edna.edu.au

Online learning networks and new curricula

These are some thoughts on online networking and its potential for developing new lesson plans for primary school education. I am delighted to find this online network, as a developing teacher!

Another great resource is the Country Areas Program web.

Even non-professionals, experts in something, but without pedagogical knowledge, could submit modules, by offering to ignite their particular passion and knowledge about a subject for a student. Both kids and adults can be student here…. Have their own blog network for recording what they have learned, and for chat etc

Mentors could run their own internal network to have their course frameworks assessed by other mentors, and also produce collaborative efforts in coursework.

An admin/core team can monitor, assess, analyse, edit and compile all this as “new earth” curricula.

Tags: new curricula online professional networks
Posted at 02:29PM Oct 08, 2009 by Anne Stanton  | 

New Earth Schools

On the beach in 2008, a vision of a new type of school wafted by me on the salty spray, I saw laughing, happy children exploring…. learning from experience of the earth first, and mentors following  and observing, noticing the child’s passion and inner spark, to learn the direction and method of the learning. I have since fleshed out the vision with some practical ideas for achieving it.

The aim is to create the opportunity for connection with an “earth” place, by being in it and experiencing it in what ever way gives you joy. Then to express that experience as a digital learning module for others to use….there are so many ways to find joy, and so there are many paths to learning, and a vast and diverse range of modules to explore and create.

And the consequence of networking these modules online is connection to people, and to the nation, and the planet, as a place……this is a cyber version of “singing” the country, feeling like all is “family”, learning with passion, relevance and inspiration.

A google earth- type interactive map would be the logical interface for this idea.

Keywords/concepts : digital multimedia, excursions, ICT-equipped buses, multiple perspectives, interactive learning, problem-solving, integrative approach, holistic learning, creative interpretation and inspiration, passion, fun, facilitating learning via student’s questions and approach to place.

1. a  group

      children: small groups, compatible for specific events.

mentors: adults (teacher-trained), who also maintain online contact via forum, chat, phone, at pre-arranged times with parents and kids. They assess the student for their particular skills and abilities, research potential course work and access databases of

-          curricula  and activities

-          tools, products, software ***(  need a business entrepreneur here to work with sponsors maybe?)

-          web resources cross-referenced, relevant forums, networks, other schools globally. ****( one web and database guru, with IT team, to do the networking setup)

Mentors provide access to coursework and ongoing assessment for a contracted period of time. They also compile, record and report and provide webpage content to IT for the event page.

1. an event

group “new earth experience”, go to a good place for fun, a picnic, physical activity, a story or myth about the place itself, sparking ideas and inspiration for ongoing learning. Kids choose their mentor by feel, or are guided to their inspirations. Adults have fun at this too, working as a team for the good of all kids involved.

      3. Earth Buses

Mobile educational units, for earth experiences….

Equipped with web – linked laptop, video and photographic equipment, deep cycle power source and inverter, disc burner and upload facilities…. Kitchen storage, bed, table, seats, awnings or tents etc… a 2-5 adult team of mentor/facilitators…

LINKED TO

Web Hub (Mentors/Students Online Network)

Where earth experiences are recorded and logged as video and image galleries, web content from students and mentors

1. passion

This event is about finding your passion, what you love to do, what gives you joy. Passion is encouraged with recording, collecting, sampling, and making activities and tools. (vision, sound, artifacts, created art….)

***** (It would be useful to have a video and sound team at these events)

 An example would be a day at the beach, exploring the environment from different perspectives – the artist, the scientist, the writer, the engineer, the landscape designer, the mathematician, the historian etc… (for as many diverse talents and interests as are represented among the children). A couple of group activities to feed the joy…. Plenty of scope for individual adventures too.

1. individual tracking online

requires set up of an online network, and forum, with chat channels, email, phone etc to keep in daily contact.

Online classes, networking and child to child exchanges of information and images etc for a web page. Mentor compiles an assessment, can recommend literacy and numeracy work as needed.

Over the long term, these mentor reports and digital galleries or pages would be valuable, as resume material for the child as they begin branching out into their specialties, and also as accreditation of competencies material for children who fail in the current school system. This system can act as the safety net for kids who fall out of the current system, and also as an enjoyable alternative for kids who are assessed as being most likely to benefit. There is no judgment, and each child is encouraged to find and explore their particular and unique spiritual niche and creative spark.

1. event/exhibition to launch web report of event, PR for the process

…keeping kids connected after the contracted period is over, an opportunity to exhibit and promote individual talents and group efforts over the longer term. Maintaining contact for future courses, offering courses as the prize in schools competitions, encouraging both public and independent schools to participate.

Many fields of study will overlap, as the student defines the perspective they have, and the knowledge they require to re-frame that perspective from a wider view. The mentor’s task is to listen, and guide the student towards areas of study.

NB: Mind mapping could be useful here, as a way to map out the student’s learning path, and the research they need to do to complete the journey….

This is where the curriculum database comes in, and all access points must be fully cross-referenced throughout all sections, in order to provide a holistic, integrative dataset that shows just how interconnected and complex earth design actually is, and what new fields of study (the new earth sciences) are ready to be explored and better understood. The children are to be honoured for their individuality, their unique perspective, and encouraged to journey further into it, acquiring along the way the basic school skills, like literacy and numeracy, digital interfacing and tools, physical integration of self into the environment, spiritual connection to earth and to other people. It is to be assumed that they have information and new knowledge to impart, as part of their learning journey…. Perhaps at the end, or maybe in the here and now of the learning process. A good mentor takes notes…..

Tags: fun passion interactive learning approach digital multimedia excursions problem-solving creative interpretation and inspiration ict-equipped buses perspectives facilitating learning via student’s questions multiple holistic learning integrative
Posted at 02:22PM Oct 08, 2009 by Anne Stanton  |