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