Ideas

1

IDEAS FIRST

2

My Research on Knowledge Building Communities in Classrooms

Can we build a theory of how to support teachers and students in making a shift from traditional classrooms to KBC?

3

Goal State of KBC Model in Classrooms?

Goal State of KBC Model in Classrooms?

“The basic premise of the knowledge building approach is that, although achievements may differ, the process of knowledge building is the same across the trajectory running from early childhood to the most advanced levels of theorizing, invention, and design, and across the spectrum of knowledge creating organisations.”

---- Scardamalia & Bereiter

4

ONE BIG IDEA

KBCclassrooms

KCC in the world

Consistent Trajectory

5

ONE BIG IDEA

KBCclassrooms

KCC in the world

• “Advancing the frontiers of knowledge” is the central aim of the community. • Students develop the “epistemic agency” to

• identify problems of understanding, • create theories, • carry out research and investigations to refine their theories, • share and monitor the progress of the community

Consistent Trajectory

6

“Ideas First” Project:Shifting Singapore Primary Science Classrooms

Neighborhood Primary School

Initiated by John Ow, Science Head-of-Department --- a former P6 teacher who used Knowledge Forum in his own classes

Has involved approximately 30+ teachers and 1500 students at TVPS since 2006.

Of the current 14 P3 and P4 teachers, 3 of the teachers have been involved for 5 years

7

Developing KBC in Singapore Classrooms

8

ONE BIG IDEAONE BIG IDEA

The importance of TIME

Not weeks,

not months,

but YEARS…

9

Developing Knowledge-Creating Communities in Classrooms

NEED TO SHIFT THE CULTURE OF THECLASSROOM

(if you visit Paris for a week, do you become Parisian?)

10

ONE BIG IDEAONE BIG IDEA

THERE ARE NOT PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW --- THERE IS NO “FORMULA”

INSTEAD NEED TO TAKE A

PRINCIPLE-BASED APPROACH

11

We are part of a community that is making progress on important problems

Make the principles visible to ALL members of the community