Cross-Curricular Learning Essay

The film Higher Learning is a call to action. It is a film that shows people as products of their environment. The film is set on a college campus, a place where most people learn about what they will do in their adult life to try to better the world or simply educate themselves in order to live a better life. However, life on the Columbus campus is not good; it is a battlefield between the races and sexes. I feel it is a bit exaggerated, but it allows people to see some of the issues that go on, on a college campus. The film focuses on three freshman (Malik, Kristen, & Remy) entering college. They enter a less than ideal new world that is filled with tension, anxiety and fear. Although the writer uses stereotypical characters, it

Written assessment can be used to give a differentiation of questions to the learner and can be used to judge knowledge at a given level. It also provides a good paper trail. Problems could arise if the learner did not have good reading skills or was dyslexic, evidence could be lost.

In 1989 a group of voluntary researchers named the Assessment Reform group (ARG) were formed by the British Educational Research Association (BERA). The group had the task to take account of relevant research and evidence in regards to assessment for policy and practice. In 1996 BERA’s support ceased and was taken over by the Nuffield Foundation till the ARG dissolved in 2010. It was in 1996 that the foundation funded Paul Black and Dylan Wiliam members of the ARG to review literature on the use of assessment to help with learning. As a result, evidence was found that ‘formative assessment’ could help to improve learning and the findings were published under the title ‘Inside the black box’. The ARG was one of significant influences on the design of Scotland’s Assessment is for Learning (AfiL) initiative which aimed to develop assessment in learning in Scottish schools. This essay will discuss and explore how effective formative assessment of pupils’ progression can be carried out.

Assessment, both formative and summative, plays a significant part in the learning experience as it determines progression and enables learners to demonstrate that they have achieved their desired learning outcomes.

An initial or diagnostic assessment establishes the starting point and ascertains the student’s previous skills and knowledge. This enables the student to see how much he/she achieves during the course, it also fosters a more reflective approach to learning and enables the teacher to effectively plan the individual student’s needs. The teacher can then review the students’ progress and achievements, which improves the quality of teaching

Teaching theories are as much part of the classroom as the student and the teacher. The effect individual theories have on an environment depends how they are incorporated within the classroom in addition to the influence they have had on the curriculum construction. This essay will briefly look at how motivation theory, cognitive and social cognitive theory along with constructivism have impacted on education and the classroom.

Undertaken prior to a lesson or course is delivered and helps direct my session planning to meet learner’s expectations.

Cross-curricular learning often refers to combining various discrete subject in the curriculum together. When applied to a primary school setting this creatively engages young minds in projects which encourage imagination and active learning. Barnes (2015) states that cross-curricular methods can be an effective way to teach ethical solutions, build individual and group motivation, sustain interest and raise standards. As well as exploring how cross-curricular approaches improve teaching and learning, this rationale will look at the idea of ethical enterprise and highlight concerns over cross curricular approaches leading to confusion and misconceptions within children.

This process of assessment assists in ensuring that the class room is inclusive, with all learner needs being met. Each learner is unique and individual and if the needs of the learner are discovered and catered for there is an increased chance of success, in my opinion Initial Assessment, can make the difference between failure and success.

Assessment for learning will help the learning support practitioner because it will inform us of which areas the pupils may need support with. It will give us better judgement on how to question the children and give them feedback on their work and will also show any problem areas that some less able children need to work at.

Arguably you could suggest that the most important part of initial assessment is giving feed back to the learner of the results. This as we have said previously allows the learner to set themselves achievable goals. They have possibly already learnt things about themselves that they didn’t know. For example what their preferred style is. The advantage of this feedback session is that both learner and tutor have set clear manageable targets and goals. This is turn can be seen as a motivational tool for the learner as they have been part of the process and know what is expected from them. This also instils the motivation for the teacher to make sure that the learner can achieve their goals

The function of assessment in learning and development is to provide a measurable way of planning and supporting students’ progress. Assessment is carried out by means of checks and tests carried out throughout the course. Assessors should provide feedback throughout ensuring that learning is occurring and the learner is at the correct level. It is also important that assessor’s decisions are also consistently reviewed and internally and externally verified.

Although this is primarily for younger children this idea can be used straight through life-long learning. Assessment enables the teacher to see what objectives have been met and what still needs to be addressed. This is often called formative assessment or assessment for learning. ‘Assessment for Learning is the process of seeking and interpreting evidence for use by learners ad their teachers to decide where the learners are in their learning, where they need to go and how best to go there’ (Assessment Reform Group, 2002).

Assessment is often thought of as a punitive exercise. But the purpose of assessment is to ensure that students meet specific standards of progress and to rectify learning deficits before a child falls too far behind. Assessment can also identify a child's strengths as well as his or her weaknesses. As well as comparing the child's performance with his or her peers, the teacher can assess specific learning needs, learning styles, interests, aptitudes, and other critical components of the child's developing learning personality.

This assignment will discuss the challenges and benefits for pupil’s learning when Mathematics is connected to Science. This cross-curricular link has been chosen as I wish to further deepen my understanding of Science and its cross-curricular links to Mathematics. The essay will explain what role Mathematics and Science play within the National curriculum, what cross-curricularity means followed by the discussion of the challenges and benefits including examples of how these are applied in work-based practice at primary school within upper key stage 2.