Extreme Learning: Wikispaces
Authors Jennifer Walker, Ormiston Primary School, East Lothian, Scotland
Emma Griffiths, Extreme Learning Coordinator, East Lothian, Scotland
The project aims to tap into children's passions and interests to build a very
strong foundation for future learning. It will enable learning to be of real
relevance to each child, building on their personal experiences, and most
importantly enthusiasms and passions.. Children will be supported and
encouraged to develop research, literacy, numeracy and technological skills.
Objectives
IE Explorer browser (to access and edit documents on www.wikispaces.com ).
Digital cameras and video cameras along with the software to download
images from the cameras and turn them into usable images for the wiki.
Software
DescriptionThe children used the digital equipment and ICT resources individually in an
adult-led class situation, and at home too. The children completed a variety of
pre-planned tasks, but developed their own projects according to their own
levels of expertise, and different curricular areas as the projects developed.
Beyond this initial support from adults, collaborative working meant peer
teaching on technical aspects was employed, peers evaluated each others’
pages and provided positive feedback.
Learning Areas ICT, Maths, Problem-Solving, Language, Personal and Social Development.
Levels Ages 10-14 yrs (final two years of primary school and first two years of
secondary school)
A Curriculum for Excellence, Problem-Solving, Collaborative Group Work,
Formative assessment.
Keywords
Project Overview
Extreme Learning: WikispacesTeacher Planning and Management
Background & Planning (Overview):
Extreme Learning – what is it?
Students are actively learning when they are intensely engaged, mentally or
physically. Active Learning is vigorous, lively and effective. Active learning
takes place when the students are caught up in their experiences. This
project aims to get the children interested in a subject to the extent that they
can call themselves: EXPERTS.
Each pupil will select an area of personal interest and investigate it with
reference to an aspect of their subject curriculum (as set out in curriculum
guidelines). Each pupil will be allocated an account on www.wikispaces.com to
record their project development and conclusions online. Teachers will use
formative assessment to support the learning process.
Each pupil will aim to complete one Extreme Learning Project in each of their
final two years at primary school (P6 & P7) and in the first two years of their
secondary school (S1 & S2).
Doc 1: Background – extreme learning : An outline of the origin and objectives
of the learning project
Doc 2: Approval Form: Form completed by parents or guardians
Documents
Background - extreme learning
Approval Form
Extreme Learning: WikispacesTeaching Resources
Each pupil made a formal proposal for their project using the Pupil Proposal Form
and then recorded their weekly progress using the Pupil Record Document.
To assist teachers and pupils in selecting a project that was appropriate and
relevant a Pupil Worksheet document was given to all teachers and pupils
engaged in this project. The school management had previously agreed that for
the duration of the project, normal homework would be suspended, and the
children could concentrate purely on their Extreme Learning pojects.
The main resource was the class interactive whiteboard, which was used to
display examples of pupil work; a particular student’s wikispace. The school, like
all primary and secondary schools in East Lothian, has wireless internet access in
all classrooms. Pupils used laptops in class to research, to write and record their
own progress. Pupils used their personal space on www.wikispaces.com to
record their findings, and develop different presentation methods, use of
graphics, images and so on. Peer teaching was employed: if one pupil developed
some learning in a particular area, such as animating lettering, then this was
shared in class. The publishing aspect of the projects was an ongoing, dynamic
and motivating teaching resorce.
Documents
Pupil Proposal Pupil Record Pupil Worksheet
Extreme Learning: WikispacesAssessment and Standards
The Project was planned to enable children to develop research, literacy, numeracy
and technological skills. It also aimed to enable children to work initially at their own
level and then extend themselves. It provided children with the opportunity to make
a link between their experiences in their own community and the learning process
In line with the principles of A Curriculum for Excellence (a Scottish Government
initiative to revitalise the curriculum) the project encouraged teachers to work
creatively, with cross curricular emphasis, and with a focus on education as opposed
to certification.
Formative assessment, the process of learning, making decisions and
improvements to work, during the process was key to this project. Summative
assessment, fed back to pupils on completion of work, by which time it is too late to
change things, and the learning outcome may or may not have been achieved, was
largely avoided. Peer teaching, teacher feedback, engaging with the wider education
community of parents and carers, as well as the school staff, all helped the pupils to
create work in which they felt genuine pride, and in which they had achieved clear
learning objectives, and moved forward at their own levels.
The embedded PowerPoint below provides an indication of the success of this project.
The extracts from the teacher’s blog records aspects of the project that were deemed
to be successful. The word document below includes the learner voice from this
project, with pupils commenting on their experiences, as well as comment from the
Authority project leader.
Documents Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation Learner Voice Jenny's blog
Extreme Learning: WikispacesTeacher and School Information
Jennifer Walker is a class teacher at Ormiston Primary School . This is a small school,
in the picturesque village of the same name. It stands on the north bank of the River
Tyne, a rural setting. The school roll is about 157 with an additional 50 children in
nursery classes. There are several classes in the school: a Primary 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, a
composite 5/6, and a Primary 7.
The school has a committed and creative staff: the school website is indicative of their
dynamism, and the caring, positive ethos in the school.
http://edubuzz.org/blogs/ormiston