Observation: PSII

On By rosiereynolds30In assessment, classroom observations, EDCI 336, edtech, leadership, open pedagogy, Video conferencingLeave a comment

On Tuesday, our Tech Ed class made it’s way to the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry, also known as ‘PSII’.  This school is in the heart of downtown Victoria and bases it’s learning on each individual student’s needs and interests, with an ‘open inquiry’ model of teaching.  It is an independent school, costing $7,200 per child to attend with a total of 85 students ranging from grades 9 – 12.

We were led by one of the teachers, Jessica, who has a BioChemistry degree from McGill University.  She led us through the building, showing us the main area where there are cubbies for bags and where students are able to do their work at desks with their devices.

 

These are some notes I took from our discussion with Jessica:

-Inquiry based learning starts with questions: 1) initial questions, 2) research, 3) ask better questions

-PSII gives children a space to learn what they want

-PSII is helping children to learn ‘this is for my learning’ instead of ‘this is for science’ for example

-All markers that teachers in the public school system use do not exist at PSII. There is no testing.

-The students at PSII actively use a portfolio system.  Students post to an online portfolio

-PSII has been running for six years

-The application process is first come first serve, they make sure the students have an understanding as to what they are getting themselves into, and interested students come and spend a half day at PSII

-Learners are divided into organizational groups, almost like a homeroom.  One teacher is in charge of over seeing around 14 students in the ‘org’ group

-Each ‘org’ group teacher is available to do video conferencing with their students.  This may be done if the student is off campus, taking part in their learning elsewhere (a car auto body shop for example).  This is a great way to have face to face conversation when being in person isn’t an option at the time.  It can be done teacher-student, student-student, or teacher-teacher.

-Report cards are done three times a year

-The hours of the school are 9:30 – 3:30 but students can come as early as 8:45 and stay as late as 4:30.

-There are six full time teachers, which do everything from teaching any subject or interest, as well as be counsellor or anything in between

 

As Jessica put it, it’s about being a good teacher that will help the students learn.

 

**It’s not about the answer, it’s about the process**

 

Guest Speaker: Jesse Miller

On By rosiereynolds30In EDCI 336, edtech, privacy, professional learning, safety, social mediaLeave a comment

Tuesday’s Guest Speaker: Jesse Miller

macbook pro
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Youth, Educators, and Social Media

Understanding the communication Realities of Young People in our Connected Communities.

@mediatedreality

http://www.tkaapodcast.com

Notes taken from Jesse’s presentation to our class:

His roll:

-Comes in and gives lectures

-Supports teachers with dialogues to bring back to the classroom about technology

-Concerns in Tuk (arctic circle), video games (kids play a lot, violence, focus)

-woman didn’t mind that child was playing with guns on video games, she                   would prefer him to using the real guns to hunt in traditional ways

-Got to be involved from one of the first Facebook Canadian issues

-Discusses history of Facebook, how it went from universities to being open to everyone

Our conversation:

-Social media concerns

-Social media and workplace

-New versus old media

-Best practices

2018-2019 focus on networked citizenship

-digital identity

-digital rights

-digital literacy

-use of communication networks – social, professional, personal
-safety – network connections

-security of self

-communications in networked spaces

What is social media to you:

-connects me to friends

-keeps people up to dates, maintain connection

-makes people feel better when you get more likes

What could stop me from having opportunities and growth in my career?

Current Social Media Concerns with Kids:

-Getting younger

-Increased affirmations

-Feeling special

Social Media and Youth:

1) Address the existing and emerging social media concerns in your environments with education and media literacy conversations

2) Open constructive solutions based on dialogue with co-workers, stakeholders, clients, employers, and public about social media trends and communications concerns

When you get hired by a district, get them to clarify their social media policies

The Influences & Uses of Mobile Technology:

-personal use entitlement

-balancing professional expectations

-opening dialogue of usage

-understanding social media culture

-reflective usage by co-workers

-developing empathetic and ethical users

-the value of information

Struggling with Communications Balance:

-some schools advocate tech devices

-public/parents – understand how he school district wishes to use social media

-staff – understand how the district wishes staff to use social media to communicate and educate to students

-students – understand how the district wishes to use social media to educate students about internet trends and online concerns in conjunction with parents, community partners, and school board

Uses of Mobile Technology by Educators:

-teachers must not share student info/image on personal social media accounts

-balance professional expectations

-understand consequence in the online sharing of personal information about students

-assess ethos of care in social sharing

-challenge co-workers in open dialogues

-assess frustrations and opportunities for success

-get permission to share valuable information

Digital Consent:

-did you ask for permission?

