{"id":1111,"date":"2013-06-28T14:39:50","date_gmt":"2013-06-28T21:39:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/?p=1111"},"modified":"2013-06-28T14:39:50","modified_gmt":"2013-06-28T21:39:50","slug":"we-are-just-scratching-the-surface-panorama-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/?p=1111","title":{"rendered":"We are just scratching the surface: Panorama Park"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guest Post: Lucky Kalair, Grade 6\/7 Teacher at Panorama Park Elementary<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em>\"\"<\/a>Panorama Park\u2019s Innovative Learning Design Story: <\/strong>A continuing journey of reflecting and sharing….
\nwe are just scratching the surface.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Context: <\/em><\/strong>School with a population of 350 students, high ELL
\n<\/em>Prior to ILD:
\n<\/em><\/strong>\u2022 slow wireless connection, limited experience with iPads, only a couple of DocCams, no ATV, MacBooks…<\/em><\/p>\n

Post ILD:<\/em><\/strong> updated wireless connection, 40 iPads, updated MacBook cart,
\n<\/em>5 ATVs, majority of classrooms have DocCams,…<\/em><\/p>\n

Inquiry Question:<\/strong> How will focusing on digital storytelling and the implementation of WEB 2.0 tools increase student engagement and increase student communication skills?<\/p>\n

As a result of the ILD project<\/strong>, the teaching practices of teachers have changed and enabled us to focus on student-directed learning. The ILD project has promoted greater reflecting, sharing, and co-learning with our students; we have focused on creating learning environments that are student centered with learning as the focus.<\/em>\u00a0 The technology has complemented the learning piece and has helped to increase student engagement and increase student communication skills.<\/p>\n

Some of the things that happened at our school as a result of the ILD project include:<\/p>\n

1. Transformative teaching\/learning
\n<\/strong>\u2022 reflecting, questioning, sharing, exploring, experimenting, designing, and\u00a0creating–>we are all learners–> co-learners
\n\u2022 moving from paper\/pencil–>multimedia – voice, sound, visuals
\n\u2022 inquiry based –>uncovering curriculum–>more content choice-
\n\u2022 scaffolding and modelling thinking\/learning–>adjusting our teaching\/learning
\n\u2022 focusing on the process of learning
\n\u2022 engaged learners – student centered learning environment
\n\u2022 making thinking visible –>technology complements the learning
\n\u2022 empowering students–>greater student choice\/voice\/input
\n\u2022 partnership with students – reciprocal teaching – third space<\/p>\n

2. Connecting\/Collaborating\/Sharing: Co-learning\/Connecting with\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0students
\n<\/strong>\u2022 Digital Storytelling – iMovie trailers, KeyNote, PowerPoint, Book Creator,\u00a0Popplet, Puppet Pals, ….
\n\u2022 WEB 2.0 Tools – Weebly – student web pages, teacher web pages,\u00a0blogging, Glogster, Kidblog, iPadlet, Today\u2019s Meet, Prezi, Skype, Twitter,\u00a0PLN, publishing work on YouTube
\n\u2022 reflecting using blogging
\n\u2022 shift in learning\/teaching–>student centered – they own their learning
\n\u2022 becoming co-creators, co-designers, co-architects of learning
\n\u2022 exploring ePorfolios –>documenting progression of learning
\n\u2022 presenting\/sharing…communicating<\/p>\n

3. Focus on: Differentiated Learning
\n<\/strong>\u2022 more voice\/choice to represent learning – visuals, pictures, recording voice
\n\u2022 greater student ownership–>greater student motivation
\n\u2022 power of choice = students working at their level
\n\u2022 empowering students \u2013 building self-confidence<\/p>\n

4. Personalized Learning: (\u2018How to use technology to enhance and\u00a0<\/strong>magnify learning\u2026\u2019 – Neil Stephenson)
\n<\/strong>\u2022 increases student motivation and accountabiity
\n\u2022 how students want to learn, what they want to learn, how they represent\u00a0their learning, how they share their learning
\n\u2022 Genius Hour, iMovie trailers…learning is relevant and meaningful\u00a0and the technology piece complements the learning
\n\u2022 more content choice –>caliber of work improves–>shift in learning<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 Assessment for Learning – AFL
\n<\/strong>\u2022embedded in the learning process –>ePortfolios – the process of learning
\n\u2022giving students opportunities to share and create using multiple options
\n\u2022reflecting, self-reflections, peer feedback…blogging, collaborating, and\u00a0discussing\u00a0summative assessment …ePortfolios=progression of learning
\n\u2022 student-teacher conferences\/presentations<\/p>\n

