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Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Select a purpose you have written and run it through the "Hey Dad" test. What was your original purpose statement? Did it change after the "Hey Dad" test? Why/Why not? What is it now?
The Spanish II purpose that I wrote on the board was: Use chapter vocabulary in context. "Hey, Dad! Come watch me use chapter vocabulary in context." "Hey, Mom! Want to(Wanna is not correct!) hear me use vocabulary in context?" "Hey, Grandma! Look at this sentence I created using vocabulary!" I think that it worked but would be better stated as: Students will be able to use chapter vocabulary to create sentences.
I guess you're right Trish. My purpose statement for French 1 was very short.."use classroom vocabulary in a dialogue" one day; the next day was "use classroom in written form". The 'Hey Dad!" test sort of works; still, I can't really picture one of my students saying that...I wonder......
But I agree that some content this is easier to do. Foreign language is one that it would be easier and I'd think math also, and certain electives like music, or foods.
For Spanish three one of my purpose statements was to be able to tell people what to do. It works with the test it just kind of sounds weird. For example, Hey, Dad!Come watch me tell Mom what to do!
I found the "Hey Dad" portion of this article interesting. If we can excite these students to go home and share with their families what they learned today, then that is fantastic. Looking at a recent English 11 purpose statement, dealing with poetry, I'm not sure it passes the "Hey Dad" test. I hope with future purpose statements I can keep this in mind and generate purpose statements with long-term outcomes and goals.
The "Hey Dad" test reminds me a lot of the "So what"? test I ask students to perform after they've written a personal narrative. It's not enough to write about the big game or the prom unless readers can take away something from it---it should have some greater significance. The "Hey Dad" test shows the "So What"? of the purpose or objective. It's not just what students will do but what they will take away from the lesson.
As Donna M and others have pointed out, it seems that the "Hey Dad" test would be more logical in the context of skill based activities as opposed to more content/information heavy subject matter. "Hey Dad, let me explain how important historical ideas, event, and documents shaped our government." I feel that passes the test, but I'm not sure how much better "explain" as your verb is compared to simply "understanding" those things.
The Spanish II purpose that I wrote on the board was: Use chapter vocabulary in context. "Hey, Dad! Come watch me use chapter vocabulary in context." "Hey, Mom! Want to(Wanna is not correct!) hear me use vocabulary in context?" "Hey, Grandma! Look at this sentence I created using vocabulary!" I think that it worked but would be better stated as: Students will be able to use chapter vocabulary to create sentences.
ReplyDeleteI guess you're right Trish. My purpose statement for French 1 was very short.."use classroom vocabulary in a dialogue" one day; the next day was "use classroom in written form".
ReplyDeleteThe 'Hey Dad!" test sort of works; still, I can't really picture one of my students saying that...I wonder......
My purpose statement only contained the intellectual work and not the performance objective. The "Hey Dad" works for helping write better objectives.
ReplyDeleteLaura: They would be saying "Salut Papa". I like the Hey Dad test. It makes you think more about what you want them to be able to do.
ReplyDeleteMost everything I do with my students is activity based. So usually it will pay the "Hey come see me...." test.
ReplyDeleteBut I agree that some content this is easier to do. Foreign language is one that it would be easier and I'd think math also, and certain electives like music, or foods.
ReplyDeleteFor Spanish three one of my purpose statements was to be able to tell people what to do. It works with the test it just kind of sounds weird. For example, Hey, Dad!Come watch me tell Mom what to do!
ReplyDeleteI found the "Hey Dad" portion of this article interesting. If we can excite these students to go home and share with their families what they learned today, then that is fantastic. Looking at a recent English 11 purpose statement, dealing with poetry, I'm not sure it passes the "Hey Dad" test. I hope with future purpose statements I can keep this in mind and generate purpose statements with long-term outcomes and goals.
ReplyDeleteThe "Hey Dad" test reminds me a lot of the "So what"? test I ask students to perform after they've written a personal narrative. It's not enough to write about the big game or the prom unless readers can take away something from it---it should have some greater significance. The "Hey Dad" test shows the "So What"? of the purpose or objective. It's not just what students will do but what they will take away from the lesson.
ReplyDeleteAs Donna M and others have pointed out, it seems that the "Hey Dad" test would be more logical in the context of skill based activities as opposed to more content/information heavy subject matter. "Hey Dad, let me explain how important historical ideas, event, and documents shaped our government." I feel that passes the test, but I'm not sure how much better "explain" as your verb is compared to simply "understanding" those things.
ReplyDeleteExtending the thoughts of Bryan and others, the Hey Dad test could be helpful in helping to refine, focus and target an objective statement.
ReplyDeleteBut, really I found the Hey Dad test kinda gimmicky.
In special education, we have to write goals that specifically look at outcomes so the "Hey Dad" test didn't really change my viewpoint.
ReplyDelete