-are you sharing information without informing the person it may impact?

 

I found this class to be extremely informative.  Thank you Jesse for this amazing presentation!

Tech in Middle School, SD61, Grade 8

On By rosiereynolds30In blogging, EDCI 336, GAFE, tech inquiry, tech toolsLeave a comment

This last week I met with a teacher that works at a middle school in the Greater Victoria School District. They gave me a list of their favourite apps and programs to use in the classroom.

Assistive Technology program GAFE is popular at this middle school. GAFE includes text to speech, which allows students that are having difficulties typing and reading to still progress confidently in their work.  GAFE stands for ‘Google App For Education’ and it is protected by SD61.  The program ‘speech to text’ is purchased for the district. They find this program very helpful for students that are struggling, especially for research projects.  The students will find the information they need, and read it out into a document in their own works.  When students need assistance reading a document, GAFE can do this for them as well outloud, and the students are supplied with headphones so this doesn’t disrupt the class.

Google Classroom has been a helpful reminder for the students.  The classroom teacher is able to attach the students emails to it so they can see the updates on the calendar.  This program allows students to be reminded of upcoming events and assignments due dates.

Popular with co-workers:

Most teachers at the school have classroom blogs which they post homework assignments on etc.

Some of the teachers subscribe to calm.com to start their morning with their class.  It helps the students work on mindfulness and is a great way to have the students start their morning on a positive note.

Freshgrade is a program that many teachers use throughout the school.  It allows the teacher to upload assignments in which the student can reflect upon and say whether or not they agree with the grade given.  It also allows for the parents to see the work their children have done from their own computer.  This program is good for communication between student, parent, and teacher.

 

Learning technique: leaves

On By rosiereynolds30In EDCI 336, open inquiryLeave a comment

Now that I’ve learned some basic brush strokes, my next task is to work on technique.  I chose a youtube video that focused on simple leaves and included both the dry brush and wet brush stokes.  I used two brushes for this, an angle brush and a smaller brush with thin bristles.  I felt more comfortable with these techniques after practicing.  I noticed when I began, I was either using too little water for the stems, and too much water for the leaves.

The problem with water colour is that if you have too much water, it can really make the picture blurry.  I found this happening to my leaves as some of them turned out larger than I was hoping.  I felt more comfortable with my stems as I began to understand the correct amount of water to put on my brush to leave the colour looking full, but not so dry that it would look grainy.  Time to practice..looking forward to learning more techniques!  

 

 

 

 

The video I watched for the leaf tutorial was:

Blog #2 Classroom Observation Blog

On By rosiereynolds30In EDCI 306A, Journal Blogs, music blogsLeave a comment

For my observation, I went to a music class at an elementary school from 8:30am – 11:50am. In that time five classes had music lessons. The teacher started with a kindergarten class, then an English one and two split, followed by a French one and two split and then it was recess break. After break, she taught a French two and three split class and then an English three and four split class. It was a nice day to observe and to see the grades go up while we were there. Each class gets about a thirty-minute lesson with her, twice a week. The students learn Kodaly, Orff, and have Aboriginal music training as well. With the group of kindergarteners, the teacher had the students following behind her and stepping to the beat of the drum she was playing. I found this to be a great way to get the children involved as soon as they enter the room. The older grades knew to come and sit down in their assigned seating on the benches. The teacher did a wide range of teaching with the grades, from beat and rhythm, to tee-tees and tas, to playing with instruments. The primary children had more body movement activities, such as walking to the beat in a circle or clapping to the rhythm on the carpet. The older children were able to pick out instruments, such as maracas and egg shakers, and shake them to the beat. The children were engaged and were having fun throughout all of the classes. Music class isn’t set up like a regular classroom with tables and chairs, and it becomes the music teacher’s job to ensure that all the students are not only participating, but are focused, as well as having fun. I could tell the students loved being in music class, and this is due to the teacher being both talented, and patient with the students.

printed musical note page
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My favourite part about the observation was when she went through the change in lyrics of ‘Oh Canada’ with the students and explained to them the meaning behind it. The lyrics have gone from ‘In all thy sons command’ to ‘In all of us command’ and she explained that with this change, the song is now more inclusive of all genders. What a great morning!

canada flag with mountain range view
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trello

On By rosiereynolds30In trelloLeave a comment

I have just began organizing my trello board for both my open inquiry and tech inquiry projects.  So far, I have come up with my inquiry questions and my list of “to do’s” is filled out for each week.  I am still learning the methods of trello, but I feel as though it will help me to stay on task.  In my agenda, I have myself organized for which days to complete each task.  My tasks are laid out on my trello in detail as to what needs to be done.

