UNESCO ASEAN SCHOOLNETBRIDGES OF LEARNING

Learning CirclesSouth AfricaSep 2009

IntroductionNomty GcabaJHB, South Africa SchoolNet SA

TelecollaborationTele Television, telescope, telecommunicationOver a distanceCollaboration To work together

InternetEmail groups, websiteLearning Circles

What we learntNot enough trainingLanguage difficultiesEmail problemsTechnicalIncorrect addressesCountry coordinationTime and other events

Why we chose Learning CirclesInternationally successfulStructuredSimple

Classroom InvestigationsThemesMeasure by MeasureMaths, science, economicsAnalysing data with spreadsheets and chartsPeople and PlacesSocial science, language, economicsOpinions, attitudes, beliefs, valuesThe World We Live InScience (natural science, biology)How we interact with our world

Learning Circle InvestigationDifferencesGeographical, Cultural Request simple informationRequest completed in one lesson or lessGathered information enhances the projectInteresting to others

BloomTaxonomy of thinkingKnowledgeIdentify components of a familyUnderstandingExplain how you are related to your fathers sisterApplicationDraw a family treeAnalysisCompare a human and non-human familySynthesisCreate a family crestEvaluationWho makes the biggest contribution to your family?

Open and closed questionsClosedFactsCorrect answersOpenRequire research, thinkingPromote discussionMany responses

Open/Closed Activity LanguageWhat does interpret mean?Interpret this poemScienceWhat is coal?What energy source is the best option?MathsWhat is the volume of a square?Are squares useful in building design?Complete the examples

Focus QuestionProvide the challenge of a projectFocus on the topicOpen Challenge higher order thinkingStimulating and interestingShort

Sharing informationReceive questions from other groupsRespond to themReceive responses to your question

Assessment Learning CircleSharingPowerPoint templateMicrosoft wordPublisher Goodbye

Project rules groups/classesOne person per group registersGroup could be classClass may have more than one groupEach group has different email addressGroup from same class may not be in same Learning Circle

Participation optionsWhole class does same projectWork in groups but participate as one groupWork in groups, each participates in different Learning CircleWork as one group, participate as one groupEach group has different investigationEach group participates in different Learning Circle

CommunicatingOnly one registration per groupOne communication person per groupUse class code in subject lineE.g. MM4 IntroductionBe reliableUse the same email addressStay in contact with country coordinator

Test run your projectSetup (1 week)Register in GooglegroupsConfirm your membershipLearning Circle News1Project should be planned

Test run your projectPhase 2 Hello (1 week)Learning Circle News2NameClass codeGradeCountryGroups students introduce projectClass introduction emailNumber, age/grade, Something about your class, school and townE.g WW5 Introduction

Test run your projectPhase 3 Class Investigation (2 weeks)Learning Circle News3Start class investigationFocus questionData requiredSend data gathering questionE.g. Subject: WW5 Data gathering question

Test run your projectPhase 4 Data gathering (3 weeks)Learning Circle News4Receive questionsOrganise responses in groupsSend responsesE.g. Subject: WW5 response to WW3Receive responsesAnalyse responses in groups

Test run your projectPhase 5 Data gathering (2 weeks)Learning Circle News5Prepare publicationExamine dataDiscuss focus questionCome to conclusionPublish findingsWebsite, PowerPoint or Word documentSend to LC coordinator

Test run your projectPhase 6 Goodbye (1 week)Say thank you Share what the project meant to youE.g. Subject: WW5 Goodbye

TimelinesCycle 116-22 January23-29 January30 Jan 12 February13 Feb 5 March6-12 March16-22 MarchCycle 214-20 August21-27 August28 Aug -10 September11 Sept 1 October2-11 October12-18 October

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