Stretching kids intellectually?

[LisaD]

Someone posed this question to me today. Before I answer her, I would love to hear thoughts from others...

"How would the Activclassroom (Activstudio, Activboard, Activotes) allow teachers stretch kids intellectually by doing things we couldn't otherwise do?"

This question is from an elementary principal.

Thanks,

Lisa

[apeterson@coffee.k12.ga.u]

Hi Lisa!
One way that I can visualize stretching kids is by having children create interactive lessons for their classmates. Instead of the usual "stand up and read your report to the class" or "make a poster to go with your report", have the kids create an interactive lesson based on the material they're "reporting". I have taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. I know many kids (in elementary school) who could do a great job at this. I know 4th & 5th graders could, and I'm sure some of my 3rd graders would be able to do this.+wave+

[bjstuckey]

Hi! One of the things that i found is that being able to use the adhoc activotes during a lesson really helps me steer my students in the right direction. I can tell if they are with me and understanding the content or if i need to reteach.
I also like being able to differentiate using the activboard. It is easier to scaffle a lesson for the different readiness levels. I may have three pages teaching the same content but in a different way. I also like being able to pull up the internet on the spot while teaching to further illustrate a point or to look up a topic of interest that came up. Hope this helps.clwn
BJ Stuckey
Warner Robins
Georgia

[LisaD]

How 'bout those Georgia folks!

Anyone outside the great state of Georgia with any input on this question?

Thanks,

Lisa

[markrobinson]

I think the board is a place to share things kids create - a real 'groupspace'... by getting them to 'make' things we can engage them at a higher intellectual level.

For example, the last few days I have been looking at my cellphone (mobile phone) not as a phone but as an interactive multimedia device that can be an intrinsic part of the Activclassroom...

Some of my ideas:

Ask the children to research and report on a key issue or hot topic - global warming, space shuttle problems, etc.

They have to make a '10 second report' using the Video recorder found in most mobile phones (it saves as an AVI file on my Nokia!)... Then they bluetooth it (or e-mail it) to the Activboard computer - and they can be put into a flipchart in seconds for whole group display...

For younger children you could ask them to imagine they are on a distant planet and have to explain their key discoveries via the 10 second 'narrow beam burst communication' back to Earth.

Sound file and images can also be captured or text sent to the board..

By connecting to their world of cellphones and personal technology they will also come up with their own ideas and want to show their mastery of the technology to their teacher and each other.

[jnistad]

Learning is about getting input/support/ideas from others. Children (and adults) learn best through collaboration - if any of you have been at NECC this week in Atlanta you will have seen/experienced dual pen. At one point we had four children sharing the Activboard space - completely engrosssed in their own discovery- but with others (adults) nudging and "stretching"!

[caryn]

Just to give a Northern Ireland view!!!
One great thing I have found whenteaching with the board is that you very easily incorporate all the learning styles which means all lessons can be directed to all the childrens strengths. Although we may be aware of the different learning styles it is sometimes difficult to encompass them in an average lesson. The activotes also provide instant formative and summative assessment as well as making feelings, peer and self assessment easy to manage.

[davidlloyd]

Hi Lisa
A very important point is lesson pace. A well constructed flipchart with links will allow teachers to access the relevant material promptly in the lesson without having to keep addition windows or programmes open so a teacher can cover more material and therefore stretch her pupils. Activote is great for quickly assessing pupil progress allowing again for a better paced lesson.

[LisaD]

Thank you ALL for your great input. I have compiled your answers and am sending them off to the principal.

Thanks again! You're great!

Lisa

[CPope]

Hi Lisa,

Even though you've already sent your answer off, I'll add another one.

Asking questions in the learning process is so important, and the ease of questioning with the Activclassroom can't be overstated in my opinion. The Activotes are a constant reminder that we need to be asking kids questions - asking them to think about possibilities, make comparisons, evaluate scenarios, etc. Our Activotes along with several page templates with multi-variable formatting, and now our new product, Activexpression, all provide a powerful and doable way to ask questions and get feedback.

When I taught, it was way too easy for me to simply present information and assign projects. I needed to constantly remind myself that kids should think in my presence (the classroom) and I could guide and nurture the thinking process hopefully.

I can't help but think that there are some students who, if no one asked them questions, would not ask themselves questions.

Maybe I'm waxing way too philosophically on this hot day and the sun has gotten to my brain!! :rolleyes:

Char

[AirSkeeter]

There is always the divergent view that it is not the tool but the strategy. Mark has an awesome teaching strategy that not all teachers can pull off, but with the proper SD they can. That principal should be made aware that that process begins with buy-in from the administration and the teachers. This means that they must be willing to make extra effort at the beginning to pass the learning curve of implementing Educational technology and changing teaching strategies in the classroom. The administration needs to provide time for group collaboration on the teachers part and the teacher must be willing to exert some extra effort to learn the process behind using the software and hardware to stimulate those higher order thinking skills.

Teachers also have to be willing to allow the process to become student led rather than teacher led. We give them the goal and the objective and they find their way there with some well placed guidance. There is an ISTE book called "Beyond the Hardware" that almost gets there, but it;s like trying to catch a bug in a swimming pool, you really can't put your finger on it until you see it or actually feel it in action.

This goal can only be achieved with buy in from all parties involved. While some constructivist groups feel that an ACTIVclassroom is not a constructivist tool, I believe that it is and can be with the proper staff development and effort on the part of all involved.

[davidlloyd]

[QUOTE=AirSkeeter;21127]There is always the divergent view that it is not the tool but the strategy. ... That principal should be made aware that that process begins with buy-in from the administration and the teachers. /QUOTE]
How true. Of all the schools in the UK and internationally that I've visited, the ones that use educational technology effectively, are schools where the WHOLE school from head teacher down, have developed and implemented a strategy involving everyone and most importantly, which has built in time to allow teachers to learn and plan with the new technology. Schools where technology such as ours is just foisted on teachers find that such technology is at best, used at a basic level, or more often becomes a glorified projector screen.

[cyetman]

Someone posed this question to me today. Before I answer her, I would love to hear thoughts from others...

"How would the Activclassroom (Activstudio, Activboard, Activotes) allow teachers stretch kids intellectually by doing things we couldn't otherwise do?"

This question is from an elementary principal.

Thanks,

Lisa
I use political cartoons to help explain current events. Getting the latest cartoons on the board impresses students and helps them deal with symbolism and inference, which are a challenge to teach.
caroline

[markrobinson]

"....Research from Stanford University has shown that teams generate as much as 57% of their new ideas during informal activities, such as brainstorming and meetings; whereas, they produce as little as 3.5% of those new ideas during formal activities, like presentations and document development."

I am a firm believer in the need for teachers to treat the board just as much as the class's space - as a presentation tool.

At is simplest the Activboard is an endless sheet of blank screen to be 'filled with ideas'

- Collate the students ideas... and organise, reorganise them

- note differing viewpoints and discuss or change them,

- put small groups of students on the spot and ask them to come up and justify/explain answers on the board

- Celebrate and share their work on the board regularly

- Capture success criteria and rubrics for evaluating work so that they are clear in the learning objectives and expected outcomes of the tasks you set them

- Get them to suggest the key words and concepts to be displayed in a tickertape - rather than prepare it for them...

- in fact don't over prepare... Let them be creative

- Bring up the curriculum documentation on the board and brainstorm them how should 'we' do

- get them to write the ICT integration strategy for topics

- Tell them you are having a day off and that you need them to plan their curriculum, and assessment of the learning for a day. (if it goes OK - say they can do it regularly)