Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Introduction
As I began working on this project I realized it would be the most beneficial to have
two collaborators. I first chose my school media specialist as I knew she would be helpful with
distance learning resources. My school media specialist trained me on using the resource Pear
Deck. We met via a Zoom meeting where she was able to share her screen with me to show
me some features of Pear Deck that I can incorporate into my instruction with my students.
She provided me with tips for using Pear Deck with kindergarteners specifically and how they
designed the majority of our English Language Arts lessons that we taught in distance
learning, so I knew she would be valuable in supporting me as I planned lessons to teach a new
high frequency word. I also met with her via Zoom to discuss a variety of activities that could
be done with our students that would be appropriate to kindergarten students and engage them
This instruction is designed for kindergarten students and is a part of English Language
Arts. Kindergarten students in Montgomery County Public Schools are required to learn new
high frequency words each week. With the challenge of distance learning, student engagement
began to decline; therefore, students were not actively learning the new high frequency words
that they were still required to learn. Because of this issue, I set an instructional goal for
students to be able to identify and spell the high frequency word ‘little’ by participating in
Front-End Analysis
Needs Analysis. I followed the four phases of the needs assessment based on Morrison,
Ross, and Kemp (Brown & Green, 2016). I chose this model because the sequential order of the
needs analysis was easy to follow and provided an in-depth description for the expectations of
each phase. To implement this model, I broke my instructional design plan into the appropriate
four phases: planning, collecting data, analyzing the data, and compiling a final report (Brown &
Green, 2016). It was helpful to elaborate on each of the four phases as I drew up my needs
analysis because it laid out a solid foundation for how I would begin the final project.
I will be using Google Slides and Pear Deck on Zoom to teach a live literacy lesson
where my students will learn the high frequency word ‘little’. My students are accustomed to
learning high frequency words a certain way based on the routine we followed when we were
physically in school. Distance learning has altered the way in which I teach high frequency
words, partially because my students are far less engaged online due to limited opportunities for
interaction. This needs analysis is completed based on the correlation between student learning,
specifically in regard to high frequency words, and student engagement in distance learning.
Phase 1: Planning. My kindergarten students are the focus audience. There are two
pieces of data I need to collect from my audience. The first piece of data I need is how well
students are retaining the high frequency words they are learning via distance learning compared
to when we were in school. The second piece of data I need is which students are participating
and which students are disengaged in distance learning. Due to the nature of distance learning, I
am unable to gather data on high frequency words from all students, so this data will be collected
from as many students as possible. During my office hours I can meet with some students
individually and assess them on the new high frequency words that they are able to read to me
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from flashcards. I would work to collect data from at least 15 of my 25 students. I can record
data for all students in participation by keeping note of who participates each Zoom session, how
many times they participate, and whether their responses are accurate.
Phase 2: Collecting data. The sample size of the needs analysis will include at least 15
students with a maximum of 25 students for data collection on high frequency words. I will
video conference with each student individually (or as many students will be able to due to
parent schedules) and show them flashcards of the high frequency words we have learned via
Zoom. Each student will read the words to me and I will note how many words they read
correctly; this will equate to how many high frequency words they have learned. Student
engagement data will be collected as I track who does and does not participate each class and
Phase 3: Analyzing the data. I will analyze and prioritize my data based on students
who are showing little, average, and high high frequency word retention. This data will be
compared with which students have higher/lower levels of engagement; there will likely be a
correlation between low engagement and low retention of high frequency words. The way I plan
to analyze this data is most likely classified as comparative. Obviously, students with low
participation and low retention of high frequency words will be prioritized as needing the most
intervention, but my instruction is designed to service all learners regardless of if they are
struggling or not.
Phase 4: Compiling a final report. A final report summarizing my findings on data and
the conclusions I’ve drawn will assist me in taking the next step: implementing my instructional
design to solve the problems I’ve identified. The recommendations based on the data will
be well-thought out and thorough. The data from my needs analysis will be interesting and useful
to compare to the data I collect once my instructional design has been executed.
