Learning with Gill
  • Stir It Up
  • Blog
  • Class It Up
  • Flip it Up
  • Stir It Extra

Stir It Up - Blogging With Gill

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."

Soren Kierkegaard

The SAMR Model

Eight Student Ideas to Transform 21st Century Learning

9/25/2014

0 Comments

 

"Anyone in an environment that is not preparing him or her for a tougher future should move out fast”  John P. Kotter


Consider and comment on these eight "transformational change" ideas from my 2014 Grade 12 Business Leadership class. Their action-research project was to identify ideas  to make schools more innovative and to prepare students with 21st century learning skills  (Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, Creativity):

1) Project Based Learning

2) Autonomy and freedom to select path to achieve goals

3) Learning from failure and "reinventing to get it right"

4) Creativity and "brain training" classes

5) Standard teacher web sites

6) Twitter conversations 

7) Class discussion time at the end of all classes

8) Later start times and longer breaks between classes






0 Comments

Eight Tips to use Twitter for project-based learning

8/17/2014

0 Comments

 
Using Twitter to enhance student learning is full of pitfalls, excitement, and learning opportunities.  

My first major school project where students used Twitter was with my Grade 12 Management class to organize and promote a Leadership and Technology Conference. The project was an experiential learning project to learn the art, science, and practice of management. Many of the ideas on how to use Twitter for the conference were learned in collaboration with fellow business teacher, @LadyFitzee.  

To begin, the class had to create a conference Twitter account (@stltconference) and a conference hashtag (#pcstlt). Students were then encouraged (explicit criteria on instructional rubric) to tweet promotional and educational information prior to and at the conference.  During the conference, we had a separate computer and screen display the Twitter conversation using  Tweetdeck. In conclusion, the Conference "story" was created using Storify. 

Like any class project, many things went awry, some things were great, and I would do many things differently the next time!  Here are eight ideas and tips that might be considered to improve the learning experience.
  1. Plan and schedule plenty class time to creating appropriate names and make sure you check suggested names on Twitter before publishing anything. 
  2. Ensure you clearly demonstrate and explain what curriculum content you want the students to Tweet and have a conversation about.  Practice with an initial mini project or activity. 
  3. Plan and spend time to ensure the class understands and buys into the concept of Digital Citizenship  (etiquette, literacy, and communications).
  4. Practice setting up and moderating conversations on Tweetdeck before going live!. You can block, or "mute", inappropriate users! 
  5. Create your own specific teacher account for the project or class. 
  6. Create temporary accounts for any student that is reluctant or not allowed to use Twitter or social Media. 
  7. Collaborate with other classes (your school and others) and community professionals.
  8. Have fun!
0 Comments
    Picture

    Author

    I am a Business and Learning Strategies teacher at Port Credit Secondary School. Member of OSSTF Branch Executive and Communications and Education Services Committees. I also coach Basketball and Badminton and support the Chess and Grade 9 Boys Club. 

    Prior to teaching, I volunteered with Rotary International, the YMCA, and local Boys clubs coaching basketball while working in Operations Management, Marketing, and Sales in Finance, Telecommunications, and Software companies. 

    Archives

    April 2018
    July 2017
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

    Categories

    All
    Authentic Learning
    Blended Learning
    Blogging
    Collaboration
    Communications
    Creativity
    Experiential Learning
    Flipped Classroom
    Innovation
    Project Based Learning
    Team Learning
    Twitter
    Wiki

    RSS Feed

    Tweets by @cgill2010
Proudly powered by Weebly