Learning Diversity and Authentic Assessment Tools
Contextual factors are critical in designing lessons and assessments for students. A teacher should be aware of contextual factors which will influence diverse student learning and directed instruction. Contextual factors, such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, achievement/developmental levels, special needs, culture, ELL, language, and learning styles/modalities impact teaching and learning.
1. Select science standards from the National Science Education Standards (NSES), learning goals, and objectives to design three science lesson plans that differentiate instruction and assessment. You will select any combination of contextual factors that will make up your class of 30 students. Include a minimum of five contextual factors that reflect your class.
2. These lessons should target and be supportive of student diversity in your class. Cross-reference the instructional strategies, differentiation, and authentic assessments within your lesson plan to the targeted diverse learners. Include formative, informal, formal, summative, and authentic assessments.
3. In-text citations referencing your supporting information should be included within the lesson plans.
Support and cross-reference your three lesson plans with a supporting essay of 500 + words in which you describe the contextual factors of the classroom, accommodations and differentiation of instruction, and the specific authentic assessments used. Include the following:
1. What is the instructional differentiation in the three individual lesson plans, and how will they support student learning?
2. How will the selected assessments support and guide teaching and learning?