Learning Context Analysis. The needs analysis above proves the necessity of this
instruction as the county and state still expect high frequency words to be learned. I also
identified for my individual class that disengagement is an issue, so my new instructional plan
will meet the needs of disengaged learners. In the learning context analysis I address how
learning has changed for this group of students as we shifted from face-to-face learning to
distance learning, and how this affects learning high frequency words specifically. This model of
learning context analysis supports Smith and Ragan’s ideas that there must be a need for
instruction to support students and the learning environment must be described (Brown & Green,
2016).
This learning context analysis is based off of my twenty-five kindergarten students from
this school year. These are the students I would have implemented my final project with if school
was still in session. Of course, this information will be updated before I implement my
instruction with my new students next school year so I can make changes as necessary. These
students have been participating in distance learning in a live video conferencing format since
the beginning of April. Twenty of the twenty-five students have consistently joined the live
meeting every day; the other five students logged on two to three days per week. All students are
either able to use Zoom features (i.e., mute/unmute themselves, turn screen on/off, etc.)
These students are accustomed to learning one to two new high frequency words per
week in the normal classroom. They are typically provided with a “morning message” and asked
to guess which new word we will focus on for the week. Once the word is guessed correctly, a
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student will circle it so all students know which word we are focusing on, and then another
student will write the word on the Promethean. Another student is then chosen to point on the
word wall to which letter the new word should be stapled under; the student explains how they
know they chose the correct letter. The new word is included in the morning message each day
for the rest of the week and students are encouraged to circle and write the word to practice
identifying and spelling it. This routine was practiced each week for six months while we were in
school normally. Every few months, there would be a cumulative spelling test on fifteen of the
high frequency words to assess student knowledge and retention on the words.
With distance learning, new high frequency words still had to be taught and learned, but
the method that students were comfortable with was not possible via Zoom. Changing a familiar
routine with students so young can be a disservice to their learning; because changing the
learning routine is inevitable, my plan is to design instruction for a week teaching one new high
frequency word using engaging strategies and activities. Active participation has been a struggle
on Zoom, and students are obviously not learning if they are not actively participating. By
planning instruction where my students can engage from home, they have a better chance of
retaining what they learn about the high frequency word of the week, even if it is not their
normal routine.
However, knowing that each of my students is at least semi-consistent in joining our class Zoom
meetings gives everyone a chance to engage in active learning. Some activities will involve
students typing and entering answers or using their mouse to select an answer on their own
computer. This will show me both who is and is not participating and who is correctly learning
Learner Analysis. I chose to follow Dick, Carey, and Carey’s model (Brown & Green,
2016) for my learner analysis because of the models I studied, this one seemed to best align with
the attributes of my young students. Some of the other models seemed appropriate to secondary
and post-secondary education as they discussed why the courses were being taken or beliefs that
learners may hold (Brown & Green, 2016); naturally, this would not be applicable to
student needs based on abilities, skills, and content knowledge. This model is organized which is
Entry skills: A lot of students have the skills to use basic Zoom features that will be required
when we use the chat. Those who struggle with using the Zoom features have parental support
nearby. None of the students are familiar with Pear Deck, but because they are familiar with
using Chromebooks and playing educational games at school, they should all have the skills to
Prior knowledge of topic area: My students have prior knowledge on learning high frequency
words every week since the beginning of the school year. Of course, they may or may not
already be familiar with the focus word ‘little’ depending on their reading abilities.
Attitudes toward content and potential delivery system: These students generally really enjoy
learning new high frequency words each week. They look forward to learning new words every
Monday morning as they feel proud having another word they know how to read and spell.
However, distance learning has left them less engaged than they were in school, so the delivery
system I began using in distance learning was not very effective. I believe the new delivery
system I am implementing with Pear Deck will excite them and be much more effective.
Academic motivation: The motivation of my students varies from student to student, but was
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generally very high in the classroom and then was generally very low once we began learning
from home. However, the majority of my students demonstrated a high motivation in school to
learn high frequency words, so I know with the right tools and strategies they will be motivated
Educational and ability levels: In English Language Arts, five students consistently perform
above average, thirteen consistently perform average, and seven students consistently perform
below average. The reading abilities range from a level A to a level K, with a level D being the
kindergarten expectation.
