Q: What do you get when you mix 8th and 9th grade students with laptop computers, a social media platform, and an engaging work of nonfiction?
Thanks to a grant from the
High Aims Consortium, nearly 300 of West Clermont's 8th and 9th grade English students participated in our first-ever
NING-based book study. Grant money was used to purchase a copies of
A Whole New Mind by best-selling author
Daniel Pink. Document cameras were also purchased to enable teachers to maximize the effectiveness of the book's portfolio exercises during the school day.
Here's how it worked for us. With the help of student Taylor Olmstead, Amelia High School IB English teacher Angie Ferguson created a NING as a place where our students could trade ideas about their reading. English teachers Michelle Dohrmann (Glen Este High School) and Rena Ford (Amelia Middle School) joined Angie, and the three teachers began the online book-study, across grade-levels and campuses. Kids kept pace with each other, reading and discussing each chapter with accompanying portfolio exercises. Laptops were used in class and at home. High-level discussions were the rule of the day! And with nearly 100% student participation, teachers learned that using the NING platform to spark motivation and engagement is the way to go!
Visit us. Sign on to our NING and post a comment. The students would love to hear from you.
Tanny
I have been visiting various blogs for my term papers writing research. I have found your blog to be quite useful. Keep updating your blog with valuable information... Regards
ReplyDelete