Baker University
School of Professional and Graduate Studies
Continuing Education Syllabus
Syllabus Template for Cooperative Partnerships
Course Name: Increasing Higher-Order Thinking and Engagement in the Classroom
Date: June 7, 2012 - June 21, 2012
June 7, 2012 – 8:30 – 3:30 pm
Hybrid Course – Face to Face/Online (6 hours each)
All assignments due to instructor by June 21.
New Course Request: __X__ or Repeat ____
Credit Hours: 1 hour
Instructor:
Katy Vinson, Curriculum Technologist
katy.vinson@usd305.com 785-309-4755
Tracy Hutton, Curriculum Technologist
tracy.hutton@usd305.com 785-309-4756
Course Description: Students sharpen their thinking skills and dig deep into the content as they
ask and answer higher-level thinking questions. Through this workshop we will explore how
you can engage your students, create lessons that bring about higher-order thinking to impact
how students think, reflect, and learn.
Course Objectives: At the end of this course, teachers will be able to...
1. Apply new knowledge to pedagogical discussions
2. Integrate higher order questioning strategies into curriculum units
3. Engage students and take them out of the classroom into the real world
4. Create focus activities to engage students every time
5. Implement problem-based learning to push thinking to higher levels
6. Teach students how to solve real world problems framed in content.
Textbook/Materials: Intel Teach Project-Based Approaches, Blooms Revised Cognitive
Domain to Improve Instructional Practice http://farrintegratingit.net/Theory/CriticalThinking/revisedcog.htm, Worksheets Don’t Grow Dendrites by
Marcia Tate, Using Video Conferencing in the Classroom
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow6/nov98/videoclass.html
Content/Outline:
Activity 1: Introduction to Engagement
● Most memorable school experience (Focus Activity)
Activity 2: Focus Activities
 Examples
Activity 3: Higher-Order Thinking
● Tool kit
● Examples
● HOT Quick-Reference Activity
Activity 4: Extending the Classroom
● Video Conference with outside expert
● Webinars
● Virtual Field Trips
Activity 5: Problem-Based Learning
● Definition and Overview
● Problem-Solving Activity
Activity 6: Engagement Through Fun
● Games
● Physical Activities
● Scavenger Hunts using clickers
Activity 7 – Lesson Plan Makeover
Course Requirements:
1. Class Participation. Each participant is expected to participate in class interactions and activities.
2. Assignments
 Lesson plan makeover that has the following:
o Focus/Engaging/Fun Activity (at least 1)
o Deliberate HOT questions embedded throughout
o Out of classroom connection
o Based around a problem
3. Participate in Online Discussiona. 1 post of how you will use one of the following: Focus Activities, Higher Order Thinking
Questions, Extending the Classroom, Problem Based Learning, or Engagement Through
Fun
b. Respond to at least three different posts from other participants.
4. Participants will complete the Big Five Take Away Responses
a. Two things that were new information
b. One thought for further discussion
c. Two things that can be applied to your professional setting
Assessment:
Class participation
Problem-based lesson
HOT Tool
Online Discussion
45 points
100 points
45 points
10 points
Total
200 points
A - 90-100%
B - 80-89%
C - 70-79%
D - 60-69%
F - 59% and below
HOT
Questions
Engaging
Activities
Lesson Plan Makeover Rubric
4
All activities in my
lesson are well
placed throughout
my Lesson Plan;
directly target a
specific Kansas or
Common Core
Indicator and are
highly engaging.
3
Most activities in my
lesson are
appropriately placed
throughout my
lesson plan and
target Kansas or
Common Core
Indicator and are
very engaging.
2
Some activities in
my lesson are placed
throughout my
lesson plan and are
related to Kansas or
Common Core
Indicator and are
somewhat engaging.
1
Activities in my
lesson are somewhat
well placed and are
loosely related to
Kansas or Common
Core Indicators.
Lesson centers
around one or more
HOT questions and
has 3 additional
HOT questions
strategically placed
throughout the
lesson plan.
Lesson centers
around one HOT
question and 1 or 2
additional HOT
questions placed
throughout the
lesson plan.
Lesson centers
around a main
question and 1 or 2
additional questions
in the lesson plan.
Lesson has several
questions
throughout but few
are of a High order.
Outside
Connection
Problem Based
4
3
2
1
Students will
connect with an
outside source
through one of the
following: VC,
Virtual Field Trip,
Guest Speaker,
Webinar in order to
solve the problem
outlined at the
beginning.
Students will
connect with an
outside source that
is somewhat related
to the problem.
Students will
connect with an
outside source that
is not related to the
problem.
There is no outside
source in the
lesson.
Lesson provides
students with the
opportunity to solve
a real world
problem that
relates back to
Kansas or Common
Core Indicators
Lesson provides
students with the
opportunity to solve
a problem that is
real world but not
standards based.
Or is not real world
but relates directly
to Kansas
Standards.
Lesson provides
with a problem that
doesn’t relate back
to standards.
There is no Problem
presented for
students to solve.
Online Discussion Rubric
2
Postings are
somewhat
relevant and
reflect some of
the readings or
personal work.
Responses are
somewhat
thoughtful and
reflective.
Responds
to
Responds to
Understanding
question
posted
question with a
of topic and
and
basic
materials.
demonstrates
understanding of
understanding of material and
material and
topics
topics.
Posts and
Post submission Posts and
responses
responses
and length
submitted
on
or
submitted within
X3
before the stated 1 day of due
due date; No less date; 2
than 3 responses responses given
to the assigned to assigned
post topic.
posts.
Quality of
Posting/Reply
Postings are
relevant and
reflect the
readings and
personal work.
Responses are
thoughtful and
reflective.
1
0
Postings are not
very relevant
and don’t totally
reflect readings
or personal work.
Responses are
perfunctory.
Responds to
question with
little
understanding of
material and
topics
Posts and
responses
submitted 2 or
more days after
due date. Only
one response
given to assigned
posts.