Cross-curricular learning

Cross-curricular learning is “when skills, knowledge and attitudes of a number of different disciplines are applied to a single experience, them or idea” (Barnes, 2011, p.10).      

Cross-curricular learning has been used within education since the very beginning, and educators believed that cross-curricular was in-cooperated in order to “understand aspects of the physical, personal, or social world” (Barnes, 2011, p.12).                                

Throughout the UK, the current National Curriculum is different for each country. However, it is essential that each curriculum currently includes:

·         Communication

·         Application of number

·         ICT

·         Working with others

·         Improving own learning and performance

·         Problem-solving (Barnes, 2011, p.250).

According to Barnes (2011 p.45), Dewey suggested that “children should be deeply and personally involved in the creation of knowledge through problem solving and experiment, and that community would be enriched by individuals whose personal experience had been enlarged through education”. This argument is supported by Donaldson (2015), who proposed that numeracy, literacy, and digital competence should be cross-curriculum responsibilities, and the teachers need to ensure that “children and young people develop high levels of competence in these aspects and have frequent opportunities to develop, extend and apply them across the curriculum”.                                                                 

During one of our AOLE seminars a couple of weeks back, in groups we had to create a cross-curricular project that would be based around Autumn.                                              

My group came up with a project that would be based all around Princes and Princesses during the med-evil times. After discussing our ideas with each other, we decided that our project would be most suitable for pupils in Year 1 class.                                                     

We used the app ‘My Popplet’ to create a spider diagram to show a plan of lessons that would take place throughout the coming weeks, here it is:

 

We ensured that this project was cross-curricular by discussing every subject within the curriculum and seeing how it can be in-cooperated. This project included Drama; because we were going to role-play how we thought princesses and princes were in the med-evil century; which then also links in with history as the whole topic is based around the med-evil times. We also combined maths and art together when making the crowns in the outdoors by having the pupils to find “1 orange leaf, 2 green leaves, 2 brown leaves” etc. This activity included art as the pupils had to create their own crown using their own creative skills. We also ensured that Digital Competence was in-cooperated into the project by using the internet to research the history behind Princes and Princesses in the UK, and by creating a short story based on Princes and Princesses using different apps and the green screen to bring the story to life. By creating a story, we are ensuring that English literature and language is being covered, and music is being used as we are creating sounds using ‘Garage Band’ to put into our video. Finally; we are ensuring that geography will be used throughout this project as we will be going into the forest and exploring the outdoors to create our crowns, and we will also be researching where the Princes and Princesses used to live throughout the UK.  

We discussed how we would begin the project with a ‘WOW’ event for both parents and children to get them interested and excited. The ‘WOW’ event would involve a real-life prince and princess coming into the classroom and telling a story to the pupils and asking for their help.

The purpose of a WOW event is to provide the children with meaningful experiences that give them the desire to become involved within learning (Barnes, 2011, p.74).

Bloggers, please reflect upon this quote within the comment section:

“If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow” (Dewey, 1902).

Reference List

All Saints (2017) ‘If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow’ Available at: https://www.all-saints.org/page/news-detail?pk=912745 (Accessed: 10^th December 2017). 
Barnes, J (2011) Cross-Curricular Learning 3-14. London: SAGE Publications.

Donaldson, G (2015) ‘Successful Futures – Report on the Curriculum and Assessment Arrangements in Wales’ Available at: http://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/media/uwtsd-website/content-assets/documents/wcee/successful-futures.pdf (Accessed: 18^th November 2017).

Cross Curricular

How can cross curricular learning impact education.

Cross curricular learning is when the skills knowledge and attitudes of a number of different disciplines are applied to a single experience, problem, question, theme or idea, we are working in a cross-curricular way. The experience of learning is considered on a macro level and with the curriculum focus (Barnes, 2011)

During one of our ‘Areas of learning and experience’ seminars we created our own lesson plan that could covered a range of different subjects: Maths, English, Drama, Geography and Digital competence. Our lesson plan linked in with a year 1 class, so it was created for them to build and learn new skills within the process of taking part in the lesson. 

