UNESCO ASEAN SCHOOLNET UNESCO ASEAN SCHOOLNET BRIDGES OF LEARNING Learning Circles South Africa Sep 2009
UNESCO ASEAN UNESCO ASEAN SCHOOLNETSCHOOLNET
BRIDGES OF LEARNING
Learning Circles
South AfricaSep 2009
IntroductionIntroduction
Nomty Gcaba◦ JHB, South Africa
◦ SchoolNet SA
TelecollaborationTelecollaborationTele –
◦ Television, telescope, telecommunication◦ Over a distance
Collaboration◦ To work together
Internet◦ Email groups, website
Learning Circles
What we learntWhat we learntNot enough trainingLanguage difficultiesEmail problems
◦Technical◦Incorrect addresses
Country coordinationTime and other events
Why we chose Learning Why we chose Learning CirclesCirclesInternationally successful
StructuredSimple
Classroom InvestigationsClassroom InvestigationsThemes
◦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 Learning Circle InvestigationInvestigationDifferences
◦Geographical, Cultural Request simple information
◦Request completed in one lesson or less
Gathered information enhances the project
Interesting to others
BloomBloom
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 Open and closed questionsquestionsClosed
◦Facts◦Correct answers
Open◦Require research, thinking◦Promote discussion◦Many responses
Open/Closed Activity 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 QuestionFocus QuestionProvide the challenge of a projectFocus on the topicOpen Challenge higher order thinkingStimulating and interestingShort
Sharing informationSharing information◦Receive questions from other groups◦Respond to them◦Receive responses to your question
Assessment Learning Assessment Learning CircleCircleSharing
◦PowerPoint template◦Microsoft word◦Publisher
Goodbye
Project “rules” – groups/classesProject “rules” – groups/classesOne person per group registers
◦Group could be class◦Class may have more than one
groupEach group has different email
addressGroup from same class may not
be in same Learning Circle
Participation optionsParticipation optionsWhole 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
CommunicatingCommunicatingOnly one registration per groupOne communication person per
groupUse class code in subject line
◦E.g. MM4 IntroductionBe reliableUse the same email addressStay in contact with country
coordinator
Test run your projectTest run your project◦Setup (1 week)◦Register in Googlegroups◦Confirm your membership◦Learning Circle News1◦Project should be planned
Test run your projectTest run your project
Phase 2 Hello (1 week)◦Learning Circle News2
Name Class code Grade Country
◦Groups students – introduce project◦Class introduction email
Number, age/grade, Something about your class, school and town
E.g WW5 Introduction
Test run your projectTest run your project
Phase 3 Class Investigation (2 weeks)◦Learning Circle News3◦Start class investigation
Focus question Data required Send data gathering question
E.g. Subject: WW5 Data gathering question
Test run your projectTest run your project
Phase 4 ◦Data gathering (3 weeks)◦Learning Circle News4◦Receive questions
Organise responses in groups Send responses
E.g. Subject: WW5 response to WW3
◦Receive responses Analyse responses in groups
Test run your projectTest run your project
Phase 5 Data gathering (2 weeks)◦Learning Circle News5◦Prepare publication
Examine data Discuss focus question Come to conclusion Publish findings
◦Website, PowerPoint or Word document
◦Send to LC coordinator
Test run your projectTest run your project
Phase 6 ◦Goodbye (1 week)◦Say thank you ◦Share what the project meant to you
E.g. Subject: WW5 Goodbye
TimelinesTimelines
Cycle 11. 16-22 January2. 23-29 January3. 30 Jan – 12
February4. 13 Feb – 5 March5. 6-12 March6. 16-22 March
Cycle 21. 14-20 August2. 21-27 August3. 28 Aug -10
September4. 11 Sept – 1
October5. 2-11 October6. 12-18 October