10. How can collaboration, inquiry and connectivism be brought into the online and
blended settings to benefit the learner? Ideas from Mary-Lynn Epps, SD68 teacher and
Inquiry based learning researcher.
Literacy and Numeracy circles (pictures, blogs, collaborate, etc)
Demonstrations of learning / Evidence having a bigger focus then worksheets and
tests (pictures, videos, etc)
Mindmaps (Science, Social Studies, Math)
Collaborative learning + problem solving + peer feedback + collective responsibility
= Deeper, more meaningful learning + exposure to more perspectives
Create a set of “rules / values” that allow everyone to have a sense of belonging
11. If an inquiry based approach is taken to learning and we are
able to engage our students with something that interests
them, learning will happen
With the increase of technology systems and tools, learning
can happen anywhere, any time whether blended or fully
online and these same tools can be brought to the face-to-face
classrooms to benefit the learners there as well
Happy Birthday Alec (you do not even need to live in the same
country to work together and accomplish something great!
http://youtu.be/idhsUy3SKE4
Notes de l'éditeur
Community of Learners Poster – Students were given a piece of chart paper with a letter or half of a letter on it. It was their job to find the person with the other half of their letter (if applicable) and figure out a colour they would use for it. Students would then finish colouring and designing the rest of their sheet with what they interpreted “community of learners” to mean. This could be brought to an online setting where everyone gets a page to print out and colour or design on the computer and then be brought back together to collaborate and connect with othersVideo – will show and talk about at the end of the presentation. A great example of how you do not even need to live in the same country to come together and create something that is amazing!
“How can we further transform ourselves as a community of healthy living learners that makes a difference in the world around us?” Students choose novels and will read and hear about characters in the story who have made a difference. With the knowledge of what others have done, students will try to implement something in their own lives and take on their own inquiry question of what they can do to make a difference in the world. This will allow students to read about what others have done and figure out what they are capable of doing.
How can our understanding of media literacy help students produce a video that will send a message about stopping and preventing racism for the future? This allows students to create a video, whether in pairs or in a group that can be shown to others as a reminder to stop bullying as well as an opportunity to submit it to the nation competition for the Elimination of Racism
Sci/SS Unit: We use natural resources every day. This unit allows students to explore the renewable and non-renewable resources of BC and Canada. This unitwill expand on theknowledge of interconnectedness and the relationship between ourselves and the world around us. This unit will also explore sustainability and our effect on animals habitats as well as our own (the earth).
In doing numeracy circles as a form of assessment for a unit instead of a test with set questions, one answer and a time limit, students are able to take more ownership for their learning and describe how their thinking works for the topic. With numeracy circles, the students will be able to come to me with their place mats and explain their thinking for all of the sections as well as their reflection on the unit and the learning outcomes that were addressed.
Literacy circles are a great way to engage students and allow them to speak to one another and have conversations that will deepen their thinking. Students who come to literacy circle meetings with quadrant notes show that they have finished the reading, are prepared to be a part of the conversation and are ready to ask and answer questions with their peers. Four quadrant notes work the best (in my opinion) for literacy circles with the main topics being: Characters and Setting (and the traits they possess and conflicts they may be having in the story); Conflict and Conflict resolution; Connections that can be made (text to text, text to world, text to self); and finally Questions / Discussion topics (what students are still wondering or might not have grasped while reading and what they would like to discuss with others).