Teaching and learning builds on what students know and do.

How does teaching and learning build on what students know and do? What methods are used to teach and learn what students know and do? 

Teaching and learning builds on what students know and do because the learning process begins with identifying the entire expectation of the unit. With concept based backwards planning, students are first given the goal and central idea of the unit and then their prior knowledge and actions are assessed. The assessment methods may include mind mapping the central idea, having class discussions, completing question and answer sheets, or reflecting in small groups all in effort to understand how students are connecting their previous knowledge to what will be done in the future. In the MYP English classes, there are usually group discussions which are focused on mind mapping the unit question in small groups and later shared amongst the class to determine understanding and interest at the beginning of the unit. 

Why are teachers responsible to assess the prior knowledge and actions of students?  In what form do students demonstrate their knowledge and actions? 

Teachers are responsible to assess the prior knowledge and actions of students to identify what students already understand and what they have proven capable of doing. There are many causes and reasons of this but most importantly it is to ensure that learning progression is not stagnant and repetitive but progressive and takes in account each student’s individual ability. This is important because it is quite possible that some students have inquired into the unit’s areas previously and already are aware of ideas which thus only need to be reviewed. On the other hand, other students may not have any awareness of the learning points making the unit an initial introduction on the subject material. Regardless, each result changes the standard teaching and learning activities and assessment levels. 

In the end, students are individual persons. The teaching and learning process (and initial prior knowledge assessment) demonstrates student knowledge and action in many different forms because there are diverse intelligences and learning styles. There are those students who demonstrate their learning through their talent for art and others who have strengths as mathematicians. Thankfully within the IB program, all students are encouraged to have a well rounded subject based education which molds students into documenting and assessing their journeys not only through written reports, and speeches but also community service actions. For this unit, students within various MYP English class are teaching lessons at other local schools and lower grade classes, making a poster board campaign to combat poverty, and having a bazaar to fundraise and purchase education equipment for underfunded schools.