THINK+Presentations

toc OTEPOTI ICTPD THINK Conference 24 July 2010

[|Conference Poster] 

What can we do to encourage our students to //be// good thinkers? How can we set up learning environments that deepen and strengthen student thinking? This session examined a number of simple but effective means of educating for thinking by building thinking into the everyday teaching and learning culture. By employing thought-encouraging questions, a thinking-encouraging attitude and thinking phrases and routines, you can extend your ability to discern, describe, teach and assess quality student thinking. 

** Practical Techniques for a Thinking Classroom **
In this session we practised using some of the techniques from the Keynote. We used thinking phrases to create a thoughtful ‘written discussion’ and practised asking and answering thought-encouraging questions. [|Suzie Vesper's blog post on Clinton's presentation to the Petone ICT Cluster]

Inquiry Learning Models underpinning the Whole Framework[[image:Jean.JPG align="right"]]
Jean reviewed some basics of the functions of the human brain and then explored what a concept is and teaching for understanding of concepts. Understanding by Design was explained as understanding a concept through it's binary opposite- rather than focusing on 'The Commonwealth Games' we could focus on 'Success and Failure' through the context of the Commonwealth Games. She also discussed the trap that Inquiry Models can lead us into when the model drives teaching and learning rather than the understandings, needs of the children and what is appropriate to the discipline we are working in and the question/s we are exploring. [|ThinkShop] [|Jean's Blog]

Assessing Prior Knowledge - a foundation for Inquiry Learning[[image:Spoons.JPG align="right"]]
This session involved practical activities to assess students understandings and prior knowledge of concepts (binary opposites). It looked like a lot of fun with excellent strategies to involve students in reviewing their own understanding of concepts as these developed over time and for teachers to assess these changes in understanding.

Making ICT Fun and Effective in Junior Rooms [[image:Jill.JPG align="right"]]
Jill offered many practical ways to use ICT in the Junior Classroom that are not only enjoyable and rewarding for students but target and enhance learning and enable Junior Classroom students to create meaningful work and take responsibility for their own learning. Read about Jill's suggestions on Jill's online spaces below.

Jill's Junior Classes Resource Wiki [|Jill's Blog] Jill's Thinking Wiki