Knowledge Construction

Educator cultivates complex thinking and knowledge construction.

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Educator Exemplars

a. 

Instructs learners on how to use critical skills such as creating an argument, examining points of view, explaining reasoning, making assumptions, supporting arguments, etc.
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b. 

 Provides scaffolds (e.g.., reception, transformation and production scaffolds) to aid learners in organizing and evaluating information.
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c. 

Provides tools for learners to collect evidence and to clearly communicate claims.

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d. 

 Encourages and clarifies articulation of learner understanding through questioning, paraphrasing, etc.
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e. 

Creates opportunities for learners to engage in conversations to help them connect real-world topics and current situations.

f. 

Engages learners in reflective activities that help them become aware of, evaluate, regulate and extend their thinking.

Learner Exemplars

a. 

 Engage in conversations (with peers and the educator) that demonstrate making connections between new information and prior knowledge.
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b. 

 Use and/or create mind maps/scaffolding tools to organize and evaluate information.
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c. 

Choose appropriate tool(s), including technology tools (e.g., online surveys, mind-mapping software, spreadsheets, infographics), to collect, organize and analyze data. 

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d. 

Understand and can verbally explain the learning goals and/or essential question for the work they are trying to accomplish. 
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e. 

​Support claims with evidence.

f. 

Engage in reflective activities (e.g., journals, exit slips, conversations, blogging, etc.), connecting new understandings to past, present and future learning.

g. 

Determine where they are in the learning process, what they understand, what is unclear and what needs to be done to solve a problem or task.

h. 

Become self-directed learners as they regulate their behaviors, correct errors in their thinking, monitor progress, and set goals for future learning. ​​