Science With Depth PD
Mastery Learning
Science standards are written at a Webb’s Depth of Knowledge Level 3 (applying), but students can find it challenging to understand if it is not presented to them at their current cognitive level. If students don’t know how to access the meaning, they will not be able to master the content.
In this session, teachers move beyond leveled worksheets to a model where the entire class investigates the same central phenomenon, but students interact with it at their level of understanding. This is a system that utilizes Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK) to establish a unified classroom providing personalized access points for every student. When students are given a variety of ways to learn, they can choose the one that works best for them. This improves metacognition because it teaches them how to learn.
Take Home Tool: The Science With Depth Magnetic Framework
Magnets can be used in physics, earth science, and astronomy and they are the perfect tool to demonstrate the power of alignment. They will not “stick” together unless their poles are properly aligned. The Magnetic Framework builds on that metaphor: a student’s cognitive ability and a task’s difficulty level must be aligned for the knowledge to stick, so teachers create leveled investigation stations for science phenomena. Students are empowered to move through the levels at their pace, and master the content with a deeper sense of understanding.