project cluster meeting 25th july

7/31/2019 Project Cluster Meeting 25th July

1/12

To improve communication andcollaboration through the use ofcontemporary tools and promotestudent responsibility for learning.

Teachers have a greater confidence and competence in using

contemporary tools.

Teachers are using a greater range of contemporary tools more

frequently to communicate and collaborate with their students.

Teachers are beginning to understand the need to relinquish

control of student learning.

Students have a greater confidence and competence in using

contemporary tools.

Students make more effective decisions about their learning.

Students are more active learners who are prepared to take risks

and have an authentic voice.


2/12


3/12

What is blogging?Have you ever tried blogging? If so, when?

How could blogging help you with others?How could blogging help you with your learning?

What is blogging?Have you ever used blogging? If so, when?How could blogging support communication and collaboration?How do you think blogging could contribute to greater ownership and responsibility for

learning?

How do you currently provide for communication in your classroom and what does it look like?What tools do you use for this?How do you currently provide for collaboration in your classroom and what does it look l ike?What tools do you use for this?Do students in your grade take responsibility for their learning? If so, to what extent and how?Examples?Do students have ownership of their learning? If so, how and to what extent? Examples?What contemporary tools are you currently using in your classroom? How do you use these toolsfor communication?How do you use these tools for collaboration?How do you think you could use these tools to encourage greater student ownership andresponsibility for their own learning?How could these tools more effectively be used to encourage communication andcollaboration?

- Have you contributed to the blog this week?How? If no, why not?- How has blogging helped you with your learning

this week?- Have you learnt anything new this week? Did youdiscover this yourself or from a peer?- Did anyone post anything interesting? Why?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gf-XA5XqYys


4/12

Project Team Blog

This blog has been set up to document the journey of our team.We record our personal journals, project meeting minutes,observations, findings and future direction for our project.
http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/wp-admin/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/wp-admin/


5/12

Angela Angela's Project Page- Journal

Grade 2 BLOG

Evidence collected: Pre-data: students survey (whole class), video interviews with 3case studies on current understanding of blogging. During process: re-interviewed 3case studies to see if understandings have changed, blog entries.

Findings so far: Results of student survey indicated that students had no idea of whatblogging was. As there was a picture of a keyboard on the page, some studentsthought that it had something to do with typing.

Strategies/Actions : Implemented blogging in the area of Literacy, primarily readinggroups, in order to personalise learning. Introduced the process of communication bysetting up a What I have Learnt Page so that students can communicate with theirpeers about new learning. As a class, set a new classroom goal concerning bloggingand formatted success criteria for posting.

Insights/Observations- Children were quick to adjust to the change and enthusiastic

about blogging. Over the six week period things progressed very naturally withstudents blog comments going beyond answering pre-set questions to themcollaborating and having conversations with people to gain more information.Hardest part was for me letting go of having total control and letting the studentshave a voice in their learning.
http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/angela-ross/http://grade2b.global2.vic.edu.au/http://grade2b.global2.vic.edu.au/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/angela-ross/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/angela-ross/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/angela-ross/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/angela-ross/


6/12

Brian Brian's Project Page- JournalEvidence collected: Scratch projects- progression of learning Case studies- what is communication, collaboration?- Progression of

understanding Childrens question and answer wallFindings so far: Students are eager to learn from each other and are developing the skills to

communicate understandings and questions

Students are beginning to collaborate through peer support when working onprojects

Students are self directed in their approach to projectsStrategies/Actions: Learning intentions with success criteria developed by students question/answer wall to share journey Share time throughout sessions- children share what they have learnt, any

questions they have and answer others queries

Insights/Observations- Students are investigating and discovering new things in the Scratch program All students are showing responsibility by asking, answering and exploring Students are sharing their learning with others including teachers and parents
http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/brian-hudson/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/brian-hudson/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/brian-hudson/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/brian-hudson/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/brian-hudson/


7/12

Stuart Stuart's Project Page- Journal

Grade 3C BLOG

Evidence collected: Whole class pre survey data to record childrens understandingof blogging. Video interviews with three children at the initial stage and after three

weeks of blogging. Screen shots of some of the early comments to be used forcomparison with later comments.

Findings so far: Children have really enjoyed blogging. Some of the more maturechildren have tried hard to embrace my ideas and respond thoughtfully. Somechildren are responding because they have to and there is little evidence ofmeaningful comments being posted at this stage.

Strategies/Actions : At the beginning I put up lots of fun activities for the children toplay with and comment on. We devised success criteria as a class on what made agood comment which we continually referred to. Children were encouraged torespond to comments in order to start a conversation. (Communication). Next I putup poetry and art pages with childrens poems and art typed or scanned onto themand encouraged other children to comment on the pieces with a view to improvingeach artists/ poets ability. Success criteria once again was devised for this purpose.(Collaboration).

