The three pillar conversation were perhaps at the crux of this realization. Where is the project based learning Alpha used to have as an integral part of our thematic units? How has student voice widdled away in the process of curriculum development to self and world questions and input on a few learning experiences? Where is the transparency and partnership? While I know it is not all lost and gone awry, I do very much feel we have drifted off course. While I am here this week, after I get over some self flogging for taking my eyes off the road, I want to get back on track and make sure my project and progress moving forward are aligned with a student centered vision. Below is a brain dump to clear the view.
Current System/Tasks
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Issues
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Plan moving forward
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PLP’s
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Student’s didn’t own the plp because we mandated the what without establishing with them the why?
I think we really did come to appreciate the action step component of the goal setting process, but lost a way to reflect on that purposefully and meaningfully.
Would have liked to have had more conversations with students about their progress, and share that with parents more regularly - fold them into the process more intentionally.
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Establish the why with students
Build in purposeful means of reflection
How do we celebrate the evidence of their work AND the evidence of their goals...can we do both? What does a showcase look like? How does that fit with the plp conference?
What is the calendar of the PLP - should goals be established earlier in the year for 7 & 8, and closer to November for 6th? How can we have a way to differentiate for the learner?
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Google Classroom
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Not user friendly from a management perspective.
Can’t search by student to determine what work a student owes
Have to review each task to see if students made the necessary revisions
Not time efficient
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Reserve specific tasks for google classroom, not writing pieces, and not pieces that require several drafts.
Is there another platform for student work, or a different medium for student work that is more user friendly, does not require turning the whole system on its head and is easy for teachers and students to manage?
Determine depth and amount of teacher feedback on student work...am I taking too much time giving feedback? What is an easier more effective method? Voice thread?
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Jumprope
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Still focuses on a number, and not the progress a student is making towards a learning target.
Parents still perceive this as a “grade” and that a 2 is failing
Color coding reinforces that - red screams panic - I am failing!!
Decaying average
Did not consistently apply formative and summative assessments to the targets. Inconsistent in the implementation, understandably.
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I have a better understanding here based on workshop from last week, and the system changes that will hopefully take place.
Would like to see if there is a way for student work to be attached to learning target so parents and students can see evidence of where students landed on a task.
Will need to balance formative and summative opportunities.
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Learning targets
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Creating new ones, implementing them purposefully to inform my teaching and assessing to them
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We have built/are building transferable skills learning targets and the goal moving forward will be to practice on some of these over the course of the year.
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Thematic Units
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We get bogged down in the tasks in some of our themes - either too content specific or the projects were too big and long term without enough time in schedule, so some elements of the project work took longer than anticipated.
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Develop a year long plan - at a glance - where we can be a more intentional about time, disruptions, build in purposeful celebrations/exhibitions. Review project expectations so they are manageable and still relevant and meaningful. Need to focus on this - intrigued by reviewing Project Based Learning flow chart. Want to look more closely at this!!
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