Most kids run away from bees, but at Star Academy, they study them! In this post, Gr. 5 student Matthew Verma explains his school’s “What’s the Buzz About Bees?” unit, and why these honey-makers are sweeter than they seem.
Social Networking and Political Action
George Briggs
Can social networking make youth more politically and socially active? This is the question partially answered in a recent California study which suggests that the internet leads to kids becoming more engaged citizens.
“It’s for You” – in School!
George Briggs
In a previous blog post I spoke about the case for using social media in the classroom today and that post elicited a comment regarding the lack of solid evidence that using social media would lead to improved learning. The Metiri Report begins to address this issue.
Are Schools Creative Environments?
George Briggs
Creativity appears to be the attribute that we can develop in kids that will enable us to prepare them for their place in the 21st century. Emerging economies, such as those in China, emphasize rote learning in their education systems and, although they are able to outperform our students in standardized testing in maths and sciences, there is a recognition on their part that their education systems are lacking in developing creative graduates. What then should our education system look like if we want to develop and encourage creativity in kids? Part of the answer to this question comes from Steven Johnson, author of “Where Good Ideas Come From.”
Teaching the History Behind Black History Month
Agnes Stawicki
Who comes to mind when you think of Black History? Slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. or basketball great Jackie Robinson? It’s likely that 80% of students would default to these two names. This ignorance is what motivated Mary Fears, a school librarian, to team up with director Tyrone Young to produce Filling the Gap – a movie that literarily fills the gaps of African-American history.
A Case for Social Media in the Classroom – Today!
George Briggs
Many journalists and Egyptian citizens were on the ground in Tahrir Square and other parts of Cairo and Alexandria – posting on Twitter. Their view of events was markedly different from that presented by the mainstream media (and far more personal). Imagine the types of lessons that could be crafted if students had unfettered access to Twitter in their schools now. Teachers could ask groups of students to follow a specific Twitter feed, and in a collaborative activity have groups prepare a daily summary of events from their ‘correspondent’ on the ground (e.g. Sandmonkey), and share their reports with the class, or indeed the entire school via a blog.
