1.  List at least two ways you can identify student’s readiness for learning according to their developmental and performance levels. Describe why it is important to understand if students are ready to learn or not. (250 words and 2 references)

2.  Compare two ways in which you can evaluate individual students’ interests to inform instruction. Which are you most likely to use in your classroom? Explain. (250 words and 2 references)

3.  Looking back on what you have learned about differentiated instruction and Understanding by Design, discuss how essential questions can help to create relevant learning experiences that are appropriate for curriculum goals and content standards. (250 words and 2 references)

4.  How does Understanding by Design help teachers develop appropriate sequencing of a lesson to facilitate learning? (250 words and 2 references)

RESOURCES

Q1&2

Read “Effects of Differentiating for Readiness, Interest, and Learning Profile on Engagement and Understanding,” by Koehler, from Fisher Digital Publications (2010).

URL:

http://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1090&context=mathcs_etd_masters

Read and watch “Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners: Six Differentiation Strategies for New Teachers,” by Jones, located on the Teaching Channel website.

URL:

https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2015/04/01/6-differentiation-strategies/

Read and watch “Inclusion in the 21st Century Classroom: Differentiating with Technology,” by Hobgood and Ormsby, located on the Learn NC website.

URL:

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/every-learner/6776

Q3&4

Read “Content, Process, and Product: Modeling Differentiated Instruction,” by Kline Taylor, from Kappa Delta Pi Record (2015).

URL:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00228958.2015.988559

Read “What Is Differentiated Instruction?” by Tomlinson, located on the Reading Rocketswebsite.

URL:

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/what-differentiated-instruction

Read “Response: Differentiating Lessons by ‘Content, Process, or Product’,” by Ferlazzo, from the Education Week website.

URL:

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2014/04/response_differentiating_lessons_by_content_process_or_product.html

Watch “Differentiation of content, process, and product,” located on the Teacher Tube website.

URL:

http://www.teachertube.com/video/differentiation-of-content-process-and-product-398074

Discussion Question:

Explain the difference between internal and external evidence. How can each of these types of evidence be utilized for quality improvement in the clinical setting?

Your initial posting should be at least 400 words in length and utilize at least one scholarly source other than the textbook. Please reply to at least two classmates. Replies to classmates should be at least 200 words in length.

Assignment:

Quantitative Research

Write a fully developed and detailed APA essay addressing each of the following points/questions. There is no required word count; be sure to completely answer all the questions for each question in detail. Separate each section in your paper with a clear heading that allows your professor to know which bullet you are addressing in that section of your paper. Support your ideas with at least one (1) source using citations in your essay. Make sure to cite using the APA writing style for the essay. The cover page and reference page are required. Review the rubric criteria for this assignment.

Conduct a literature search to select a quantitative research study related to the problem identified in Module 1 and conduct an initial critical appraisal. Respond to the overview questions for the critical appraisal of quantitative studies, including:

• Is this quantitative research report a case study, case control study, cohort study, randomized control trial or systematic review?
• Where does the study fall in the hierarchy of evidence in terms of reliability and risk of bias?
• Why was the study done? (Define the problem and purpose.)
• Were the steps of the study clearly identified?
• What was the sample size?
• Are the measurements of major variables reliable and valid? Explain.
• How were the data analyzed?
• Were there any untoward events during the conduct of the study?
• How do the results fit with previous research in the area? (This may be reflected in the literature review.)
• What does this research mean to clinical practice?

Additionally, be sure to include the rapid appraisal questions for the specific research design of the quantitative study that you have chosen. These can be found in Chapter 5 of the textbook (Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt, 2015).

This critical appraisal should be written in complete sentences (not just a numbered list) using APA format.

Provide a reference for the article according to APA format and a copy of the article.

Assignment Expectations:

Length: Clearly and fully answer all questions; attach a copy of the article
Structure: Include a title page and reference page in APA format. Your essay must include an introduction and a conclusion.
References: Use appropriate APA style in-text citations and references for all resources utilized to answer the questions. A minimum of one (1) scholarly source for the article is required for this assignment.
Rubric: This assignment uses a rubric for scoring. Please review it as part of your assignment preparation and again prior to submission to ensure you have addressed its criteria at the highest level.

This assignment will be short answers that reflects the material covered in this module.  Please complete in APA format without an abstract.  You may list the questions and then answer them in chronological order. The assignment should be about 2-3 pages.  Thus, the answers should be short and descriptive. 

1.  There is a debate within the field of psychology in reference to the cause of human behavior.  It is called the nature/nurture controversy.  Last module we examined the differing fields of psychology, and this week examined behavior from an evolutionary and biological standpoint.  What is behavioral psychology and their standpoint on the cause of human behavior.  Similarly, this week we looked at evolutionary and biological psychology.  What is the field of thought from this area of study.  In addition, how are twin and adoption studies used as a means of trying to understand behavior and yet provide environmental control?  What do you think the cause of human behavior is?  Is it a combination of environment, experience and genetics, or predominantly one of these? 

2. Gestalt psychologists noted certain consistencies in the way we integrate bits and pieces of sensory stimulation into meaningful wholes.  They grouped these rules into the laws of perceptual organization.  Please discuss and explain the following:  Figure-ground perception, proximity/similarity, continuity/closure and top-down versus bottom up processing.

3. What causes objects to appear to follow us as we look out a window while riding in a car?  Or, what causes nearby objects such as trees to go by rapidly?  Similarly, what other monocular cues create depth illusion?

4. The principles of perceptual organization make it possible for our eyes to play tricks on us.  These are called optical illusions.  What are the Hering-Helmholtz and the Muller-Lyer illusions and how do they occur?

5.What types of non-invasive measures can be taken when there is an interest in doing research that involves areas of the brain?  For example, I am a researcher interested in studying sleep research or to see if certain subjects with schizophrenia have different brain structures.  What brain measuring or imaging techniques might I use?

6. What is the meaning of absolute threshold and just noticeable differences?  How can this be differentiated in terms of sound, weight, light and taste?

Writing Requirements

• APA format, 3–4 pages in length (excluding cover page, abstract, and reference list)