Inquiry based learning/HUMANITIES PAGE
Exploring Our Local Neighbourhood
Our topic of inquiry encouraged students to get out and about in their local community.
To begin the unit we focused on developing our geographical knowledge, including tuning in to 'old school' means of mapping (atlases and maps) and more modern means (google maps, GPS).
After a few smaller tasks where students demonstrated their understanding of BOLTSS.
The next step was hitting the pavement and actually looking at the local environment! The students worked in partners, recorded their journey on a paper map whilst taking photos and video of anything they thought would be useful for their presentation.
The students identified which activities they wanted to investigate further. We discussed the various ways we could present our findings - inserting photos over a map of the walk and annotating or using their video as the 'backdrop' for their movie. The rest has been left in their hands!
To begin the unit we focused on developing our geographical knowledge, including tuning in to 'old school' means of mapping (atlases and maps) and more modern means (google maps, GPS).
After a few smaller tasks where students demonstrated their understanding of BOLTSS.
The next step was hitting the pavement and actually looking at the local environment! The students worked in partners, recorded their journey on a paper map whilst taking photos and video of anything they thought would be useful for their presentation.
The students identified which activities they wanted to investigate further. We discussed the various ways we could present our findings - inserting photos over a map of the walk and annotating or using their video as the 'backdrop' for their movie. The rest has been left in their hands!
Assessment:
Whilst there will be a focus on the content, I am also looking at HOW they are using the various resources they have on hand. I came across this website which helps you to create an assessment rubric ... so this is also what I will be using when discussing presentations with each of the groups.
Whilst there will be a focus on the content, I am also looking at HOW they are using the various resources they have on hand. I came across this website which helps you to create an assessment rubric ... so this is also what I will be using when discussing presentations with each of the groups.
The purpose of this rubric is to see:
- how students are using the technology, whether there is a need for some techsperts within the class to share their knowledge;
- whether students are happy to showcase some of their work as exemplars to others (teachers and students);
- address any areas where we need more technical support to 'make something work'.
I created an example of a presentation using Keynote. Because it isn't too different to PowerPoint there are not a lot of new skills which need to be learnt. By using Keynote and inserting a QR Code to a short movie I created, I was hoping to get the students thinking in a different way.
Here it it: Keynote or PDF below:
Here it it: Keynote or PDF below:
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When the students present their work we are going to set it up as a gallery. We are going to borrow a few Interactive Whiteboards, some Apple TVs and set them up around the learning space. Students will be encouraged to walk between the different 'exhibits' and then provide some constructive criticism - both to the students who have presented as well as to me ... about the unit of work, the assessment task, how they presented their work.
Here are two examples of the students work - one completed in PowerPoint and another in Keynote (and then saved as a PowerPoint).
Here are two examples of the students work - one completed in PowerPoint and another in Keynote (and then saved as a PowerPoint).
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.