LINQ Session 3-3: Selected Workshop “Supporting Literacy”

LINQ Session 3-3: Selected Workshop “Supporting Literacy”

A Teacher Cohort Model for Supporting Literacy Across Disciplines

13th of May 2015 (LINQ Conference day 2): 11:30 – 13:00 in Room Böll/Lasker

Facilitators: Amee Evans Godwin, Cynthia Jimes (both: ISKME, USA)

 

Description of the interactive Workshop Session:

The purpose of this workshop is to demonstrate ISKME’s OER model that supports cohorts of teachers in collaboratively creating cross-curricular lessons focused on building students’ literacy skills. Working in groups of three to four, participants will walk through the collaborative lesson-building process using a lesson template, curated OER, professional learning resources, and authoring tools on OER Commons. ISKME will draw on extant research and theory around curriculum integration, and facilitate a series of hands-on activities and small group breakout discussions to engage participants in the collaborative model. The outcome of the workshop for participants will be increased understanding of the ways that OER contributes to collaborative curriculum development practices among teachers, which in turn support “deeper learning” for students – specifically by incorporating the study of multiple disciplines to read texts closely, think critically, and build evidence-based arguments.

 

 

Set-up of the Workshop Session:

Welcome and agenda

  • Introduce ISKME and our work (powerpoint)
  • Brief participant introductions and what they hope to get out of the workshop (verbal discussion)
  • Review of workshop agenda by ISKME (powerpoint)

Setting the stage

  • Participant icebreaker on collaboration: Participants interview the person next to them to capture an example of collaborative curriculum practice, and what was learned from it. Group share out by volunteers (verbal discussion captured on flip chart paper by facilitators)
  • Brief discussion of ISKME’s model of collaboration, and what we mean by collaboration in the context of OER (powerpoint)

Examining an integrated lesson exemplar

  • Brief presentation by ISKME of an “exemplary” integrated OER lesson, and how the lesson is centered around a central “anchor” resource (powerpoint)
  • Participants review/read the integrated math/language arts/science lesson exemplar (to be printed)
  • Cohorts (groups of three) discuss the lesson and what makes it exemplary (prompts provided to cohorts)

Introduction to the collaborative lesson template

  • ISKME walks participants through the lesson template, and explain how it was developed (powerpoint)

Walk-through of supporting resource tools for building integrated lessons

  • ISKME demos tools and resources on OER Commons to support lesson integration (online demo—Wi-Fi needed)
  • Participants have time to explore the tools and resources on their own (laptops or computers needed—Wi-Fi needed)

Cohort group work using the lesson integration tools and resources

  • Cohorts work in their groups to explore and start using the lesson integration tools (instructions and a hand out provided)
  • Cohorts have specific tasks: a) identify cross disciplinary themes they can imagine teachers could address with a lesson, b) identify an initial essential question for their lesson, and c) identify an idea for an “anchor” resource that could be used for their lesson

Cohort presentations

  • Cohort presentations of decisions from their group work (verbal discussion; plans and key points captured on flip chart paper)

Reflections and close

  • Participants share highlights from the workshop and ask questions (highlights captured on flip chart paper)
  • Discussion of ways that ISKME can support implementation of the collaborative lesson model in participants’ communities; participants identify one step in moving toward integration or use of the model
  • Close by creating a common workgroup on OER Commons that participants join and use as a space to discuss implementation and add lessons and input