In the current policy conversations, where are students? Where is pedagogy? Where is technology? What has happened to a careful, deep exploration of the complexities inherent in teaching for student learning? Where is understanding deeply how people learn?
So what is the vessay? It’s a VoiceThread persuasive essay. It will require a thesis that can be argued, transition words to make their writing fluid, and evidence from the text to support their point. Then they will need to find pictures to represent their argument and, finally, record it as a voicethread. I have no doubt in my mind that for many of my students this will be difficult. Forging into new territory can be hard work for all of us.
Our faculty has been very active throughout the year implementing innovative teaching strategies and creating engaging projects that fit their IP21 (Individual Plan for 21st Century Teaching and Learning) professional goals.These goals are not mandated by the administration but selected by each teacher. Giving ownership to teachers to design their professional growth makes these goals relevant and meaningful to our teaching practice. So why not apply this same PD approach to designing our Professional Learning Day?
Just two months ago, we launched Voices from the Learning Revolution. Nearly 30 posts later, it’s time for a recap. Here’s what our teachers, librarians, IT specialists, principals, district leaders and consultants have shared so far. A special thanks to all our twitter friends and blogs like MindShift, The Answer Sheet, Connected Principals and many more for pushing some of these great ideas and insights out into the viral stream.
Our team decided to choose one area where the faculty most needed to grow – collaboration. We have three separate divisions that hardly see each other. We wanted to find a way we could bond as a faculty with the assistance of some new technologies that we hoped would excite our staff. We would share ideas and resources, and demonstrate the power of collaboration… The faculty response has been nothing short of incredible.
Sister Geralyn: “As educators in the 21st century, we must model lifelong learning, and not be reluctant to say to our students (who often understand more about the tools than we do) ‘How did you do that?’ We are creating a culture in which collaboration is cross-generational, a climate in which no ONE individual knows everything.”
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