The Art of EPiC™ in Education: Choosing Content and Learning Targets

Effective teaching is an art that involves a careful blend of content selection and target identification. In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, teachers must not only choose engaging and relevant content but also set clear learning targets for their students. EPiC™ (Evaluating Pedagogy in the Classroom) is a groundbreaking approach that emphasizes the importance of these two aspects in creating successful lessons. In this blog post, we will explore the significance of EPiC™ in education, focusing on the selection of content and the identification of appropriate learning targets that can be taught and assessed over a three-day period.

The Essence of EPiC™

EPiC™ is a comprehensive approach to teaching and learning that centers on the following principles:

1. Relevance: Content should be meaningful and relatable to students' lives, ensuring their engagement and motivation.

2. Alignment: Learning targets should be closely aligned with standards and objectives, providing a clear roadmap for instruction.

3. Assessment: Effective assessment is an integral part of the process, allowing educators to gauge the extent of student understanding and adapt instruction accordingly.

Choosing Content for a Three-Day Lesson

Selecting content that can be effectively taught and assessed over three days is a critical step in the EPiC™ process. To illustrate this, let's consider a hypothetical three-day English language arts lesson.

Standard/Element(s): Common Core State Standard for Grade 6 - Reading Literature (RL.6.2)

Objective: Students will be able to determine the theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text.

Day 1:

Learning Target 1: Identify the central idea in a short story.

Learning Target 2: Analyze the use of key details to support the central idea.

Learning Target 3: Explain the relationship between the central idea and character development in the story.

Day 2:

Learning Target 4: Compare and contrast the central ideas in two different texts.

Learning Target 5: Evaluate the effectiveness of the author's use of literary devices in conveying the central idea.

Day 3:

Learning Target 6: Synthesize the central ideas of multiple texts and explain how they are interconnected.

Learning Target 7: Reflect on the importance of identifying central ideas in reading.

In this example, the content (a short story) has been carefully selected to span three days of instruction, allowing students to delve into the standard deeply. The learning targets are specific, measurable, and build upon each other, ensuring a logical progression of knowledge and skills.

Why EPiC™ Matters

EPiC™ is essential because it ensures that teaching and learning are purposeful and effective. By selecting content that resonates with students and aligning it with clear learning targets, educators create an environment that fosters active engagement and meaningful understanding. Furthermore, EPiC™ empowers teachers to assess student progress regularly, adapt their instruction, and ultimately drive student success.

In Conclusion

EPiC™ is a transformative approach to teaching that centers on the significance of content selection and learning target identification. In a three-day lesson, the careful choice of content and the formulation of specific learning targets are paramount. By adhering to these principles, educators can create a dynamic and effective learning experience for their students, ensuring that they not only meet the necessary standards but also develop essential skills for success in a rapidly changing world. EPiC™ is more than just a teaching strategy; it's a commitment to providing students with an education that truly matters.