Within our school, we have been exploring the New Pedagogies for Deep Learning as a powerful systemic change to reimagine teaching and learning in our school. This has involved extensive learning partnerships on staff in order to explore the Deep Learning framework. In my role as Teacher Librarian and Student Success Teacher, I have attempted to be a lead learner in this exploration in many contexts, including in my school, district, and globally. I have gained so much valuable learning and insight by forming partnerships at every level. Some of these learning partnerships have included:
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LBJH Deep Learning Committee -
At our school, I chair a Deep Learning Committee that sets schoolwide goals for deep learning initiatives that incorporate the four elements of Deep Learning Design as well as the six global competencies. On our committee, we explore the ever changing role of the teacher as activator, culture builder and collaborator as we forge new learning partnerships. This also involves the facilitation of professional learning about Deep Learning for our staff. Through these experiences, I have had the chance to engage so richly in learning dialogue with my school colleagues.
Insight Session at the NPDL Global Conference -
One of the wonderful advantages of leveraging digital is that we now have the ability to form global learning partnerships and discuss new pedagogies worldwide. This Fall, I was fortunate enough to participate in the NPDL Global Deep Learning Lab and was able to facilitate an Insight Session with my administrative learning partner, Owen Matchim. We presented to a global audience about how we have used the Four Elements of Deep Learning Design to plan for School Change. By sharing this virtual learning space and sharing our school's learning journey with others, we were able to connect globally and discuss how to transform education. I learned so much both by providing a Insight Session and taking in so much at the conference. We were also able to provide this Insight Session to the NLESD Board of Trustees as learning partners as well.
ULEARN Student Agency Session
As part of NLESD's first ULEARN simmer institute, I presented with a colleague about how we can use the four elements of Deep Learning Design to help empower learners in the classroom. This session explored how we can make the shift from compliance to empowerment in our classrooms through the lens of the Universal Design for Learning with our greatest learning partners, our students. During the session, the learners were given voice and choice in setting their own learning path. We also provided a compendium of resources for learners to take away to help them as they strive to increase student agency in the classroom.
Click the banner to go to our Student Agency website!
Universal Design for Learning at Leary's Brook
In order to help lead a school shift to Universal Design for Learning for all our Gr. 6-9 classes, I facilitated a schoolwide PL on UDL. During this session, participants engaged in a This Or That Choice Board where learners learned in a manner that was designed to replicate a UDL approach to teaching and learning.
Find the slide deck for this session at:
LBJH Universal Design for Learning PL
LBJH Deep Learning Website & Summer Expo-
As part of the committee, we wanted to document our schoolwide deep learning journey. We put together an artifact repository of deep learning activities our teachers and staff were engaging in. This served as a way to share what we were doing with critical friends and to share our learning outside our school community. We were able to share this artifact repository with other learning partners in the district at the & GOV NL Summer Deep Learning Expo.
Click the banner to visit our Deep Learning website!
Lead Learner's Project
As a Lead Learners Project supported by NLESD, I worked with a colleague to facilitate a Grade Nine class engaging in a Passion Project this year. Our project started with a simple question, "If you could learn anything, what would it be?" Opportunities for learning partnerships grew very authentically throughout this project. Students collaborated and gave feedback to each other. There were strong relationships formed and student-teacher partnerships as we relied on expertise within the building. Students then became the experts and taught teachers and peers about their passions! Indeed, a key takeway for this project from me was that a teacher's strongest learning partnership is always with the learner!
Good at Learning, Good at Life Conference
In March 2020, our first NLESD district-wide Deep Learning conference was held. As a member of the Technology Education Special Interest Council, I have formed so many valuable learning partnerships and I was able to co-facilitate a session on Leveraging Digital with my colleague, Megan Roome. We were able to facilitate a session on Leveraging Digital Tools in the classroom for administrators and program specialists throughout the province. Through this opportunity, I learned significantly more about Deep Learning and particularly how technology should be used as the accelerator, not the driver in pedagogical practices.
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