The photo shown is the lesson plan that we created in our AOLE lesson.

Today schools are now building their curriculum around one key theme. This is where they link each cross curricular subject within one topic. For example, with our lesson plan we linked it back to the medieval period and made sure each academic subject could be tailored in to it.

With cross curricular learning both history and geography can be linked in together and so can music and maths (Kumon, no date).

The video below briefly talks about cross curricular teaching and learning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KpPS_q8FKc

what do you guys think of the video? 

 The cross curricular approach is all about the child being able to use their own knowledge to develop the skills they already have to make links between different concepts.

Donaldson (2015) states that ‘’ three cross curricular responsibilities should underpin all subjects: the Donaldson review also states that it recommends that literacy, numeracy and digital competence should be cross curriculum responsibilities for all teachers and people who work with children and young people’’ (Donaldson, 2015)

The review also states that ‘’schools should identify a member of staff who would lead and support each of the three cross curriculum responsibilities’’(Donaldson, 2015)

Barnes, J. (2011) Cross-curricular learning 3-14. 2nd edn. Los Angeles; London: SAGE.

 Donaldson, G. (2015) Successful Futures: Independent Review of Curriculum and Assessment Arrangements in Wales. London: Crown.

Kumon, (no date) available at: http://www.kumon.co.uk/blog/how-cross-curricular-learning-can-help-your-child/ accessed on: 10^th December 2017.

creativity

How can creativity impact education?

Hey bloggers hope you’re all doing well.

The next subject I’m going to focus on will be creativity and how it has an impact on education. From my own experience I think creativity is mega important to have in education as it helps children to be more interested and intrigued when in the classroom environment. Could you imagine a school without any creativity? What it would be like? Would the child enjoy it as much? There are so many ways creativity can have an impact on education just by doing some and fun things within lessons.

First things first, what is creativity?

‘’Ask a group of teachers what they mean by creativity and you will get a huge variety of responses’’ (Desailly, J, 2012)

Creativity can be viewed as having 4 distinct parts

·         Using imagination

·         Pursuing purposes

·         being original

·         Judging value

(Desailly, J, 2012)

Creativity in terms of being in the primary classroom can mean several different things. One could be ‘Teaching creatively’ which is also used in the NACCCE report as using imaginative approaches to make learning more interesting for the child (Desailly, J, 2012).

Desailly suggests that teaching creatively links in with the creative curriculum and is used by teachers who work in these kind of ways:

·         Putting learning within authentic contexts, using real life situations wherever they can add them in.

·         Using a variety of teaching methods including some that might involve working in a role or a facilitator.

·         Expecting children to work in a variety of different groups with a number of different outcomes.

·         Using a number of approaches to view different levels.

(Desailly, J, 2012)

I was lucky enough to interview a current primary school teacher on ‘How can creativity impact education’ I think being able to talk with a primary school teachers helps to understand more of what they deal with on a day to day basis and how they do what they can to make the best things happen for the children. Miss Morey said that ‘’creativity is an important part of the foundation phase curriculum, I think creativity encourages imagination as well as pupil voice in the classroom, I also think creativity is extremely important especially in the early years of school’’ (Morey, 2017)

In the National Curriculum Aim One is that the school should enable pupils to think creatively and critically, to solve problems and to make a difference for the better. It should give them the opportunity to become creative, innovative, and enterprising (QCDA, 2009).  The National Curriculum shows the six “key skills” and within the 6 key skills there is “thinking skills”. Incorporated in this is “creative thinking” which states that “enable pupils to generate and extend ideas, to suggest hypotheses, to apply imagination, and to look for alternative innovative outcomes” (QCDA, 1999). This is considered as one of the skills which are “universal” and “embedded in the subjects of the National Curriculum and are essential to effective learning.”

The new National curriculum will be brought in, in 2022 and it will have six ‘areas of learning and experience’.

·         Expressive arts.

·         Health and well-being.

·         Humanities (including RE which should remain compulsory to age 16).

·         Languages, literacy and communication (including Welsh, which should remain compulsory up to age 16 and modern foreign languages).

·         Mathematics and numeracy.

·         Science and technology.

