“Technology for Learning” Literacy Innovation Action Research

Backward Design

AFL

Collaboration & Partnerships

Mt. Sentinel Secondary SchoolGlen Campbell, PrincipalGreg Osadchuk, Social Studies 10Mike Malakoff, Russian 8Kathi Knapik, Science 8 Tamara Malloff, Teacher-Librarian & Tech Integration Support TeacherShellie Malloff, Learning Support Teacher

"The biggest mistake we

can make...is to assume that the

challenge is to prepare

teachers to do the usual things better."

-John Goodlad, Educational Renewal: Better Teachers, Better Schools

Action Research Question:

“Will the use of a teacher-selected collaborative technology tool, aligned with criteria and “feedback for learning” effectively engage

and improve learning for all students if they are put to work as

learning resources for each other according to the BC ICT Performance Standards?”Rationale:1. School Growth Plan continues to build on AFL strategies, differentiating instruction, and successful completion rate for all students.2. Technology survey (January 2010) indicated that students are engaged in using technology outside of the classroom. Responses noted that technology wasn’t fully being utilized to provide descriptive feedback for learning.3. Teachers noting difficulty in engaging learners of all abilities and learning preferences.4. 21st Century Learning Skills including core technology literacies needed to be addressed in school context.

Target Group:Grade 8’s (Science & Russian) and Social Studies 10

Goal: Establish baseline data using BC ICT Performance Standards

"Students are engaged when technology is combined with rich tasks"

Social Studies 10: Project Nelson•Photography and history•Day Tour to Nelson to photograph historical buildings and to conduct research on Nelson and Kootenay history

Russian 8: Travel Guide to a Russian City•Students research a city of their choice•Present their research to a “client” using the brochure they designed as a result

Steps to Effective Collaboration for Technology Integration

Step 1• Plan Together using Backward Design

• Technology In-Service

Step 2

• Partnership with Technology Integration Support Teacher

• Implement Unit with AFL as Anchor

Step 3• Use BC ICT Performance Standards for Assessment

• Feedback and Reflection / Next Steps & Goals

Teachers Collaborating and Modelling Technology, AFL, and Backward Design Process using Wikispace

PROJECT NELSONSocial Studies 10, Greg Osadchuk

“My goal was to bring local history alive for students…”-Greg Osadchuk, Socials 10 Teacher

Social Studies 10: Project Nelson -- Using Moodle* to Organize Learning

Flickr is an online photo sharing application which allows you to leave feedback on other people’s photos.

Learning journals help students process their skills, insights, challenges, and celebrations—all online.

*Moodle is an open source, Learning Management System (LMS) which allows students and teachers to

interact with each other in an online or hybrid learning environment.

We started with an online 5 minute chat session to get ourselves warmed up with the prompt you see here.

Social Studies 10: Project Nelson Learning Journal Sample with Feedback

Comments provided by teacher are not evaluative

Social Studies 10: Project Nelson

Social Studies 10: Project Nelson

Rich Task using G.R.A.S.P.:

"You have been challenged by the Nelson Chamber of Commerce to create an

engaging, informative, and historically accurate

photographic "Walk through Nelson's History." You will

potentially be presenting your project before the Chamber and Community members,

with the possibility of having it on permanent display at the

Chamber Office."

APPLE DLP PROGRAM

Science 8, Kathi Knapik

“My goal was to integrate Science content with technology applications…”-Kathi Knapik, Science & Biology Teacher

Apple Digital Learning Trial Program

•Digital Media Trial for one month•Use of Macbooks and iPod Touches•Blogging as a collaborative learning tool•AFL anchor for criteria, feedback for learning

Click video

Science 8 Blog Posts and Feedback Comments

Mrs. Knapik’sScience 8 Main Blog

Student Blogs are linked to main blog.

Cybersafety is a main

consideration in online identity.

Science 8 Blog Posts and Feedback Comments

Student’s Blog Post

Sample Peer Feedback/Comments

“All comments were based on criteria…”-Kathi Knapik, Science 8 teacher

Science 8: Apple Digital Media Learning Project Post-Survey

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

find information

organize information

develop ideas for projects

create multi-media projects

improve your writing

get and give feedback

work with your classmates

polish and present your work effectively

share your project with others

A Lot

Quite a BitA Little

A Little

Not At All

“How Much Did Using Computers Help You To...”

Grade 8 Anecdotal Feedback Highlights

"We got to show our learning in creative ways"

"I could send and receivemy work without paper”

"My spelling improved, my projects were clear, and they had better detail”

"We got to blog and email"

"It made everything we did a lot more fun and interesting"

TRAVEL GUIDE TO RUSSIA

Russian 8, Mike Malakoff

“My goal was to learn more about wikis…to move from a paper-based assignment”

-Mike Malakoff, Russian 8 Teacher

Russian 8 Travel Guide Wiki

Feedback Page

Student Page

“Independent research skills including interpreting information is an area for growth”

Russian 8 Project Anecdotal Feedback

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Enjoyed the unit

Expectations were clear

Research well-organized

Feedback helped

Could make sense of my info

Could communicate my learning

Using tech helped me learn

I learned a lot

Somewhat Agree

Agree

Strongly Agree

Synthesis of Overall Results: Establishing Baseline Data with BC ICT Performance Standards (Adapted)

1. Areas of Strength: enthusiasm, on-task engagement, developing online communication skills, experiencing success with technology as a learning tool, visual learners 1st

2. Areas of Struggle: paying attention to specific criteria (Science 8), inferencingskills (Russian 8)

3. Area for Growth: improved fluency with meaningful feedback, learning to work with and meet criteria, learning to interact and provide feedback in an online and hybrid learning environment, developing HOTs (inferencing, synthesizing)

Grade 8

Grade 10

1. Areas of Strength: on-task engagement, creativity, hands-on learners2. Areas of Struggle: working without specific criteria at onset of project (with a

couple of exceptions), 3. Area for Growth: improved fluency with technology, learning to interact and

provide feedback in an online and face-to-face learning environment, self-managing learning in an online environment (self-directed)

Implications for Instruction:

Enriched, Engaging, Authentic Tasks

Clear Criteria...but...Encourage Creativity

Checklists/Check Ins for Progress

Provide Resources Online (Scaffolding)

Develop Purposeful Skills (Feedback, Inferencing)

Partner Talk for Processing

Multi-Modal Learning Opportunities

Choice in Demonstrating Learning

Incorporate Technology

Next Steps for School Growth: Big Picture1. Continue to develop capacity of Technology for Learning Action

Research Team via distributed leadership model2. Align school Technology Plan to Meet Learning Needs and 21st

Century Goals based on Survey and Action Research Data3. Begin to fully integrate Moodle as a Learning Platform4. Explore options for handheld devices and laptops5. Further integrate AFL, Backward Design, and HOTs into instructional

planning6. Continue leveraging learning partnerships with learning network

and resource people7. Synthesize common learning outcomes from across the curriculum

in order to develop cross-curricular authentic learning projects

“Be the school you wish to see”