Exploring Learning

My recent explorations led me to complete two courses on Sophia.org. Whilst doing so, I discovered 'Playlists'. Sophia.org Playlists Playlists are a collection of tutorials chosen to allow learners to pick and chose a learning path that best suits their particular needs. For example, if I wanted to teach Story Writing, I could create a playlist with tutorials covering story -mapping techniques, the stages of story-telling ,  effective openers, and satisfactory endings. These may constititute  the basics that all learners would need to know. However, as is evident in any classroom today, the needs of the population are diverse. I know I would need to include some tutorials on basic writing techniques too - such as using correct sentence punctuation, maintaining tense and narrative perspective, how to accurately use speech marks, and using strong verbs. Story Writing Playlist Sophia.org I would also want some tutorials to push some of my more accomplished...

Sophia.org I have recently blogged about completing the Chrome Classroom certification offered through Sophia.org in conjunction with Capella University. This course covers the use of Google Apps for Education and how to create a collaborative cloud-based learning environment. Earlier this year, I also wrote about the Flipped Classroom certification course also offered for free on Sophia.org . This covers how to flip your classroom, a pedagogical approach benefitting many children as the usual learning that takes place in the classroom, happens before class, at home. The teacher is then freed up to support the class as they put into practise that learning. This is the part that traditionally happens as homework, without help or support. Flipping changes the dynamics of teaching and learning. I have also just completed the iPad Prepared certification course, which covers using Apps to enhance and transform the learning experience. Check out Sophia.org and get upskille...

As the last week of the year fast approaches, I thought I would take five minutes out of my writing to reflect on the progress and achievements of the year. I have found this year to be challenging on many levels and want to focus squarely on the successes - as there have been many - to allow me to see what truly matters as all too easily, we forget the good stuff when the tough stuff gets us down. In terms of teaching, I have successfully designed and implemented my first project-based learning project, which was recognised as excellent in the field and so I was asked to contribute to future course design of PBL projects. I also collaborated and delivered my first Global Project, also recognised as leading in the field . I have continued to explore and understand how technology can enhance teaching and learning in the English classroom and successfully helped implement the 1:1 scheme using Edmodo as a learning portal. I set up and managed learner and class blogs to enable learner...

In the academic year 2012-2013 I took or qualified in the following Professional Learning:- Extended Essay Category 3 Training (IBO, Malaysia) Google Apps for Education Teacher Certification Presenting Read? Me?  at Hands on Literacy Conference 2012 (Singapore) Designing New Learning Spaces (Stanford University) Professional Learning in the Digital Age (Virtual book club with the author) English B IB Diploma Training (IBO, Online) Flipped Classroom Certification E-learning and Digital Cultures (Edinburgh University) PBL Certified Teacher Flat Classroom Certified Teacher Most of the learning from the above is documented in this blog.  Now, at the end of the year, not feeling the need to slow down for some reason, I have begun my Masters in Education and Instructional Technology at the University of Maryland University College .   This advanced degree program focuses on integrating technology in the preK-12 schools to strengthen and transform te...

My latest assignment for the PBLU course is a reflection on formative assessments or 'checkpoints' in my capstone project, The Octopus's Garden . Along with a short Professional Learning course I led at school on AfL using Google Forms , my focus lately has been very much on assessment and on ensuring I build in enough opportunities for essential revision and reflection before summative pieces are submitted. As a result of this thinking, I wrote a post on my ' Golden Rules ' for AfL, which I am sure I will edit and develop as I continue to explore this vital component of teaching and learning. Can we rethink the classroom? PBL Guidance states that learners should be allowed two formative assessments for each summative assessment. The final product for The Octopus's Garden Project is a presentation to the Principal of the school with design ideas for a 21st century classroom that will enhance teaching and learning in the school (post on this coming soon)...

"Educational institutions are established around a privilege of writing as the ultimate means of demonstrating understanding"; the question is, can digital technology and the creation of images "demonstrate competence, knowledge and understanding in a rigorous way?" As a life-long learner, I have recently been taking part in an  E-learning and Digital Cultures MOOC  via Coursera (see posts Graveyards of Technology and The Machine is Us ) and the sources they offer for thought include a lot of visual sources. In conjunction with the fact that I have been trialling Flipped Classroom methods and just completed certification through Sophia.org , I have been thinking about the use of visual sources for teaching and their impact on engagement and learning. https://class.coursera.org/edc-001/wiki/view?page=Howtointerpretimages Part of the outcomes of the  E-learning and Digital Cultures  course is a consideration of "the extent to which visual representation...

Flipping the classroom is something I have been thinking about since I read Flip Your Classroom last summer. However, despite the book being really informative in both clearly explaining how Bergman and Sams' journey evolved as well as in consolidating my belief that flipping is a great method to differentiate, personalise and manage the diverse learners we find in our classrooms today, there were a distinct lack of good English class examples out there. I can clearly see the advantages for science and maths, but English has often already been flipped to some degree, in that we often ask for reading to be done preparation for a lesson, where discussions and writing are then supported. My explorations led me to Sophia.org , who offer a great free course on planning and thinking through rigorous and authentic flipped lessons. However I became stumped after the theory part and at the point where I had to actually start planning a flipped lesson that went beyond the 'norma...

This seems to be a recurring theme. Ironically, I have been writing this post for over a week and have to keep coming back to it as I have so much else to do. The only way I can catch up with myself is because I am at home, in bed, with a dreadful cold :( The last week was hectic to say the least. I have written many Blog posts in my head - as I am running, cooking, reading, sleeping, talking to colleagues and learners - but have not had the time to sit down to actual type them up. I did manage to find the time this (now last) weekend to pass my Google Apps for Education exams though. I had 'Docs' and 'Other Tools' to go and sat them both on Sunday. It was awesome to get them over and done with - though on sharing with my DP, I was 'shoved' in the direction of applying for 'trainer' status. Which of course I will - there are, at least, no exams for this, which is something I believe more and more strongly against as time goes on. Sitting these ex...

With a rather fuzzy head really in need of a lie in and a day off from thinking, I head off to day two of Googlicious learning.  My first session of the day is on blogger. I chose this mainly because of the paper blogging project I have been working on with my classes, which is teaching them all the skills they need to blog successfully. Obviously, our next step is to go live and I really want to see how the experience has been for others. Why Blog With Learners? The session delivered little about successful blogging, as the leader was in a similar position and it was a new thing for her. I was looking for a way to manage the blogs easily and effectively  but this was barely touched on. In the past, Google Reader was used but they have just moved to Teacher DashBoard - which is an awesome tool I think we really need to get hold of, as I hear nothing but praise for it and how it is changing things. However, thankfully, the Google Reader session yesterday gave me some tips...

I have not managed to create a video for my flipped classroom yet - I need to wait until I have more time and have more IT available so I know what I publish can be watched.  However, I was sent this link today for some Webinars that will show "firsthand, from master educators who are experts in their field talk about how they started, how their teaching has changed, what their students (and parents) are saying, and how they will continue to improve their craft", which may be useful and will probably give me the final push to get this going.  Flipped Classroom Webinars