As a teacher, you want your students to achieve the learning goals of your curriculum, but you also want them to be interested and engaged in the process. How do you align learning goals with student interests? In this article, you will learn some strategies to help you design and deliver lessons that connect with your students' passions, needs, and preferences.
The first step to align learning goals with student interests is to know your students well. This means understanding their backgrounds, cultures, strengths, challenges, hobbies, aspirations, and learning styles. You can gather this information through surveys, interviews, observations, portfolios, and informal conversations. By knowing your students, you can tailor your instruction to their needs and interests, and create a positive and supportive learning environment.
Designing a curriculum is one of the crucial jobs of a teacher. Recently, I designed curriculums for some tough subjects for college students. And the interesting thing, seniors liked it. While designing and teaching, I consider the following points: -> Know the level of students in terms of previous education background -> In initial classes, know your students, their interests, preferred languages, and everything that can help them to understand subjects easily -> Now, create learning goals and also estimate the approx time to achieve goals -> Find relevant learning materials, prepare notes, questions, assignments, etc. -> Create your examples and analogies -> Try various types of instruction methods like PPT, whiteboard, etc.
by localizing the teaching content. attach learning activities to their own environment experiences by getting as many examples as possible from the local communities. this arouses high classroom engagements.
The second step to align learning goals with student interests is to use relevant and authentic contexts for your lessons. This means choosing topics, texts, tasks, and resources that relate to your students' lives, experiences, and goals. For example, if you are teaching math, you can use real-world problems that involve sports, music, or social issues. By using relevant and authentic contexts, you can make your lessons more meaningful and engaging for your students, and help them see the value and purpose of what they are learning.
The third step to align learning goals with student interests is to incorporate choice and voice in your lessons. This means giving your students some options and input in how they learn, what they learn, and how they demonstrate their learning. For example, you can let your students choose from a menu of activities, projects, or assessments that suit their interests and abilities. You can also invite your students to share their opinions, questions, and feedback during the lesson. By incorporating choice and voice, you can empower your students to take ownership and responsibility for their learning, and foster their motivation and creativity.
The fourth step to align learning goals with student interests is to differentiate your instruction. This means adapting your content, process, product, and environment to meet the diverse needs and interests of your students. For example, you can provide different levels of difficulty, support, and challenge for your students based on their readiness, interest, and learning profile. You can also use a variety of strategies, tools, and formats to deliver your instruction and assess your students' learning. By differentiating your instruction, you can ensure that your students are challenged and supported appropriately, and that they have access and opportunity to achieve the learning goals.
The fifth step to align learning goals with student interests is to connect with other disciplines and sources for your lessons. This means integrating your subject with other areas of knowledge, skills, and values that are relevant and interesting for your students. For example, if you are teaching science, you can connect it with art, history, or ethics. You can also use multiple sources of information, such as books, videos, podcasts, or experts, to enrich your lessons and expose your students to different perspectives and experiences. By connecting with other disciplines and sources, you can broaden your students' horizons and spark their curiosity and inquiry.
The sixth and final step to align learning goals with student interests is to celebrate and showcase learning. This means acknowledging and appreciating your students' achievements, efforts, and growth, and providing them with opportunities to share and display their learning. For example, you can give your students positive and constructive feedback, recognition, and rewards for their work. You can also organize exhibitions, presentations, or portfolios where your students can showcase their learning to their peers, families, or communities. By celebrating and showcasing learning, you can boost your students' confidence and pride, and inspire them to continue learning and improving.