Michelle's Letter to Colleagues
Author: NowComment Guides
8 additions to document , most recent over 1 year ago
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| Jul-31-23 | Wording change |
| Jul-31-23 | Wording change |
| Jul-31-23 | Wording change |
| Jul-31-23 | Wording change |
| Jul-31-23 | Wording change |
| Jul-31-23 | Wording change |
| Jul-31-23 | Wording change |
| Jul-31-23 | Wording change |
19 changes, most recent over 1 year ago
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Dear Ms. Brioso and my fellow LUTE-STEM Residents:
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[Recently/ This summer /Last month/This weekend/Over the break…], I participated in a profession professional learning experience with [Name the sponsoring organization or program: e.g. LUTE-STEM/Noyce-STEM/Scratch in Practice/Facing History/The Danielson Group/The New York City Writing Project/Stem4All…] at [Name the institution the organization or program is associated with: e.g. Lehman College/MIT…]. I learned a lot about [Make a list of the educational theories and practices that you were introduced to in these workshops.]Paul and Marina in the Multimodal Literacy Workshop via online synchronous and asynchronous sessions where we learned how to utilize the NowComment platform alone with multiple AI tools such as a text-to-image thinking partner which happened to be my favorite. More importantly, in this technology-dominant society, we learned how to use AI to build on our ideas and help our ideas come to life rather than abuse it to do the work for us. We also learned about Project Based Learning, Sustainable Development Goals, and the Habits of Mind that we should incorporate into our classroom and everyday instruction.
This summer I participated in a professional learning experience with Paul and Marina in the Multimodal Literacy Workshop via online synchronous and asynchronous sessions where we learned how to utilize the NowComment platform alone with multiple AI tools such as a text-to-image thinking partner which happened to be my favorite.
More importantly, in this technology-dominant society, we learned how to use AI to build on our ideas and help our ideas come to life rather than abuse it to do the work for us.
We also learned about Project Based Learning, Sustainable Development Goals, and the Habits of Mind that we should incorporate into our classroom and everyday instruction.
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There was a lot to think about and to consider how to apply in the classroom, and in this letter I’d like to focus on [choose one topic, theory, approach, or idea that you think is important] because [Write a few sentences to explain why you have chosen this. What makes it urgent to try out? What was your own experience in learning this? What do you want students to learn? What is it about your students that makes this particularly apt? Why do you think this will be effective?]the sustainable development goal of "sustainable cities and comminities" because as we teach students in urban comminities, it is crucial that they learn to love and appreciate themselves and the communities they come from. It is also essential that they learn how to become active members of their communities which will together teach them preserverance and empathy as they learn to use their voice and their power to make a change. From my experience, the sense of community was never incorporated in my learning. Being a part of your community was never something that I learned to love because it was never embraced in my schools. Instead they took us out of our comminuties on trips which falsely implies that our community has nothing to offer. Thus learning and being part of the comminuties we teach at is essential for us and our students to aid their development as responsible, empathetic, critical-thinking citizens in the future.
There was a lot to think about and to consider how to apply in the classroom, and in this letter I’d like to focus on the sustainable development goal of "sustainable cities and comminities" because as we teach students in urban comminities, it is crucial that they learn to love and appreciate themselves and the communities they come from.
It is also essential that they learn how to become active members of their communities which will together teach them preserverance and empathy as they learn to use their voice and their power to make a change.
From my experience, the sense of community was never incorporated in my learning.
Being a part of your community was never something that I learned to love because it was never embraced in my schools.
Instead they took us out of our comminuties on trips which falsely implies that our community has nothing to offer.
Thus learning and being part of the comminuties we teach at is essential for us and our students to aid their development as responsible, empathetic, critical-thinking citizens in the future.
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I would like to propose that we [Describe the learning activity that you want to do with the students. Write this brief overview of the task in one or two sentences. This should be an activity conducted in a school setting with one or more students. It should take between 15 and 60 minutes to complete.]can do is to participate in community walks where as a class we take a walk around our community. During the walk, students can identify problems in their community and then brainstorm solutions in the classroom. They can also identify the positives in their community and what it has to offer. They can then bring these solutions to life and create public products to communicate these solutions to their community and even councilman/other members of politics. We can also identify resources from our community offers and then create another accessible public product for our community. Thus, with community walks students can learn to appreciate their community while also learning to make it more sustainable in terms of change and learning to be leaders that influence change.
I would like to propose that we can do is to participate in community walks where as a class we take a walk around our community.
During the walk, students can identify problems in their community and then brainstorm solutions in the classroom.
They can also identify the positives in their community and what it has to offer.
They can then bring these solutions to life and create public products to communicate these solutions to their community and even councilman/other members of politics.
We can also identify resources from our community offers and then create another accessible public product for our community.
Thus, with community walks students can learn to appreciate their community while also learning to make it more sustainable in terms of change and learning to be leaders that influence change.
