PD Week PLC Trainer's Note1111

Term 2-2019/2020 PD Week PLC Alef Lesson Framework and Instructional Approach Outcomes By the end of the workshop, the participants will be able to: 1. Understand the updated Alef Instructional Framework and Approach 2. Relate the 9 elements of instructions to the Alef Instructional Framework and Approach. 3. Analyze an example of an Alef lesson plan according to the Alef Instructional Framework and Approach. 4. Understand the platform updates and the Alef Academy digital observation tools. Topics of the workshop ● The 9 Elements of a successful lesson ● Alef Instructional framework ● Alef Instructional Approach ● Platform Updates Needed Material to Implement the Workshop Provided To Request ● Flip charts ● The 9 elements of a successful lesson (cutout) ● A4 white papers ● Alef Instructional Framework (cutout) ● Pens, pencils, markers ● Alef Instructional Approach (cutout) ● Sticky notes pads ● Alef model lesson plan ● Teacher’s demo account (1 for TDC) ● Student’s demo accounts (for teachers) 1

Time/ Action Materials Attendance process: needed ● Please print the attendance form sent with the PLC Attendance materials. Print as much as you can be based on the number sheets. of teachers that will be in your class and based on the Outcomes number of schools. Flipchart ● Please make sure that you ask the teachers to sign on the sheet based on their school. ● Ask participants to fill in the requested information. ● Ask participants to be precise, clear and accurate when writing the requested information. ● When the workshop finishes, please use the following link to fill the information of the teachers in your section: ● https://alefcx.com/plc ● Click on “PLC attendance tracker” button ● Enter the 2 codes sent to you via email ● Your teacher list and information with checkboxes will be displayed. ● Check the boxes of present teachers ● Click on “Submit” Before the workshop 1. Print the attendance sheets, one sheet per school 2. Arrive 30 minutes before your workshop. 3. Know where the Male and Female washrooms are, to guide participants when needed. 4. Arrange the tables to match the seating plan. 5. Prepare the attendance sheets (one sheet per school) and have them ready for teachers to sign upon arrival. 6. Prepare the screen on the first slide. 2

5 minutes 7. Prepare the materials in a way to make it easier for you to use during the workshop (handouts, pens...) 8. Write the workshop outcomes on a flipchart and stick it on the wall so all participants can see. 9. Meet and greet participants upon their arrival. Part 1: Introduction to the Workshop Start the workshop as follows: ● Introduce yourself briefly ● Introduce the title of the PLC ● Display the credited hours’ slide and explain it to the participants ● Communicate with the participants the following rules to ensure the highest benefit for everyone: - PUNCTUALITY (arrival on time); to avoid continuous disruptions. - Ask the participants to put their PHONES on silent. - Ask participants to avoid side talks to avoid disturbing their colleagues. ● Display the agenda of the workshop. Please communicate the following: - The face-to-face PLC will take 1 hr. and 50 minutes - The online course with the assessment and survey will be completed on the teachers’ own time. Remind participants: ● Share with them what not to do list. Tell them that these practices were observed during classroom observations & walkthroughs. They need to refrain from doing it because they contradict the proper implementation of the Alef learning approach. 3

Introduce the session’s learning objectives ● Go through the session’s objectives with the participants Alef Part 2: Body of the Workshop Instructiona PART 1 l Framework Summary: Updates ● Ask participants to log in to the provided students’ demo accounts. Objective 1: Understand ● Share and explain the new Alef Instructional Framework the updated and Approach. Alef Instructional General updates: discuss the updates shown on the slides. Framework Lesson’s Parts Repetition: and Approach. ➢ Students will have the opportunity to re-attempt any lesson part before moving to the next lesson part ➢ Lesson parts repetition is optional. ➢ It will have a question first approach. ➢ Students can attempt any lesson part three times. ➢ Students will get 3 questions in each check my understanding. ➢ Students will receive one star for EVERY lesson part if they score 65% and above. My Exit Ticket: ➢ Students can attempt the My Exit Ticket once. ➢ The My Exit Ticket will have 4 questions. ➢ My Exit Ticket will award 2 stars for lessons with at least 1 Lesson part, as per the following range: ➢ From 60 to 79: 1 star ➢ From 80 to 100: 2 stars 4

