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Growing Innovations in Rural Sites of Learning: Learning Together
Elluminate meeting #2 – December, 2011
Introduction and opening remarks – Linda Farr Darling
Goals for the meeting – Pat Dooley
Setting the Stage for the meeting
To continue to provide a forum for sharing and learning between Growing Innovations project leaders
To report on and respond to some themes and challenges identified by site supports after initial site visits.
To provide initial thoughts regarding the May 5 Learning Symposium.
To hear from Project leaders about successes, connections, new steps and future plans.
To lay out plans for future support and learning.
Goals for the Meeting
Introductions and reflections on your project:a) share one success you have had to date
and/or
b) talk about a connection you have made with another project leader or school as a result of Growing Innovations.
Comments by site facilitators
Hearing from project leaders
Emerging stories re impacts on students: innovations are working for individual learners.
Experiential learning common to several projects: Aboriginal learners are focus of several projects Some dialogue re changing role of teachers,
including making changes to pedagogy as result of innovation.
Planning process and reflecting on “innovation in process” crucial to success of projects:
SITE FACILITATORS’ MEETING: Some Themes from Site Visits
Curriculum being redefined/developed in several projects
Changing nature of relationships/blurring boundaries between school and community
Student ownership, initiative, and engagement through relevant experiences are key aspects of several projects.
Growing evidence of school connecting with and learning from other schools: Adult collaboration common
Use of technology common to many projects.
REPORT ON SITE FACILITATORS’ MEETING: (November 28)
May 5: need to clarify expectations Assessment – artifacts and how to assess
impact of project Sustainability: not as simplistic as a start
and end to projects Clarity needed re money and when it needs
to be spent.
Site Facilitators’ meeting: Some questions and challenges
- Not like a science fair- About the process of planning and learning- Will include some time all together, some time in
clusters and/or other small groups to share learning
- Focus on process and products as appropriate- Framework re what to prepare will follow in March
Elluminate session or sooner?- Funding for one project leader per site; one other
may be welcome at district expense.- Celebrate and community building: thinking,
learning, reflecting…and a RECEPTION!
Growing Innovations Learning Symposium (May 5)
Some artifacts to share (e.g. SD#60 Project Based Learning rubrics; Critique self and peer assessment process, etc.)
Important to use observation, interviews, and strategies that focus on individual students and groups of students.
Consider concept of “narrative” inquiry (referred to in Leadership Mindsets by Judy Halbert and Linda Kaser)
Assessing impact of innovation
Narrative Appreciative Problem-based Reflective Spiral of Inquiry
Inquiry: Questions Before Directions
Narrative - what is the dominant story? Who are the heroes? Villains? Themes?
“Stories are not only the way in which we come to ascribe significance to experiences … but also they are one of the primary means through which we constitute our very selves … we become who we are through telling stories about our lives and living the stories we tell.”
Source: Halbert and Kaser
Forms of Inquiry
How can you tell stories of the impact of the innovation on individual students and groups of students?a) quantitative data – surveys, rubrics, pre and post assessmentsb) qualitative data – interviews, individual stories
Implications: Growing Innovations
Projects do not need to end or reach closure at the end of the year: Desire to consider ways to sustain innovation and look at what can be transferred to other sites, settings, groups of students.
Money does not need to be spent by June. A progress report of some sort will be
needed (simple with framework provided
Other questions
?Other questions…..
What is your next step with your project?
Have you thought about ways to sustain your work, what might be transferable to others schools, projects, cohorts of students, etc.?
Hearing from Project Leaders and Site Facilitators
Artifacts with permission to share
a) Assessment tools (critique, rubrics on products and assessment for learning)b) Pictures and permissionsc) Videos
www.ruralteachers.com (FORUM FOR
SHARING)Above to [email protected] and/or
Learning Together
A )continued contact with site supporter, including requests for support
B) help with literature review (Cal Heer) via site supporter (eg nature K models)
C) framework to use to plan for May. D) March elluminate meetings organized to
accommodate Spring Breaks E) Use of website to post resources, pictures,
etc. F) continued analysis of collaborative learning
models
Further Support and Learning
Professional Learning Communities: Key Concepts Impact: John Hattie in Visible Learning (a
synthesis of what we know about the most effective forms of teaching.
Student achievement is improved when teachers work together in collaborative teams to:
a) Clarify what students must learnb) Gather evidence of student learningc) Analyze that evidenced) Identify the most powerful teaching
strategies
Schools are in the business of teaching and learning…and if they would learn to learn from each other their future would be secured.
Paraphrased from Michael Fullan, OISE
Thought to Frame the Day
