1. Building stronger learning
communities
Transforming School/Parent/Student Collaboration With Technology
Original Image cc licensed ( BY SA ) flickr photo by lumaxart: http://flickr.com/photos/lumaxart/2137735924/
2.
3. • Decades of research show that when
cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo by Spirit-Fire: http://flickr.com/photos/spirit-fire/4739023417/
parents are involved students have: (Parent Teacher
Association)
‣Higher grades, test scores, and graduation
rates
‣Better school attendance
‣Increased motivation, better self-esteem
‣Lower rates of suspension
‣Decreased use of drugs and alcohol
‣Fewer instances of violent behaviour
• Michigan Department of Education (2002). WHAT RESEARCH SAYS ABOUT PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN CHILDREN’S
EDUCATION In Relation to Academic Achievement. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Final_Parent_Involvement_Fact_Sheet_14732_7.pdf. [Last Accessed December 6, 2012]. Read
more: http://www.americanessays.com/tool-box/apa-format-citation-generator/#ixzz2ELDY45eS
4. "In this complex world, it takes more than a
good school to educate children. And it takes
more than a good home. It takes these two
major educational institutions working
together." Dorothy Rich, Author of Megaskills.
18. I just wanted to say that although I
am not part of PSD70 or the Learning
Leader Project your work has had
impact beyond your district...
Thank you for making your learning
visible in such a transparent way.
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28. Mrs. Dickson’s Grade 3 class decided to change
the Twelve Days of Christmas into theTwelve
Days of Kindness. It was such a good idea we
chose to use it to.
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34. Even further, Twitter and blogging has connected me to the
most phenomenal people in the world...when you have a team
from all over the country who are just as determined and
passionate as you are, you get a whole new sense of
empowerment.
Stephanie Rivera, Student
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43. Control privacy of
Google Docs,
Spreadsheets, Videos,
Presentations etc. and
link to student
portfolios
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45. This is not the wisdom of the crowd, but the wisdom of
someone in the crowd. It’s not that the network itself is
smart; it’s that the individuals get smarter because
they’re connected to the network.
Steven Johnson
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nd/7624312056/
49. • How can the school and parents continue to work
together to build stronger learning communities?
• What are your key take aways?
• Questions?
Editor's Notes
- my daughter ’ s first day of kindergarten - interesting because I am gaining perspective as father with child in school - not just educator - conversation - what did you learn in school today? - I forget, nothing, played with friends, etc. - My first parent teacher interview as a parent - teacher showed me this video
Obviously we know that as parents we play a huge role in our children ’ s success
- As educators and parents we need to be constantly improving and working towards this common goal - Technology has a huge role to play in this partnership between parents, school and students - tool to transform collaboration
- obviously we know that our world has changed drastically since the 1950 ’ s - education prepares our students to participate in our complex world - as our world changes our classrooms should change too - our children need to learn the necessary skills and tools to prepare them for the future
- our schools should reflect our world - if not becoming irrelevant - not preparing students for the future - we should use every tool available to provide every opportunity for student success
- in our busy world with our busy schedules - technology used properly, can create powerful learning communities - it fosters transparent learning and can empower active participation in a way that we haven ’ t experienced in the past - Transparent learning requires high level of trust - nowhere to hide - and creates high level of accountability and authenticity - authentic - real time - process vs. product (teacher/student, student/parent, teacher/parent relationships), any time, any place
- learning should not be done in isolation - eyes on your own paper, don ’ t talk to your neighbour
- just adding technology doesn ’ t make a difference - if the approach to teaching and learning is the same - technology just becomes an expensive pen and paper
- In their Job Outlook 2012 report, the U.S. National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) included the results of a 2011 survey in which it asked employers which of the skills and qualities they value most in candidates. - http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/career-tips/top-employers-reveal-the-skills-they-value-most/article2349298/