(GOV, 2017)

This will also include three cross curricular responsibilities which are numeracy, literacy and digital competence.

Thanks for reading today’s blog, I hope you are all learning new information about each topic.

Reference list

 Desailly, J (2012) Creativity in the Primary Classroom. London: Sage Publications.

GOV (2017) available at: http://gov.wales/topics/educationandskills/schoolshome/curriculuminwales/curriculum-for-wales-curriculum-for-life/?lang=en accessed:9^th December 2017

Morey, K (2017) Current Primary school teacher.

Pintrest (no date) available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/lessonplanet/quotes-for-teachers/ accessed on:9^th December 2017

QCA (1999). The national curriculum: Handbook for primary teachers in England, key stages 1 and 2, QCA.

QCDA (2009). National Curriculum, Internet Available: http: //curri clum.qcda.gov.uk/key-stages-1-and-2/Values-aims-and-purposes/ind ex.aspx

Shaheen, R (2010) Creativity and Education. Creative Education 2010. Vol.1, No.3, 166-169

Collaborative learning

Hi Education Bloggers

Throughout this blog I will be talking to you about collaborative learning in education.

So, what is collaborative learning? Collaborative learning is an educational approach to teaching and learning that involves groups of students working together to solve a problem, complete a task or to create a product. Each child is individually accountable for their work and the work of the group is also assessed.

‘’Learning is an active process whereby students assimilate the information and relate this new knowledge to a framework of prior knowledge’’ (Smith, McGregor).

‘’Learning requires a challenge that opens the door for the learner to actively engage his/her peers, and to process and synthesize information rather than simply memorize and regurgitate it’’ (Smith, McGregor).

‘’Learners benefit when exposed to diverse viewpoints from people with varied backgrounds’’ (Smith, McGregor).

‘’Learning flourishes in a social environment where conversation between learners takes place. During this intellectual gymnastics, the learner creates a framework and meaning to the discourse’’ (Smith, McGregor).

‘’In the collaborative learning environment, the learners are challenged both socially and emotionally as they listen to different perspectives, and are required to articulate and defend their ideas. In so doing, the learners begin to create their own unique conceptual frameworks and not rely solely on an expert's or a text's framework. Thus, in a collaborative learning setting, learners have the opportunity to converse with peers, present and defend ideas, exchange diverse beliefs, question other conceptual frameworks, and be actively engaged’’ (Smith, McGregor).

All the above is what Smith and McGregor both see as the approaches to collaborative learning within education. There is ‘one to one’ collaborative learning and then collaborative learning within ‘small groups’.

I interviewed a teacher who works in a primary school in the local area and asked her ‘how can collaborative learning impact education’ and she was able to give me an interesting response with also an issue that is going on within her classroom with two individual children.

‘’I think collaborative learning is very effective, in all ages of a primary school. Collaborative activates are very good for EAL (English as an additional language) learners as well. I have two twin boys in my class who could not talk English at all, they were both completely silent children but now because of collaborative learning they will interact with the other children within the class and they will be able to answer or ask different things. Collaboration encourages speaking and listening as well and particularly exploratory talk which is really important for language development such as role play areas or talking partners or carpet time. Sometimes children can feel more confident when discussing with other children especially mixed ability. There’s probably so many different opinions on collaborative learning but I think it works really well with EAL, individual learning needs and different abilities’’ (Morey 2017).

I found a few strengths and weaknesses of collaborative learning within education and this helped me to understand the pros and cons of collaborative learning in the classroom.

Cooperative learning is an effective teaching strategy where small teams mixed with different levels of ability use a variety of learning activities to help them improve their understanding of a specific subject. Each child is responsible for the information that they learn but also helping their team mates to learn the information also, this then creates a positive atmosphere of achievement (Consumer Guide, no date)

Cooperative learning is similar to collaborative learning in several different ways.

·         Each student is in control and responsible of their own learning.

·         They both help to prepare students for the world of work.

·         Rely on active student participation rather than lecture based teaching.

·         Team building skills and encourage social interaction.

·         Enhances deeper cognitive skills.

·         Create sharing learning experiences.

