10 ways to create a learning culture. I first posted this at the start of 2011… A new school year is about to begin in Australia.
It’ll be the first time in nearly 30 years that I don’t have a class to teach and it’s not an easy adjustment! For as long as I can remember, I have started the year by planning the first day for my new classes. Reflecting on all those new beginnings, I realise how much teaching and learning have changed… and how much I have changed. What needs to happen on ‘Day 1′ ? I used to think… Explain your expectations.Establish rules.Know everyone’s names.Arrange seats to minimalise talking.Organise books.Talk about homework.Tell them what they’ll be learning.Make sure they listen.Get students working right away.Show a firm hand.
Now I think… 10 ways to create a learning culture… Two years later, I still like that list. . … and a more relevant title! Like this: Like Loading... How to teach collaboration - EYE Activity. My guest today is cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham, a psychology professor at the University of Virginia and author of “Why Don’t Students Like School?”
By Daniel Willingham A small scientific step was just made that could help the 21st century skills movement be a bit more grounded. I have criticized the movement in the past for, among other things, advocating the emphasis of certain skills without any clear plan for how those skills ought to be taught. For example, “collaboration” and “working effectively in groups” are often deemed 21st century skills. Advocates point out that more and more projects in the workplace are team efforts, and businesses need individuals who know how to work well with others. But you can’t expect people to learn how to work in groups simply by putting them in groups. Learning requires feedback. If we expect students to learn how to become better at working in groups, it’s not enough simply to assign group work.
There were two important findings. Games to promote meaningful conversation. The Quiet Game - Alejandre. Suzanne's Math Lessons As a middle school teacher I used this game at the beginning of the school year to help introduce the cooperation that I expected from each group member.
If needed I would use the same game from time to time to reinforce the idea as we re-configured groups. --Suzanne Alejandre Materials: Completed puzzles look like this: To make the puzzle sets print 9 (or as many groups as you will have in your class) of each of the puzzles: Cut out the puzzle pieces and put one set of 12 pieces (Puzzles 1, 2, 3, and 4) together. Remember to have one set of 12 pieces ready for each group of 4 students. Instructions: Organize the students into groups of 4. Students should be sitting facing each other with nothing on their tables or desks. Before passing out the puzzle packets, communicate the following instructions of The Quiet Game: One student in each group will receive the game packet. As the groups work the teacher should circulate quietly observing. Evaluation: OFFER and RECEIVE vs.