Module 4 Reflection!

So...my just one thing...having students create their own unit exams by helping them create levelled questions...didn't happen. I only have 2 students in my HS20 course (which is where I planned to incorporate this idea) and so I have turned it into a blended classroom instead. This means students are working on their devices at different paces-putting a large kink into my plan. I do enjoy that this new classroom environment allows me to work with each of the students at their level, but it limits the classroom discussions we are able to have.

We have discussed levelled questioning and level 4 and 5 type questions (more level 4 than 5), and they know they will see these on the exams, but I am not sure how to get them questioning effectively in this new environment. This is something I plan to continue working on and hopefully come up with anther "just one thing" to try before the semester is over!

Module 3 Reflection...

So I just realized I never posted a reflection for Module 3! We made a video and everything! Check out our video below....and by "our", I mean Adina, Colleen, Michelle and myself.

However cool this video is, I found working with others in an asynch environment in this module very challenging. I found we were never on the same page about where the group was at, and it wasn't about helping each other learn so much as powering through to get our project done.

It made me reflect on my asynch courses and tough collaboration is in this type of learning situation. I would love to incorporate more discussion and group work into my online courses, but I am not sure how to do this effectively to enhance student learning and not just make them discuss to make myself feel better about the course. Any suggestions?

Ideally, I would love to see multiple sections of my DLC courses: ones where students want to be involved in discussion/group work with others and the others structured our regular asynch (work at your own pace) courses. I know online learning is a learning experience in itself-I am working to make my courses better all the time...maybe one day I will have the collaboration portion figured out better!

So...the module 2 deadline has come and gone...and I am still working on Module 2! I have decided to try to do more student centred assessments (other than exams) in my classroom (harder to do on-line). This is one of the focuses of the Learner Centred Assessment Article published by the University of Waterloo. I am trying this with my SDS in partners and my unit 4 project instead of doing a unit exam. I feel like I do a better job of making learning student centred in Health Science than I do in Bio/Chem 30...but I am starting to work on that with my assessments.  I will keep you posted!

21CE Module 1 Reflection

I know I am a bit late on this reflection, but my Bio 30 students just finished their creative photosynthesis or cellular respiration projects. They all chose to do cellular respiration, as they felt this is the one they wanted more review on. I loved the outcome! They all chose a different way to represent their learning. I saw cellular respiration as a movie trailer, as a country song and as a stop motion video. I loved that this assignment let the kids explore new technologies (we haven't even talked about stop motion before), but was still about the content. I think introducing the creative process allowed the kids to think about what they could do and not about the restricting nature that is content in Bio 30. The two girls that created a stop motion video shared it with me via youtube. Check it out! Definitely doing this project again!

Origin of Amy

Let's learn some history...

Amy was born in Regina. Sk. at Pasqua Hospital (I know because I have a baby under shirt with this title on it).  The meaning of my name is "beloved" (http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Amy).  My nicknames include "Apukoses", "Aims", and "Am-me-me-me.  Apukoses means mouse in Cree. I aquired this name because I am little. Aims is just shorter than Amy (by one syllable...I know). and Am-me-me-me is what my uncle calls me...he thinks its funny...I think he has a stuttering problem.

New Salad Recipe.

Happy Tuesday!

 Recently, science thoughts consume my life. From planning the science activities at my upcoming youth conference, the epistemology of science class every Tues/Thurs with Tim and experiments with Marci (of marci smiles). Last post, I shared with you my first discovery about Fake Science... here is the next in the series...

So this upcoming fall, don't go to the grocery store! Go nutrient searching on your front lawn! I would recommend washing your leaves first, as we all know trees are home to a number of species who poop where they live. Maybe your favorite oak is their bathroom? Who knows?

I have taken the liberty of thinking about what would compliment the leaf taste the best and have developed the first "leaf salad" made from ingredients all found in your neighborhood. Note: Dried leaves are also good as a snack for your child's lunch

4 c. of crunched up leaves (your choice)
1/3 c. diced twigs
1/2 c. little red berries
1/2 c. cubed crab apple cores
1 c. decomposing litter
2 tbsp. bark chips (topper-optional)


Dressing:
3 tbsp. growing soil
2 tsp. sand
Mix sand and soil with 1 c. water. Should be a paste like substance.

Enjoy!