English updates: ● This is a representation of the framework for ONE thematic unit. In English, there will be 6 lessons and 3 experiential learning lessons. They all build towards a final project of which EXP 1 and 2 are steps. The unit starts with an introductory lesson and ends with a project. All lessons contribute to the end project. Learners apply their learning in an experiential lesson every two lessons. The experiential learning lessons build skills towards a unit project. So the whole unit is a series of lessons that are connected by means of practice and application towards a project. Trainers need to log into a student’s account and show the participants the new updates. Activity: Alef lesson quick walkthrough ● Tell participants to login to the Alef platform using the given demo student account. ● Ask them to navigate through an Alef lesson so they can experience the new platform updates from the student’s journey. ● They need to understand what the students experience so they can take it into consideration when planning for a lesson and differentiated instruction strategies. Science Updates: Grade 5: ➢ Follows the same naming convention. ➢ Each lesson will be of two parts: (Build understanding , Think deeper) 5

➢ There will be no grade 5 experiential for term II. Grade 6 - 9: ➢ The lesson parts will follow the G9 naming convention (Explore, Apply, Relate) ➢ Some Lessons will have two lesson parts and others will have 3 according to the depth of the lesson’s learning objective. ➢ Experiential kits are added to grade 9 for term II, the distribution of kits will be as follows: - 4 kits for Integrated Science. - 2 kits for Biology. - 2 kits for Physics. For all grades the lesson sequence will not change, as each lesson part will start with the slides then check my understanding, then the video. Trainers need to log into a student’s account and show the participants the new updates. Activity: Science Alef lesson quick walkthrough ● Tell participants to login to the Alef platform using the given demo student account. ● Ask them to navigate through an Alef lesson so they can experience the new platform updates from the student’s journey. Guide them to choose the following selected lessons: ➢ Grade 5: Labeling Atoms ➢ Grade 6: Transforming Energy ➢ Grade 7: Waves Interactions ➢ Grade 8: Describing Mirror Images ➢ Grade 9 - Integrated Science: 6

➢ Grade 9 - Physics: Vectors 1 ➢ Grade 9 - Biology: Introducing the Integumentary System ● They need to understand what the students experience so they can take it into consideration when planning for a lesson and differentiated instruction strategies. Math updates: ➢ Naming convention: - Grade5: is still the same: Build Understanding & Think Deeper - Grade 6 - 9: It now follows the G9 approach (Explore, Apply, Relate) ➢ Lesson Sequence: - Grade 5: Build Understanding & Think Deeper will start with a video first & then Check my Understanding. - Grade 9: Explore & Apply will start with a video first & then Check my Understanding. - Grade 6-8: ONLY Explore will start with video first and then Check my Understanding. Trainers need to log into a student’s account and show the participants the new updates, such as: 1. G5+9: Lesson Part 1 & 2, start with video first then CMU. 2. G6-8: Lesson part 1 ONLY starts with a video then CMU. Lesson part 2&3 will stay the same (starts with slides then CMU). 3. The Lesson part repetition. 4. The information icon within the lesson. 5. The pacing for each lesson: how many periods it’s allocated. 7

Activity: Alef lesson quick walkthrough Objective 2: ● Tell participants to login to the Alef platform using the Relate the 9 given demo student account. elements of instructions to ● Ask them to navigate through an Alef lesson so they can experience the new platform updates from the student’s the Alef journey. Instructional ➢ Grade 5: Order of Operations Framework ➢ Grade 6: Integers & Graphing ➢ Grade 7: Exploring Algebraic Expressions and ➢ Grade 8: Lines Approach. ➢ Grade 9: Adding & Subtracting Polynomials ● They need to understand what the students experience so they can take it into consideration when planning for a lesson and differentiated instruction strategies. PART 2 Activity: 9 Elements of a Successful Lesson Summary: In this activity, participants will find out the value of having a systematic approach to teaching and learning through the elements of instructions. Participants will be given 9 cards of different elements that are aligned with the flow of content on the Alef platform. They need to find where each element can best fit within the Alef lesson flow on the platform. The trainer will: ● Participants work in groups of 5-6 ● Each group will get a set of cards (9 elements of a successful lesson) 8

● Ask them to look at each element and link it to the segment ● Then indicate where they see it in an Alef lesson. ● Participants will then share and explain their answers ● You then have to display the correct answer and explain it. Wrap-up: By the end of this activity, participants should understand that the elements of a successful lesson are what the Alef Lesson is built on and that each element represents a stage of the Alef Lesson component. The elements of a successful lesson and the Alef Instructional framework Summary: In this activity, participants will have to build the Alef Lesson Framework and then link the 9 elements of a successful lesson with the Lesson Framework. This will show them that the structure of the elements mirrors the flow of the Alef lesson. We are trying to help participants create the link between the lesson framework, Alef lesson, and the elements of a successful lesson. Activity 1 The trainer will: 9

