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January 15, 2008 12:05 AM
Engaging all Learners � One at a Time
At the beginning of this school year we received two eInstruction student response systems to use in our school. We were amazed at how it changed the atmosphere during direct instruction and class discussions; allowing teachers to meter time on task for both the quick thinkers and the slower methodical thinkers, the openness of discussion when students were commenting on �most chosen� or �least chosen� answer, and the high level of active participation of even the most reluctant learners.
We dared to dream� �What if every grade level at Mabel Rush Elementary School had a response system to share and to create lessons for each other, collaborate on best questioning strategies, and encourage each other in the use of the systems in their classrooms?� Knowing change can be a slow process in larger schools, we started small (where we could be successful). We asked for teacher leaders to volunteer to be on the cutting edge of this learning. We had at least 2 teachers at each grade level excitedly step forward. Our short term goals are to:
Meet each month January to May to:
1) Learn how to set up and use the systems
2) Be focusing on developing questioning strategies, focusing on critical thinking and metacognition.
3) Sharing tips and tricks for using the systems in the classroom
4) Collaborating on the sharing and organization of grade level lessons we have created on our server.
The long-term goal of this project is to develop teacher leaders at each grade level who will then become trainers and supporters (guide on the side) of the other teachers in their grade-levels on the best practices of using student response systems in their classrooms.
As a side note, after we found out about this grant, funds came available to purchase 1 more system for our school, having a total of eight systems for first the 11 lead teachers and then our 25 staff members to use.
Posted by krisbower on January 15, 2008 at 12:05 AM in Ed Tech Grants | Comments (0)
