Ferryway 2.0

When the fourth grade students participated in the Biome SRS project this year, they did not have access to computers.  Thus, they were unable to do the in-depth research they conducted the previous year.  As a result, this year’s students did not perform as well on the Final Lost Vertebrates Activity.  This activity requires the students to decide where an “unknown” animal belongs.  Prior knowledge of the animals’ physical adaptations and how they are used to help it survive in their biome is needed to complete this activity.

Having students use the computer to investigate and discover on their own, the connection between the world’s biomes and the animals that inhabit them is crucial to having this project be successful.

However, the “Think, Write, Pair, Share” addition to the Qwizdom unit this year, as well as the “I see…It means..” proved to be very successful.  It provided children with more social involvement and required them to actively write what they were observing and learning, compared to just listening.  Students working cooperatively in groups were able to provide reasonable information and could justify their answers even though their biome choice may have been incorrect.

A few months ago there was a New York Times article about a group of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) physics professors who decided to transform physics instruction.  They were frustrated by decreasing attendance in their introductory physics courses, not to mention a failure rate between 10 to 12%.  The traditional lecture hall format had to go, replaced by smaller classes focused on interactive, collaborative learning. (Technology Enhanced Active Learning)  It also helped that they received a large donation, which was used to engineer a new learning environment that included white boards, digital displays, round meeting tables, and lots of computers.  The most exciting part of the transformation included the use of a student response system.

A similar significant change on a somewhat smaller scale is happening here at the Ferryway.  We’ve been using the Qwizdom Student Response System (SRS) in grades 3-8.  The system consists of a computer, projector, handheld remotes, a special teacher remote, and software similar to PowerPoint.  I’ve been working with a group of teachers to collaboratively integrate lesson content onto a series of slides.  The projector allows teachers to display content such as bar graphs, maps, digital images, and video clips onto the classroom white board.  Students often use markers on the projected display to underline important vocabulary words or circle details found in images to build their observational skills.  Presentations become interactive when a question slide appears, causing each student remote to display a set of responses.  The ever popular multiple-choice question;  A, B, C or D, can easily be programmed.  Students make their selection and wirelessly send the responses.

To learn more about Qwizdom at the Ferryway, listen to a 3-minute podcast or review lesson handouts by visiting the Ferryway School wiki.  Also, some of our Ferryway teacher are blogging about their Qwizdom experiences.  Thanks Mrs. DeSantis, Ms. Ambrose, Mrs. Shelton, and Mrs. Urban for sharing.