● Ask the participants to read the following question: “Is there any relation between the elements of instruction and the Alef Lesson Framework? ● Tell them this question will be answered when they’re done with the coming activity. ● Participants work in their groups according to their grade level. ● Give the participants the envelope of the Lesson Framework components & definition cutout. ● Ask them to build the Lesson Framework using the cutout and match them with the definition and place them in the right sequence. ● Match each of the 9 elements with the related component of the Alef lesson framework. ● What conclusion do they come up with? ● Participants will share and explain their answers Wrap-up: In this activity, participants need to link the 9 elements of a successful lesson with the lesson framework, which mirrors the flow of the Alef lesson. We are trying to help participants create the link between the framework, Alef lesson and the elements of a successful lesson. Importance of elements of a successful lesson Summary: In this activity, Activity 2 The trainer will: ● Participants to be divided into 3 groups: Preparation, Instructions & Practice, Assessment & Application. 10

● Each group will discuss the 3 elements in their assigned category and identify its importance to the Alef lesson and Alef lesson framework. ● What conclusion do they come up with? ● Participants will share and explain their answers. Wrap-up Display this slide, and discuss the following points with participant, and highlight that the elements of a successful lesson: ● Provides a structured framework for an effective learning process that is reflected in any lesson. ● Each element addresses a component in an Alef lesson that supports the learning process. ● When each element is addressed, learners are much more likely to be engaged and to retain the information or skills they’re being taught. PART 3 Activity: Build the Alef Instructional Approach Summary: In this activity, participants will have to build the Alef Lesson Instructional Approach. They then have to match examples of activities with each component. The point is to make teachers read and understand what each component is about. It’s another way to make sure the participants are familiar and understand the instructional approach. 11

Objective 3: The trainer will: Analyze an ● Participants work in groups according to their grade level ● Participants will get the Instructional Approach cutouts example of an that include → Components, instruction for each Alef lesson component, & examples of activities related to each plan component. according to ● Participants will have to place the cutouts in the right the Alef place to build the Alef Instructional Approach. Instructional ● They will then have to match the right activities with its Framework related component. and ● The correct Alef Instructional Approach will be displayed Approach. once they’re done. Wrap-up: Share with participants that the purpose of the above activity is to give them more insight of each part of the Alef approach. This will help them with planning and delivering an Alef lesson, and to conclude that the Alef Instructional Approach is a roadmap that guides the teachers on how to deliver an Alef lesson. PART 4 Review and analyze a given example of an Alef lesson plan Summary: In this activity participants will be given a sample model lesson plan according to subjects and grade levels. The model lesson will show participants how to plan an Alef lesson in an engaging and structured manner. This can be easily done if the teachers follow the lesson framework and instructional approach. A model lesson does not mean that lessons should always go exactly as planned but in which both teacher and learner master the intended learning objectives. 12

Activity: In this activity, participants will be given a sample of a model lesson plan and will be asked to look at it and check if it is aligned with the updated lesson framework and instructional approach. The trainer will: ● Ask participants to work in groups as per their grade level. ● Ask them to review the given Alef lesson plan. ● Participants will write their feedback on sticky notes. ● Participants need to use the following questions to guide the discussion and feedback: ➔ What was done right? ➔ What needs improvement? ➔ Is it aligned with the Alef Instructional Approach? ● Each group will display their findings and share their feedback. Wrap-up At the end of this activity, ● A person from each group will share the feedback with the participants. ● Participants will review each group’s opinion and provide feedback ● Other groups need to react to the points mentioned and agree or disagree when needed; corrective solutions have to be provided. Conclusion: By the end of this activity, wrap-up as following: 13

Closure Tell participants that we’ve gone through the 9 elements of a successful lesson and how they’re linked to the lesson framework and instructional approach. They’ve seen an example of a model lesson plan. We have given them everything they need to help them understand the structure of an Alef lesson, plan and deliver an Alef lesson. Remind them of the last PLC and components they need to take into consideration when planning an Alef lesson. ● Present the slide and remind participants of the main components of Alef lesson preparation. ● Examples of the lesson components are available on the slide, these components include: preview the lesson,check the data, starter (Big Idea), online and offline element, key terms, My thinking plan, differentiated strategies, guided questions, and extension activities. ● Explain to teachers that these are the basic components they need when preparing for an Alef lesson and they need to be in that sequence in order to get the best end results. Session Wrap-up: ● Go over the learning outcomes of the session and how each was covered. ● Ask them if they have any questions Part 3: End of the Workshop- Teachers’ PD Week Plan 14

