well, after chatting this morning about the direction we will take im thinking that some kind of learning log will be beneficial to my childrens learning and my evaluation of my teaching and their learning. hopefully i can pinpoint what lessons were most 'value adding' to their learning and also, probably more importantly - what they want to know. that way, i can steer their learning to make it CONNECTED to their own life.
a weekly journal in which they can reflect on the weeks lessons and experiences about the theme unit will let me achieve this.
thanks for the hot choc janine :)
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Crystal....found some good higher order thinking skills websites. Have a look if you get the chance.
www.teachers.ash.org/researchskills/thinking.htm
www.pgcps.org/elc/isquestiontopromote.html
Hi Crystal You have really nailed the idea around getting students to reflect on a weekly basis. Years ago we used to do this in a written journal - that no one really ever saw! But the potential for being able to blog their thoughts and ideas is enormous in terms of the "conversations" the students may have with one another, teachers and parents. You may also give some thought to how you can get the students to extend this type of thinking into their daily work. I have a mental image of students coming to a computer, in class time or during their own, and commenting on their learning. It's like a live journal/evaluation/reflection of what is happening in their education. Fantastic!
Hasn't it been great this week Crystal, seeing the enthusiasm and energy of the class as they have begun their blog/log work! They are 'full steam ahead', posting both from school & at home.
Our next step now is to move to the 'next level'-for them to start learning skills that really make them think about their comments and post thoughtful responses. They are so keen, I know they'll do a good job....the key is to remember Gary's 80/20 rule- focusing on the aim to get the students to engage in higher order thinking tasks about the topic, (80% energy expenditure) and then using the technology to record their responses/thoughts.(20% energy expenditure.
Robyn's sites sound good & Gary's questioning work should help you focus on quality questions to ask that will challenge the students beyond simple answers.
Thanks baboon lady-whoever you are-i will check out the website asap.
So far i found that the students are very enthusiastic about the blog we have and are regularly checking it in class and at home.
Now they are excited by it, i have started to remind them of the purpose of the blog and how important it is that they think about what they are posting so that i can start to increase the quality of it.
I have observed that there are a few children who comment on the blog up to a few times a day yet there are others who are still yet to comment.
I have started them on a reflection book so that they can get used to the reflection process without the hassle of organising computers for them all, then posting 2 of these relections each week that the children can comment on. I have noticed that quite a few children seem to be able to express their ideas better/faster on paper than on a computer.
I'm still learning and still improving!
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