Week 6: 1 Learning Circles Teachers' Guide

Abdesalam_Zouita - Nov 6, 2009 1:33 pm (14.1)
Dear Sheikha,
Well done. It is to the point summary of the of the teacher guide.
Abdesalam



Sheikha_Al-Ajmi - Nov 7, 2009 11:09 pm (14.1.1)
Hi Abdesalam
Thanks for your nice words, it's always a pleasure to see your comments.
Sheikha



Abdesalam_Zouita - Nov 6, 2009 1:30 pm (16.)
Dear and dearest colleagues and moderators,
I have been experiencing a slow connection this week, besides an extra work to get my students on the real truck of the program; I have been exploring every single page to make sure I have not missed any particular points of the project procedures.

It is breathtaking. There is extraordinary large amount of information that iEARN stuff, and coordinators have accumulated about learning circles along these years. I cannot believe it, every question about the process I may adopt gradually with my students is provided in details. It started by registration to saying goodbye covering all the sixth phases of the learning circle projects. I follow all the available links starting by the frequent asked questions. The checklist in each phase is very important reminder. there are countless topics, including: materials, structure cross-classroom, schedules, themes selection, forums, publications, timeline , to name but a few.

In addition, I have download the possible information I may need while working on a learning circle project. Sometimes, I felt that some data is repeated purposefully to make the explorer of the website navigate the pages smoothly. It took me at least three days. I may suggest that there should be some particular focused questions or activities to illicit the main thoughts of the website. This may perhaps help teachers grasp the main targeted notions.

This learning circle guide describe many reimbursements for both student and teachers, which makes the sense of the field of teaching and learning self-motivating. It supplies for wide perspectives to understand differences and similarities for its open cooperative learning environment.

I have learned techniques that I need to use with the students participating in this kind of projects and how to narrow or widen their expectations carefully on the net. There should be a reasonable regular planning for getting connected and submitting emails.
What I liked most is the recurring recommendations to connect the project to our local syllabus.
Abdesalam



tubi_naz - Nov 6, 2009 8:41 pm (16.1)
Phew! absolutely up to the mark, you are really a keen observer, active learner as well as a co-operative peer,



Abdesalam_Zouita - Nov 8, 2009 4:11 am (16.1.1)
Tubi,
Thanks so much for your continuous reading of my post. I do appreciate it very much.
Abdesalam



Kheira_Mezough - Nov 8, 2009 2:47 pm (16.2)
Here you are Abdesalam;
It is an hour to be at the service of committed educators like you and our course mates.
I switch from a forum to another, and I keep your questions in mind, so I prefer to answer you here.
Well the topics I launched were:
A good book to read: The Courage to Teach.
My Project new idea: Born to be an Artist.
But unfortunately I got no answer from online colleagues.
Regards



Zehra_Gheewala - Nov 8, 2009 2:58 am (19.)
Hello,
I have been reading the teacher's guide and have confusion. I was thinking about doing the project called Special Places. I cannot see how I can have a learning circle involvement to complete this project. The way I see it, the students will bring a picture of their favorite place. In class, they will describe it and finally post it on the net. How can i include the learning circle into this process?
Thank you
Zehra




Abdesalam_Zouita - Nov 8, 2009 4:01 am (19.1)
Dear Zahra,
If you go back to the description of learning circles, you will understand that it is possible to implement your project of describing a picture as far as they are other 6 to 8 teachers who are sharing the same projects. However, you have to agree which picture to describe. As I see it, there should be a common picture pr topic among these teachers. By the end of the project, the entire student’s production will be published.
Abdesalam




Zehra_Gheewala - Nov 8, 2009 5:24 am (19.1.1)
Dear Abdesalam,
I am confused about the information I need from the other teachers. Are we not supposed to collect different types of information from all the different members of the learning circle? Then this information must come together as a complete project. It is not the purpose of a learning circle to get the same type of information from everyone.
Zehra


Abdesalam_Zouita - Nov 8, 2009 5:51 am (19.1.1.1)
Dear Zahra,
You do not need to collect any information. A moderator would set the teachers in a suitable group. It can be primary school, junior high school, or high school… When you know your group, you need to write an introductory message, later, you need to fill in a survey about your school and students. It could be in online (blog, wiki, yahoo, Google, flicker…), PowerPoint, or word format. You need to share it with the whole group. Then, there is a convenient agenda to go after to implement your project …
I hope this would help. Are there any questions, you would like to know?




Kheira_Mezough - Nov 8, 2009 2:30 pm (21.)
Hello all,
Frankly speaking, the learning circles teachers guide provides us with all the necessary details to develop our project and even inspires us for new projects.
It is so well elaborated that it requires to be read many times. I unconsciously stopped at every single step and recommendation to think how I could link it to my project, as it gave me great ideas to develop my new project idea "Born to be an Artist" that exactly fits the Learning Circles Project.

I like the guide in the sense that it leaves the teacher to decide though it lists steps and recommendations. There is a sort of autonomy in planning.

Learning Circles Teachers Guide prepares us both to join the Learning Circles and develop our project plan.
I really feel the need to read it once more to develop my reflection paper.
Rgards

Kheira



Abdesalam_Zouita - Nov 8, 2009 3:02 pm (21.1)
Dear Kheira,
Wow!
So ambitious ideas! Similar to their beholder!
Provoking thoughts “Born to be artist” I understand that art is an endowment. It would give a chance to students to dig deeply in their hidden thoughts for the appropriate skill, the one they feel they will excel at. It is a sense of building leadership skills. Students will be motivated to write about their abilities and how, why they are good at it!
Abdesalam


Kheira_Mezough - Nov 9, 2009 2:17 am (21.1.1)
Thanks a lot Abdesalam,
I just care to create an autonomous learning environment and that is the key of a successful global education I believe.
Kheira