Let the Discoveries Begin

Discovery Time in Year 1

Well Friday maked our first Discovery Time!!

It was a great experience of learning and thinking on our feet :)

We begun the two hour block with all 62 Year 1 kiddies together and talked about how things were going to take place:

1. For the first 20-40 mins of each Friday we will come together and have an expert research skills workshop run by the teachers to begin with and then some kids later on. We will discuss how to search for information using different tools on the computers, iPads and books.

- today I introduced them to duckduckgo search engine. They love it!! Was great to model how to search using it and what to do when we find some information. We discussed what is 'key information', what was 'extra information' and what was 'silly information'. This then brought us to the conversation of relevant and trust worthy information and rubbish information. We talked about how we can all be authors on the Internet so we need to be careful where and what information we use :) I used the example of myself going on to Wikipedia and saying that rockets are made of popcorn and posting it. They all thought this was very funny.... But they got the idea!!
- We talked about what happens if we come across a word we doing know?? They came up with solutions like cut and paste into a new search and find out what it is, use e dictionary on line and real dictionary, ask a friend and ask the teacher. Pretty good problem solvers :)
- we came across some hyperlinks and once again branched out to a discussion about these.

The amount of incidental and unplanned learning that took place was incredible and truly uplifting for me!! I honestly didn't know what or how it was going to work out!!

Any suggestions for future workshops???

2. Talking Circles

Each week students will get into talking circles and talk about what they accomplished in the last discovery time. They can ask questions and seek clarification from peers and teachers.

3. Self reflection for 5mins to set goals for the session.

4. Continue independent discovery - reasech, note taking, conferencing, making and presenting.

In the class of 31 I had I think the following is a pretty accurate account of the fourth step of our first discovery.

10 students off and running fully independent and self guided.... Yay!!!

8-10 students needed help to get started and on track and then were off and working.

6 students needed more support and direction as to what and how they were going to use their time.

5-8 students had no idea what was happening or what day it was!! :)

All in all pretty good!!! Much better than I expected!! :)

Issues
- not enough computers or iPads for those students who were still gathering information.
- need more instruction as to how to highlight and identify key information from books or printed information. Leading to summarizing key points and note taking.
- management of the 'no idea' kiddies :)

Possible actioning
- the reseaching and research skills will be built upon on Monday Technology Centre time :)
- hopefully this will emlimate the need for heaps of computers for research on Fridays!!

Well that's a wrap from me about discovery for this week. Heaps of little remarkable moments takng place!! Awaiting approval to add pictures on her. Can't wait to share them with you all!!

Any suggestions please comment!!

Keep your eyes open for remarkable moments....

Xoxo
A