Innovation is a highly prized ingredient in any high performing school system. I find it interesting then, when government and/or school systems mandate school participation in 'innovation projects' and expect a significant impact on school-wide learning. Contrary to this approach is the idea of ground up innovation, where innovation occurs naturally based on an observed need … Continue reading WeLearn: By Teachers for Teachers (An Organic, Ground Up Innovation)
Do Inquisitive Teachers have more Inquisitive Students?
I have not collected any hard data on this as yet, but since implementing Organic Learning across our school it is becoming increasingly obvious that our students are in fact more inquisitive. Is this as a result of Organic Learning or something else? There are a number of contributing factors to consider in this observed growth in curiosity. Firstly, as part of our … Continue reading Do Inquisitive Teachers have more Inquisitive Students?
Sterile Learning Walls Inhibit Critical and Creative Thinking
Our learning walls were once sterile, but are now becoming more fertile.
Eradicate Ambiguity in Learning by Aligning Processes Using an Organic Learning Rubric
We believe the key to eradicating ambiguity in school-wide learning is to align the learning process for all stakeholders. In our community, this is achieved through the Organic Learning Cycle. The cycle has been developed so that it can be utilised for every aspect of learning in the school whether you are a student, teacher, parent or leader. Our aim … Continue reading Eradicate Ambiguity in Learning by Aligning Processes Using an Organic Learning Rubric
Organic Learning Cycle
Our Organic Learning Cycle has been evolving since 2015. We attribute a lot of our thinking to our learning in Design Thinking. Significant staff changes and participation in system/government improvement projects led us to uncover tensions and ambiguities in our school-wide structures and processes that required critical discernment and creative thinking 'outside the box'. This became an opportunity to create a school research project and 'shake … Continue reading Organic Learning Cycle
Student Metacognition: Using a Competency Rubric to Assess Deep Learning
We are all aware of the dependency on the quantitative collection of student learning and the high stakes associated with it - externalised testing which results in funding, which is tied to further data collection. The cycle continues and grows moss along the way. What about the emotional connection to learning? Can we put a … Continue reading Student Metacognition: Using a Competency Rubric to Assess Deep Learning
Why Self-Determined Learning Should Be The Main Thing
Learning is a lifelong journey, no doubt about it. If ever you get to a point in life when you believe your learning has come to an end, then you may as well lay down in bed and not bother getting out. When you stop learning, you stop living. Covey talked about 'keeping the main … Continue reading Why Self-Determined Learning Should Be The Main Thing
Learning through Hexagonal & Triangular Thinking
So effective learning is effective learning. Visual representations of learning are a powerful way to extract, externalise and extrapolate knowledge into a tangible form in order to make meaning and 'connect the new with what we already knew' (Borthwick 2016). Hexagonal thinking is a process that we use with our learners, young and old, to both convey … Continue reading Learning through Hexagonal & Triangular Thinking
Rubric for Deeper Thinking About Learning
As part of our ongoing school-based research in developing and embedding Organic Learning, we have experienced many instances in which our assumptions were way off the mark (always be aware of your underlying assumptions!). When working with Tom Barrett, we were tinkering with Martin Broadwell's Conscious Competence Learning Model and SOLO Taxonomy originally developed by John Biggs and Kevin Collis. … Continue reading Rubric for Deeper Thinking About Learning
Hexagonal Curriculum Mapping: It Works!
In schools today there are many conflicting agendas that add pressure to the planning and delivery of a quality curriculum that directly meets required syllabus Outcomes. Consciously and competently developing contemporary learning skills is also at the forefront as educators desire to not only use ‘best’ but also ‘next’ practice strategies to build and enhance … Continue reading Hexagonal Curriculum Mapping: It Works!
Organic Learning 