Deep Play Group: Visualizing Learning
In order to support our colleagues and share our growing body of knowledge on how to make students' thinking visible, our group created a two-hour professional development intended for a group of about 50 teachers. The session introduces teachers to a strategy described in the book, Chalk Talk, which gives all students a chance to share ideas, have time to think about and process those ideas, and help them to uncover prior knowledge which they can connect to new content. Using the ideas that we discussed as a group while creating this professional development, I was able to put together the Newsletter below using Venngage.com to publicize and give a snapshot of the goals behind the PD.
In order to support our colleagues and share our growing body of knowledge on how to make students' thinking visible, our group created a two-hour professional development intended for a group of about 50 teachers. The session introduces teachers to a strategy described in the book, Chalk Talk, which gives all students a chance to share ideas, have time to think about and process those ideas, and help them to uncover prior knowledge which they can connect to new content. Using the ideas that we discussed as a group while creating this professional development, I was able to put together the Newsletter below using Venngage.com to publicize and give a snapshot of the goals behind the PD.
Video Hangout on Air:
Our Deep Play group decided to read "Making Thinking Visible" by Karin Morrison, Mark Church, and Ron Ritchhart. The book gave us insights on ways to help students visualize their own learning and way to help teachers see that learning in action. So many of the ideas in this book aligned with the focuses of Project-Based Learning, stating that "retention of information through rote practice isn't learning; it is training." I want to not only have my students learn, but I want them to learn how to learn, and understand their own cognitive processes that go on when learning is happening. Below is the broadcast from our group's discussion on this book and on these same topics and how we have applied them to our own classrooms.
Our Deep Play group decided to read "Making Thinking Visible" by Karin Morrison, Mark Church, and Ron Ritchhart. The book gave us insights on ways to help students visualize their own learning and way to help teachers see that learning in action. So many of the ideas in this book aligned with the focuses of Project-Based Learning, stating that "retention of information through rote practice isn't learning; it is training." I want to not only have my students learn, but I want them to learn how to learn, and understand their own cognitive processes that go on when learning is happening. Below is the broadcast from our group's discussion on this book and on these same topics and how we have applied them to our own classrooms.
Tinker Tale 2:
After spending a few weeks working with some new programs, including EdPuzzle, Screenpresso, and Aurasma, I am back to update my progress! My current focus is on making my students' learning visible to ME, and I hope to slowly shift that focus on how the students can easily visualize some abstract topics in chemistry through the use of models, simulations, and augmented reality. In the video below I discuss my current use of EdPuzzle, my tinkering with Screenpresso, and a look ahead into our group's book choice, Making Thinking Visible.
Tinker Tale 1:
After learning about countless pieces of technology that could be used in the classroom, we were asked to focus in on a specific genre that we would explore deeper. Our group of six decided to focus on tools that make learning visible. These include programs and apps that can be used by both the teacher and the students. Video lessons in a flipped classroom, simulations of abstract concepts, and using augmented reality are just a few of the options out there that we plan on diving into. See the introductory video below!