Friday, October 21, 2011

Highlighting Work that Misses the Mark


Yes, yes, I have heard it before.  It is important to show models of the learning target so students are able to conceptualize what the finished product will/should look like.  However, based on the reading I have done over the past several months, there seems to be some disagreement when it comes to sharing weak or poor examples of a learning target.  Some say that weak examples are unnecessary and serve no real purpose for students who should be focusing on quality.  Contrarily, Chappius asserts that showing students models of weak work helps them to understand problems to avoid.  I do not make a habit of using models of poor work, but after thinking about Chappius' argument, I can see how it can be helpful.  However, I think it is only helpful if students are actively engaged with understanding, evaluating, and explaining what makes one sample weak and another strong.  If they are able to explain what makes a certain writing piece weak or less effective, they are more likely to avoid similar shortcomings in their own writing. 

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