ALARM = A Learning And Responding Matrix
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ALARM- Developed by Max Woods.
ALARM is a cognitive scaffold which provides a framework for writing, learning, deconstruction of tasks, feedback and reflection. ALARM is a powerful tool to assist with written responses for assessment tasks and in exams. Using ALARM assists students to write more sophisticated written responses that can help them progress from a C Grade to an A.
ALARM involves breaking questions down to allow students to understand what is being asked.
It uses the Board of Studies (Now NESA) Key Words to explicitly teach students to identify, describe, explain, analyse, interpret, critically analyse and evaluate. This hierarchy of thinking and writing skills, enables students to understand the different complexities required to produce more sophisticated written response answers in secondary school, the HSC and beyond. All too often students do not know how to move beyond a 'C Grade' paper that simply describes and explains. To get top marks, students will need to know how to analyse, interpret and evaluate when constructing written responses.
ALARM promotes deep understanding by employing higher order thinking skills such as analysis and evaluation and enhances student inquiry and reflection (See also Blooms Taxonomy).
Another major benefit of using ALARM is that it increases metacognition by making the learning process explicit. Understanding HOW to learn is integral for students to become lifelong learners.
It is recommended that ALARM be used in conjunction with PEEL paragraph writing.
See also Academic Writing.
ALARM is a cognitive scaffold which provides a framework for writing, learning, deconstruction of tasks, feedback and reflection. ALARM is a powerful tool to assist with written responses for assessment tasks and in exams. Using ALARM assists students to write more sophisticated written responses that can help them progress from a C Grade to an A.
ALARM involves breaking questions down to allow students to understand what is being asked.
It uses the Board of Studies (Now NESA) Key Words to explicitly teach students to identify, describe, explain, analyse, interpret, critically analyse and evaluate. This hierarchy of thinking and writing skills, enables students to understand the different complexities required to produce more sophisticated written response answers in secondary school, the HSC and beyond. All too often students do not know how to move beyond a 'C Grade' paper that simply describes and explains. To get top marks, students will need to know how to analyse, interpret and evaluate when constructing written responses.
ALARM promotes deep understanding by employing higher order thinking skills such as analysis and evaluation and enhances student inquiry and reflection (See also Blooms Taxonomy).
Another major benefit of using ALARM is that it increases metacognition by making the learning process explicit. Understanding HOW to learn is integral for students to become lifelong learners.
It is recommended that ALARM be used in conjunction with PEEL paragraph writing.
See also Academic Writing.
ALARM - A Learning And Responding Matrix
Max Woods Introduces A.L.A.R.M.
ALARM Scaffold
Download the ALARM matrix
| alarm_scaffold.docx |
| blank_alarm_scaffold.docx |
| alarm_a_brief_explanation_of_bos_key_terms.doc |
Use PMI as an evaluation tool.
| alarm_scaffold_for_evaluation.docx |
Example of 'Evaluate' HSC Biology Response
| colour_coded_biology_alarm_question_pasteur_and_koch.docx |
See also Academic Writing
| alarm_matrix.docx |
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Credits:
Max Woods - Freshwater High School
Blaxland High School ALARM Team
Michelle Donovan - Jamison High School
Bec Fitzgerald - Jamison High School
References
ALARM Freshwater. (2013). 01. © ALARM Introduction. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnZ2TiBh-QY
ALARM Freshwater. (2013). 02. © ALARM In Depth Series - Logical Interpretive Part 1. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raikUr3enu4
ALARM Freshwater,. (2013). 03. © ALARM In Depth Series - Logical Interpretive Part 2. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMfkB0zxvzA
Woods, M. (2017). The Official Alarm Blog. ALARM. Retrieved from http://alarm.strikingly.com/
Further Reading
Moore, D. (2012). ALARM (A Learning and Response Matrix) #1. Darcy Moore's Blog. Retrieved from http://www.darcymoore.net/2012/08/09/alarm-a-learning-and-response-matrix-1/
Max Woods - Freshwater High School
Blaxland High School ALARM Team
Michelle Donovan - Jamison High School
Bec Fitzgerald - Jamison High School
References
ALARM Freshwater. (2013). 01. © ALARM Introduction. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnZ2TiBh-QY
ALARM Freshwater. (2013). 02. © ALARM In Depth Series - Logical Interpretive Part 1. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raikUr3enu4
ALARM Freshwater,. (2013). 03. © ALARM In Depth Series - Logical Interpretive Part 2. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMfkB0zxvzA
Woods, M. (2017). The Official Alarm Blog. ALARM. Retrieved from http://alarm.strikingly.com/
Further Reading
Moore, D. (2012). ALARM (A Learning and Response Matrix) #1. Darcy Moore's Blog. Retrieved from http://www.darcymoore.net/2012/08/09/alarm-a-learning-and-response-matrix-1/
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