·         Helps to embrace student diversity.

There are also a few different ways how cooperative and collaborative learning are different.

·         Each individual organises their efforts between themselves.

·         Students are able to access their own individual group performances.

·         Success depends on individual strengths.

Woods and Chen (2010) believe that in order for collaborative learning to be more effective than competitive methods, five methods must be met. The child must show clear perceived independence, considerable promotive interaction, clear individual accountability and personal responsibility to achieve any goals, frequent use of relevant interpersonal and small group skills and regular group processing of current functioning to improve the group’s effectiveness.

What do you guys think of the statement below?

 ‘’The findings regarding small group cooperative learning are generally positive, especially in studies comparing this teaching strategy with more traditional approaches such as whole class teaching. These generally positive effects have been found both with cognitive or academic achievement and various affective and other non-cognitive factors’’ (Barry, K. and King, L., 2002. p. 237)

Strengths of Collaborative Learning

·         Social benefits: - Collaborative learning helps to develop a social supports system for learns and it also helps to build diversity understanding among students and staff. Collaborative learning also establishes a positive atmosphere for modelling and practicing cooperation and also develops learning communities (Laal, 2012).

·         Psychological benefits: - student centred instruction increases students’ self-esteem as well as reduces anxiety and also helps to develop positive attitudes towards teachers. (Laal, 2012).

·         Academic benefits: - Collaborative learning helps to promote critical thinking skills and involves students actively throughout the learning process. Collaborative learning also show that classroom results are improved and that models appropriate student problem solving techniques. Larger teaching lectures can be personalised, and it is especially helpful in motivating students in a specific curriculum. It also helps to collaborate teaching techniques utilize a variety of assessments. (Laal, 2012).

This will be the end of my blog for today, I hope you have all enjoyed reading it. Please leave some comments in the box down below and let me know what you thought about it.

Talk to you all soon Education Bloggers.

Reference list

Barry, K. and King, L., 2002. Beginning Teaching and Beyond. 3^rd ed. Australia: Social Science Press.

Consumer Guide (No Date) available at: https://www2.ed.gov/pubs/OR/ConsumerGuides/cooplear.html accessed:9^th December 2017

Laal, M and Ghodsi, S (2012) ‘Benefits of collaborative learning’ Procedia – Social and Behavioural Sciences , vol. 31, pp.487-490. DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.12.091

MacGregor, J. (1990). "Collaborative learning: Shared inquiry as a process of reform" In Svinicki, M. D. (Ed.), The changing face of college teaching, New Directions for Teaching and Learning No. 42.

More information (No Date) available at: http://archive.wceruw.org/cl1/cl/moreinfo/MI2A.htm accessed: 9^th December 2017
Morey, K (2017) Current Primary school teacher.

Smith, B. L., and MacGregor, J. T. (1992). "What is collaborative learning?" In Goodsell, A. S., Maher, M. R., and Tinto, V. (Eds.), Collaborative Learning: A Sourcebook for Higher Education. National Center on Postsecondary Teaching, Learning, & Assessment, Syracuse University.

Woods, D.M. & Chen, K.C. (2010). Evaluation techniques for cooperative learning. International Journal of Management & Information Systems, 14(1), pp.1-6

Purpose of primary education

What do you think should be the purposes of primary education?

Hi everyone, hope you’ve all been well.

My first blog post will be talking about the purpose of education and what should be the main priorities within education. I will be talking about the pedagogical views, using various sources of information and will also be talking about my views on the purpose of education.

First things first…. WHAT IS PEDAGOGY?

The English oxford dictionary suggests that pedagogy ‘’is the method and practise of teaching especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept’’ (Stevenson,2010). There are many different views that people have on pedagogy, but Donaldson gives off a slightly different view of what pedagogy is compared to what has been put into the Oxford dictionary.

Donaldson suggests ‘’pedagogy is more than teaching narrow sense of methods within the primary classroom. Donaldson states ‘’It can be considered as a selection of methods in the light of the purposes of the curriculum and the needs and the developmental stage of children’’(Donalsdson,2015,p.63).

