Thanks for the day, Martha. We looked at lots of things, didn't we. I appreciate having time away from phones, interruptions, distractions (except from the meanderings and mind maps we created ourselves!) to talk about profiling, teaching and learning strategies. Why are times to do these sorts of things so rare? I think the value of these types of meetings often goes unrecognised.
Where to from here? I am keen to hold some training sessions with the teams. I want to be part of more profiling sessions. I want to widen out the professional discussion to talk about positive teaching practices, how we encourage students ot learn, and what we are doing RIGHT!
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Friday, January 28, 2005
A new plan for teaching students in remote areas
Another teacher and I have been developing a new plan for teaching high school students in remote areas to connect them up somehow into one vast learning experience that would have value and meaning for everyone. The mix will go something like this:
1. One hour of video conference per week where interactive, short bursts of lessons are interspersed with group activities at each site (if the groups are big enough) or splitting off sites where there are small numbers so that they can complete activities 'together' and then report back to the entire VC.
2. One hour of web conferencing per week using a Centra platform. There are options for sharing a whiteboard with other students (and the Teacher of course), shared web browsing, shared project pages, games like hangman, crosswords, chances to complete instant polls and surveys, voice capability and, of course, chat sessions and boards.
3. One hour of face-to-face tutoring per week where students enrolled at each site have a real person all to themselves to ask questions, clarify meanings, work on assignments and generally smooth out any 'bugs'. Includes literacy support especially for those having trouble with the web component of the course.
4. An understanding that students will spend a minimum of 3 more hours of their own time on subject material eaxh week.
How does that sound? I think it will work.
1. One hour of video conference per week where interactive, short bursts of lessons are interspersed with group activities at each site (if the groups are big enough) or splitting off sites where there are small numbers so that they can complete activities 'together' and then report back to the entire VC.
2. One hour of web conferencing per week using a Centra platform. There are options for sharing a whiteboard with other students (and the Teacher of course), shared web browsing, shared project pages, games like hangman, crosswords, chances to complete instant polls and surveys, voice capability and, of course, chat sessions and boards.
3. One hour of face-to-face tutoring per week where students enrolled at each site have a real person all to themselves to ask questions, clarify meanings, work on assignments and generally smooth out any 'bugs'. Includes literacy support especially for those having trouble with the web component of the course.
4. An understanding that students will spend a minimum of 3 more hours of their own time on subject material eaxh week.
How does that sound? I think it will work.
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