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