Sister Macnamara

Creating a Culture of Innovation

scornwell Group 2, Participant Post ,
“If we want to create a culture of innovation, we must first focus on furthering our own learning and growth.”  George Courus
So here I am, writing my first blog -which shouldn’t be that hard for me because I always have lots to say 🙂  But here I am the night before our next session, trying to put into words what this whole “innovation mindset” opportunity has done for me so far.
First off, I was thrilled to have been chosen to be one of the leaders with a colleague and friend from my school 🙂 I didn’t know much about it until I got the book and started reading. I was hooked right away, as it was just the kind of new direction I was looking for. I had been feeling that I was missing something in my teaching and in my classroom and I was searching for something different to bring to my learners. So this opportunity came at the perfect time for me.
Relationships, relationships, relationships are definitely something I have always felt are so important to develop with my learners and the people I work with.  I realize now that is a good start, but I need to now use that to my advantage to empower them. The part about engagement and empowerment was an “aha moment” for me.  I was spending too much time trying to engage them instead of giving them the reins to be empowered.  That being said I saw what empowerment can really do just last week 🙂
I had been putting off using ipads in my classroom as I wasn’t quite sure how I wanted to use them in my classroom. But last week I decided to sign out our ipads from the library (we share 4 between 3 classrooms).  I still wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do with them but I wasn’t waiting any longer to jump in.  I have to say I was blown away with what my students came up with, with not much help from me:)
I have one learner in my class who is probably one of the most energetic, creative kids I have ever met. He builds all kinds of cool things with whatever he finds in the classroom. He is obsessed with coding and Lego and he comes up with the most imaginative stories … but he has extreme difficulty writing anything down on paper. I have to come up with other ways to assess his learning and he isn’t always cooperative.  So he saw the ipads on my desk and ask if he could use one. I asked him what he wanted to use it for. He said he wanted to make a video with his classmate. I said sure … make a video.
Well … he made a video all right. I few of them, and even one for me because it was my birthday. He used the Stikbot app and had these little Stikbot figures and it  was so amazing.  At that moment “I got it” as I watched him so proud of his work and how eager he was to show myself and all his peers. (I also showed numerous teachers in the staffroom over lunch hour the cool things my kids came up with, because I was proud of them too).
So I am rambling here, but it was a really great day in my classroom for students to feel empowered. I have known him since grade 2 and he is now in grade 6 and he has come so far 🙂  There were other learners that did some great work on the ipads as well, on apps they had never used before too. Math videos about patterning using explain everything and an iMovie thriller. The energy in the room was so positive and contagious. I wish I would have had more ipads to go around.
Well my students have definitely inspired me to keep learning more about technology and not to be afraid to just jump in and learn together. They are teaching me so much!
I am exciting for this journey, and it has only just begun. Thank you for this opportunity. I am looking forward to learning and growing and sharing with my colleagues.
As for twitter … still a work in progress 🙂
Michele Hallson
Grade 6 at Sister MacNamara
Cluster 1965

ITLL Blog Post

scornwell Group 2, Leader Post ,

I went into the first session with George Couros with an open mind – not knowing what to expect but looking forward to learning, both with a friend and colleague from my school, and with colleagues from across the division.

As the day went on, I became more and more inspired and motivated to do more in my classroom – but I was also pleasantly surprised in my realization that I AM already providing some pretty great opportunities for my students to be innovative.

Going into the PD in March, my class (grade 3) and another class (grade 4/5) were just finishing up a project in collaboration with an Engineering student from the University of Manitoba. We were fortunate to receive a Science grant in order to work with this student. Our students were able to visit the Faculty of Engineering, see a young, future Engineer in her workspace, and create alongside her.  They then took that learning back to the school.  The students worked in groups to create structures that were to withstand both an “earthquake” and an “Angry Birds Attack”. The students were to follow criteria, which they created, in order to build a model of a Winnipeg landmark building. Every single bit of this project was student-driven.   In their groups they created plans, problem solved, adapted plans, made blue-prints, and created amazing, intricate structures. Some examples include the Human Rights Museum, The Forks Tower, Silver City Polo Park, and Hotel Fort Garry. Our Engineering mentor came to our school to visit, motivate, and give advice.  My colleague and I acted merely as supervisors. We circulated, provided supplies, reminded of criteria when necessary – but the bottom line was that our students were creating, our students were directing their learning. It was loud, it was messy, and it took a long time. There were about 43 kids in one room at once, and things were getting done! Every group finished with a well-done, thoroughly planned and executed design project. They learned what it means to be Engineers and Architects. The sense of pride and excitement was obvious. It was a great, great project.

Now, when I went into our first session with George Couros I was thinking that project was done. Spring Break was coming – what I wanted “done” by Spring Break was right on schedule. However, this session screwed up my plans…in a good way! Now it is time to somehow bring some technological pieces into this project. I don’t know exactly how yet – but I was very intrigued by the “photo a day” video. This project was such a big part of the kids’ school year – it would be great for them to be able to create their own video keepsake to remind them of their first experience as Engineers – I think I will bring that to the table and set them loose with the iPads!

I am not the most tech-savvy person – but I am looking forward to becoming more aware of what is out there. I never, ever thought that I would have a Twitter account. To be honest, I have not used it a lot since our first session – but now with this idea to extend the learning from this project, I believe I will reach out to the Twitter-verse and find out just how to use that photo a day app – or something along those lines – I’m still learning. J

Leslie Marnoch

Sister MacNamara

SchoolCluster 1965