Sciences push for integration of IT

The Science department would like to focus this year on the use of resources during lessons. We want to investigate, implement and re-implement the use of iPads, other technology and the Promethean Board as well as old-fashioned pen-and-paper resources. We want to start out by investigating which iPad apps are available and not too costly as well as which resources are available for the Promethean. We chose two topics to begin our cell discussions: Grade 7 graphs, where we would like to make use of the Promethean, and Grade 11 Molecular Geometry, where we want to make use of an iPad app if we can find a suitable one. This week teachers will all do research and try to find something on which we can design the lessons.

Languages - from theory to practise

We were excited to start the year with a good spirit of growth. Some of our members joined the other language group while others moved from that group to ours. The group is ready to roll and its exciting that each phase is represented. We will all bring our timetable to check our availability during the lesson presentation... We began with a review of last year’s cell process and discussed what we enjoyed and what we didn’t, also what we found to be most beneficial. Amanda will present the first lesson for observation. She will decide which class to teach and bring the beginnings of a lesson plan for next Monday. After that, we will observe a collaborative student-group lesson, planned and facilitated by Ronelle. We all agree that we want to develop theory into practical solutions and strategies which we can apply in the class room. We discussed the extent to which the Shayer theory we learnt last year will be applied in our lesson plans. How much are we doing already? Where can we improve? What are we not doing yet, but would like to explore?

New cell - Grade 9 Personal Project (PP)

The purpose of the creation of this group was to allow the people who facilitate the Grade 9 Personal Project (PP) to have some facilitation themselves. Instead of extracting the whole group from their various cells, four individuals from different departments could co-ordinate it all. We will be the core planners and presenters this term and be observed by the group who will then plan and be observed in the next term. Our initial goal is to ensure that the students and staff are aligned with the objectives of the PP, to ensure they enjoy the process and learn from it.

Mathematics - phrasing questions to illicit thinking

Aim for the year: To use CPD time to create, observe and reflect on lessons. We agreed that we might not necessarily finish a lesson in 3 consecutive meetings, but could leave teaching the lesson and videoing for the time fourth week. We will also look at the latest research around the topic we teach. (Enrichment) Immediate aim: the cell decided on looking at a Grade 8 lesson of how to introduce algebra, by using the Shayer lesson: Roof-tops. All members will go over the Shayer lesson during the week to report back on Monday in aid of creating a lesson out of our collective thinking. We would also like to focus on how best to phrase questions and prompts to elicit our students thinking.

Our first meeting of 2013

Cell comprises five colleagues from Humanities, Technology and LO depts. We reflected on what had been positive about last year's experience of planning a chosen lesson together, observing the lesson and then taking part in feedback and discussion of the lesson observed. The bare bones of Shayer methodology for a lesson structure were incorporated into these sessions by most. Attention to detail in a lesson plan in terms of content, soft skills, transitions, beginning and ending were a useful focus, particularly as and when it focused on differentiation. Next week, we'll begin to look together at a Gr12 Geography lesson on Climatology and planetary wind systems.

Arts cell works with Intern on lesson design

Renewed energy in the Arts cell has come through assisting an intern who has to teach 5 lessons to Grade 9 Art students during the course of this term. The cell engaged in a "going back to the basics" discussion - everyone offered input explaining structures of lessons and approaches to planning, to a fresh ear who has never before engaged in such discussions and is new to the mechanics of lesson planing. The decision was made to help the intern plan a lesson from complete scratch. Our hope is that the process of having to force ourselves to simplify lesson plans and place ourselves as a Department into a mentoring position, will benefit us all greatly in future lesson planning.

Humanities 2012: what worked, what could be improved, goals for 2013

What worked? We have learned a lot about different teaching strategies like the “do now”, various forms of group work and pair work as well as ways of managing classroom discussions. We felt that videoing our lessons was very helpful because it enabled everyone to view the lesson and participate in the discussion afterwards. Video discussion is best facilitated by the teacher who presented the lesson because it gives them the opportunity to focus on various strengths and challenges of the lesson and ask for input from the group. We all liked the idea of sharing our expertise and we are excited about having this opportunity this year. What didn't work well for us? Not all lessons require “high prep” and comprehensive feedback. We should try share small strategies in the form of short clips. We often noticed the end result of learning that occurred in a series of lessons – so maybe shorter, significant clips over a couple of weeks in a “time laps” fashion might provide a different approach compared to videoing one standard lesson. What do we want for 2013? We are really excited about understanding how to use lesson scripts in our planning? Understanding more about how, why and when to assess? This might also inform our thinking about various methods of differentiation. Last but not least we also feel strongly about understanding the impact of the social curriculum on learning. Our immediate goal is to come together next week and bring ideas about how we can use iPad apps or other forms of IT to support us in a differentiated lesson. For now we are brainstorming how exactly we want to approach the various aspects that capture our interests.