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To do this we will need [Make a list of the materials you will need. Your activity can be unplugged or computer/tablet based activity/task. If computer/tablet-based, indicate types of tech tools/platforms students will use. For example: Presentation Software, Voice Recording App or Web Site, Image Library, Video Recording App or Web Site.]specific activity, not much is needed. One thing I would like to incorporate is that some of the students have access to their iPads so that they can record memorable things they would like to bring and show in our class discussion. Also, most likely a notebook where students can record issues or resources they saw or learned about in our community walks that we can later develop into public products that will require more materials depending on what the students are creating such as a poster, documentary, or e-book.
To do this specific activity, not much is needed.
One thing I would like to incorporate is that some of the students have access to their iPads so that they can record memorable things they would like to bring and show in our class discussion.
Also, most likely a notebook where students can record issues or resources they saw or learned about in our community walks that we can later develop into public products that will require more materials depending on what the students are creating such as a poster, documentary, or e-book.
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The students will be making [Be specific about the modes and media you will have available for student to use. What choices will they be able to make? What media do you expect students to use in this activity?]reflections on their community walks on a consistent basis. When they begin to share the problem they would like to solve. They can each vote on one issue they would like to focus on. Based on the issue they would like to focus on, the class will be split into groups to come up with a solution. Afterward, the students will again vote on the best solution and then build and develop a prototype or physical example that they can show their audience. Then, they will decide on a public product in order to communicate this solution. If the students want to communicate a resource of their community, I expect them to create a poster, brochure, or video where they inform their audience about this resource. However, before, they would have to take pictures, research, and write several pieces (journaling or creative poems) about this resource. Therefore, the community walks will eventually develop into Project Based Learning activities that will take weeks to develop and complete however, the community walks are the foundation of the PBL and educating students about sustainable communities.
The students will be making reflections on their community walks on a consistent basis.
When they begin to share the problem they would like to solve.
They can each vote on one issue they would like to focus on.
Based on the issue they would like to focus on, the class will be split into groups to come up with a solution.
Afterward, the students will again vote on the best solution and then build and develop a prototype or physical example that they can show their audience.
Then, they will decide on a public product in order to communicate this solution.
If the students want to communicate a resource of their community, I expect them to create a poster, brochure, or video where they inform their audience about this resource.
However, before, they would have to take pictures, research, and write several pieces (journaling or creative poems) about this resource.
Therefore, the community walks will eventually develop into Project Based Learning activities that will take weeks to develop and complete however, the community walks are the foundation of the PBL and educating students about sustainable communities.
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Here’s how I think we might introduce this activity. We could give these directions to the students: [Write the step-by-step directions you will be giving the students. Be sure to write this section to the students: e.g. First, you should… After that, you will see that… Tell the students when they will be expected to work alone and when they will need to work with other students.]
First, I will have a class discussion on the community. I will also show the students pictures of their community and have a discussion on specific places in their community. Then I will introduce the term community walk and ask the students what they think that means. Next, I will explain to them what a community walk is and what they will do on their community walk. What they should pay attention to? (problem or resource they notice). Then we will together plan when we should take one.
Here’s how I think we might introduce this activity.
We could give these directions to the students:
First, I will have a class discussion on the community. I will also show the students pictures of their community and have a discussion on specific places in their community. Then I will introduce the term community walk and ask the students what they think that means. Next, I will explain to them what a community walk is and what they will do on their community walk. What they should pay attention to? (problem or resource they notice). Then we will together plan when we should take one.
I would also propose that the students give each other feedback on their work. They could use this checklist to self-assess and to give each other feedback:
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When voting for the best problem or solution, students will be expected to write why they made that decision.
Additionally, throughout the process of creating the public product, students are also giving each other oral feedback in terms of decision-making and deciding what is best for the final outcome.
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This activity should take at least [add the number of minutes it will take here] 45 minutes to complete, which should allow time for productive struggle. However, since this activity will develop into a PBL, it can several weeks to complete. To encourage persistence, I think we might [Describe how you might encourage students and give them opportunities to revise and resubmit their work.]give each other feedback on if their solution can last a long time and if it is practical in our community. The students will encounter difficulties along the way, therefore, after all this knowledge, they can revisit their work to see if they would change anything.
This activity should take at least 45 minutes to complete, which should allow time for productive struggle.
However, since this activity will develop into a PBL, it can several weeks to complete.
To encourage persistence, I think we might give each other feedback on if their solution can last a long time and if it is practical in our community.
The students will encounter difficulties along the way, therefore, after all this knowledge, they can revisit their work to see if they would change anything.
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When they have finished this activity, I would be great if we could ask the students to write and talk about how they used one of these Habits of Mind.
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Questioning and Posing Problems
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Persisting
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Taking Responsible Risks
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Thinking Interdependently
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I will also use these Habits of Mind to give the students both written and oral feedback while they are working and once the finish their work!
Thank you for taking the time to consider this proposal. I hope you see how valuable this activity could be for our students. Please let me know if you have any revisions that I might consider for this activity. I look forward to working with you on this.
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