Both views are different in the sense that Stevenson suggests that it’s just about the method and practise of teaching, where Donaldson states that it is more than just the method and practice even though they both mention an important role within pedagogy.

In order of importance, the next 3 phrases are what I think should be the main purposes of a child’s education.

1.    Education is the development of autonomous and creative thinkers.

2.    Education is the development of skills, knowledge, and self-discipline.

3.    Education is the process of cultural transmission.

I managed to find a reliable source from the government where Nick Gibb addresses the education purposes. It is suggested that ‘’Education is the engine of our economy, and it’s an essential preparation for adult life’’(GOV,2015) Nick also believes that ‘’education is also about the practical business of ensuring that young people receive the preparation they need to secure a good job and a fulfilling career’’(GOV,2015). Personally, I agree with the statement that has been made. If a child is in education for 18 years and leaves not knowing anything to do with the way the world works outside of education, it would be a big struggle for them to learn it all by themselves. I also believe that education helps a child to be a creative

"Education is really aimed at helping students get to the point where they can learn on their own’’(Chomsky,2013).

What do you guys think of this quote? Do you think it’s right?

People believe that the general purpose of education is to transfer knowledge and prepare young people for when they leave and enter the real world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=DdNAUJWJN08

 The link above shows a 20-minute video of Noam Chomsky talking about what he thinks is ‘The Purpose of Education. He talks about a numerous amount of different reason of what education is and how they produce new things to bring into the world of education.

He mentions ‘’from childhood young people have to be placed into a frame work in which they will follow orders except existing frameworks and will follow orders and this is quite explicit’’ and this is all because of indoctrination.

It is believed that the ‘Conflict theory) sees the purpose of education as maintaining inequality and preserving the power of those who dominate society (Cliff Notes, 2016).

In the Donaldson report he states 4 key purposes that all children must be. These four purposes are:

1.Ambitious, capable learners who are ready to learn throughout their lives.7

2.Enterprising, creative contributors who are ready to play a full part in life and work.

3.Ethical, informed citizens who are ready to be citizens of Wales and the world.

4.Healthy, confident individuals who are ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society.

As you can see, all the above link to the outside world, so life after education. It is implying that the purpose of education is to get children ready for the real world and for them to be independent and for them to earn a living (Donaldson, 2015).

I came across a quote written by (Aronson,2008) which defines his idea of the purpose of education.

“We put our children through their paces in school not so that they will learn something, or master something, or meet any standards. No. We give them tools so that they can experience the joy, the passion, of creating’’

I find this quote very interesting to read as (Aronson) mentioning that a child doesn’t go to school just for them to learn, they go to school so they can experience new things and learn about the passion of education and also learn how to be creative when in the education environment.

I believe that education should be for the enjoyment and excitement of a child even though there is an element of it that does help them to learn about the real world and how it has an big impact on their loves once they are out of education.

I managed to talk to a current primary school teacher on what they think the purpose of education is and his reply to my question was ‘’The purpose of education is to provide individuals with opportunities that enable them to reach their own full potential, becoming capable adults that can learn adapt and thrive in a range of contexts and situations’’ (Morgan, 2017)

Each teacher I had asked all had different opinions on what they thought the purpose of education is for a child.

I hope you have all enjoyed reading my blog on this specific topic and I hope it has got you all thinking what the purpose of education is. Feel free to leave any comments down below, and I should talk to you all soon bloggers.

Chomsky, N (2013) available at: http://www.openculture.com/2012/11/noam_chomsky_spells_out_the_purpose_of_education.html accessed on: 8^th November 2017

Daily Riff (2015) Available at: (201http://www.thedailyriff.com/articles/noam-chomsky-the-purpose-of-education-869.php accessed:14^th November 2017

Donaldson, G (2015) ‘Successful Futures – Report on the Curriculum and Assessment Arrangements in Wales’ Available at: http://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/media/uwtsd-website/content-assets/documents/wcee/successful-futures.pdf [Accessed: 8th^th November 2017].

Good Reads (No Date) Available at: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51409.Marc_Aronson accessed:12^th November 2017

Josh Morgan (Morgan, 2017) Current Primary School Teacher