Showing posts with label 21C learning skills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 21C learning skills. Show all posts

Wednesday, 7 December 2016

Make your classroom as dynamic as the world around us

Today's share is a neat little clip that, in a couple of minutes, raises many serious issues for the future of today's students.

We need to ask ourselves this:  Is the way we are preparing our students today, valid for their future?




How is your classroom dynamic?

Cheers,
Barbara A

Saturday, 3 December 2016

What is a POL?

In the past, at the end of Guided Inquiry and Enrichment units, I’ve held a presentation day – usually an event with an audience and invited guest markers, namely executive teachers.

I’ve recently changed the name of these days to “Presentation of Learning”, (POL).  This is in line with the NSW DOE Futures Learning terminology on project-based learning.  The venue for POLs will always take place in the learning hub of our school, the library.


Purpose of a Presentation of Learning

 The purpose of a POL is for students to demonstrate their learning to an audience, to reflect on the process of learning, answer questions and provide students with an authentic stimulus for further refinement of their practices and learning.  POLs also refine communication skills in an unrehearsed, real setting.

They are normally conducted at the end of the Inquiry process and involve students presenting their finished product/s and explaining the process they took, how their learning developed and reflecting on that process. The audience may include students, parents, teachers and community experts.  Of course, this is a wonderful opportunity to validate student learning through meaningful audience questions.


Want to formalise a POL in your faculty?  Let me know.

Cheers,
Barbara A

Adapted from NSW DOE Futures Learning
https://education.nsw.gov.au/futures-learning/learning-and-teaching/project-based-learning-toolkit/implementing-the-project/culminating-event-presentation-of-learning

A fresh information search process



Trialling a new approach to research at Bankstown Girls




In the very first subject of my Master of Education (Teacher Librarian), I had to do an assignment on Information Literacy (IL) models.

It inspired me to develop the BGHS ISP - an Information Search Process that is tailored to the learning needs of our school context.  I introduced the ISP and its language to this year's Year 9, during the MLM.  In collaboration with Enzo, I tailored the MLM learning materials, including research phases and reflective journals, to align with the steps of the ISP.


Our students took to it!

During the MLM, we observed that our high ability students were more self-directed in their learning and our mid-low ability students appreciated the ISP structure keeping them 'on track'.  I'm looking forward to refining the ISP for further trials with the 2017 cohort.

This presentation explains our ISP.  If you'd like to trial this approach to research, I'm happy to get you and your class up to speed.

Here's an excerpt from my first uni assessment task that discusses the need for IL models.  NB. The school in my task is fictional.

Want to know more about the BGHS ISP?  Let me know.


Cheers,
Barbara A

Information literacy

So what is Information literacy?

If you’ve spoken to me about our core business lately, chances are the term “information literacy”, (IL), has cropped up.

Here is a great definition that I’ve adapted:

"Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognise when information is needed
and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information."


Why do we need IL?




 It is increasingly important in our contemporary environment given the rapid technological change and proliferating information resources.  The escalating complexity of this environment, means students are faced with diverse, abundant information choices.  Information on the Internet comes to students in unfiltered formats.


Students MUST LEARN to question authenticity, validity, and reliability.

In addition, information is available through multiple media, including graphical, aural, and textual, and these pose new challenges when evaluating and understanding it.

Information literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning. It is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels of education. It is everyone’s responsibility.

If we want to develop our students to become good digital citizens, we must arm them with the ability to do the following:

•             Determine the extent of information needed
•             Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
•             Evaluate information and its sources critically
•             Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
•             Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally.

Adapted from:  American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency


Feel free to use my IL presentation.  As IL is one of my favourite topics, I'm always happy to team teach with you.

How do you incorporate infolit in your lessons?

Cheers,
Barbara A

The 4Cs


21st Century Learning Skills



Enrichment and Making Learning Meaningful have a focus on explicitly incorporating the 4Cs in our programs.  Although they have that buzzword ring to them, the 4Cs are the crux of 21st Century learning.

This link is a good introductory reading to learn more incorporating the 4Cs.  It's American, but contains some great strategies you can trial.

How do you incorporate 21C skills?  Share your tips!


Cheers,
Barbara A