Inquiry Based Learning -- A Partnering Pedagogy

Hi, all! Today's topic is a good one! We'll be discussion a partnering pedagogy called Inquiry Based Learning or IBL for short.

According to "Inquiry Based Learning," "Inquiry-based instruction is a student-centered and teacher-guided instructional approach that engages students in investigating real world questions that they choose within a broad thematic framework. Inquiry-Based instruction complements traditional instruction by providing a vehicle for extending and applying the learning of students in a way that connects with their interests within a broader thematic framework. Students acquire and analyze information, develop and support propositions, provide solutions, and design technology and arts products that demonstrate their thinking and make their learning visible." 

Therefore, IBL...

• is student-centered
• helps students become problem solvers
• makes students become researchers
• encourages student choice

So, what is the teacher's role in all of this??? Well, glad you asked! Teachers become a facilitator rather than a primary instructor. 

Let's take a look at a few of the benefits of IBL...

• teaches problem-solving, critical thinking skills, and disciplinary content
• promotes the transfer of concepts to new problem questions
• teaches students how to learn and builds self-directed learning skills
• develops student ownership of their inquiry and enhances student interest in the subject matter

Let's take a look at a few of the disadvantages of IBL...

• time constraints
• requires more planning of lessons
• educators' and parents' attitudes toward IBL (due to "being used to" the traditional approach)
• may not prepare students for standardized testing as well as other approaches

Let's look at key components of IBL...

1. Activating prior knowledge
2. Providing background information
3. Defining outcomes for which students will be held accountable
4. Modeling design product outcomes (technology, art); Providing frameworks
5. Establishing a general topic or inquiry
6. Student teams conduct background research and define focused problem questions within broader inquiry or topic
7. Establish and communicate inquiry presentation framework
8. Refer students back to expected outcomes
9. Refine students' thinking by asking a lot of questions
10. Support technology
11. Empower students to coach & train one another within their teams
12. Provide a forum for student presentations which includes students, teachers, parents, community members
13. Provide vehicles for student participation in action projects which connect their learning to specific action
14. Incorporate ongoing, meaningful peer and teacher assessment
15. Reflect on what worked and what didn't and do it again

I hope you learned a little about Inquiry Based Learning, and check out this awesome website if you would like to learn more!

Concept to Classroom - IBL


-CG


References
"Inquiry Based Learning"
"Pros and Cons of Inquiry Based Learning"

Marc Prensky's "Teaching Digital Natives"

Hi, all! Today we will be discussing Marc Prensky's book titled "Teaching Digital Natives: Partnering for Real Learning". This book discusses partnering in its entirety, and it gives some great advice for 21st century teachers who are trying to implement partnering practices in their classroom. The book has ten chapters (excluding the introduction and conclusion) and goes into great depth about partnering pedagogy. The book discusses how the world is changing and how 21st century students are different from past students thus needing to recieve a different education. The book defines partnering, discusses student and teacher roles, talks about student passion, technology, creation, partnering assessment, and many more things pertaining to the partnering pedagogy.

I completed Prensky's book and was pleasently surprised at the knowledge I gained from it. The book gives many definitions relevant to 21st century learning, and I plan on keeping the book handy in case I ever need to look up something. While some chapters were pretty lengthy, it was an easy read, and it includes some great knowledge as well as suggestions. If you are contemplating taking on the partnering approach, this book will give you great insight on how to do so (and it may just persuade you to implement partnering if you're on the fence about it :) ).

I have included a link to purchase this book, although I am sure you could conduct your own research to figure out where to get the best deal. I hope you get the opportunity to read this book to further your knowledge on the topic of the partnering pedagogy, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

"Teaching Digital Natives: Partnering for Real Learning" - Buy Now on Amazon

Constructivism

Hi, all! Today's topic is on constructivism. Let's dive right in...

First, what is constructivism???

Well, long story short, constructivism is basically a theory about how people learn. (Pretty vague, huh?) The constructivist theory argues that people produce knowledge and form meaning based upon their experiences. Basically, constructivism believes that one 'constructs' knowledge by experiencing things and relating back to those experiences.

Who were the faces behind constructivism???

There are a few people associated with constructivism, but here are the main ones:

• Jean Piaget
• John Dewey 

Differences between constructivism and traditional ideas about teaching and learning

(1) Curriculum:

• Traditional:
• Curriculum begins with the parts of the whole
• Emphasizes basic skills
• Strict adherence to fixed curriculum is highly valued
• Materials are primarily textbooks and workbooks

• Constructivism
• Emphasizes big concepts, beginning with the whole and expanding to include the parts
• Pursuit of student questions and interests is valued
• Materials include primary sources of material and manipulative materials

(2) How Students Work:

• Traditional:
• Primarily alone

• Constructivism
• In groups

(3) How Students are Viewed: 

• Traditional:
• Recipients of knowledge

• Constructivism:
• Ones who construct their own knowledge

(4) Teacher Roles:

• Traditional:
• Directive, rooted in authority

• Constructivism:
• Interactive, rooted in negotiation

(5) Assessment

• Traditional:
• Through testing
• Correct answers

• Constructivism:
• Student work
• Observations
• Points of view
• Tests

The PAR Model

The PAR Model relates to constructivist teaching. It can be considered a constructivist lesson structure. 

