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Lenny Dutton
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Rethinking How I Introduce MYP Units

7/12/2019

8 Comments

 
Today I have been reflecting on how I introduce units...and how to improve how I introduce units! What I normally do is tell students a little about the unit, then we look at the Statement of Inquiry (SOI) and we talk about how it relates to the unit, and how it could be used elsewhere. I usually talk about the Global Context with them, and sometimes (not enough) we look at the Key and Related Concepts. I tended to skip the Key and Related Concepts, because they are visible and relevant in the SOI  (though not always the exact same word).
However the presentation about conceptual understanding by Abril Dulude Matos (mentioned here) got me thinking about the importance of really unpacking the concepts with my students. (Sometimes you can go to a presentation or meet a teacher, and with just a few sentences be totally inspired. This is why we need to get Abril working in Europe....or at least on Twitter!)

Previously I would often use the content of the unit (though students would only know a general theme) to help them explore the SOI. However, after reflecting I have decided to introduce my units differently:
  • Introduce and discuss the Key Concept
  • Introduce and discuss the Related Concepts
  • Introduce and discuss Global Context and Exploration
  • Introduce and discuss Statement of Inquiry
  • and only then introduce the topic/theme/content!

I believe this will make for a much richer discussion about the importance and purpose of the unit. It also means when we are discussing elements, like the Key Concept, they are thinking about it without relating it to the unit's content - this will allow for much easier transfer! This activity will also hopefully be more memorable for them and will them with reflections later in the unit.

The new strategy I want to try will also take the whole lesson (90 minutes), and I will only introduce the content of the unit in the last 15 minutes of so - Almost as a cliff hanger!

Because I will introduce all the separate elements first, before the content of the unit, I can actually use a similar layout for every unit. I decided to make a template to help me. I've made the template so that anyone can use it, regardless of the subject they teach. I also have the links in the template to various documents to help!
  • Template for MYP Unit Introduction (Any subject)
  • Example of MYP Unit Introduction for a Design Unit on Animation!
  • Video explaining process/idea
8 Comments
Monique Olson
8/12/2019 01:09:27 pm

Wow! Thank you for sharing. This is a great way to really help students (and teacher) make sense of the concepts and statement of inquiry.

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Peter Dunoon
9/12/2019 03:11:56 am

Great ideas!

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Sony
9/12/2019 07:40:00 am

Great work....Superb!

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MGM
26/12/2019 05:47:25 am

Great way to start....thank you for sharing.

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GG NAME AAİS required link
6/1/2020 09:24:21 am

holy cow

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camera with flip screen link
21/1/2020 02:05:40 am

The Ordro camera is an ideal choice for those who want their videos and photos to describe the maximum detail, thanks to the wide angle lens

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Nabanita Dutta
5/8/2020 07:43:38 pm

Thank you very much.

Reply
Imtiaz
20/1/2021 05:37:09 am

Hi Lenny,

I just found this resource and I think its brilliant! Thank you so much for sharing this.

Reply



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