Donald Robinson II

Assessments should be looked at as gauges for student learning progress.  Formative and summative assessments each have different purposes, but the goal should be the same.  Utilizing techniques such as check-ins, quizzes, in-class participatory discussions, one-on-one conversations, reflections and exit tickets as assessments help to keep student progress moving forward, if the instructor holds universal design for learning as the top priority in assisting students in maximizing their potential for learning

A difficult student may be a challenge to the objectives of an instructor, but this also provides an opportunity for the instructor to refine and/or improve strategies for teaching in the classroom.  This will increase effectiveness for what's being taught, and as the instructor makes goals and objectives of the course and the expectations from the students clear and obtainable, the better the success for each of the students.  And in the world of CTE, the better prepared the students will be for success in their chosen career paths

Challenging students can also make the classroom interesting for instructors.  Different types of students help instructors learn to be flexible, open minded, inclusive and better prepared for addressing the needs of various students.  The task in handling students that are difficult is challenging in and of itself, but it makes for well roundedness and major growth for instructors in their teaching careers

This is a collaboration between the instructor(s) and students.  It's all designed for optimum learning and success for each student in mind.  Also, instructors should foster cooperation, collaboration, and communication between the students, so that another perspective of their success can be achieved.  That perspective is the ability to work with others, as in workplaces, on projects and worksites in their future careers, can be fostered in their learning in the classroom...before they enter the working world

Engagement is one of the most important aspects of CTE and CTE learning.  For students, engagement can lead to increased motivation, and the process of purposeful and fully motivated learning is predicated on the learner's self-development, self-discovery, bonding with peers and self-reflection.  It gives the learner the option(s) to choose their level and style of engagement and motivation, the support of goals and objectives through peers, instructors and feedback from each, and the opportunity to provide themselves mastery of self-regulation, self-assessment and, again, self-reflection.  Thus, increasing confidence of the learner through increased persistence and increased effort

Action and expression can be the most effective method of learning for students, as instructors allowing for expression gives the learners the freedom to grasp the "how" of their learning in the most effective way possible.  This is the ultimate success in learning, for learners need to take away from their experiences in a manner that they will remember for life what they've learned

Representation is a symbol for inclusion, in that the goal should be to make the learning accessible and available to all students.  The goal should also be to have the results of the students' retaining as much as possible, through any varied means.  In other words, each and every student should get the most out of the course, without barriers or challenges to their learning.  Instructors that include this as a priority will have better results in their teaching methods

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) was created to appeal to most, if not all, learners.  Although we should realize that a one-size-fits-all model does not work in education, the goal should be to remove as many barriers as possible.  Even if UDL does not provide the ability to eliminate all barriers, the methods utilized through UDL can help to significantly reduce barriers, thus increasing the effectiveness of what is taught in the classroom...and what the students retain in what they have learned

We already implement active learning through our drone program as it is part of our CTE programs.  We have our students participate in class discussions, watching videos, practice in drone flying, active assignments using the drones, and a host of other activities.  The goal is to keep our students as engaged as possible, with also the end goal of having them gain real-world experience to equip them with the tools to have careers as drone pilots

Active learning is a great tool for students to retain, utilize, and demonstrate the information they learn.  Its effectiveness is very much proven to be useful and relevant towards the students' careers...and lives.  Thus active learning is the perfect vehicle for CTE, as work-based learning incorporated into the students' classroom learning compliments the understanding of the material with application of what the students learn