Our teachers started the new school year with iPads in hand, ready to explore, as adult learners, in order to find ways to continue to improve the learning at Greystone. One of the areas we are developing is finding ways to make student learning public to our families and our community. We know that when students are sharing their learning beyond the walls of the classroom – that the level of engagement and the quality of work is improved. The work becomes more meaningful to students as they are sharing it with a larger audience.
I wanted to explore this a little bit with a grade 6 class I spent time with yesterday. I talked to them about doing some quality work – some pictures and words to share with others outside of our school about what it means to learn at Greystone. I told them that we would be making some chalk drawings on the front sidewalk so that the rest of the school could see their ideas – and also, parents who came in and out of the school would hopefully notice their work. This seemed to turn the activity into something more important than simply doodling on the front sidewalk.
The students asked how long these pictures and words would last out front – as the clouds were rolling in. I told them I would take pictures with my iPad so that we would have the pictures for as long as they wanted.I also told them that I would share their pictures not only with their teachers, but with all of them,their families and even the world through our school website and via Twitter. We then got into a short conversation about how Twitter can be used to connect with so many others from across Canada and even around the world. This seemed to make the task even more appealing to the students!
Students worked in small groups brainstorming a symbol that would represent our school and a message to go with their symbol – which they created on a rough draft. Ideas like Endless Learning, Anything Can Happen When You Try, Greystone Gives You Wings, and We Grow at Greystone came from the kids. They were excited to get outside and bring their ideas to life on the front sidewalk of our school. Unfortunately, the only thing that got in our way was time, and we ran out of it so a few groups did not get finished. As predicted the rain came in the afternoon and washed away all of their work…but the process of brainstorming, collaborating, designing and creating in order to share their ideas with a larger audience was successful. Thanks Learning Community 6A – it was awesome working with you on this!
~Carolyn Cameron
Awesome work, 6A – you jazzed up the front of the school beautifully! I am so excited to grow with you at GCMS!
Congratualtions. This is brilliant and empowers the students.
Checking in from Plymouth, MA – Home of the Pilgrims and Mayflower. Looks like you have a great school. I hope you have an excellent school year!!
Hello Principal Cameron and students of Greystone. My name is Simon McKenzie and I have been a high school teacher for 30 years. I am writing to you from the Gold Coast, Queensland in Australia. Although I teach much older students in their final year of high school, they too enjoy using their Apple MacBooks. This post is coming from my iPad, which is easily my prized possession. Great to see your very creative chalk drawings … And I hope you’re pleased to know that they made it all the way to Australia! I found them via a tweet from Mr. Couros of psd70. I am the Learning Technologies Coordinator at my school … You can find me on Twitter @appsataquinas
I hope you’re enjoying being back at school. For my school it is only two more weeks till holidays begin … Though I will be going with some on a trip to our sister school in Indonesia. Keep publishing to your worldwide audience; I’m certainly keen to know what you do next.
Looks great, we’re from Airdrie, Alberta Canada, looks like we did something similar (you can see our photos here) http://www.flickr.com/photos/madamewiebe/sets/72157631436294824/show
It is awesome to see how your work is being shared not only in your community, but with the community abroad. So many people can be inspired by your words of wisdom and the character that you are showing. Thank you Greystone for sharing! Keep it up
George Couros
Division Principal
Parkland School Division
Looks awesome, from Erin Public School in Erin, Ontario, home of the Eagles and a school full of bucket fillers! What a great way to connect to us to your physical space.
Wow! There are so many reasons why I am proud to work at Greystone, but the biggest reason is the amazing students we get to work with. What thoughtful and powerful messages you shared with everyone and now you are sharing with the world. Our whole school is proud o fthe work you have done!
Jesse McLean
School Support Coordinator
Greystone Centennial Middle School
Spruce Grove, AB
This activity has community written all over it (and not in chalk that washes away either
. Please let your students know that I learned a lot about the wonderful school they attend because of the drawings they put on the sidewalk.
Mr. C
NoelTigers.com
Thank you LC6A and Mrs. Cameron for sharing your incredible messages from yesterday! You have reflected and captured what we believe in and value as a school community and shared this with others who will be inspired by your words! You are such a thoughtful and collaborative community of learners and I am looking forward to another awesome year of learning with you!
~ Mrs. Lachman
Great to see the mix of technology and outdoor activities
Great job! Any school would look better with some sidewalk art.
Well done 6A! You did an amazing job representing what learning at Greystone looks like. I am the lucky one to see your creativity, imagination, and exploration come alive everyday in the classroom.
[...] and “support” that came from our organization. We are looking at focusing on making learning visible, from not just educators, but more importantly, our students. We are looking forward to a great [...]
I love the practice of making student’s learning public and I especially loved how you introduced this idea with your students via the sidewalk chalk, the pics and the post. I’ll look forward to seeing what other big (and little) ideas your students share.