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Top Teacher Theory 1: How people learn
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Welcome to Top Teacher Theory6 Topics
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How People Learn24 Topics
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Behaviorism in practice
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A simple lesson flow using behaviorist steps (example: multiplication fluency)
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Cognitive approaches
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1) Memory — the constraints and opportunities
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2) Attention — the gatekeeper of learning
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3) Processing — surface vs deep; serialistic vs holistic; Kolb’s cycle
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4) Developmental & content sensitivity (Piaget + brain findings)
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5) Metacognition and targeted learning
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6) Social constructivism: learning together is powerful
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7) Assessment and feedback — formative as the engine
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8) Practical design checklist for a cognitively-smart lesson
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9) Adapting for different learner strategies and styles
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10) Short sample micro-lesson (45 minutes) — topic: density (ages 11–12, concrete-operational)
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11) Five small changes you can make next lesson
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Constructivism and active learning
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Practical teacher moves: how to support learning-by-doing
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Short example lesson — “Three-legged stool” (transfer-focused)
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Sample teacher checklist for active, constructivist lessons
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Social and motivational factors
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Peers and group dynamics — social constructivism in practice
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Identity, self‑concept and subject‑specific esteem
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Motivation: intrinsic vs extrinsic (and why rewards can backfire)
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Classroom practices — before, during and after teaching
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Responding to the “unstable” or “rejected” student
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Behaviorism in practice
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Differentiation and Personalization35 Topics
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Tiered activities and choice
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Models of tiered activities
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Practical, ready-to-use examples
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Simple choice tools you can implement today
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A simple Tiered Activity Planner (use for any lesson)
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Assessment, feedback & grading (don’t hurt self‑esteem)
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Troubleshooting common issues
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Mini 45‑minute lesson plan you can try tomorrow
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Flexible grouping
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Data-driven grouping: a simple three-step process
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Types of groups — choose the right one for the learning goal
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Designing group tasks for targeted growth
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Practical classroom routines & logistics
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Avoiding stigma and supporting self-esteem
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Example: a simple lesson cycle using flexible grouping
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Dos and don’ts — at a glance
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Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
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Practical UDL strategies — structure by the three UDL principles
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UDL in the lesson cycle: Before → During → After (practical checklist)
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Mini UDL lesson template (practical, ready to copy/paste)
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Quick adaptations for common classroom situations
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Formative assessment & UDL — short how-to
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EdTech for personalization
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Practical toolbox (what to use and why)
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Step-by-step workflow: how to design a personalized lesson with EdTech
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Sample mini lesson flows (practical examples)
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Metacognition and self-paced practice (student agency)
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A short teacher checklist before you launch a personalized EdTech lesson
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Teacher professional development & finding research / OER
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Student agency and voice
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Quick classroom strategies (practical, low‑prep)
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Scaffolding agency for different students
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Sample choice menu (middle school science)
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Feedback language you can use (fast scripts)
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Quick lesson‑planning checklist for agency
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Tiered activities and choice
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Understanding Learner Development17 Topics
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Developmental trajectories
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From “pre-structural” to “abstract” — levels of information processing you’ll see
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Vygotsky and social constructivism — learning is social
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Practical classroom strategies by age band (concise)
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Individual differences
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Special educational needs
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Before teaching: gather info & plan inclusively
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During teaching: practical classroom strategies
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Quick classroom tools (printable in your lesson kit)
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Sample lesson modification — short example (Math: area of rectangles)
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Teacher development: keep learning
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Cultural and language diversity
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Practical classroom strategies
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Assessment: fair, supportive, and learning-focused
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Classroom routines and small activities
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Dealing with cultural misunderstandings and behavior differences
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Sample mini-lesson flow (Before / During / After) — practical and brief
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Developmental trajectories
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Your Feedback Matters 🙏
Participants 3
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Welcome — this topic gives you friendly, practical ways to use educational technology so every learner can move at the right pace and get the right practice. We’ll connect tools to pedagogy you already know (diagnostic starts, formative feedback, metacognition, mastery learning) and give concrete steps, apps, and sample workflows you can plug into a lesson plan.
Why use EdTech for personalization?
- It helps you diagnose starting levels quickly and at scale.
- Adaptive systems give each student practice that matches their readiness.
- Data dashboards let you spot who needs reteach, who needs enrichment.
- Tech frees you from whole-class pacing — you can run small-group instruction while other students practice.
- When combined with strong formative feedback and self-assessment, tech supports deeper learning, not just drill.
Core principles to keep in mind (connects to the course ideas)
- Start from the learner’s prior knowledge (Ausubel, Piaget). Use diagnostics before planning.
- Use formative tools to shape teaching, not just to grade. Feedback > rewards.
- Support metacognition: teach students to set goals, self-evaluate, and reflect on progress.
- Prefer mastery and transfer over speed and scores. Small wins strengthen self-esteem and motivation.
- Keep human interaction central — EdTech amplifies, it doesn’t replace, teacher judgment and support.
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