General learning preferences: My students enjoy active learning where they can complete a task;
they are much less interested in listening to me provide them with information. Active learning
could mean a hands-on activity, a discussion with a partner, drawing a response, etc. In this case,
it will mean using their device to type certain letters and send them to me via an online chat.
Attitudes toward the training organization: While not completely applicable to kindergarten
learners, I think my students adapted well to distance learning. There was no type of training for
them as their parents worked to figure out the Zoom technology. Many of these students do have
a positive attitude towards online learning because they enjoy getting to see their peers and
teacher, but some are apprehensive because of the unfamiliar setting and unknown territory.
Group characteristics: This entire class is flexible and easy-going with the changes that have
occurred to the way we teach and learn. They are still eager to learn, even if this is not
demonstrated through their participation due to external factors, such as anxiety and
uncomfortableness. All of these students like to have fun with learning and actively participate
In addition to the learner analysis model I chose, I also appreciate knowing the ethnic and
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teaching and how my instruction can meet the needs of diverse students. This information is
especially important to keep in mind during distance learning to remind me that these are my
Among this group of students there are four Hispanics, eleven white, three African
American, five Asian, and two mixed-race. Eleven of these students are girls and fourteen are
boys. None of these students have IEPS or 504s but one receives speech services. Five students
receive ESOL services. Four students receive free and/or reduced meals and therefore come from
Problem One requires that students are able to recognize the word ‘little’. In my initial
PITP organizer I used the language “students will be able to read...” but upon reflection, I
think ‘recognize’ is a better verb for this problem. This is when the high frequency word is
introduced. For this problem, students will participate in several different activities to become
familiar with the new word. To begin, students can volunteer to try to sound out or guess the
word in our Zoom meeting after I show it on the screen. Once I introduce the word, students
will have 30 seconds to write ‘little’ as many times as possible using a paper and pencil they
keep near their device. They will then count how many times they wrote ‘little’ and have an
opportunity to share the number of times they wrote it. I will then set a second timer for 30
seconds and students will try to beat their individual score of how many times they were able
to write the word. This will familiarize students with the word so they will be able to
recognize it. After this activity, students can take turns spelling ‘little’ aloud for the class.
Problem Two requires that students are able to identify the word ‘little’. More
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specifically, identifying in this case means being able to select the focus word amongst other
words. I will use the app Pear Deck where students will see multiple choice-style responses on
their screens. They will be able to choose the correct answer after I display a new set of
choices. Each question will ask the students to select the correct spelling of the word ‘little’;
two response choices will be misspelled. I will be able to view who participates in selecting
responses and who answers correctly versus incorrectly. In addition to this activity, I will
incorporate a movement activity where students can get up from their seats and make
themselves big (which was the previous week’s high frequency word) by reaching up high and
then make themselves little by curling up into a ball. This will help kinesthetic learners build
an association to the word ‘little’, which will allow them to better identify the word after the
visual activity.
Problem Three requires students to be able to find and sort the word ‘little’ against
other words in a group. Pear Deck has a feature where students can drag and sort objects into
two groups. I will provide the word ‘little’ multiple times and misspellings of the word in a
scrambled group. Students will have to sort the words based on correct and incorrect spellings.
This tedious task will help them practice focusing on the word so they will be able to better
identify the correct spelling, and even spell ‘little’ on their own. As a follow-up activity for the
kinesthetic learners, students will participate in a mini scavenger hunt where they have to find
two things in their home that are little and show them on their screen. Like the activity from
Problem Two, this helps associate meaning with the word ‘little’.
Problem Four require students to be able to identify the missing letters in incorrect
spellings of the word. Students will practice using the chat feature of Zoom that they will use
for the end problem. I will show the word ‘little’ on the screen, but each time I show it, one
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letter will be covered up. Students will have to type the missing letter into the chat and send it
to me so I can check to see their understanding. After covering up a few letters, I will begin to
cover up two letters at a time, and students will have to send me the two letters that are
covered up.