Objective 4: The following features are now active on the platform Understand the platform A. Students’ Mapping updates and The trainer will: the Alef Explain that another analytic tab is being added to the Alef Academy analytics page. Through this new data tab, teachers will be able digital to see students in groups according to their average score of observation completed lessons. The system will categorize the students into tools. four areas as shown in the illustration provided. The categories are identified based on 2 criteria: Average score and average lesson completion time. ● Intervention Required: Students who score below 60% and their average time spent is between 0-25 min. ● Guidance Needed: Students who score below 60% and their average time spent is 26 min to above 45 min. ● Opportunities for Enrichment: Students who score above 60% and their average time spent is between 0-25 min. ● On Track for Growth: Students who score above 60% and their average time spent is 26 min to above 45 min. Teachers also can see the students names if they hover over the dots shown on the graph. This page is another detailed view of the Class Performance Tab but with categories, as this would help teachers develop effective differentiated instruction and strategies to meet the students’ needs and act accordingly. B. Practice (G5-9 Math & Science ONLY): Students will receive practice cards if the My Exit ticket score is under 70%. A practice card will be added at the bottom of the student’s homepage, with the most recent appearing first. It consists of 5 to 9 questions from prerequisites of the lesson. The 15

students are allowed to attempt it once. If they do attempt it and score 60% and above, the student will be rewarded 1 star and the practice card will disappear. The Practice dashboard is now active for teachers. On this dashboard, the teacher will be able to see which students received Practice cards and to which lesson, if they have attempted it, and how much have they scored. Teachers are able to see the full list of students who have received Practice cards and the related lesson OR they can filter them by Practice card lesson. New Platform Updates: C. In class Game: Teachers will be able to: ● Search for and select a replacement question for the game: ● Click on the Replace button on a specific question ● Search for a question from the current lesson or a previous lesson. ● Determine the amount of time for each question in the game: ● (default was 60 sec) Now min 10 sec to max 120 sec. ● Change the order of the questions as to how they appear in the game. D. Pacing of an Alef lesson within the platform The trainer will: 16

● The pacing for each lesson will show on the lesson title card, for example, a message will appear showing the number of periods the lesson needs to be completed. E. Information Icon The trainer will: ● Explain there is an information icon found throughout an Alef lesson which will provide instructions on how the students need to proceed with the different interactive tools. ● The information will appear when the student hovers over it. F. Activity Center: A new page is now added to the Student’s Journey. This page will show all UNATTEMPTED issued Practice cards and Key Term games, at the bottom of the page. They’re arranged by the most recent. Once the activity is attempted, the card will disappear. There is a star icon on each activity card (check red arrows) to indicate that students will be awarded a star should they get 60% and above. On the homepage, point out to participants the new icon that represents the activity center page (check red arrow on top). Another view is the Student Activity Center page. It basically contains the same information as the homepage, such as the unattempted issued activity cards. In addition to that, there is the Star box where it’ll indicate the number of stars awarded for each subject. G. Observation & Coaching Model: 17

Online Remind participants of the Alef Academy observation tools. Course Remind them that their principles will have access to this observation tool as well and any observation report done. Trainers will state that the purpose of this tool is to measure the effective use of the Alef platform, students’ engagement and measure the success criteria. also to highlight areas where teachers need training, professional development, and daily support. Introduce the new Observation & Coaching Model Explain to participants that the first 2 weeks will consist of walkthrough visits to all teachers. This is to build an understanding of the needs and level of each teacher and how best to support them. Tell them that after the walkthroughs, targeted & focused observation will be conducted to those teachers who have L1 & L2 on the walkthrough report. These observations will highlight the points that the teachers need and the TDC will concentrate on. Next stage comes the Coaching; TDC will coach the teachers on the highlighted points during the observation. Then will come the second observation to check if the teacher is implementing what they were coached on. And so on. By the end of the term, the effectiveness of the implementation of the Alef platform for each teacher should show some improvement compared to the beginning of the term (Teacher Maturity Model). Online course Tell participants that the second part of the workshop is the online course. they should finish it, and get 80% or above in the assessment to receive 2 hours from MoE. 18

● Direct participants to the Alef Academy, to the online course “Alef Lesson Framework & Instructional Approach” ● Ask participants to complete the online course, Assessment, and Survey ● Direct them to download the Certificate once they successfully complete the course (80% on assessment) 19