Education ~ with a different approach.

Comprehensive approach to Assessment  Students often have high-stress and difficulty with completing unorganized summative assessments. It is important to deliver proper assessment to students in means of explicit expectations and guided inquiry. Rich Performance Assessment Task's (RPAT's) often converge various skill sets that students develop alongside the compulsory subject-based curriculum. The figure below indicates an example of a commonly created rubric that some teachers use for Language and/or a translated version for French oral curriculum expectations. The key components of the rubric are the criteria focused around the RPAT topic. However, usually the criteria should be generalized align with the overall curriculum expectation. In contrast, if the rubric criterion becomes too specific, teachers tend to stray students away from the importance of inquiry. Alignment between assessment and curricular expectations is essential to develop student learning in metaco...

Canadian Context into Bilingualism As of late, Canada has been taking into account the importance of Indigenous education. With such an important topic finally being regarded, it should not be surprising to Canadians that there is a large  shift toward integrating Aboriginal education. With the advancement into building curricular content around Aboriginal teachings, history, philosophies and contexts, educators may find it difficult to take on this new approach. There is such a transformative development in terms of what teachers should know about Aboriginal content - and yes, there is a lot! But this should not deter educators from taking on the significant topic.  The Census of Population from Stats Can (2011) highlights linguistic statistics for Canadians. They publish that official bilingualism rates climbed steadily over recent years. However, the predominantly French-speaking province Quebec has been seeing trends in declining bilingualism. But there have been ...

Who is at the forefront?: As education advances, there seems to be a split between progressive categorical curriculum and constructionist interdisciplinary curriculum. Both models of education provide means for students to learn fundamental lifelong skills. However, the theory of curriculum being of interdisciplinary approaches to education brings a completely new way of seeking knowledge. Similar to the other education systems that have been coming to light (i.e.: Finland, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand), students that learn through this comprehensive schooling system, eventually lead children to develop into experts by connecting all subject-matter to a specific topic. This curriculum correlates to all, rather than being efficient in a certain topic or subject like in our Western education systems. After which this 9-year comprehensive schooling is completed; by the approximate age of 16, the students will choose between an academic-track or a vocational-track. Both of which ...

It is about time that I have returned to the blogging community. Since my last post, I have graduated and commenced my masters degree. This new entry into the rigor of academia is exciting! After having completed my undergraduate studies and have moved forward into the realm of elementary schools, as well. The District School Board of Niagara is my current occupation as a french occasional teacher, and with much delight, an educator looking to make a difference in the lives of many. There is course that I am currently completing in my masters degree referred to as; Innovative Curriculum Design and Classroom Assessment. It is an incredible course that aligns its readings, content and lecture principles on the innovations of curriculum. I am anticipating an enjoyable and engaging class design that encompasses the use of teaching the masters students the importance of the 21st century, while also scaffolding the current assessment available. The professor is Susan Drake (2014), whom bei...

Online Resources Used for Infographic: http://www.ocdsb.ca/sta/cli/docs/Comprehensive%20Literacy%20Instruction%20K-12.pdf http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/balancedliteracydiet/Home/ 5 Supporting Artifacts for Language Arts 1)        The Ontario Curriculum Document http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/language18currb.pdf -  This artifact is a pinnacle and basic foundation for programs that encompass comprehensive literacy. This must continuously be referred to, and concisely used when planning comprehensive literary lessons. Lesson and unit plans must revolve around overall and specific expectations that exist in this document in order to teach the students accordingly. Some modifications and accommodations may be made for particular students and their required needs 2)   Kahoot ! https://kahoot.it/#/ This artifact is a very flexible tool to be used under the Teacher Choices for the 100 Minute Block. Students are a...

Wow, what an exciting session. Today we looked at incorporating the online game 'Minecraft' into school lessons and technology and this method has been sweeping the nation by storm. Not only does it invoke a students sense of inquiry, but in a simplistic arcade style approach it allows students to create what they wish in a simulated merge of real-world application and a fantastic new world. I hope to learn more about the functionality of this application and how to adapt it into my future program, although it may be tough; especially when regarding French curriculum. But I do believe there is a way to change the language into French. This is the only limitation I can foresee at the moment, although it has a lot of potential for most all other subject criterion for curriculum.

During today's session we looked at the calendar applications that Google has to offer. It worked wonderfully and was super user friendly. I am so glad I had the opportunity to check it out as I don't think I would have done so on my own accord. I am learning so much from this Technologies course, it will most definitely help me with my lesson, unit and program plans and it's availability to students, families and staff. I am also finding it particularly enjoyable each and every class. There seems to be a new format, gadget or application looked into and learned which helps with our own knowledge and the technological knowledge of our future students. Of course, certain things will become past paradigms eventually and so adds for an increase in learning technology at an exponential level. The most important factor in this is to remind oneself that it's a self-perpetuation and meta-cognition and never something that should be forced on students. This fluidly moves into...

After the progressing weeks, I am finally putting the finishing touches on my Genius hour trailer... Everything is coming along wonderfully and I am getting excited! I have not only been planning out some relative ideas that can work well, but extensions for students that require accommodations and modifications of any sort.  The only limitations that I can expect thus far is a lack of instruction or understanding of what can be done... Hopefully the students can see the potential in elaborating on their ideas, but I am assuming it will be an awesome classroom experience for all which will help spark motivation and engage all the class in its entirety. 

