LESSON PLAN: Chickering’s 7-Vector Theory of Identity—HED 8530
Facilitator: Brad Corlett
Course Subject: Student Development Theory Graduate Level(s): M.A. & Ph.D
Lesson Plan Title: Asynchronous Guided Activity for Chickering’s Identity Development
Time: 45-60 Minutes
Date: 8 June, 2011
HED 8530 Course Content Curriculum Strand(s), Standards & Benchmarks:
1.
Apply student development theory in order to understand, explain and predict your own development
as a student
2.
Apply Kolb’s cycle of learning in the creation of meaningful learning activities.*
3.
Lead course discussion and course activities following clear lesson plans.
*NOTE: The accompanying Class Activity on the wiki utilizes both Reflective Observation (watching the
videos and written discussion) and Thinking (Abstract Conceptualization), which fulfill the core requirements
for this course component.
Student Characteristics: Target students are graduate level Higher Education students
with some theoretical knowledge of student development and varying degrees of practical
experience in higher education administration. This lesson is designed to accommodate
diverse learners and accommodate all learning styles using guided instruction
(asynchronous), video demonstration, and small group discussion utilizing the online
discussion forum.
Instructional Materials:
 Computers with Internet Access to website:
http://gladwells10000.wikispaces.com
 Invitations to participate as members of the wiki above
 7-Vector Theory video matching exercise posted to the wiki
 Instruction guidelines posted to the wiki (differentiation strategy).
Vocabulary Terms:
1. Seven-vector Identity Development theory
2. Developing Competence
3. Managing
Emotions 4. Moving Through Autonomy 5. Developing Mature Interpersonal Relationships 6.
Establishing Identity
7. Developing Purpose 8. Developing Integrity
Lesson Goal: 1. The purpose of this lesson is to provide students with an opportunity to
interact in the online environment for the purpose of understanding how people come to
develop identity as they progress through adolescence to adulthood.
Lesson Plan Objectives:
1. Students will differentiate and distinguish between the seven vectors of identity
development.
2. Students will be able to describe or reflect in their own words situations that
represent each of the seven vectors.
3. Students will be able to interpret video clips that depict identity vectors.
Prior Knowledge: Student will have been exposed to some student develop theories related
to the scheduled readings appropriate for the development content.
Introduction:
 We begin the lesson by informing the learners of the lesson objectives.
 You will be asked to follow the suggested viewing guidelines for this lesson plan
within the wiki.
Procedures—Teaching Methods & Activities (with time approximations):
1. A short whole-group discussion activity will follow the introduction. The
discussion will focus on the origins of terror, refugees and human geography.
2. Two Anticipatory Set questions will be asked using 2 map slides. (<5 minutes)
Anticipatory Set:
Click on: Theory of Identity Development wiki page;
I. Who is Arthur Chickering?
Click on the “Facebook” Link for “CHICKERING MADE ME WHO I AM
TODAY”;
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2224922263
II. What are the 7-Vectors that contribute to a person’s sense of identity?
3. A short slideshow is provided will be given using Internet Sources “Putting
Theory to Practice” [slideshare]. (>10 minutes)
4. An In-Class activity will be conducted and completed using the “Map Types
Geography Worksheet”. Individually, students will follow along and fill out the
parts of the worksheet as they are discussed [Handout 1].
(>15 minutes)
5. Students will participate in the discussion forum by posting their responses with
key points that made them decide what vector to choose for each video. (<10
minutes)
6. A Summary of the discussion will be conducted reviewing all key points at the
end of the week-long timeframe (>5 minutes)
Teaching Strategies for Accommodations/Adaptations—Differentiated Instruction:
 Linked articles (pdf-format) on the topic will be provided to academic learners
for additional reading for understanding.
 Due to the asynchronous format a social presence will be utilized through e-mail
and discussion board activities within a 24-hour response time by the presenter.
Assessment/Evaluation:
 Pre-Instruction links will be used to activate prior knowledge.
 Discussion forum will be viewed and monitored for evaluation and
comprehension purposes of the lesson objectives.
 Students will be monitored for participation effort the discussion forum.
 Students will report written answers to the class in the activity wiki discussion
page.
Closure:
1. Answer all related queries on the discussion board or e-mail correspondence.
2. Reiterate the importance of Chickering’s identity theory as it relates to higher
education administration.
3. Comment on overall class performance.
Lesson Extensions: Introduce Theory-to-Practice concepts of Service Learning as a
program or course component that captures many of the elements to Chickering’s theory
[listed on the activity page]. Please take a moment to view KnowledgeWorks
Foundations 2020 Forecast “Ideas for Learning” document. Pay particular attention to
item 4 on the last page (Reposition Learning with your Public). The three questions listed
there are directly related to service learning and provide excellent discussion points for
the class.
Self-Reflection*—Teacher Notes for revision purposes: List reflective thoughts about
lesson (successes/failures).
Quick References Guide for the primary and secondary sources used for this lesson:
1. Video Presentations used in this lesson:
http://www.slideshare.net/RickHudson/chickering-7-vector-theory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkRdj9L3wyE&feature=player_embedded
http://www.slideshare.net/LindaDeVore/piecing-it-all-together1-6055030
2. Websites and Articles:
http://studentaffairs.webs.com/psychosocial.html
http://collegestudentdeveltheory.blogspot.com/2010/09/chickerings-theory-of-sevenvectors-by.html
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/mcnair/journal/Leticia.De.Larrosa.pdf
http://www.middlesex.mass.edu/tutoringservices/downloads/astininv.pdf
http://edld579douglasopensource.tumblr.com/
http://www.fhsu.edu/ccl/service-learning/Faculty/
http://blog.futureofed.org/wp-content/uploads/2011_forecast_update.pdf
3. General Information—Wikispaces provides K-12 and higher education educators free
course development learning spaces that meet or exceed most course LMS/CMS
guidelines/capabilities for online courses. For more information visit:
http://www.wikispaces.com/