- Should use technology to transform teaching and learning practice - collaboration, communication, problem solving - move from MYOB Learning to Learning Communities
- Learning communities should extend beyond the 4 walls of the classroom - Can include anyone. Trustees, students, parents - people all over the world
- learning communities are built on the transparent sharing of learning and ideas
- fuels innovation - building on one another ’ s ideas - powerful motivator - sharing ideas and work transparently - connecting our students in learning communities - authentic audience - ie. What do I have to do to get the mark I want? vs. when work is viewed by audience - students want to do their best
- Mrs. Dickson shared this on her blog - kid ’ s thoughts about the projects - could even extend to kids blogging about their projects - parents and others commenting - extend the learning and engage learning community further
- collaborative learning blog - This project shares the voices of the Parkland School Division and how we are all learners together in this journey as we move forward. - everyday during the school year - someone new posts what they learned today - parents, teachers, students, office etc. - [twitter] About the Learning Leader Project http://bit.ly/HgDH1H #psd70 [/twitter]
- student writes a blog post for 184 day project about making your mark - inspired after learning activity around author Peter Reynolds - wrote “ The Dot ” and “ Ish ”
- her art project - her connection to the stories
- you can imagine how excited the class was to have this interaction with the actual author
- Mrs. van Beek came up with idea “ 12 Days of Kindness ” - talked to Mrs. Dickson about it - Mrs. Dickson put it on her classroom blog - video of their classes singing - Learning Community in our building
- Mrs. van Beek tweeted it - Kelli Holden - grade 4 teacher in our division (Millgrove School) responded
- Mrs. Holden blogged about it - started the same project with their kids - http://www.psdblogs.ca/4gh/2012/12/07/12-days-of-kindness/ - Students Helping Students - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_npqbMKzHl8&safe=active
- continued to share what they are doing each day - click the link to see the blog post where they are sharing the ideas
- Krissy Venosdale - adapted the idea and blogged about “ 12 Days of Creativity ”
- one of her ideas was “ Random Acts of Kindness ” - students excited to see they are making a difference, connecting and inspiring people around the world
[twitter] How Blogging and Social Media Changed My Life http://bit.ly/OZlELB [/twitter] - this is taken from a students ’ blog who calls herself an “ activist ” - wants to make a difference in the world - leave her mark
- these tools are powerful for building learning communities - making things possible that weren ’ t a short time ago - working on students utilizing Google Apps & Edublogs - creating online learning portfolios - the focus isn ’ t the tool - it is the learning - the skills that we are building
[twitter] My new post - Alyssa's Blog http://bit.ly/QcLvGQ [/twitter]
[twitter] Today I watched Justin Bieber on TV this morning!... - Alyssa's Blog http://bit.ly/M4eyuM [/twitter] - blogs/online learning portfolios are amazing for providing that authentic audience - building learning community that transcend time and space
- Nakia ’ s Blog - grade 9 MLS - http://www.psdblogs.ca/nakiah3594/ - parents get transparent look into work - transition from year to year - teacher information - see growth
- Student blog - Kathryn ’ s blog grade 9 MLS - Language Arts Category - http://www.psdblogs.ca/kathrynh3685/category/language-arts/ - parents can subscribe - see what is happening in real time - participate - changes the conversation
- Student blog - Tyler ’ s grade 8 MLS - http://www.psdblogs.ca/tylerc3959/2012/12/04/my-lego-stop-motion/ - opportunity to use different mediums, explore other talents, passions, hobbies, ideas
- classroom blogs - Mrs. Daub - http://www.psdblogs.ca/cdaub/category/language-arts/ - collective sharing of ideas - Mrs. Daub has seen huge increase in motivation for students writing this way - authentic audience
- Classroom Blog - Mrs. Matsuba - http://www.psdblogs.ca/smatsuba/2012/11/16/another-5-little-pumpkins/ - not limited to just text
- google apps - tracking sheet - privacy control - access anytime, anywhere - link to blog portfolio
- great example of learning beyond the 4 walls of the school - feedback & learning from others - not about the number of views - number of comments (hundreds) - [twitter] great example of networked learning - help with bowdrill set - YouTube http://bit.ly/kWxskJ [/twitter]
There are good ideas, and then there are good ideas that make it easier to have other good ideas.
- as adults a lot of this stuff is still new to us - children don ’ t have that same fear - growing up with it - sometimes we just need to jump
- Parkland motto - open up opportunity for our students now and for their future
- as teachers as parents as part of the learning community