Sharing Documentation .... is Sometimes Hard to Do

In my previous post I shared some of my successes in next steps when documenting and posting to my colleagues and learning communities on Twitter.

But how else am I sharing the documentation in the makerspace to address some of my other concerns about teaching and learning practices in the makerspace?

How am I sharing with and for students so they can be seen as teachers in the makerspace?

How am I valuing student experiences and fostering their role in making positive contributions to the learning community?

How am I sharing documentation to build capacity for making in our school, to allow teachers to see what is possible in relation to making in the curriculum, and design learning to build on their students strengths?

Yes...well...about that. Like I've previously stated, sharing documentation is sometimes hard to do.

At our last staff meeting, one of the kindergarten teachers mentioned that we should be sharing more of the learning being done in our schools in order to create and value cultures of learning. Of course, I wholeheartedly agree and have had many chats with our principal about how we can do this (we have yet to actively pursue this - again time).

I have been planning a document panel for the library learning commons in my head for months now. I know where I'd put it, I've even drawn out a plan on paper! I really think if I can share the learning done in the library learning commons on a large documentation panel it would draw and invite people to dialogue about the importance of making and how making IS valuable (not just arts and crafts) to developing the skills our students need in the 21st century. Teachers could get ideas how to incorporate making into their curriculums, could see their students in new lights, students could see that we value their efforts, they could see themselves in a new light and as potential teachers and leaders for students who may want to explore more of the same.

The problem I'm having....again...is TIME. I barely have enough time to go to the bathroom some days, let alone sort through pictures, print in colour and develop a board!! What am I to do? How am I going to share learning more effectively... ha ha ha...at all?

I mentioned this dilemma a few weeks back to another Peel colleague when we were talking about documentation and sharing learning with the staff. (You'll see where I'm going with this in a few minutes) She mentioned that I should be using Seesaw to document and share learning with teachers; that I should create a class for every homeroom I see and add two students: Makerspace and the homeroom teacher. Brilliant!

I began this process two weeks ago. I upload content that I observe, with captions that explain the students, thoughts, ideas and questions and the teacher also contributes their interpretation to the learning. I have only shared this with one teacher so far, but it is a start. She has also started uploading how she has transferred the making into her classroom for me to interpret as well! By George, I think we have it!

And what does this have to do with document panels, you say? What if I could just print off the pictures and captions right off Seesaw and post them for everyone to see as a conversation starter about the merits of making in the learning commons. Yes, I know I'd have to arrange them carefully and follow the "Anatomy of a Document Panel" by the Making Learning Visible Project...but wouldn't that be a start?