Half-day sessions for Active Learning March 7, 2008
Posted by Stephanie Gilhooly in : Active Learning, Assessing Active Learning, Blogroll, Events, Planning for Active Learning, Resources, Workshop Ideas , add a comment On Thursday the 13th of March at Stoneyhill Primary and on Wednesday the 18th of March at Gullane Primary we will be working with teachers throughout the authority on Active Learning. The half-day sessions are split into four different workshops. The following is simply a brief description of what to expect.9.00 - 9.05am or 1.30 - 1.35pm - Welcome and introduction
First session (9.05 - 9.30am or 1.35 - 1.55pm)led by Mhairi Stratton centres around the question of “What does Active Learning mean to me as a practitioner?”
The second session (9.30 - 9.55am or 1.55 - 2.15pm) led by Jen Macaulay will focus on “How active is your space to learn in?”
We will then have the opportunity to visit classrooms to see active learning then the whole group will meet to have a feedback session and plenary on arising issues.
Next we will have the opportunity to have tea and coffee.
The third session will be led by Stephanie Gilhooly (10.40 - 11.10am or 2.50 - 3.15pm) on “Planning and Assessing Active Learning”
The final session (11.10 - 11.30am or 3.15 - 3.30pm) to complete the half-day workshops will be led by Claire Lavelle and the focus there will be “Active Learning Teams”.
We look forward to seeing you there.
The second workshop February 22, 2008
Posted by Stephanie Gilhooly in : Active Learning, Blogroll, Workshop Ideas , add a commentThe second workshop was held in East Linton primary school on February the 19th from 4pm -6pm.
After fighting the fog and finally reaching our destination we could begin the Active Learning workshop! Again the presentation was given by volunteers of the ASG (Associated School Group) for Active Learning. Angela Paul (St. Gabriel’s Primary) talked about the observations and assessments that happen in the nursery and how they could be used in primary one to aid the development of the transition from nursery to P1. Elise Sutherland (Gullane Primary) and Stephanie Gilhooly (Loretto RC Primary) talked about a day in the life of their classroom focussing mainly on the management of active learning, assessments and observations. Claire Lavelle (St. Martin’s Primary) talked about 4 different examples of ways to set up and work within a classroom and the possible pitfalls of each model were explained.
The staff from East Linton that attended the workshop were pleased that they had this opportunity to share and discuss good practise. Some staff members highlighted the successes that they were experiencing with active learning, they found that in general the children were more responsive and motivated in their learning. A fantastic finding! Most of the teachers commented that they found the workshop session very supportive and helpful and enjoyed having the opportunity to discuss and share good practise with others.
Other very interesting comments that were made was that the active learning approach to learning and teaching could be more focussed from P4 upwards. If you have any suggestions that you are willing to share on what you are doing with your middle/upper class please drop us a line and we will publish ideas on this website so that teachers in the middle and upper stages can share their ideas.
In the discussion part of the workshop it was clear that some teachers liked parts of the planning formats that members of the ASG have been trailing. You can find some of these formats on this website in Teacher Support - planning page. It is important to state here that these formats have been created by class teachers that are trying out different ways of planning to find ones which best suit the needs of their class and the way in which they work, they are a work in progress. What works for one member of staff in one school may not work for another. If you would like to put your planning formats for others to view on this site please get in touch and we will be happy to do so.
I’ll take this opportunity to thank East Linton Primary school for their attendance and contributions.
The first workshop February 15, 2008
Posted by Stephanie Gilhooly in : Assessing Active Learning, Blogroll, Classroom Management, Classroom Organisation, Workshop Ideas , add a commentThe first follow up workshop to the drop in sessions that happened last term took place yesterday on the 14th of February at Campie Primary School.
The opportunity was given for teachers and nursery nurses in the early years to come along and listen to some volunteer members of the ASG talk about different aspects of Active Learning. Firstly, Angela Paul from St. Gabriel’s talked about her experience in implementing and managing observations and assessments in the nursery. Jen Macaulay from Yester Primary then gave a presentation which focused on discussing different ways in which a classroom can be set up. She then went on to look at four examples in detail emphasising the possible pitfalls of each model. Next Stephanie Gilhooly from Loretto RC Primary talked about the way in which she manages Active Learning within her classroom referring to both a P1 class and a P3 class. She talked through a typical maths lesson and how she planned for assessments and observations within it. Collaborative planning with groups and whole class were referred to next. Finally she talked about the planning formats that she has made and how she feels they are working. Elise Sutherland then gave a description of “A Day In The Life of P1 at Gullane Primary” which included how she organised her Numeracy and Literacy lessons, how she made best use of support and parent helpers and how she collaboratively plans with the children. This made up the presentation aspect of the workshop.
Next, the more active part! Claire Lavelle from St. Martin’s organised workshops in which the audience was split into two groups. They were given a list of questions to discuss which were then reported back to the group as a whole. The questions helped people reflect on their practice:
1.What did you focus on?
2.What did you try which was more active?
3.What worked and why?
4. What didn’t work and why?
5. Next steps?
The feedback session that the groups gave was very positive, both groups highlighted many aspects of their practice that were working well, things that they were trying out and things that they were having difficulty with:
*Working well
-collaborative planning -classroom organisation (group rotation) -formative assessment -planning formats -whole class approach to reading
*Ideas being tried out
-Learning logs (P1-P7) sent home to parents to discuss with child -classroom setup i.e setting introducing zones into the classroom -giving it all a go! -training the children to be able to work independently without adult support - management of timing children in areas
*Areas of Difficulty
-time to set up resources -not having enough support in the classroom
In regards to all the areas outlined above it is fair to say that individual teachers are finding different aspects of implementing Active Learning easier than others. What we have found to be important here is that each teacher and nursery nurse at this workshop was striving to implement Active Learning in their classroom with their children in mind so that it works for them in their own specific environment.
The workshop ended with a massive thank you to all that attended the workshop and a list of what Active Learning is and what it is not:
Active Learning is:
- Focused on learning
- Relevant to child’s experience
- Involves children making some decisions about their learning e.g. collaborative planning, choice of resources
- Enabling children to investigate and explore in learning contexts using a range of resources and spaces
- Working in pairs, trios and groups and as a whole class
- Enabling children to practise their learning and explain their learning to others
- Increasing independence in learning
- Increasing confidence in learning
- Using planning formats which focus on key learning intentions whilst remaining responsive to child-led contexts
- Increasingly using observations as one way of recording progress
- Fun and motivating for children and staff
- Increasing pace and challenge
- Challenge pupils thinking
Active Learning is not:
- Focused on simply setting up activities
- Having children moving around to keep them “active”
- All about having “choosing” areas
- Having lots of different resources out all of the time
- The “Integrated Day”
- Allowing children to “choose” all day
- Abandoning whole class teaching time
- Abandoning rigour and tracking
- Children playing (although there is still a place for learning through play and for being play-ful!)
The presentations, discussions and workshop activities all provided a great opportunity for people to share ideas on their practice and listen to the ideas of others which can inform the practice of individuals. There was a very positive atmosphere at this workshop and I would like to thank the teachers and nursery nurses again for attending and their valued input, especially considering the short notice!
