BIT15

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In our session today, +Michelle Booth and I shared our learning journeys using digital tools (D2L ePortfolio and Blogger) to create professional portfolios. We examined portfolios as reflection-in-action (on going) and reflection-on-action (showcasing).  It is not a one or other thing - I personally use blog feeds to curate, capture, and reflect and pages within Blogger for portfolio building. The image to the right is a live shot taken while presenting as a way to demonstrate the ease of adding artifacts. Check out our Slide Deck below:


After our session I went to the Learning Space area to talk about Periscope in the classroom - an app that allows for real-time broadcasting and social sharing. The discussion was vibrant and thought-provoking. My biggest 'ah-ha' was the need for digital citizenship to be embedded within decision making in the classroom as it happens. Discussions of the pros and cons of apps and digital tools are necessary for students to become thoughtful and responsible consumers and creators in the digital world. 
As I think about a recent Google Hangout we had with another class last week, I now see the need to revisit and discuss the benefits of this tools as well as possible safety and privacy considerations.  

Next session:
Inquiring Minds are Worth More Than Marks SLIDE DECK
"If it looks like chaos and sounds like chaos it must be deep learning!"
Tool to check out: Answer Garden - creates a wordle!



CLOSING KEYNOTE:  HOW? by Heidi Siwak

I am still digesting this one --- I need some more time to delve into her website and synthesize my thinking. It was humbling and inspiring to see a fellow Ontario educator so on the mark. 

Here are just a few of my favourite tidbits:
"When I grow up I want to be a really great thinker." Grade 6 student
Integrative thinking - Rotman School of Management ithink.commons.hwdsb.on.ca

Classroom as a lab
- inquiry
- design thinking
- knowledge building
- integrative thinking (think about complexity- tensions as art supplies)

How will students cope?
-thrive
-create flourishing systems

Pathways to entrenchment? - reached a conclusion through testing, assessment ... no more thinking required!

What do you teach?
-6 Cs
-leverage the curriculum (use curriculum to create experience for students to develop insight on what it means to think)
-our models are incomplete and they prevent us from seeing the full picture
-we seek to confirm what is true rather than dis-confirm

"Yes AND" instead of yes BUT ~ building a collaborative culture
Idea diversity 

Ladder of Inference post ... 

Causal models - what caused that? and what caused that? and what caused that? explore complexity

Books to Read:
Opposable Mind and Thinking Fast and Slow

All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury (short story)

Other Resources:
- Assess Genius Hour With GAFE Tools
- Redefining the Math Classroom

Lanyard - BIT15 session overviews

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