contextual learning newsletter- april 2013
TRANSCRIPT
7/27/2019 Contextual Learning Newsletter- April 2013
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A Curricular Change at CIS for Middle School As of August, 2013 grades 6, 7 and 8 include a unit of Contextual Learning
Beginning next year CIS isincluding, in addition to thecurrent curriculum, a CL unitthat is multi-disciplinary and
cross-curricular. CL is a model
tailored to the developmental
needs of young adolescents.Each academic year the focus ison a different fundamental, insync with the evolution of the
children. Rather than focus onsubjects, the focus is on theindividual: self-awareness,understanding and compassion.These are core principles thatinfluence our interpretation of allother experience.
Students of Middle School ageare growing, changing, andbecoming adults. This is acritical time for them to bechallenged and inspired.
Today, young people areexposed to an inundation ofinformation due to Internet,
computers and TV’s. The scaleshave tipped and voyeuristic‘screen time’ outweighs a child’shands-on learning. CL helps torebalance this inequality.
The program is customized to
allow young adolescents to
see the world for themselves.It has been developed to
include preparation, experienceand reflection time. This is notabout being plunged into thedeep end. The students will beprovided the support needed tointerpret and evaluate the worldthey encounter. On-Site portionsare carefully planned accordingto learning objectives. Learningsteps out of the classroom andembraces ‘real’ experience.
During the CL unit, students willrequire academic rigor to learnand study about the places andpeople they will visit. Next, theywill apply what they learn, as
they ea t , exp lo re , v i s i t ,experience, discuss, help, andtake risks together. They thenhave the chance to process theexperience under the guidanceof mentors, considering thecomplexity of some of theissues encountered and turningtheir thoughts and ideas intofinished projects.
This experience will be lifechanging. The students willhave a real reason to learn, as itis used in context. CIS studentswill share other ways of livinga n d t h i n k i n g , t o b e t t e runderstand differing points ofviews. Contextual Learning willhelp CIS students grow intoe n r i c h e d a n d th o u g h t f u lcitizens.
CONTEXTUALLEARNING AT
Contextual
Learning is
about
Willingness
To Learn
through
Experience
B i m o n t h l y N e w s l e t t e r o f C o n t e x t u a l L
e a r n i n g a t C I S
A p r i l / M a y
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How CIS Students Benefit:
• Study becomes immediately
relevant as it is used during
the On Site experience• CL expands the students
learning environment at a timewhen they are seeking a
larger picture• Middle school students are at
the age when most cultures
have a ‘rite of passage’; this
provides one• In this era where exposure to
Internet, computers, television
and press are omnipresent it
is easy for virtual experience
to eclipse direct experience.
This program begins to
rebalance that situation• Travel teaches adaptability,
flexibility and a wide view of
the world: all characteristics
necessary for a successful
future• Travel involves the whole
student and relies equally on
many types of intelligence• The students are exposed to
cultures and situations unlike
their own and have enoughtime to prepare for the
experience and discuss them• On Site experience provides
a valid reason for high-tech
teaching / learning aids (such
as I-Pads)• CL proposes a format that
r e s p e c t s t h e e a r l y
adolescent’s need to acquire
more autonomy• The emphasis on learning
taking place outside the
classroom shows the worldas a learning opportunity and
helps generate l ifelong
learners
How CL fits in at CIS
CL Begins with the Academic Year...and becomes full-timeduring the last four weeks
Preparation:
Experience has shown that preparation
and processing times maximize the
benefits of the program. Knowledge and
research need to happen before the On
Site portion. Book reports, animal
studies, history, geography, politics,
economic and social issues etc. all
need to be discussed and prepared
before departure.
Planning for Contextual Learning will
be incorporated into Strategies for
Success classes and will be ongoing
throughout the year.
Subject classes will also incorporate
relevant preparation material during
the year.
