Vignettes

Vignettes are more extended representations of what instruction might look like when using VMC3 Resource Center to inform classroom instruction. The vignettes differ in setting and span across a life science curriculum to show how crosscutting concepts and modeling can be integrated within a phenomena-based experience to promote 3-dimensional science learning for students. They are approached in a narrative way, rather than a lesson plan, to encourage a more integrated and authentic vision of student learning.

Vignettes are designed to provide examples of VMC3 resource use (Visual Library, Modeling Exercise Snapshots, Quick Prompts) within a classroom setting. Depending on your background and science teaching experience, you may use vignettes in different ways. If you are a first-year teacher, you might seek support in how to fit together the resources to generate a comprehensive phenomenon-based 3D science lesson. You might use the phenomena, lesson flow, activities, and prompts somewhat like they are presented but in the context of your own classroom. In contrast, if you are a more experienced teacher, you might read the vignettes to get just a general feel of the integration and to see if there are any new ideas to employ in your classroom. You might use pieces of the vignette to help optimize your current curriculum or just get exposure to how the CCCs can be integrated during life sciences learning.