Teaching Methods: I used to think.....Now I think......

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Introduction

A method to map the thinking and learning outcomes of the student.

Instructions

What is it? 

This teaching method allows you to map students' thinking with an apparently simple question: Initially, I thought ..., now I think .... It encourages students to reflect based on what they initially knew or thought, and the knowledge and/or insights they've acquired. Their opinion (their thinking) is visualised through the open question in LessonUp.

The strength of this method is the feedback to the learning objective and the prior knowledge that was requested in a word web at the start of the lesson.

How do you create it? 

'Initially, I thought ..., Now I think ...' is very easy to create: with a single open question. This is best for clarity. In a single open question, you can see both the initial knowledge/reaction of the student and their developing understanding.

How can you use it? This is a method that, besides being used in subjects like social studies, Dutch, and modern foreign languages, can also be effectively used in mentor lessons and citizenship lessons. The beauty of this method is that it can perfectly fit into your lesson both in terms of content and format. Content-wise, when discussing a topic, and formatively if you want to use it as an exit ticket.

Questions

Do you have questions about how to use or create this method? Contact Timothy, content specialist at LessonUp, via [e-mail].

At first I thought ...,

now I think ...

Teaching Methods

At first I thought ...,
now I think ...

Template Slides

At first I thought ...,
now I think ...

At first I thought ...,
now I think ...

At first I thought ...,
now I think ...

At first I thought ...,
now I think ...

Initially, I thought...

Now I think ...

Initially, I thought...

Now I think ...

(Enter the lesson topic here...)

Initially, I thought...

Now I think ...

(Enter the subject of the lesson here...)

First I thought ...,
now I think ...

Examples

First, I thought this about acceptance...

Respect each other

Lesson #2

Determine to what extent it is safe in the classroom to display and discuss the students' answers collectively.

The students' answers are now shown anonymously. Click 'Show names' in the editor if you want to display the names.

Now I think this about acceptance...

Lesson #2

Respect each other

Decide for yourself to what extent it is safe in the classroom to display and discuss the students' answers collectively.

The students' answers are currently shown anonymously. If you want to display the names, click 'Show names' in the editor.

Photosynthesis

Eerst dacht ik...

Nu denk ik ...

Photosynthesis

I used to think ...

Now I think ...

Upgrade Your Thinking

Upgrade

When I think...

Then I will...

Your upgrade for this week

A variation on the teaching method.
However, it works in the same way and helps students reflect on their own actions.

Teacher:
If the students find this difficult, provide a few examples:
If I think 'I don't understand maths', then I will 'practise one problem with someone'. If I think 'I will never get this!', then I will 'tell myself I can't do it YET!' If I think 'This is too difficult!', then I will look for another way to practise.

End with the message:
The people who succeed are not those who don't make mistakes, but those who keep trying and adapting.

Find more ideas on our Inspiration Channel.

Teaching Methods