6. ILD Team:
\n<\/strong>\u2022 blogs for reflecting\/sharing —>3 teachers
\n\u2022 Twitter – #sd36learn #panopanthers –> 5 team members contributing\"\"<\/a>
\n\u2022 share at staff mtgs, ILD mtgs – informal\/formal, assemblies, pro-d<\/p>\n

7. Next Year:
\n<\/strong>\u2022 building student ePortfolios \u2013 exploring Evernote, Google Docs,..
\n\u2022 Skype projects, global connections,\u2026
\n\u2022 Blogging\u00a0\u2013 Weebly\/Kidblog \u2022expanding Twitter PLN \u2022staff mentoring
\n\u2022 student tech leaders\u00a0as mentors for staff
\n\u2022 pro-d\u00a0 \u2022visiting other classes\/schools \u00a0 \u2022PBL ….authentic learning
\n\u2022 conferencing\/sharing with other classrooms\/schools<\/p>\n

8. Other Highlights and accomplishments in our first year of ILD:
\n<\/strong>\u2022 focusing on digital storytelling including: creating, designing, and sharing
\n\u2022 buddy activities
\n\u2022 students planning and discussing \u2013 reflecting, questioning, and exploring
\n\u2022 using manipulatives and technololgy
\n\u2022 Glogster \u2013 multiple options for sharing learning
\n\u2022 Genius Hour \u2013 Inquiry Learning \u2013 Wonder Qs \u2013 choice and voice
\n\u2022 creating iMovie Trailers \u2013 composing and sharing
\n\u2022 using Web 2.0 to collaborate ideas and content
\n\u2022 peers learning from peers \u2013 excited to explore blogging to represent their\u00a0thinking and learning
\n\u2022 communicating with parents and peers \u2013 creating class and student web pages
\n\u2022 enhancing learning with Prezi
\n\u2022 students, teachers, and parents collaborating
\n\u2022 representing learning in a variety of ways
\n\u2022 brainstorming on Padlet
\n\u2022 participating in a Webinar \u2013 building, discussing, and creating together
\n\u2022 Skyping about careers
\n\u2022 using critical thinking skills
\n\u2022 creating simple digital portfolios using Weebly, exploring Kidblog
\n\u2022 self-reflection and self-assessment\u2026.peer feedback
\n\u2022 empowering students \u2013 learning together
\n\u2022 building confidence and self-esteem
\n\u2022 providing instant, descriptive, and specific feedback
\n\u2022 Many of our students would ask:
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 When can we start the next Genius Hour project?
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Could we stay in at recess to finish our work?
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Could I do an extra project?
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Could we use the iPad or MacBook?
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Could we make an iMovie trailer? Keynote?<\/em><\/p>\n

During our first Webinar\/Skype activity on careers, many grade seven students stayed in at recess to continue working on this activity. During LST, students were excited and motivated to track their reading speed. Students are asking about when can they blog next, excited about providing\/receiving feedback from their peers. These are just a few examples of how some of our students became intrinsically motivated to learn new concepts. Again, learning was the focus with students being at the center, while the technology enriched the learning experience. Since teachers and students are co-learning together, there is positive energy being created and that is promoting collaboration, creativity, inspiration, and sharing.<\/p>\n

Whether it be digital storytelling or Web 2.0 activities, students have confidently, eagerly, and successfully showcased their learning, with emphasis on: choice, voice, and collaboration.\u00a0 With increased opportunities for \u2018choice\u2019 in a student-centered learning environment, it is evident there is greater student participation, ownership for learning, and increased levels of engagement and motivation. This is exactly what Shelley Wright@wrightsroom focused on at the second Engaging the Digital learner series presentation.<\/p>\n

A student-centered learning environment has enabled our students to improve: fluency skills, confidence, speaking, and writing skills. By giving students choices and opportunities to share their learning using a wide array of multi-media apps and platforms \u2013 iMovie, Popplet, Educreations, Keynote, Class weebly webpage, Explain Everything, and Kidbog, engagement levels increased. This helped to enhance student responsibility and accountability for their learning.<\/p>\n

The learning curve has been steep for many of us; however, it is because of our Innovative Learning Designs inquiry project that we have seen the above outlined accomplishments. Wow \u2013 amazing that none of this would have happened without ILD! Reflecting back, it amazes me that we had no comprehension of any of the above at the beginning of the inquiry process in September. ILD has had a tremendous\u00a0 impact on the learning of our teachers and students at Panorama Park. It has been a wonderful learning journey for all of us, and we look forward to continuing to enrich and enhance our learning experiences next year as co-learners with our students and each other.<\/p>\n

Below is a video clip that we shared at our ILD sharing session: Snapshots of staff and students, at Panorama Park, co-learning about Digital Storytelling and using WEB 2.0 tools.<\/p>\n