On Site Experience: The Whole
Unit Occurs within India
For 2013/14, Experiential Learning willoccur over 3 weeks and be divided into
two groups. One group will be
Bangalore based, ‘On Campus’ at CIS,
while the other group will be ‘On Site’
in various venues around India.
The On Site experience is so
stimulating that the students spend
time discussing and recording their
emotions and reactions rather thanproducing more research.
During the On Site portion individual
projects must be shared with the
group, providing the children with the
chance to be leaders and guides. There
is also the discovery that what they
research and what they discover is not
necessarily the same thing. This is
c r i t i c a l i n fo r m a t i o n f o r t h e i r
understanding of reality.
Contextual Learning will be a portionof the each student's course work
grade.
3 weeks will be active learning
f o c u s i n g o n s e l f - a w a r e n e s s ,
understanding, and compassion. This
is planned for mid-May.
Reflection:
The processing time is a chance to
resolve issues that couldn’t be
completed during the On Site portion. It
is a chance to giveback to the
communities they now feel part of, to
share what they experienced with the
school and their parents, and to edit
and publish their thoughts, ideas and
conclusions.
Reflection time occurs on CIS campus
for all students with discussion,
recording, and finally presentationsto peers, teachers, and parents.
This will occur the final week of
school.
MS excursions will nolonger occur at CIS. TheCL program expands,deepens and transformsthese excursions into
e n r i c h i n g c u r r i c u l a rcontent.
Summative assessment,
M A P T e s t i n g , a n d
Cambridge Secondary 1
testing will occur before
the experiential section
begins.
B i m o n t h l y N e w s l e t t e r o f C o n t e x t u a l L
e a r n i n g a t C I S
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Qualification toExternal Program
Travel mixed with education is
more rigorous and more tiring
than regular school. It is very
important that the children be fit,both mentally and physically.
They must be prepared to handle
additional stress and challenge.
Not all children will be eligible for
the On Site portion of the CL unit.
Children who have academic or
behavioral difficulties will not be
admitted to the On Site portion of
the CL unit.
Also, children who have health
issues or who do not feel ready
for such an experience will be
reco mmen ded for the On
Campus program.
Teachers and administration, in
discussion with parents and the
s tuden ts themse lves , w i l l
d e t e r m i n e t h e s t u d e n t ’ s
qualification to the program.
Decisions will be reached before
November, 2013 for the tripoccurring in May, 2014.
On Site TimeCommitment
It is clear that the length of the On
Site section can be a challenge for
some parents and children, but it is
core to the program.
Even three one-week trips are not
the same as a single three-week
trip.
During three weeks the students
can’t hold out for home… eat
biscuits from their bag rather than
eat the local food. Not wash rather
than use a bucket shower. Avoid a
classmate instead of working
through their differences.
Also, the broader objectives of CL
(self-awareness, understanding,
and compassion) require time. The
student becomes part of a new
group (outside of the family) with
d i f f e r e n t e x p e c t a t i o n s a n d
dynamics. It is a real chance for
them to reach beyond their
traditional role and grow. What we
won’t change in a day, we may
grow accustomed to with time.
The On Site experience will take
place from 19 May for three weeks.
Students will commit to the entire
time or remain at CIS for the On
C a m p u s p r o g r a m . G r o u p
dynamics and the cohesion of the
entire group will not permit any
part-time attendance. For the same
reasons, parents are not permitted
to ‘visit’ the students during their
On Site experience.
Health and Safety ofChildren
Although the On Site portion of the
trip will be low in luxury (dormitory
living, no a/c, and perhaps bucket
showers) it will be safe. We willalways ensure that there is plenty
of drinking water available, and
while the conditions will be basic
they will not be unhealthy.
Each location will be visited by
either CL or CIS staff prior to the
trip to ensure cleanliness, hygiene
and safety.
Food will often be buffet style and
local, but vegetarian options will
be available and we will check
kitchen conditions to ensure food
safety.
