Re-thinking learning for the 21st Century
Written by Andrew McNiven
After our second F2F at the York school, I switched gears on my action plan to focus on the immediate need of appropriately and effectively using a tracking system for observations and conversations in my class. In years past, I mostly did these on the fly, through memory, and if I did write things down, […]
Written by Andrew McNiven
My round two in cohort is going to take a very different direction. Certainly I’ve been grappling with this issue since the last time but it has never been more present in my teaching experience than this year. This is a picture of the Stanley History Wing at Ridley: A beautiful hallway of five classrooms […]
Written by Andrew McNiven
For the first time, I’m planning on making it through the entire academic year without lecturing any content. No powerpoints, prezis, slidedecks or keynotes. I’m substituting whatever shred of traditional methodologies I had left in favour of experiential and activity-based learning. So far, it’s worked decently well… I think. I’m still waiting on some major […]
Written by Andrew McNiven
I want to start out with a big shout-out to everyone who has gone on this journey with me this year in the Cohort. Teaching is the most rewarding career and one that can both make me pull my hair out, shoot coffee, and yet go to bed with a smile on my face at […]
Written by Andrew McNiven
Mind the pun. Coming to a cohort face to face session is bittersweet. It’s amazing and confusing all at once. I am re-energized yet exhausted at the same time. I’m inspired by the dedication and pursuit of excellence by my colleagues and yet critical of my own progress. I am leaving with a wealth of […]
Written by Andrew McNiven
Much has been accomplished with my radio show idea and I have begun the implementation of all of the planning with my class. Officially we are 4 classes into the project (unofficially, we have been building up to it for a month). In short, the details of my task are as follows: Students were divided […]
Written by Andrew McNiven
One month later and off on a new tangent. Well.. kind of. Ideas in my head are swirling about the possibility of building in tiered challenges (as I spoke about in the previous post), providing one day per topic where I actually do direct instruction and discussion, and framing this in a year-long project of […]
Written by Andrew McNiven
I couldn’t wait to start to plan out my initiative for this year when I came home from the conference on Saturday so I buried myself in my thoughts (and my laptop) for the rest of the day and most of Sunday. Here is what i’ve come up with: I am proposing to deliver my […]
Written by Andrew McNiven
Wow, day one at Cohort 21. I didn’t know what to expect when I initially agreed to come into the group but I’m glad I have and I’m already better for it. Started by adding tweet deck, diigo, google hangout, and Kahoot tools to my arsenal (things that were not on my horizon at all). […]
Written by Andrew McNiven
Welcome to Cohort 21. This is the first post on your new blog. This journal is an integral part of your Cohort 21 experience. Here you will reflect, share and collaborate as you move through the C21 learning cycle towards your action plan. Cohort 21 is a unique professional development opportunity open to CIS Ontario […]
