Peace Wapiti Academy

Flexibility Project: How did we get here?

Josie Nagtegaal and Debbie Terceros

If the limitation of time were removed, what would your instruction look like? What other obstacles are in the way of the ideal learning environment?

“Places where students watch teachers work”

Ken Robinson Video (next generation of learning)

How long will we keep teaching like this?

Wh

at is

the F

lexib

ility

Pro

ject?

The High School Flexibility project is in response to parent and teacher concerns with the 25 hour to one credit rule (called the Carnegie Unit).

The Carnegie unit was developed in 1906 and does not allow enough flexibility for learners.

The flexibility project removes the 25 hour rule from students and provides the opportunity for students to work at their own pace.

16 schools in the province are participating in the project.

PWA Goals (transition year 2009-2010) Remove the box of “time” that

surrounds current learning model to allow for continuous learning

Increase student engagement – make the learning more meaningful

Provide appropriate extension to strong students

Provide tutorial help to students (80% of the student body says they would use free time for this purpose)

Increase diversity of learning to students

Time

Instruction

Deadlines

Assessm

entIncrease Student Engagement,

Success and Opportunities

Alberta Prime Time

What the province is talking about….

How do we begin to change this today?

We need to change the relational structure of the classroom to build new opportunities for students.

“I think the Flex model is where education is headed, that eventually it will be the norm, and

that it will help many students, but I'm EXTREMELY

worried because I don't understand when teachers

are supposed to find the time to set all this up.

Teachers need a SIGNIFICANT amount of time/training to get this up and running and a day

here and there isn't nearly enough.”~ PWA staff member

Where do I fit in… Get engaged with the conversations

that are happening throughout the province through inspiring education

Challenge your administration to push for your school to get involved in these amazing opportunities.

Be collaborative with teachers – change will have to start at a staff and school level to meet your individual needs.

Re-visit year plans to look for opportunities to push the students to challenge a topic independently and in an investigation setting rather than a demonstration (investigate Project- Based Learning)

Large Group

Small Group

Independent Study

1-1 (student initiated)

A FRAMEWORK FOR CONSIDERATION

Where do I fit in?? Start taking small changes in classroom

techniques that are un-necessarily tied to time.

Be flexible. Listen to what the students are asking for.

Look for opportunities to provide students with more choice within your course/ school.

Start discussing places where projects can be built to meet cross-curricular outcomes

PWA Strategies

Many of the strategies we are about to share were derived through intense collaboration with the 16 schools that are

participating in the project. The most fundamental element to the success of this project is COLLABORATION.

iPLAN – Flexible student-driven timeMoodle (any web-based platform)Team-teachingFlexible testing (testing room)Project Based LearningConnect (hybrid program of learning)

extension recoveryacceleration alternative program

Integrated CALM(see Quick Tips handout for additional classroom strategies)Team Teaching PE 10 Self –directed CTS Modules/ Exercise Science

PWA Connect Hybrid

CONNECT works on a hybrid model – it is not modules or an online course. Students are assigned the work by teachers Teachers set up regular meetings with students Teachers mark the work Teachers are available for help Teachers are free to set up discussions, Elluminate

sessions etc. with groups of students

Extension a student is enrolled in a regular class but is

unable to meet the outcomes by the end of the semester

This may include students on a slower paced program with high absence over the semester unable to learn all the material

Student is given the opportunity to extend the course into the next semester before writing the final exam

Recovery Student is capable of achieving the outcomes

but has struggled with specific outcomes

Student did not successfully meet some of the objectives but were successful in other parts of the course

Student writes the final exam and then is given the opportunity to redo certain “units/exams”

Challenge yourself to re-think “zeros”. They are simply an communication to students of something that is not yet complete, but needs to be addressed ASAP.

Acceleration Student wants to accelerate through a course

so that they can register in a second course after completion

Web-based platform is essential for instant feedback and instant resources.

LearnEveryware Courses on LearnAlberta are good place to start.

The essence of change… We are still learning Every year is changing, we are always

approaching new challenges based on what the students need.

Every school is different

Where can you go for more information? - Schools involved - Webpage links /Gerry Fijal (Alberta Ed)- Literature Options