Exploring Learning

Flubaroo is one of those tools I have been aware of for some time but also one of those who kept escaping me. However, with the advent of my new Unit that is all about understanding text, I saw the opportunity to try it out. I first came across the script gallery in Google Forms at the GAFE Summit Singapore, in September 2012, where I learned how to make my forms send automatic emails - brilliant! I even earned a little certificate to celebrate my geekiness (thanks Jay Atwood). This was when I first learned about the possibility of Flubaroo, but it is only through using it that I have come to understand and appreciate how useful it is. We are studying the novel Stargirl , by Jerry Spinelli, to explore the concepts of individuality, conformity, prejudice and tolerance. We are asking, do we dare to be ourselves and let others be themselves? Each week, learners have to perform a variety of tasks to demonstrate engagement, appreciation and understanding of the reading. One of the ...

Currently, we are studying ' Stargirl ' by Jerry Spinelli and exploring the ideas of tolerance, individuality, prejudice, and conformity. The driving question behind this unit is, "Do you Dare to be Yourself?" with the sub-question, "Do you Dare to Let Others be Themselves?". One of the assessments is an independent research project exploring the themes mentioned above, but of a topic and with a research question of each learner's own choosing. Stanford Prison Experiment, 1971 One of my learners has been exploring the idea of conformity and has been researching the Stanford Prison Experiment , the Milgram Experiment and the Asch Experiment . He had already written the draft of his report but we'd spent some time discussing his desire to conduct an experiment of his own along the lines of the Asch Experiment. He wanted to know if his peers would conform, even when they clearly know that everyone else is wrong. Today, as our lesson began, he i...

I am currently working on the culmination of my Flat Classroom Teacher Certification course, which is a collaborative Global Project Design. I have worked with a colleague from Wisconsin, USA to modify and develop my ' Dare to be Yourself ' unit, designed for my Year 8 and 9 learners this term. Originally written to address the problem of intolerance and lack of kindness, the 'Dare to be Yourself' unit, using the novel Stargirl , has been utilised to become a Global Project that can be delivered across the world and allow learners to connect and observe the similarities that exist in our world, with the hope of building individual, social and global conscience. In preparation, the following feedback has been received from one of the course facilitators:- Stargirl  by Jerry Spinelli from Goodreads "AMAZING!!!! Seriously, this is one of the most thoroughly and thoughtfully planned out projects I have seen. You have chosen a timely and timeless topic tha...

We are lucky enough to have published author, Sarah Froggatt, as a parent of one of our learners. She came and shared her knowledge during Book Week and, this week, I invited her back to teach learners about characterisation. Sarah sharing her expertise about characterisation with Year 9 Sarah covered the basics and the essentials using lots of great examples from print and film, such as Roald Dahl's, The Hitchhiker , everyone's favourite detective, Conan-Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, and even Pixar's The Incredibles. Once learners had learned about and discussed characterisation, I introduced the receipts! Having collected receipts from staff over the past month, I have a exciting selection of varied and wonderful clues about potential characters. The idea came while reading our current novel-study Stargirl , whose protagonist has a penchant for following people in malls and coming up with stories about them. She uses these 'stories' to decide on how to be ...