The end problem asks: Are students able to accurately and independently type the
word ‘little’ using the chat feature and press the ‘enter’ button to send me the word? This is
the final assessment and the most independent activity to test how well students have truly
learned the word ‘little’. Students will be able to take as much time as they need to do this as it
is not always simple for children this young to easily find all of the letters on the keyboard. As
an enrichment, students will be encouraged to type an entire sentence using the word ‘little’ in
the chat. I would expect more advanced students to give this a try; it is likely that it would
take these students about the same amount of time that it would take striving students to type
‘little’ in isolation. Students demonstrate meeting the expectation if they are able to accurately
type the word ‘little’ and enter it in the chat. They demonstrate complete mastery if they are
able to at least attempt a comprehensible sentence including the word ‘little’. Students
demonstrate that they are still emerging in learning this high frequency word if the word is
Standards Alignment
The table below includes the relevant standards that support with the instructional
design. Each standard is aligned with the Pebbles in the Pond Graphic Organizer.
Instruction
Include
II.B.2. Learners adjust their awareness of the
global learning community by interacting with PITP Problems 3 and End
learners who reflect a range of perspectives.
Collaborate
III.B.1. Learners participate in personal, social,
and intellectual networks by using a variety of PITP All Problems
communication tools and resources.
Explore
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Engage
VI.A.2. Learners follow ethical and legal
guidelines for gathering and using information
by understanding the ethical use of PITP All Problems
information, technology, and media.
I chose to focus on the fourth problem of my unit where students must identify
missing letters from incorrect spellings of the word ‘little’. Being the fourth problem in the
unit, students should be able to identify the word and are now practicing identifying missing
letters as an application practice. Students will be better prepared for spelling ‘little’
place. The previous problems in the unit included similar repetitive drills but were presented
in an engaging way so that students are learning and retaining the information effectively.
Identify all of the knowledge components for this problem (i.e. conduct a
Tessmer, and Hannum (Brown & Green, 2016). There are five activities included in this
model: inventorying tasks, describing tasks, selecting tasks, sequencing tasks and task
components, and analyzing tasks and content level (Brown & Green, 2016).
Inventorying tasks is the first step to the task analysis (Brown & Green, 2016) so it is
clearly laid out which tasks will take place. Based on tasks that had been done in the previous
three problems, the tasks that will be completed in the fourth problem are identifying which
letter(s) are missing from the word ‘little’, typing the appropriate letters, and utilizing the chat
feature.
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The second step is describing the tasks (Brown & Green, 2016). In identifying missing
letters, I will begin with one letter, such as ‘i’ covered up with a rectangle. Students will see the
letters ‘l’, ‘t’, ‘t’, ‘l’, ‘e’ and have to figure out which letter from the word is absent. They can
keep this to themselves or say it out loud, although their sound will not be on. When students
are expected to type the appropriate missing letters, they will have to find the letters on their
keyboards. While this task may seem simple, a sufficient amount of time will be allotted for
this as many students are not familiar with typing regularly. In utilizing the chat feature,
students will have to find the chat button on their screen and open the chat. Once they complete
the task of typing in their letter(s), they will have to either click ‘enter’ on their keyboards to
submit their responses or click the ‘send’ icon on their screen. Again, while these technical
tasks may seem easy, they are rather complex for five- and six-year old students.
Step three is selecting tasks for students (Brown & Green, 2016). Three tasks are an
appropriate amount for kindergarteners; any more than this or tasks that were more complex
would likely be too much to expect of these students. All originally planned tasks will be
included in the instruction because they are all necessary to student learning.
