Growing Sunflowers in Growing Sunflowers in BlenheimBlenheim

An online learning experience for two Year An online learning experience for two Year 2 classes.2 classes.

By Paula FergusonBy Paula Ferguson

Overview of ProjectOverview of Project Using a Kidquest ‘Growing Sunflowers’ Using a Kidquest ‘Growing Sunflowers’

students from 2 schools were engaged in an students from 2 schools were engaged in an online learning experience which involved the online learning experience which involved the use of a variety of online technologies which use of a variety of online technologies which extended the students learning experiences extended the students learning experiences beyond the time, place and space constraints beyond the time, place and space constraints of a conventional classroom.of a conventional classroom.

Students were engaged in asynchronous Students were engaged in asynchronous communication involving collaborative communication involving collaborative research and interaction.research and interaction.

Purpose and ObjectivesPurpose and ObjectivesThe purpose was:The purpose was: to introduce the to introduce the

children to an online children to an online learning experience.learning experience.

To encourage To encourage communication and communication and engagement with engagement with others beyond the others beyond the classroom.classroom.

Student objectives Student objectives were:were:

to develop the ability to develop the ability to find, use and apply to find, use and apply new knowledge to a new knowledge to a relevant situationrelevant situation

To communicate and To communicate and engage with others engage with others beyond their classroombeyond their classroom

To work collaborativelyTo work collaboratively

The ProcessThe ProcessStudent Activities were as Student Activities were as

follows:follows: Take digital photo then email Take digital photo then email KidQuestKidQuest WikispaceWikispace Fax an expertFax an expert Bookmarked websitesBookmarked websites MindmapMindmap Thinking hatsThinking hats PowerpointPowerpointThe children revisited the The children revisited the

wikispace each time they wikispace each time they had new information/ had new information/ thoughts/presentations to thoughts/presentations to share.share.

Yellow Thinking HatYellow Thinking Hat Black Thinking HatBlack Thinking Hat

School Forest AreaSchool Forest AreaPatches of sun.Patches of sun.Children wouldn’t stand on the plants.Children wouldn’t stand on the plants.Children wouldn’t run through here.Children wouldn’t run through here.

School Forest AreaSchool Forest AreaIt’s quite shady.It’s quite shady.Some places are out of bounds so you Some places are out of bounds so you wouldn’t get to see the plants.wouldn’t get to see the plants.Kids sometimes run through here playing.Kids sometimes run through here playing.

Big tree on top fieldBig tree on top fieldVery sunny.Very sunny.Other plants to keep it company.Other plants to keep it company.Lots of room.Lots of room.Plant them next to the fence so the neighbour Plant them next to the fence so the neighbour and the school can see them.and the school can see them.

Big tree on top fieldBig tree on top fieldRugby balls could break the plants.Rugby balls could break the plants.Not many trees so it’s more likely to be windy Not many trees so it’s more likely to be windy there.there.People could walk there and step on them.People could walk there and step on them.Children kicking balls could hit the plants.Children kicking balls could hit the plants.

School Garden by Rm 1 and 2School Garden by Rm 1 and 2Fence to tie them to.Fence to tie them to.Lots of soil.Lots of soil.Sunny.Sunny.Little boxes to plant them in so kids don’t walk Little boxes to plant them in so kids don’t walk over them.over them.Kids can’t play there.Kids can’t play there.Water handy to soak them.Water handy to soak them.Tools nice and close.Tools nice and close.

School Garden by Rm 1 and 2School Garden by Rm 1 and 2Junior playground right next door.Junior playground right next door.Usually just a food garden.Usually just a food garden.

Garden behind Rm 6Garden behind Rm 6Plenty of sun.Plenty of sun.Plants to keep them company.Plants to keep them company.Already a guard around garden to protect Already a guard around garden to protect them.them.Brick path so they won’t get walked on.Brick path so they won’t get walked on.

Garden behind Rm 6Garden behind Rm 6Children might pick the flowers or pull them Children might pick the flowers or pull them off as they walk past.off as they walk past.Lots of plants so not much room left.Lots of plants so not much room left.Might get quite windy.Might get quite windy.

Student LearningStudent Learning First real learning for the First real learning for the

students and the students and the teacher was what teacher was what happens when you all happens when you all try to write on a try to write on a wikipage at the same wikipage at the same time!!! time!!!

A good example of A good example of collaborative work: the collaborative work: the children created a children created a combined mindmap via combined mindmap via email and then posted it email and then posted it on the wikipage.on the wikipage.

Students’ combined PMI on Students’ combined PMI on Global Classroom Experience.Global Classroom Experience.

Plus Minus Interesting You got to sort of meet

otha kids from a difrint school.

We know how to send a email and a fax.

You could share lots ov iders on the wiki page.

You could help oths kids arnser there questshins and they could help you with yors.

We got a fax from the gardin cnter.

We emailed our slid show and we then got to see the otha one to.

When the garden centa didn’t repli to us.

It was hard sometimes to read all the stuff on the wikipage.

Our class computa didn’t always work prople.

That when we were all riting at the same time it muked up wot we were tring to say.

You could see the changes on the wikipage in difrint collars.

Key LearningsKey Learnings Wikipage: I am not a regular user of these Wikipage: I am not a regular user of these

so learnt alongside the children what so learnt alongside the children what happens when you all try to write at the happens when you all try to write at the same time and how to add a mindmap.same time and how to add a mindmap.

Lack of response from one sent fax. Really Lack of response from one sent fax. Really important to maintain more than just important to maintain more than just initial contact with outside contacts to initial contact with outside contacts to ensure the success of the task.ensure the success of the task.

Mindmap: childrens frustration due to Mindmap: childrens frustration due to keyboard skills keyboard skills

Conclusion.Conclusion. There is a need for a certain level of teacher There is a need for a certain level of teacher

familiarity with the technologies before using them familiarity with the technologies before using them with the children while at the same time it’s ok for the with the children while at the same time it’s ok for the children to see the teacher as a learner too.children to see the teacher as a learner too.

While the online learning encouraged some While the online learning encouraged some collaboration between the learners in the form of the collaboration between the learners in the form of the mindmap further work on encouraging the children to mindmap further work on encouraging the children to adapt and accept each others contributions via the adapt and accept each others contributions via the wikipage is needed and would be the focus for next wikipage is needed and would be the focus for next time.time.

Still feel I have a way to go in terms of ‘thinking Still feel I have a way to go in terms of ‘thinking globally’. Found I resorted to usual methods eg verbal globally’. Found I resorted to usual methods eg verbal feedback as opposed to using the wikispace.feedback as opposed to using the wikispace.

A good start for an online learning experience.A good start for an online learning experience.