I am very much a paper person, but am going to learn the tools that trello is beneficial for for these projects.  As a teacher, I know I will have my students working on inquiry projects and knowing how to work this website is important.

This is a beginner post with trello, and I will update it as I learn!

 

Image result for trello

edcamp

On By rosiereynolds30In edcamp, edtech, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Edcamp solved the problem where people go to a conference, sit and listen, and don’t get to share their knowledge with one another. Anyone can attend an edcamp, from Principals, to teachers, to parents, to students.  There’s no charge for it and it’s usually hosted at a school site.

Topics are chosen through up-voting.  The popular topics are then assigned to rooms.  People show up, and talk.  Some times exports and guest speakers can show up and contribute, or sometimes it’s just a conversation between the people.

Teachers have used this method in their class, where they allow children to up-vote a subject area and break into groups and then discuss it.

The goal of edcamp is to have a way for the full spectrum of education (from school admin to students) to contribute to a voice, with a similar topic in mind.

Edcamp includes a variety of topics to choose from, from maker space, to technology in the class, to Indigenous studies.

It has becomes a way to personalize what you want to learn, what you want to share, and what you want to teach.

“The best learning is collaborating and talking to each other”

Click on the link to check out EdcampUVic.

EdCamp UVic

How is technology used in the classroom as a tool?

On By rosiereynolds30In EDCI 336, tech inquiryLeave a comment

For my tech inquiry project, I will be interviewing a selection of teachers and will be asking them what technology tools they use in the classroom.  I will find out which ones they prefer, and which ones they don’t recommend.  Majority of the teachers I will be interviewing will be from Victoria, but there will be some from Surrey, Chilliwack, and Australia!  I am hoping through this process I will gain knowledge as to which technologies will be best used in my classroom one day.  I realize everyone has their own personal preferences, and I hope to learn lots through this project!

group hand fist bump
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Beginner brush strokes

On By rosiereynolds30In EDCI 336, open inquiryLeave a comment

 

Last night I began to learn beginner brush strokes by watching the youtube channel Kelogsloops.  I started with two videos, Water Colour Tutorial – Wet on Dry Techniques, Part One and Part Two.  These tutorials were very helpful as the instructor spoke clearly and didn’t rush any of the examples.  I still found myself pausing the videos, as this is my first official time attempting water colour paints with techniques.  I have used them in the past to add colour to small drawings, but feel as thought my knowledge has truly expanded after last night.  I found it fun, and challenging. Looking forward to experimenting with future techniques!

file2

Below is one of the videos I watched last night to learn wet on dry techniques:

 

open inquiry:

this assignment is open inquiry, in which the classmates start by asking questions around something of interest, as opposed to being given a certain task to research.

As stated on wikipedia, “the inquiry-based instruction is principally very closely related to the development and practice of thinking skills”.

learning design

On By rosiereynolds30In EDCI 336, edtech, learning designLeave a comment

I am writing this blog post as a reflection to the movie watched in class, “Most Likely to Succeed”.  I found this film to be very inspirational, as times are changing in education, especially when it comes to having a growth mind set and the benefits of technology in the classroom.

The school featured, High Tech High, is forward thinking and innovative.  It bases it’s teaching style as a learning design model, where learning is more about the whole experience than a typical classroom lesson plan.  When facts get taught in the classroom by the traditional method, reading and writing, how much really sticks?

I am very much a person who learns through experience.  I can read from a textbook, right down facts, study for an exam and get an A, but you can ask me right now what I remember from those tests and it won’t be a lot.  It’s not until I apply the facts I’ve learned, whether it be through conversation or something more hands on, that I am able to retain this information.

This film left me with a lot of questions.  Would something like this be attainable to do within Canada in the near future? Is this the direction we are beginning to move with the development of our new curriculum?

Whatever is to come, I believe we are making a move in the right direction.  And like the film said, we won’t know how well this program works until we have research backing what happens when the students enter the job force.

chairs classroom college desks
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