Knowledge Building Centers with David Loertscher

KNOWLEDGE BUILDING CENTERS WITH DAVID LOERTSCHER

Everyone please log on to:

https://sites.google.com/site/paknowledgebuildingcenters/

Assumptions

Technology has changed everything; particularly Web 2.0 tools and cloud computing opportunities

Students have changed Education must change to preparing kids

and teens for excellence; not minimums Libraries and computer labs must

change

Problem

Specialists in the school have not often been in the center of teaching and learning

How can this change?

Assumption: teacher librarians and teacher technologists along with other specialists in the school have much to contribute to the classroom and to the quality of learning experiences.

A Simple Solution:

Knowledge Building Centers: Environments Where Collaboration is a Natural

Sample KBC – on your screens

KBC is Simple

A KBC is simple to construct on a variety of technologies: Google Sites Moodle blog Wiki etc.

The Structure of the KBC Makes Collaboration a Natural

I feel like helping Inviting Engaging Give and take

Specialists are at the Center of Teaching and Learning

Personal Expertise and Collaborative Intelligence

KBC Characteristic

The project promotes mastery of 21st Century Skills that in turn drive deep understanding

KBC Characteristic

Sound Instructional designs are used: Understanding by Design Think models (Loertscher, Koechlin, Zwaan) Active Inquiry Differentiation Note: Direct teaching of prescribed basic

content does not usually work in a KBC

KBC Characteristic

The KBC is available to students and adults anywhere, at any time, and on any preferred device.

KBC Uses

Single-class explorations Cross-class inquiry Cross-district, community, state, world

inquiry School projects/initiatives Professional development Professional learning communities

KBCs Always End with a Big Think Metacognitive Reflection What I know What we know How I learn How we learn So what? What’s next

Let’s Experience a KBC Together You are all looking at our KBC on your

computers… Problem: What are 21st Century Skills Part one is finished for you – go to the

workspace spreadsheet. Table recorders log in: [email protected] …

etc.; password: knowledge Your task as a Table: Synthesize a list of 21st

Century Skills from all the documents. You have ten minutes… and probably won’t

finish

Our Big Think (see Reflection Tab) http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/21stC

entrySkills

Post two responses on the wall.

Thanks for participating.

Keep in Touch: [email protected]