P- Present

A- Apply

R- Review

Here it is... 

The PAR (Present, Apply, Review) Model and Lesson Structure		Close Window
Present Maximum 35%?  Learning goals are explained  Objectives or goals are given Advanced organiser  Persuasive account of the relevance and importance of the work New material is presented Knowledge, reasoning, theories etc are presented to students. Abstract ideas are illustrated with concrete examples. Skills are demonstrated e.g. how to use a formula, or punctuate a sentence. This stresses both process and product. Learning Strategies Listen to teacher talk  Watch a teacher or student demonstration  Watch a video  Use resources such as handouts, CDRom, Internet etc  Jigsaw or other cooperative learning strategies  Teaching without Talking strategies  Independent Learning  Teaching by asking (rather than teaching by telling) e.g. group discussion  Learning is checked in progress  Question and answer  Looking at students' work  Quiz, test etc	Apply Minimum 60%?  Students are given tasks that require them to apply the knowledge, theories, skills etc that have just been presented. This involves them in problem solving, making decisions, creating things such as posters or mindmaps.  Learning Strategies  When learning a practical skillPractical task: (e.g. when learning a practical skill)  When learning cognitive skills  Group discussion  Case study  Exercises, questions, worksheet, essay, etc  Discussion to Develop an argument or answer a question etc Decisions decisions game (good for learning concepts)  Student presentation  Critical evaluation of exemplars. E.g. are these sentences correctly punctuated?  Peer marking or marking exemplars Teacher should: Check attention to task, behaviour etc  Check and correct work in progress quickly  Discover those who need help and provide this  Praise and encourage: effort, progress, completion etc not just high attainment	Review minimum 5%?  What was to be learned is summarised and clarified, with emphasis on the key points. Especially important at the start and finish of topics and lessons. Learning strategies  Q&A: (Ask don't tell, as this checks learning)  Create a mindmap, poster or handout that summarised the key points.  Key points reiterated  Advanced organisers  Stressing the importance and relevance of the work  Reviews at the beginning of a lesson  Short task at the beginning of a lesson  Key points at the end of a topic  Reviews at the end of a lesson  Peer explaining of key objectives followed by check by the teacher  Quiz; test; etc

Well guys, I hope you have learned a little about constructivism. Feel free to conduct your own research to learn a little more! :) 

The Flipped Classroom

Hey guys! Today's topic is something called the flipped classroom. This is a really cool concept that I think you all would like to learn more about.

To start off, the concept of the flipped classroom coincides with its name -- it's really a flipped classroom. The normal idea of instruction and lecturing in class and homework at home is flipped. In a flipped classroom, instruction is delivered online outside of class and homework is moved into the classroom. The teacher's role goes from the instructor in front of the class to more of a guide for the students. Lectures are watched online, outside of the classroom.

Let's look at an example...

Mr. Smith teaches an advanced chemistry class at the local high school. He creates 3 to 4 videos a week. The content of the videos is the material he would normally teach in class. His students watch his videos online at home. During class, instead of lecturing the whole period, Mr. Smith gets to do labs and experiments with his students. The in-class work and activities illustrated the concepts that he spoke about in his videos. Now, his students have the knowledge when they first walk in Mr. Smith's classroom. They can now focus on hands-on experiments that reinforce the knowledge they learned from the videos.

Sounds pretty cool, huh? Well, some don't quite think so. There are many misconceptions about the flipped classroom, and here are some of them:

• It only works for certain subjects WRONG!!! The flipped classroom can work for any classroom! Most people believe it only works for subjects such as math and science, but the flipped classroom can work with any subject!
• It's just a trend WRONG!!! The flipped classroom concept has been around for a while, sometimes referred to as different terms, and while you may now just be hearing about it, it has been successful in many classrooms around the world for quite some time.
• The flipped classroom is the same thing as an online class WRONG AGAIN!!! While I can see why people have this assumption, it is not the case. One difference between the two is that in a flipped classroom, one does not go to school solely online. There is a balance between online instruction and in-class activities. 

So, there are three large misconceptions about the flipped classroom. People have their doubts and they will until they try it for themselves. Now, you may wonder how the flipped classroom is transforming education. I can give you a few good reasons...

(1) Teachers have more time in class to go do interactive activities and help students with "homework"

(2) Students are less frustrated because they get to do their homework in class with a guide (the teacher)

(3) Students receive instant feedback because teachers have time to explain difficult concepts

Flipped classrooms are becoming more and more visible in classrooms across America today, and they will continue to grow. Now it's your turn to decide... Would you implement the flipped classroom?

21st Century Skills & P21

Hi all! Today's topic is on 21st century skills and Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

What exactly are 21st century skills?

