What is the purpose of annotated artifacts?

• A. To catalog every resource used in the lesson.
• B. To critique students’ performance in detail.
• C. To replace the unit plan with a narrative.
• D. To provide contextual explanations of why certain resources and moves were chosen and how they support goals.

Answer: (D)

Annotated artifacts are about showing the thinking behind your teaching: how the resources you choose and the instructional moves you make connect to the learning goals and assessments. The best answer explains that these artifacts provide contextual explanations of why certain resources were selected and how they support the goals, giving evidence of planning and rationale for decisions. It’s not just listing every resource, nor critiquing students’ performance in detail, nor replacing the unit plan with a narrative. Instead, it demonstrates how each choice supports student learning and aligns with what you’re aiming to achieve.