Week 2
Please note: This is not a live course. If you have booked onto one of our courses, please follow the joining instructions that have been emailed to you.
2.1 Command words
120 minutes
Understanding the assessment will enable you to plan your teaching more effectively.
Most examination questions do not end with a question mark but instead use a word that tells the learner what they need to do. For example, ‘Explain’, Describe’, ‘Compare’ and ‘Discuss’. These words, often called command words, need to be read carefully by the learner. Learners need to become familiar with exactly what they mean.
It is important that your students understand the command words used in examination questions. This gives them guidance in how to answer the question.
In this lesson we will look at the command words and how you can help your students to better understand them.
This is the first time that you will be collaborating with your colleagues in your group. Group work is helpful because sharing suggestions and ideas with your colleagues can stimulate you to think of new ways to improve and develop your teaching.
Remember, your colleagues may be in different countries and time zones, so try to keep to the timings on the timetable. I will be monitoring your discussions and will join your group on Friday to give my feedback.
Write short activities to explain five command words
- Read through the list of the command words in the IGCSE Geography syllabus.
- On your own, choose five command words.
- Write a short description of an activity that will help your learners to understand each of the command words.
- What is a learner friendly definition of the word?
- What examples will you use?
- What problems do you think your learners will have understanding the command words?
Share your ideas with your group
- Share your activities with your group in the 2.1 Command words discussion.
- Read your colleagues' ideas.
- Give two positive comments about each colleagues' post.
- Make one suggestion or offer a piece of advice.
- Ask a question to find out more or clarify their idea(s).
Refine your activities
- Update your activities based on your colleagues’ feedback.
- Post your completed activities to the 2.1 Explaining command words group discussion.
If you have any questions or observations about any of the information in this lesson, please come and share them in the Week 2 class discussion.