Insights/Observations-Perhaps I am being too ambitious with Grade 3. They haverequired a great deal of modelling and guidance to produce anything like the resultsI am looking for. I can only hope I am laying the groundwork for more thoughtfulresponses in coming years.
http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/stuart-collings/http://stpthreec.global2.vic.edu.au/http://stpthreec.global2.vic.edu.au/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/stuart-collings/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/stuart-collings/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/stuart-collings/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/stuart-collings/


8/12

Raquel Raquel's Project Page- Journal

Grade 4 BLOG

Evidence collected: Student pre-survey (in both paper and video form) Blogging is word splash Case Study Video Reflections Snapshots of comments and responses to blog postsFindings so far: Students had little understandings of what blogging was. After a methodical introduction to blogging students understandings have

increased and children are enjoying the communication element of blogging. Both case study children can identify times when the blog has supported their

learning, yeah! The process of commenting effectively has been a long one, the creation of

success criteria from the start supported this and throughout the projectcomments have become more purposeful and meaningful.

Strategies/Actions: Blogging is wordsplash Watching clip from YouTube Muffy and the Big Bad Blog from the cartoon Arthur.

To introduce what a blog is, but also the positive and negative aspects of it. Create a class definition of what blogging is to us. Create success criteria for what makes a good blog comment. Blogging the everyday within the classroomwhether it be a recount of events, or

links/videos to support our current learning. Introducing guest blogging and creating an application process for children to

respond to.
http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/raquel-bowman/http://stpetersgrade4.global2.vic.edu.au/http://stpetersgrade4.global2.vic.edu.au/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/raquel-bowman/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/raquel-bowman/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/raquel-bowman/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/raquel-bowman/


9/12


10/12

Sally Sally's Project Page- Journal

Evidence collected: Teacher blog survey [whole staff], teacher projectquestionnaire [interested non-project teachers], interviews with 3 case studies oncurrent understandings, skills and knowledge [pre-data]

Findings so far: Teacher have a sound understanding of communication but littleof collaboration.Contemporary tools used to post student work only

Teachers eager to use new toolsTeachers provide limited opportunities for student ownership and responsibility forlearning

Strategies/Actions: After school meetings for interested teachersTeacher Blog to explore and support learning- Teacher BlogCase studies support- Setting personal goals-What the student learning could look

like at the end of the project. Discuss ways of supporting each other on thisjourney.

Insights/Observations - Teachers need to let go- give students greater control,ownership- they dont need to be the expertTeachers need support in developing a truly collaborative learning environmentfor studentsTeachers are enthusiastic about new technologies and learning environments
http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/sally-ann-morrison/http://teacherblog.global2.vic.edu.au/http://teacherblog.global2.vic.edu.au/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/sally-ann-morrison/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/sally-ann-morrison/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/sally-ann-morrison/http://sallyann.global2.vic.edu.au/sally-ann-morrison/


11/12

From Teacher BlogThe following information was obtained from -Understanding Virtual Pedagogies ForContemporary Teaching and Learning- Richard Olsen. This may give you some insight into

working towards the project question. Please feel free to comment!

Communication is developing a sense of community with other learners. Students publishingtheir own content, presenting their achievements and reflecting on their ideas andunderstandings. They expect and welcome comments on their work. Communicating viathe internet provides for stronger links between home, school and the wider community.Through blogging, for example, students can keep an online journal of their experiencesand learning and invite others to comment on their work. It gives students an opportunity to

reflect on their learning..self assessment. It is a focussed conversation with others. Itprovides the opportunity to communicate the whole learning process not just achievementsand findings.Collaboration is students seeing learning as a collaborative activity where they not only takeresponsibility for their own learning but have an active role in the learning of others. Theylearn through this process to compare current beliefs with new understandings. A blog is theperfect forum for students to present their ideas and new understandings and receive

feedback from others. Collaborating using Blogs allows for learning conversations anddiscussion with others about understandings to occur online. Collaboration requires that theteacher becomes a guide and community nurturer. Teachers can model by contributing tothe online community.I have added the above information so that we can start to think about ways of using thetool of blogging to enhance communication and collaboration in the classroom. Any ideas?What do you think about the possibilities of blogging assisting with these skills? Please leavea reply!


12/12

Are the children taking true ownership and responsibility for their

learning? Could the level of teacher control be reduced further? How?

How to encourage further and more effective collaboration with

students?

Is one of our next steps to utilise outside experts that children can

collaborate with?

Continue case study evidence gathering; video responses, questions

where children respond to how blogging is helping them. Continue promoting blogging through the school as an effective tool

for student/teacher learning.

project cluster meeting 25th july

Documents