Well, well, well here we are sharing a hot beverage and some thoughts with our team. I am still unsure of exactly what it is I wish to achieve with my learners. I have so many thoughts racing through my mind that it is difficult to decide which of these thoughts and ideas I want to go with.
FOCUS - FOCUS - FOCUS.
I think my main FOCUS is going to be the engagement of the children - that is I want their learning to be meaningful - connected to their own life. I want to create a learning environment that allows children and myself to be committed to, interested in, responsible for and reflective of our learning. If I create learning experiences that are engaging I am hopeful that the achievement of learning outcomes for the children will be enhanced.
FOCUS-FOCUS-FOCUS
We all need to reflect on our learning - so I think the idea of a reflective learning log is worthwhile - I need to be careful though that the log itself does not represent just another TASK to be completed because the teacher said so. Even the log needs to presented in a way which encourages and interests the children.
FOCUS-FOCUS-FOCUS
So now I am back to beginning how do we engage children in their learning - what is it they need and want to know????? Learning needs to be connected to their lives outside of our little classroom at HF. Learning needs to inspire thinking - meaningful, useful and COOL thinking.
I'm so confused - too many thoughts too few neurons.
FOCUS-FOCUS-FOCUS
Janine
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5 comments:
Janine,
Some wonderful ideas and thoughts. The whole emphasis on 'meaning' is so important I believe. Can we engage our Year 6s in 'real-life' projects and learning. eg Mr Borg has mentioned the canteen is not making money. Can we design an advertising campaign to increase profits? (Link with Communication unit?)I think kids like adults are driven by purpose and audience!
Keep the nuerons going!
you need to drink more coke and those neurons might replenish! I love the idea of "real life" learning for the children. I have dabbled a bit with this in mathematics as you know, but I still feel I have a long way to go. Keep on bouncing those ideas around.
I agree Janine - and even though I'm not in your group - I will still make comment! What you said about the blog being just "another task the teacher has told me to do". Obviously this would defeat the purpose. Connectedness is probably the key. How do the students feel connected with their own learning? Are they able to have reflective thoughts about what they are doing? And if they don't why not? Students need to see the purpose, the audience and the meaning for what they are doing. Love the thoughts ...
I think Janine you are already on the way. Your explorations with VoiceThread are more than just dabbling with this technology, they are examples of your journey in investigating all the many facets of learning that you have expressed a desire to address.
Meaningful engagement, commitment to learning, responsible and reflective learning. Won't these things be addressed in your current questions on VoiceThread? I think they will...maybe not at first at the level that you ultimately wish to achieve....but through your journey/project won't you begin 'refining' after evaluating and reflecting first attempts?
I think you have found your project....the passion & excitement displayed this week when you began exploring this medium is grounds enough to keep going with it. Why not focus on this activity? I know you've used plenty of neurons so far-creating brilliant examples of quality learning experiences....why not keep going...?
Hey Janine, I found a good book today that might help you. I've also recommended it to Toni. It's called 'DESIGNING LEARNING for Diverse Classrooms" -it's a PETA publication by Paul Dufficy. It might give some ideas- (it focuses on language,- & there is a part on how we interact verbally with our students.....might give some ideas for your blog too)
Regards,
Frances
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