to describe the science and art of effective teaching. Student learning is reliant upon a teacher’s ability to select specific methods and strategies that meet the needs of all students.
Allocate at least 5 hours in the field to support this field experience.
Part 1: Observation
Observe your mentor teacher in your chosen content area delivering lessons and interacting with students. While observing one specific lesson, take notes using the “Observation, Interview, and Reflection” template .
Part 2: Interview
Outside of class time, interview your mentor teacher on his or her instructional strategies. Keep in mind the most recent lesson you observed and the pedagogical approaches used during this lesson.
Include the following topics in your interview:
- What effective, research-based pedagogical strategies does your mentor teacher typically use during instruction?
- How does your mentor teacher connect instruction to students’ backgrounds and interests?
- How does your mentor teacher differentiate instruction to meet the needs of exceptional students, including students with gifted abilities, students with disabilities, as well as English language learners?
- How does your mentor teacher integrate technological tools into instructional planning and day-to-day professional practices?
You do not need to submit interview notes to the LMS, but you are strongly encouraged to take notes to inform Part 3 of the assignment.
Use any remaining field experience hours to assist the mentor teacher in providing instruction and support to the class.
Part 3: Reflection Summary
In 500-750 words, summarize your observation and interview with your mentor teacher, as well as synthesize outside research to further your understanding of best pedagogical approaches. Drawing on your observation and interview, address the following questions in your reflection:
- What effective, research-based pedagogical strategies did you observe during the lesson? What strategies does your mentor teacher typically use in instruction?
- How does your mentor teacher connect instruction to students’ backgrounds and interests?
- How does your mentor teacher differentiate instruction to meet the needs of exceptional students?
- How does your mentor teacher integrate technological tools into instructional planning and day-to-day professional practices?
- What pedagogical approaches do you anticipate using in your future professional practice?
Synthesize what you experienced in your mentor teacher’s classroom or learned in your interview by drawing on outside scholarly resources to support or extend your understanding of best pedagogical approaches.
Support your reflection with 3-5 scholarly resources.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
