A note from ASTEC Charter Schools Superintendent, Dr. Freda Deskin:
The “Teachable Moment” is a term coined by Havighurst. It refers to the teacher being able to switch the focus from a planned task to a current event or situation that offers the learner an exceptional opportunity they may not otherwise have.
Monday’s Lunar Eclipse offered such a moment.
While schools were advised to use precautions due to the real danger of permanent eye damage, and concerned parents asked if they should keep their children home for safety sake, ASTEC teachers found ways to safely use the opportunity provided by this natural event for a “teachable moment.”
Dean of Instruction, Ms. Seay not only supplied resources and activities, she actually went into several classes to assist by co-teaching about the eclipse.
Discussions and activities were not limited to the science classes; every teacher joined in the spirit.
While the expected darkness did not occur in Oklahoma, scholars and teachers alike joined in the historic scientific even.
One teacher remarked that is didn’t look much different than a cloudy, overcast day, but that it was still exciting to know what was happening.
Here are a few of the responses from ASTEC teachers as to how they used the event for a “teachable moment” scholars will never forget:
Explore 6th. “We live-streamed it the second half of class while scholars worked on their introduction pennant after instructions, a lesson and the book we read and discussed.
English 11: “We viewed the NASA feed!”
English 6 Enhancement: “Scholars watched it in 5th hour for my class. Once the eclipse passed we returned to work.”
English 12: “We discussed it in every class and I answered questions throughout the day including visiting with students about it during lunch.”
Art: “We had the live feed playing from the start to end of coverage in the art room.”
Film Class: “We watched the NASA live stream and had a discussion about what was happening and why it looked different in different areas. I also let them peek out the glass doors at the right time so they could see if it was dark outside. It wasn't. We discussed that, too, and then went back to the live stream.”