5. Engaged Thinker
“I collaborate to create new knowledge.”
I know how to make discoveries—through
inquiry, reflection, exploration, experimentation and trial and error. I
use technology to learn, innovate, collaborate, communicate and
discover.
Because I am familiar with multiple perspectives and disciplines, I can
first identify problems and then find the best solutions.
As a team member, I integrate ideas from a variety of sources into a
coherent whole and communicate these ideas to others.
12. Designing and sharing information for global
communities to meet a variety of purposes.
Building relationships with others to solve
problems collaboratively and cross-culturally.
Managing, analyzing and synthesizing multiple
streams of information.
-Adapted from Will Richardson
23. Discussion
Where could collaborative tools be add
these in our courses?
How can we encourage collaboration?
What are some of the roadblocks that
get in the way?
How can we work around these
roadblocks?
WHAT: Engaging content for online and blended learning for our the students of ALBERTA. How: EXCITE Learning EnvironmentWHY: To get at the heart of student engagement and authentic learning.
Ministerial Order on Teaching and Learning - WHEREAS education in Alberta will be shaped by a greater emphasis:on education than on the school; on the learner than on the system; on competencies than on content; on inquiry, discovery and the application of knowledge than on the dissemination of information; and on technology to support the creation and sharing of knowledge than on technology to support teaching.Inspiring Education – the community is fully engaged in the learningCurriculum Redesign Competency Based LearningWays of KnowingBreadth & DepthInterdisciplinary LearningFlexible Pace and PathwayDigital ResourcesPersonalized Learning
Content: Inspiring Education (Alberta Education)
This became our mission this year designing courses and learning opportunities that are universally designed (providing access to all learners) and that are engaging students in authentic learning experiences. These two things, accessible and engaging drove all of our discussion a this year around research, development and innovation. ADLC Provides:Large pool of diverse, flexible resources.Accessible ResourcesDifferentiation/Individualized InstructionSelf-PacedAuthentic Learning Collaborative Learning
And when we surveyed our students something an interesting pattern emerged. We thought that student might tell us that the most engaging support in their online course would be videos…this is the YouTube generation after all. But interestingly, what they told us was that interaction with either other students or their teacher through various means of communication in fact were MORE engaging. Ironically they thought talking to their teacher was more exciting than watching a video!
Slide Credit: George CourosAnd I think they were getting at the heart of the fact that to learn is a PARTICIPATORY process. That students are the most engaged when they are a part of something…interacting with others. And so I think although the shift from print to digital is certainly one we are going through in Alberta, more significant is a shift in learning culture to one of active engagement and participation.
Slide Credit: Alec CourosConnectivismEXCITE is the HUB to support blended learning in the bricks and mortar classroom with resources, interactions, experiences in the real world. To make authentic engaging interactions that allow students to be participants in their learning.EXCITE is a community, a place for teachers and students to not only find, but also to create content and learn from each other.
Slide Credit: George CourosWehave broken down the wall between formal and informal learning with many of our projects at ADLC:VROC interactionsForestry Simulators
Slide Credit: George CourosVideo Emma (Toilet Paper)
Slide Credit: George Couros
Slide Credit: George Couros
How can move schools towards an Inspiring Future for students? How can we be the place school go to help with systemic change? How can we offer efficiencies under tight budgets? How can we meet the diverse learning needs of Alberta’s changing population? How can we be agile and able to meet the rapidly changing curriculum to provide relevancy?Answer: EXCITE
Can be set up as a Blog style discussion where students can share thoughts on pre-determined topics. Can be more open, like a “homework help”: I’m having trouble with x=15. Who can help me figure this out? Teacher is moderator, but generally stays out: students help each other through chats. Can upload audio, video, documents and so forth right into the discussion space. Can “follow” discussion boards in D2L (Set it up under Notifications) and can see who responds to them as soon as it’s posted.
Google docs can be a tool and space for students to collaborate even if they’re not in the same class or same province.
Blogs don’t have to be shared with anyone except the class. It can be a place to reflect on learning (I learned e=mc2 and this is how I know this!). Digital portfolio: something that will reflect their learning for the year and that they can continue expanding on when they leave your class.