assignments that work super conference 2008 extension of assignments worth the effort :questions are...

Assignments that WorkAssignments that WorkSuper Conference 2008Super Conference 2008

Extension of Extension of Assignments Worth the EffortAssignments Worth the Effort :Questions are :Questions are KeyKey, Teacher Librarian February 2007, Teacher Librarian February 2007

Carol Koechlin & Sandi Zwaan

Koechlin and Zwaan Super Conference 2008

Focus QuestionsFocus Questions

• Why do many students make a less than stellar effort on research tasks andassignments?

• As we move from the Information Age to the Knowledge Age how can we take advantage of real world technologies and processes to enrich the research experience for students?


Youth perspectiveYouth perspective

• Why must I find answers to already answered questions when I have questions that have not yet been answered?


The New LiteraciesThe New Literacieshttp://http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleidwww.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1292&pf=1=1292&pf=1

• Students are immersed in 21st century "new literacy" technologies, but are schools preparing them for the future?

• BY ZACH MINERS AND ANGELA PASCOPELLA October 2007

• "The Digital Disconnect: The Widening Gap between Internet-Savvy Students and Their Schools," students are spending 27 hours a week online at home, compared to an average of 15 minutes per week at school.

• "One of our goals is for students to read better online."

http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1292&pf=1




Reading on the InternetReading on the Internet

No other tool will help the Internet reader as much as the right question, asked at the right time and in the right way. Intelligent readers of the Internet begin by asking questions even before they log on, and they continue to ask questions during their search. By asking questions repeatedly and deliberately, students become thoughtful readers, developing "habits of mind" that they can then generalize to other situations or tasks – (Costa & Kallick, 2000).– http://www.i-learnt.com/Thinking_Habits_Mind.html


Well designed assignments:Well designed assignments:

Build character development

• Curiosity and wonder• Responsibility• Motivation and effort

Meet the learning needs of today’s students

• Critical thinking• Innovation and

Problem solving • Teamwork skills• Global awareness


Designing Assignments that WorkDesigning Assignments that Work

• Select a Think Model• Plan needed library

interventions• Differentiate Instruction• Design collaborative working

times/spaces• SPARK the inquiry• Get assignments and support

to students 24/7/365• Make them think, question

and reflect• Guide and assess throughout

the tasks

• Review academic honesty• Provide access to the best

resources and technologies• Ensure authentic audiences for

sharing• Design a BIG THINK

– So What?– What Next?

• Assess gather evidence of

success and set new goals

Establish a ‘culture of inquiry’ with teachers and students.Establish a ‘culture of inquiry’ with teachers and students.


Establishing a Community of LearnersEstablishing a Community of LearnersGuided Inquiry: Learning in the 21Guided Inquiry: Learning in the 21stst Century Century by C.Kahlthau, by C.Kahlthau,

L. Maniotes & A. CaspariL. Maniotes & A. Caspari

• Model personal connections

• Create a safe atmosphere• Encourage students to

speak freely• Accept varied viewpoints• Listen to ideas• Consider students’ ideas

carefully


Create a desire to knowCreate a desire to know

Motivate and challenge with the unknown or the perplexing– artifacts both real and virtual– historical photos, cartoons, posters– quotations– film clips – discrepant events

Puzzle them First: Motivating Adolescent Readers with Question-Finding By A. V. Ciardiello


Make then think, question, and Make then think, question, and reflect…..reflect…..

• Inquiry questions• De Bono’s Six Hats• Blooms Taxonomy• Problem Based

Learning• Invention and

innovation• Creation – the arts

• Research journals• Graphic organizers• Peer conferencing• Self assessment• Goal setting


Review Academic HonestyReview Academic Honesty

• Organization• Time management• Quotations• Paraphrasing• Referencing• Copyright• Note-making• Analysis techniques

• Build academic honesty into assessment tools


Models for successful learningModels for successful learning


The The ThinkThink Models: Models:

• apply critical and creative thinking.• build cross-curricular literacy skills and new literacies.• are engaging and effective.• empower students to build deeper understanding.• are knowledge building learning experiences.• are a framework for designing successful

assignments.• effectively utilize information and technology-rich

learning environments. • provide opportunity for differentiated instruction.


Education is about learning!Education is about learning!Integrating Differentiated Instruction +Understanding by Design

Carol Ann Tomlinson and Jay McTighe

- Classroom teachers can work to the benefit of many more students by implementing patterns of instruction likely to serve multiple needs.

- Provide many pathsProvide many paths


Differentiated Instruction in the LibraryDifferentiated Instruction in the Library

• content (what students learn and the materials that represent that)

• process (activities through which students make sense of key ideas using the essential skills)

• product (how students demonstrate and extend what they understand and can do as a result of a span of learning)

• learning environment (the classroom conditions that set the tone and expectations of learning)

Tomlinson and McTighe


Getting Assignments to Students Getting Assignments to Students 24/7/36524/7/365

• Link assignments from your School Library Homepage

• Set up a blog - calendar, RRS feed

• Create a wiki -collaborative work space

• Use Google Docs and Spreadsheets (FREE)

• Advantages– Often free– Projects stored on a

remote server– Usually more reliable

than local networks– Available from any

computer 24/7/365– Meet with students in

their worldIn Command! by R. Williams and

D. Loertscher


Inspire students with E-ProjectsInspire students with E-Projects

• Pathfinders• Guided Tours• Scavenger Hunts• Virtual Tours• Interactive Video

Conferencing• On-Line Projects• Blogs• Wikis• Web Quests


Consider designing your WebQuest using a THINKTHINK model at the

Processing Stage• Introduction• Task

• ProcessProcess• Information Sources• Evaluation• Conclusion


Sample High Think Web QuestsSample High Think Web Quests

Bully Grades 4-8

Problems Possibilities JigSaw Model

• How can students take a stand on bullying?

Messing with Mother Nature Grade 9-12

Take a Position Model• What’s the harm in

genetic modification of plants?


What about a wiki?What about a wiki?

• Design collaborative workspaces for students based on the THINK models.


The Big Think The Big Think

• Elevates projects• The product isn’t the

end, it is the beginning!• Transform learning into

something new• Collaborative knowledge

building• Bottom line –Build on

student understanding to keep the thinking flowing!

• Conduct active discussion• Present a problem• Challenge with a new question• Invite students to create new

questions• Write about larger ideas,

concepts and process of learning

• Collaboratively build charts, diagrams, maps etc.

• Interact with an expert• Take action• Take part in the real world


So What Works?So What Works?

• Establish learning communities (teacher and student)• Motivate students and get assignments to them 24/7/365• Fuse inquiry and content learning• Differentiate instruction• Prepare students for learning for life• Utilize a variety of rich resources and technologies• Honour collaborative knowledge building• Connect students to the world• Make them think, question and reflect• Value process and product and academic honesty• Share responsibility for learning


Keys to SuccessKeys to Success

Design assignments that move from TRANSPORTATION of data to TRANSFORMATION of information.

Focus on KNOWLEDGE CONSTRUCTION rather than product construction.

Don’t abandon students during the process.Based on Ross Todd workshops and writings.


Bottom LineBottom Line

Design Assignments that Work to demonstrate that :

Collaboration in the Library is the Best Teaching and Learning in the School!

assignments that work super conference 2008 extension of assignments worth the effort :questions are...

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