UNESCO ASEAN SCHOOLNET BRIDGES OF LEARNING Learning Circles

UNESCO ASEAN SCHOOLNET BRIDGES OF LEARNING Learning Circles South Africa Sep 2009

Introduction Nomty Gcaba ◦ JHB, South Africa ◦ School. Net SA

Telecollaboration � Tele – ◦ Television, telescope, telecommunication ◦ Over a distance � Collaboration ◦ To work together � Internet ◦ Email groups, website � Learning Circles

What we learnt �Not enough training �Language difficulties �Email problems ◦ Technical ◦ Incorrect addresses �Country coordination �Time and other events

Why we chose Learning Circles �Internationally �Structured �Simple successful

Classroom Investigations �Themes ◦ Measure by Measure �Maths, science, economics �Analysing data with spreadsheets and charts ◦ People and Places �Social science, language, economics �Opinions, attitudes, beliefs, values ◦ The World We Live In �Science (natural science, biology) �How we interact with our world

Learning Circle Investigation �Differences ◦ Geographical, Cultural �Request simple information ◦ Request completed in one lesson or less �Gathered information enhances the project �Interesting to others

Bloom � Taxonomy of thinking ◦ Knowledge � Identify components of a family ◦ Understanding � Explain how you are related to your father’s sister ◦ Application � Draw a family tree ◦ Analysis � Compare a human and non-human family ◦ Synthesis � Create a family crest ◦ Evaluation � Who makes the biggest contribution to your family?

Open and closed questions �Closed ◦ Facts ◦ Correct answers �Open ◦ Require research, thinking ◦ Promote discussion ◦ Many responses

Open/Closed Activity � Language ◦ What does “interpret” mean? ◦ Interpret this poem � Science ◦ What is coal? ◦ What energy source is the best option? � Maths ◦ What is the volume of a square? ◦ Are squares useful in building design? � Complete the examples

Focus Question �Provide the challenge of a project �Focus on the topic �Open �Challenge higher order thinking �Stimulating and interesting �Short

Sharing information ◦ Receive questions from other groups ◦ Respond to them ◦ Receive responses to your question

Assessment Learning Circle Sharing ◦ Power. Point template ◦ Microsoft word ◦ Publisher Goodbye

Project “rules” – groups/classes �One person per group registers ◦ Group could be class ◦ Class may have more than one group �Each group has different email address �Group from same class may not be in same Learning Circle

Participation options �Whole class does same project ◦ Work in groups but participate as one group ◦ Work in groups, each participates in different Learning Circle ◦ Work as one group, participate as one group �Each group has different investigation ◦ Each group participates in different Learning Circle

Communicating �Only one registration per group �One communication person per group �Use class code in subject line ◦ E. g. MM 4 Introduction �Be reliable �Use the same email address �Stay in contact with country coordinator

Test run your project ◦ Setup (1 week) ◦ Register in Googlegroups ◦ Confirm your membership ◦ Learning Circle News 1 ◦ Project should be planned

Test run your project �Phase 2 Hello (1 week) ◦ Learning Circle News 2 �Name �Class code �Grade �Country ◦ Groups students – introduce project ◦ Class introduction email �Number, age/grade, �Something about your class, school and town �E. g WW 5 Introduction

Test run your project �Phase 3 Class Investigation (2 weeks) ◦ Learning Circle News 3 ◦ Start class investigation �Focus question �Data required �Send data gathering question �E. g. Subject: WW 5 Data gathering question

Test run your project �Phase 4 ◦ Data gathering (3 weeks) ◦ Learning Circle News 4 ◦ Receive questions �Organise responses in groups �Send responses �E. g. Subject: WW 5 response to WW 3 ◦ Receive responses �Analyse responses in groups

Test run your project �Phase 5 Data gathering (2 weeks) ◦ Learning Circle News 5 ◦ Prepare publication �Examine data �Discuss focus question �Come to conclusion �Publish findings ◦ Website, Power. Point or Word document ◦ Send to LC coordinator

Test run your project �Phase 6 ◦ Goodbye (1 week) ◦ Say thank you ◦ Share what the project meant to you �E. g. Subject: WW 5 Goodbye

Timelines Cycle 1 1. 16 -22 January 2. 23 -29 January 3. 30 Jan – 12 February 4. 13 Feb – 5 March 5. 6 -12 March 6. 16 -22 March Cycle 2 1. 14 -20 August 2. 21 -27 August 3. 28 Aug -10 September 4. 11 Sept – 1 October 5. 2 -11 October 6. 12 -18 October