In case of minor illness (diarrhea,
rash, upset tummy) the children
will be treated locally. In case of
serious illness, the child will be
brought to the closest local
hospital and the parents notified
immediately.
I f , as a pare nt , you haveoverwhelming concerns about the
safety of your child, please
consider the On Campus program.
Though we will do our best to
ensure the safety of all the
children, no program can be 100%
guaranteed.
Children Who Remain On Campus
For those children who are unable to attend the On
Site segment of the CL program, regular attendance
at CIS will be required. Similar material will be studied
within the classroom of CIS. The same assignments
will be completed and contact will be maintained with
the On Site group in order to ask questions / provide
research. This stationary group will still be expected to
become involved in Reflection week, and also in the
final Presentations. These elements will be includedin their grades.
Details of Trip
The details of the trip are being worked out. End of May in
India is hot, and locations must be carefully determined.
Also, as this is not just about sight-seeing, locations must
be investigated thoroughly to create an itinerary that best
meets the goals of the program.
Most likely, the students will visit three or four locations,
chosen to provide contrast, different experiences, and
provocative discussions.
A sample itinerary will be presented to parents by the end
of May. This should provide a clearer idea of how this
program translates into day-to-day activities, and answer
many of the questions you have. B i m o n t h l y
N e w s l e t t e r o f C o n t e x t u a l L e
a r n i n g a t C I S
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Costs are Included in Tuition
Costs for CL are incorporated into the 2013-14
school fees, as it is a compulsory curricular unit.
There will be an additional fee for the On Site
portion of the CL unit. A great effort is being made
to keep the program costs as low as possible,without sacrificing safety or purpose. Precise costs
will be provided as soon as possible.
Fees will include travel, food, lodging and activities.
There may be pocket expenses that the students are
responsible for (laundry, souvenirs, etc). A packing
list will be provided in advance of the voyage.
The costs will not include medical or travel
insurance. These will be the responsibility of the
parents.
Team Planning
Middle School Teachers have already begunplanning for Contextual Learning. Teachers will beallocated planning time as a part of their teachingload. Students will be preparing and making links tothe Contextual Learning unit in their Strategies forSuccess class and in their academic subject areastoo.
At the end of May, all IB2 and Grade 10 IGCSEexaminations are underway. These teachers will be
available to provide high quality coverage of the
Grade 9 classes, should a teacher attending the OnSite portion of CL be missing those classes.Contextual Learning teachers/chaperones will bethose who teach entirely or mostly Middle Schoolsubjects.
Teaching (On Site and On Campus)
Real teaching and learning will occur during the
Contextual Learning unit. Students will be evaluated
using a rubric. This rubric will be introduced in
August to CIS students and they will become familiar
with the Contextual Learning assessment during the
course of the school year. Elements included in the
rubric: Interpret and Evaluate Input, Synthesize and
Organize Content, Formulate Ideas and Opinions,
Express Ideas, Respond to Feedback, Transfer
Expression from one medium to another.
Whether a student is On Site or On Campus,
learning objectives will be similar. Both are likely tobegin with team building activities focussing on
interpersonal intelligence. Students will develop their
linguistic intelligence by journal writing, by reading
novels or articles during English class that relate to
the contextual learning sites to be visited. Problem-
solving and economics will be discussed as students
explore village life. Whether visiting a hill station, or
remaining at CIS, students will be assigned multi-
disciplinary tasks to complete. At the end of the
day these tasks will be shared and then evaluated by
teachers.
August… November… ... May June
PreparationOngoing
during Strategies for
Success and subject
classes
Qualificationfor On-Siteportiondetermined
Continuingpreparation
Examsfollowed byExperience
(19 May)
On Campus or On Site
Reflection Weekand Presentations
Timetable 2013- 2014
Female and MaleChaperones will bepresent during eachContextual LearningUnit. The student tochaperone ratio willbe 8:1. Each CL unitwill have a minimum
of 3 chaperones.
B i m o n t h l y
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