If you're not exactly sure what 21st century skills are, you're at the right place! 21st century skills are so very important in K-12 education, and it is very beneficial for you if you understand what they are. 21st century skills can be described as knowledge or skills that are necessary for one to succeed in today's world. So yes, 21st century skills are super important! 21st century skills are broken down into three categories: learning skills, literacy skills, and life skills. The learning skills are critical thinking, creative thinking, collaborating, and communicating. These sound pretty important, huh? Well, they sure are! The literacy skills are information literacy, media literacy, and technology literacy. The life skills are flexibility, initiative, social skills, productivity, and leadership.

When you think about it, all of these items are very important in the workforce. As an employer you would want someone who can think critically, is technologically savvy,  can communicate and collaborate, is flexible, has good social skills, and possesses leadership qualities.

In preparation to help students develop their 21st century skills, an organization called P21, or Partnership for 21st Century Skills, was created in 2002. If you have never heard of this organization, don't worry, you can learn about it now! P21 is an organization that was created to bring together the business field, education leaders, and policy makers to recognize that 21st century skills should earn a place in K-12 education. It is an awesome organization that helps student develop the skills they need to succeed in society. They also provide resources to educators to make sure students gain the necessary 21st century skills. You can learn more about it here!

Now, I want to talk to you briefly about a report that was done in 2006. It is called Are They Really Ready to Work. This report surveyed employers about workers with a high school diploma, a two-year or technical degree, and a four-year university degree. If you read this, you will definitely understand why our students need to be taught 21st century skills. I'm going to give you a few findings of the report, but I won't go too much in depth. I would definitely recommend checking it out yourself!

• A majority of employers view reading comprehension and English language as very important basic skills for job success for new workforce entrants at all education levels

• When asked about applied skills for job success, employers ranked professionalism, communications, teamwork, and critical thinking among the top five most important for new workforce entrants at all education levels   

• Very few of the employers that were surveyed rated the skills of new entrants with a high school diploma as "excellent"

• Majority of those surveyed ranked skills of new entrants with a two-year college degree or technical school diploma as "adequate"

• For new entrants with a four-year college diploma, however, readiness on several skills was rated as "excellent"

• Critical thinking/problem solving, information technology application, creativity/innovation, and diversity are the top five knowledge and skills expected to increase in importance over the next five years

• Employers rated leadership "deficient" among high school educated entrants, but less than one-third considered it a very important quality

• 70.3% of surveyed employers reported that professionalism/work ethic among recently hired high school graduates was deficient (Surveyed employers also said that this is a very important quality!!!)

• English is the most frequently reported basic academic skill deficiency among high school graduates, and it is second most frequently reported among two-year and four-year college graduates   

• Written communications is the most frequently reported applied skill deficiency for all three educational levels

Like I said, this is a very small portion of what the report found. It just goes to show that 21st century skills are important! I hope you have learned something interesting by this. Have a wonderful week!!!

Internet Safety and its Importance

Hi, all! I believe that we are all aware that the internet is a way of life in today's society. As you all know, Jackson County Schools has implemented internet in all of their schools in the past few years. Our class goes to the computer lab once a week to use the computers. Sometimes we work on downloaded programs, and sometimes we do educational sites on the internet. The children are always monitored by myself and an aide to make sure they stay on the specific website they are working on. I know that most of my children use the internet at home also (in the presence of their parents, hopefully), and I just wanted to make all of my parents and guardians are aware of WHY they should be monitoring their child and his or her internet usage.

These are the top three things that came to my mind when asked about the harm of the internet to children:

1. There are inappropriate websites and content on the internet not suitable for children
   
2. Cyberbullying is a real thing! Be aware!

3. There are many hackers, child predators, etc. online, and children are the perfect targets


I created this post because I want to keep all of my students safe. I feel that if we work together to prevent these things, students will get to enjoy the beneficial parts of the internet and won't have to worry about the harmful parts. The internet is very, very important. We cannot 'shelter' our children from the internet by no means, but we can be aware of the harms that the internet can bring.

Read more about the internet safety here.

BYOD - Bring Your Own Device

Hello everyone! If you have never heard about "BYOD," get ready-- it is a term that will become very known within the next few years.

BYOD:

Bring 

Your 

Own 

Device

BYOD stands for 'Bring Your Own Device'. This term is becoming more and more popular in education each year. Jackson County Schools are becoming very interested in this idea, and it's likely that we will see this implemented in our schools very soon. 

BYOD basically means that students will be allowed to bring their own device to school for educational purposes. There are many benefits to BYOD, but the most important is the cost. BYOD cuts the cost of technology significantly for our schools. However, BYOD does cost. BYOD costs the parents, guardians, and students. If your child already has a device that would benefit them for BYOD, they are set. If not, BYOD can become pretty costly. I have attached a link to a BYOD survey, and you may voice your opinions about BYOD anonymously through the form.

BYOD Devices:

• Tablets (Android tablets, iPads, etc.)
• Smartphones 
• Laptops 

Take a look at the article 20 Pros and Cons of Implementing BYOD in Schools to see the pros and cons of BYOD in detail. This may help you decide whether you are for or against BYOD. 

Take the Survey HERE. Voice your opinion!