Global Competency Review in Grade 11 Chemistry - Semester 1 2018/2019

Individual Study Projects are an excellent opportunity to help students dive deep into learning about current events and natural the world. In my grade 11 Chemistry course I followed Trevor MacKenzie's book "Dive into Inquiry" Handbook to support students in their CCA (Course Culminating Activity) or ISP (Individual Study Project).

Before the project students and I as a whole class reviewed the global competencies and evaluated what we would like to work on. Students were asked to select the competency that they felt they needed to improve on most. Most Students selected Learning to Learn(34%) with Innovation and Creativity (26%) as a close second.

Early in the semester we build a knowledge of student interest and try to make connections with the course (Chemistry). I followed the instructional layout for the project as recommended by Trevor MacKenzie.

1. Students write a proposal of three events, phenomenon or interest in a Chemistry. Each topic is accompanied by a series of questions that the students would like to answer by the end of the project. (Using the Question Formulation Technique)

2. As their guide I helped facilitate in their choice and interviewed students on their topics and together we chose a topic that will allow them to use course content to enhance their project.

3. Plan and Pitch: Students answered a series of questions that will help them stream line their project.

4. Students created a website and blog to help track their research and thought process'.

5. Research: During the semester students are provided with feedback and encouraged to make connections to the course and to reach out to expert individuals in the industry to help answer questions.

6. Assessment and Evaluation: Students and I used the Critical Thinking Consortium rubric on assessing critical thinking. We decided on parameters that should assessed in this project. Students are provided this rubric to assess their own goals during and at the end with teacher feedback. Teacher feedback provided information on where to improve their project.

Students Lab investigations and written reports were evaluated with a standard rubric for all lab and written reports.

7. Share - Students published their work to their web page.

Examples of Student websites:

• Narcotics and the classification system of pharmaceuticals
• Antibiotics vs Bacteria
• Building an optical light spectrometer
• Absorption and Recovery of Hydrocarbons

After the project I asked the class again to determine what they would now like to improve on students overwhelmingly said collaboration (35%). The Data suggest that students didn't feel confident in this category during their project. Students felt that they didn't have the courage to ask experts and if they did and did not receive a response they didn't try again. This is an excerpt from one student's response.

"I believe that I did well in Critical Thinking and Problem Solving and need to improve on collaboration and communication. I would like to improve on sharing my thoughts, ideas, projects and more with others. I would like to do more collaborative projects and work on my interpersonal skills. During the CCA(Course Culminating Activity), I tried to collaborate, but it did not go well."

Looking at the competency that decreased the most was Learning to learn down from 33% to 15%. The data only shows what students found difficult not intentionally what they need to improve on. Student found it easy to collect information and learn new concepts however reading and looking through their work students still found it difficult to relate course content with what they were learning during the project.

"I believe that I am competent in Innovation, Creativity, & Entrepreneurship, and I would like to improve on Leaning to Learn/Self-Aware & Self-Directed Learning, for I currently struggle with self discipline and pushing myself to seek understanding in what I cannot comprehend. To improve in this field, I have begun to ask for help when necessary, though difficult to do in practice, and also have set in a more strict personal schedule so to complete task more effectively and with less distractions."

When reviewing students self assessment they truly are honest and are trying to find ways to improve their abilities as students. Generally they are inspired by the global competencies to evaluate their learning and to find ways to become better versions of themselves.

References:

MacKenzie, T. (2016). Dive into inquiry. Irvine, CA: EdTechTeam Press.

The Critical Thinking Consortium. (2018). “Assessing Critical Thinking” retrieved from https://tc2.ca/ on January 23, 2019

On line resources to bring the world to your classroom:

• http://www.exploringbytheseat.com/