Using the Catalyst teaching techniques in the classroom can feel, for students, very similar to how a class may have run in the past. Built into these techniques are checks for understanding. This is where teachers take the pulse of what is happening in the class and decide to move on with teaching or to reteach. To do this our teachers may use white boards, think-pair-share or hand gestures to measure understanding. This may look as follows:

Source: https://teacherhead.com/2021/10/17/check-for-understanding-why-it-matters-and-how-to-do-it-redsurrey21/

If you think of flying a plane, the pilot takes off and continually checks the radars and other information to ensure the plane is flying in the right direction. Checks for understanding serve the same purpose, they help ensure students’ knowledge is growing in the correct direction.

For more information on Catalyst and the research bank behind this, please see the Archdiocese or Canberra and Goulburn Catalyst Website:  https://catalyst.cg.catholic.edu.au

Mrs Kathleen Garvie
Assistant Principal -Learning
Kennedy and Ferré Houses