Sequencing the tasks is the fourth step in the model (Brown & Green, 2016). In the first
task students will need to open the chat feature by clicking the button so it pops up on the side
of their screen. They must do this first so they are not struggling to figure it out when they
should be completing the next task. Identifying which letter(s) are missing from ‘little’ is the
second task as students need to know what they will type in the chat feature. In the third task
students must type the letter(s) missing from ‘little’. After they have typed the correct letters,
the first task of utilizing the chat comes back into play when students need to push ‘enter’ to
The fifth and final step includes analyzing the tasks and content level (Brown & Green,
2016). This includes the cognitive and behavioral responses that are expected from students by
completing these tasks (Brown & Green, 2016). When students identify the missing letters
from the word ‘little’ they are indicating that they know how to spell the high frequency word,
word and the letters that make it up as opposed to just being able to read and identify the word.
By typing the missing letters, students have to mentally recognize the letter that they are unable
to see and find it on the keyboard. This shows which students are able to match uppercase and
lowercase letters as the letters on the keyboard are uppercase but the letters they will compare
with on the screen will be lowercase. These skills demonstrate students’ application of letter
knowledge. Utilizing the chat feature is not a content-related task but provides students with an
opportunity to become more educated with the technologies necessary to aid their learning.
Especially with distance learning, these technical skills are crucial to student success as this is
Guidance/Instructional Strategies
Using the “tell, ask, show, do” sequence categories, the table below shows the planned
guidance and instructional strategies for my instructional plan for problem four.
Ask I will ask students if they are able to find the chat icon/button on
their screens.
Do Students can press the chat button once they find it. Parents can
help if necessary.
Tell I will share my screen showing the word ‘little’ and explain that
students have to type in the chat the letter(s) I cover up and push
‘enter’.
Show I will share my screen to show a practice round including the
covered up letter ‘i’, how I click on the chat button, type in the
letter, and push ‘enter’.
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Describe the plan for the interface design/production of materials and media. With
distance learning, all instruction is delivered completely online via Zoom. Every student has a
device at home in which they can use to log onto Zoom every morning. Each day will follow a
different PITP problem; I will have the Google Slides and Pear Deck lessons created ahead of
time. I am able to share my screen to show the Google Slides I have prepared and the ones that
include Pear Deck features will be accessible to students to engage with. Students will need to
be able to use their mouse or trackpad to click certain items on the screen and be able to type
letters on the keyboard and find the ‘enter’ button. In this scenario of online learning, students
will have a decent amount of familiarity with using Chromebooks or laptops as this will be a
focus in the beginning of the school year. Appendix A includes a sample Google Slide of PITP
Problem 4.
For a formative assessment, I will assess the responses students send me in the chat for
the fourth PITP problem. I will be able to keep the chat open after my live class to collect data.
I will first evaluate which students are or are not sending the missing letters in the chat. I have
hard copies of my class roster that I can check off to keep track of who is participating. Then,
by scrolling through the chat I can view who was sending the correct missing letter(s) as I
In the summative assessment in the end problem, I will record who did and did not type
and send the word ‘little’ in the chat, as I did with the formative assessment. Then I will
evaluate who was able to type the word correctly, who may have had one or two small
mistakes, who had three or four mistakes, and who struggled to find the correct letters to type.
Being the fifth and final day of working with the word ‘little’ and having practice with the
keyboard, this summative assessment will be indicative of who has mastered identifying and
I will implement this instructional unit during the 2020-2021school year, assuming we
are still participating in distance learning. I will adapt the design as necessary to meet the needs
of my new students. I plan to use this instructional model for as long as we are in distance
learning.
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References
AECT Standards, 2012 Version. (2012). Retrieved July 2, 2020, from https://www.aect.org/
American Association of School Librarians. (2007). Standards for the 21st century learner.
andstandards/learningstandards/AASL_LearningStandards.pdf
Brown, A., &; Green, T. D. (2016). The essentials of instructional design: Connecting
fundamental principles with process and practice. New York, NY: Routledge.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2016). International society for technology
http://www.iste.org/standards/standards/for-students-2016
http://mdk12.msde.maryland.gov/INSTRUCTION/commoncore/Pages/index.aspx
Pear Deck for Google Slides. (n.d.). Retrieved July 01, 2020, from
https://www.peardeck.com/googleslides/
Appendix A