EDLD+5368+pt+2

Really understand, internalize knowledge, and grasp the core or essence do not mean the same thing. Having head knowledge and being able to apply it are totally different things. I teach math and some students can tell you the formulas and know the difference in measurements, but they do not know how to apply it. When they approach the question, they can tell you the formula to find out, but they don't know what information to pull out of a question or what to use in the formula. From the reading, they said it was "learned by heart" and "understanding is about transfer" (Wiggins & McTighe, 2000). This statement rings true for my students after they return from the science lab and are unable to transfer the information they learned to the classroom and the higher order reading passages that require them to apply what they learned.

When a student really understands, they ARE able to apply the information to other questions and situations. They are able to transfer it to the real world. "Understanding thus involves meeting a challenge for thought" (Wiggins & McTighe, 2000). My students are required to develop questions and word problems that we do in class at the end of each unit. The problems are typed and put into stations for the students to work their own problems. They enjoy doing this and truly understand the concepts by being to apply the knowledge to one of their everyday life questions. When they are able to create their own problems, they truly understand. When a student is struggling, their question does not make sense and is a good indicator that they need remediation. They are confident and successful when they are able to apply their knowledge and test the other students. In the reading, the Stage 2 question was "What will count as evidence of that understanding?" (Wiggins & McTighe, 2000). Their real world problems are evidence of understanding when they are able to complete the stations accurately.

My definition of understanding is being able to transfer and apply the knowledge in real world problems and situations. My students are able to show this through the stations activity and learn from each other while having ownership in their problems.

Wiggins, G, & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by Design [Expanded Second Edition]. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/lamar/Doc?id=10081770.