Today during our session we investigated the different movie or comic applications that we could use in order to peak student engagement. While using both ToonDoo and Windows Movie Maker, we were able to create enjoyable comic style cartoons and an intense "Movie Trailer" involving my Genius hour idea. I think I am getting the hang of this technology type stuff and am gathering some great ideas for future educational use in my lessons. I can't wait to put down the finishing touches and see the final product! Until next week!

Last week I was unfortunately down-and-out due to a medical issue with my eye, although this week I am ready and "looking forward" to this weeks session, activity and post.  Firstly, it was really difficult coming back into the classroom and trying to stay up to date with all of the assignments and material missed in session. It really makes a difference being absent and I do NOT recommend missing classes, if health permitting of course.  Secondly, I had a lot of support from my peers and instructor which helped me a substantial amount. I was brought up-to-speed with most everything I missed and it made me feel less-stressed having the help I needed. A supportive classroom environment absolutely makes a huge change to those who need it.  Lastly, this post is dedicated to those who have concerns and issues that affect people's lives. Especially when regarding academics and schooling, students and youngsters should not be distracted by exterior factors. It makes lear...

My Genius Hour concept is progressing and elaborating with each week that passes and continues to close-in. My overall goal goes along with my personal motivation which is to allow students to tap into their own meta-cognition. I would like students to know their own learning limitations and combat them by creating a comfortable and engaging learning environment that will elaborate on interesting subject matter. Each student will create their own five question quiz on the content being explained in the class by said student. The instructing student will collaborate with their peers to create fair and interesting questions that provide affirmation on what was learned.

As the ever progressing world continues to shift through educational paradigms, I cannot help but to think; "What would comprise a twenty-first century present day classroom?..." The only reason I recall such a thought is due to the sole reason that I wish to become a top educator who truly encompasses the power of higher level thinking... ... And so I think I will incorporate this theme of self-reflection, self-discovery and self-proficiency in order to try and achieve "What is the greatest learning environment for students...", but with a twist.... The students will be the one's to decide 'how' and 'why' certain things, lessons, content, tools, materials, and so on... to create the greatest learning environment possible in a school setting.

The final couple weeks of  class have been very informative and quite appealing. Seeing the progression of curricular expectations has been beneficial for my personal learning and an understanding that I can apply to my future practice. Students have a keen sense of learning when it comes to the world around them, so by incorporating the newly advancing influences, theories and impacts perceived globally; students can use this knowledge in order to develop themselves into citizens suitable in a critical and global sense. The course material proved to be easy to understand yet very protrusive in its manner. The topics and subjects of the various 21st century literacies proved to encounter issues and dilemmas in a present context but also provided necessary altruistic factors so that students had an intrinsic source. It is often quite difficult to get students wanting to learn at an implicit level without any extrinsic motivations. Allowing students to learn through meta-cognition i...

Through the continual studying, reading and learning I have been doing through my undergrad studies, I have come to a very important topic of educational discussion. When depicting the key elements of what comprises our curriculum today, it is beneficial to think, discuss and talk about the 21st Century Literacies and what they are defined as. As mentioned in the previous blog post, the traditionalist style of schooling has taken a rather large transition. In correlation with the advancement in technology, medias and global connections; I talked about the impact and analysis behind only a few of the key literacies, though they are vital. Media and digital literacy were of those two that have been shifting in a progressive manner (Berger et al., 2009). Yet even though the advancement of literacies may be essential to keep things relevant and updated for education, the most important literacy that ushers a complete connectedness with each and every 21st century literacy, is in fact Crit...

As mentioned in a previous paper-based assignment (as written by me, Daniel C, 2015) completed for this class;  " Most of these literacies that have developed sprout from many interdisciplinary criteria that students can learn and invoke upon the world. These criterion`s are based upon what global inquiries lay within our current knowledge as well as how this shapes the 21 st century. As the world is advancing, the literacies have been categorized into nine different yet transverse understandings, comprising of; Multicultural, Moral, Mental Health, Media, Global, Financial, Environmental, Digital, and Critical literacies. With the curriculum methods being put into place by the Ministry, the educators have been prepared to teach by recognizing and adapting the big ideas, big understandings, and big skills. Finally, once educational professionals teach the interdisciplinary literacies in their classroom students can be well educated and become 21 st century multi-literate adv...

Back to the blogging game!  Just as a reiteration for the newer viewers, my name is Daniel Cursio and I am a Concurrent Education student passionate in learning about all there is about Education and its expansive field. Comprehension, meta-cognition and present-day Literacy are all important factors in advancing my knowledge regarding the topic of Education. I am an avid student and always capable of learning new material. In saying this, I hope that I will acquire as much information as possible in respect to the current literacy for students around the world. This will help with my inquiries towards current literacy and how factors such as social media, newspapers, television shows, increased types of communication, and so on, can all have the potential to enhance literacies and peoples capabilities to learn. I hope this was a concise summary, and that your expectations are similar to mine. Thanks for reading!

I have been an advocate for individualized learning for a while. Since my first year of University (approximately 3 and a half years to date), I truly thought that as long as I knew the curriculum I would become a great teacher. But there are so many more factors thrown in then just the bare minimum criteria for teaching. I have learned over the past years, in not only academic settings but social/work settings too, that everyone has their own ways of learning and their own muse. Not one person in this world is the same and in turn lead me to come to the conclusion that I should become an educator who can intangibly shape education to conform to a child's educational needs. This should be done through a hopeful attempt at establishing great rapport with my future students, yet making sure I remain entirely professional. But how should I be able to assess such a vast amount of individualized assignments, answers and learning??? Well, the answer is a difficult one but should be ...