Strategies to Check for Understanding

In partnership with Model Teaching, an industry leader in supporting educators, this course teaches you the importance of regular checks for understanding (CFUs) throughout your lesson. Model Teaching's Mission is to improve student performance by directly supporting teachers with quality content and resources. You will learn about verbal, written, and demonstration CFUs and specific strategies you can choose from throughout the day.

3 Months / 8 Course Hrs

Open Enrollment

Offered in partnership with your preferred school

University of West Florida

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Learning method

Self-Guided

$74

No instructor. Study on your own schedule

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Details + Objectives

Course code: T14745

This teacher professional development course will provide you with an understanding of how to incorporate checks for understanding (CFUs) throughout your lessons. It will guide you through the effective use of CFUs before, during, and after instruction. The course also emphasizes a data-driven approach to your lessons so that you can effectively monitor student progress over time. By the end of the course, you will have an action plan for checking students' understanding throughout your lesson. You will also have access to a strategy guide and various tracking templates ready for you to use in the classroom.

What you will learn

Understand formative assessments and how CFU strategies should be incorporated before, during, and at the end of the lesson
Analyze CFU activities in verbal, written, and demonstration formats
Review closed and open strategies to check for understanding
Evaluate methods of data collection and progress monitoring

How you will benefit

You will understand what each child knows at each point of your lesson
You will be able to check for the depth of knowledge in the content you are teaching
Your lesson planning will become more streamlined and targeted as you collect accurate data daily from your students
Academic achievement will increase since you will be able to immediately address any misconceptions and structure lessons based on your daily data collection methods

How the course is taught

Self-Guided, online course
3 Months access
8 course hours

Outline

An Introduction to Checking for Understanding
1. What "Checking for Understanding" (CFU) is and why it is used
2. Three general strategies to use when checking for understanding
3. How to create CFU activities with assessments and data in mind
CFU Before Instruction
1. The purpose of CFUs before instruction
2. How to develop aligned and impactful checks for understanding before instruction
3. Using data to inform instruction
CFU During Instruction
1. The purpose of CFUs during instruction
2. How to develop aligned and impactful checks for understanding during instruction
3. The importance of using data to correct misconceptions as soon as they occur
CFU After Instruction
1. The importance of CFUs after instruction
2. How to develop aligned and impactful checks for understanding to use after instruction
3. The importance of using data to ensure student content mastery
CFU in Action
1. Analyze the components of a lesson that uses multiple methods to check for student understanding
Putting it All Together
1. Using the sample provided, build your own plan to check for understanding for an upcoming lesson.
Applying What you Have Learned
1. Get ideas on how to implement the concepts into your classroom, find a list of online resources that feature various strategies to help you check student understanding, and read the research behind formative assessments.

Instructors & Support

Self-Study

Requirements

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

PC: Windows 10 or later.
Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
Microsoft Word Online
Editing of a Microsoft Word document is required in this course. You may use a free version of Microsoft Word Online, or Google Docs if you do not have Microsoft Office installed on your computer. Model Teaching can provide support for this.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

FAQ

Your course begins immediately after you enroll.

You have 3 months of access to the course. After enrolling, you can learn and complete the course at your own pace, within the allotted access period. You will have the opportunity to interact with other students in the online discussion area.

There is no time limit to complete each lesson, other than completing all lessons within the allotted access period. Discussion areas for each lesson are open for the entire duration of the course.

Because this course is self-guided, no extensions will be granted after the start of your enrollment.

Strategies to Check for Understanding

University of West Florida