If you understand something, then you are able to see and understand multiple perspectives surrounding the topic or identify the errors in others’ opinion surrounding the topic. This immediately reminded me of the math problems where teachers solve a math problem from beginning to end and then ask students to identify the error. If a student really understands how to do the math, then they will be able to identify the error in their calculations. Here is an example that we could all try in our own classrooms. 

 

Interpretation takes a concept that is difficult to understand and breaks it down into easier to understand parts. Interpretation is often up to the individual and interpretations may vary. In the classroom, one way that I promoted interpretation amongst my first graders was through an oral reading of the I Have a Dream speech. As I read the speech and pre-taught key vocabulary, my students used the graffiti board strategy to draw their interpretations of what Dr. King’s message was. Students interpreted the message differently. I think that graffiti board is a great strategy to solicit interpretations from your students, especially when working with figurative language, poetry, or speeches. Here is information on this collaborative strategy:

If you have true understanding, then you will be able to apply your understanding to real life situations. For example, I understand how to use the Microsoft Word program. Therefore, I am using it now to type and format my responses before I upload them onto the Padlet. Application lends itself to hands on activities and project based learning. My UbD unit involves an animal research project and accompanying writing. A way to extend my students’ learning and allow them to apply what they understand about their animal and what it needs to survive would be for them to collect materials to design a mock habitat or real habitat that would sustain the life of their animal. PBL works is a great resource for those who are looking to work with project based learning. 

Empathy is being able to understand a concept or even another person by stepping outside of your own experience and your own understanding and placing yourself mentally into the situation so as to better understand it. This reminded me of the multicultural education strategy called perspective taking. In the classroom, instead of teaching Westward Expansion or colonization from the Western or Anglo Saxon perspective, challenge your students to write about the topic from the perspective of the Indigenous peoples. Here is a resource on perspective taking. 

Self-knowledge is all about metacognition and introspection. Self-knowledge means that we must first understand ourselves in order to understand the world around us. We have to be able to admit that any new understanding that we acquire will be affected by our implicit biases, life experiences, and world view. This facet reminded me of confirmation bias and our tendency to more easily believe new information that most closely aligns with what we already thought to be true. One way to address self-knowledge, especially in older grades I think would be to first focus on your students’ identities through an identity wheel activity. Teachers can use this to lead into a discussion on how our identity can lead to confirmation bias, implicit biases, and how our backgrounds effect how we maneuver the world in general.