Extreme Learning: Wikispaces

Authors Jennifer Walker, Ormiston Primary School, East Lothian, Scotland

Emma Griffiths, Extreme Learning Coordinator, East Lothian, Scotland

The project aims to tap into children's passions and interests to build a very

strong foundation for future learning. It will enable learning to be of real

relevance to each child, building on their personal experiences, and most

importantly enthusiasms and passions.. Children will be supported and

encouraged to develop research, literacy, numeracy and technological skills.

Objectives

IE Explorer browser (to access and edit documents on www.wikispaces.com ).

Digital cameras and video cameras along with the software to download

images from the cameras and turn them into usable images for the wiki.

Software

DescriptionThe children used the digital equipment and ICT resources individually in an

adult-led class situation, and at home too. The children completed a variety of

pre-planned tasks, but developed their own projects according to their own

levels of expertise, and different curricular areas as the projects developed.

Beyond this initial support from adults, collaborative working meant peer

teaching on technical aspects was employed, peers evaluated each others’

pages and provided positive feedback.

Learning Areas ICT, Maths, Problem-Solving, Language, Personal and Social Development.

Levels Ages 10-14 yrs (final two years of primary school and first two years of

secondary school)

A Curriculum for Excellence, Problem-Solving, Collaborative Group Work,

Formative assessment.

Keywords

Project Overview

Extreme Learning: WikispacesTeacher Planning and Management

Background & Planning (Overview):

Extreme Learning – what is it?

Students are actively learning when they are intensely engaged, mentally or

physically. Active Learning is vigorous, lively and effective. Active learning

takes place when the students are caught up in their experiences. This

project aims to get the children interested in a subject to the extent that they

can call themselves: EXPERTS.

Each pupil will select an area of personal interest and investigate it with

reference to an aspect of their subject curriculum (as set out in curriculum

guidelines). Each pupil will be allocated an account on www.wikispaces.com to

record their project development and conclusions online. Teachers will use

formative assessment to support the learning process.

Each pupil will aim to complete one Extreme Learning Project in each of their

final two years at primary school (P6 & P7) and in the first two years of their

secondary school (S1 & S2).

Doc 1: Background – extreme learning : An outline of the origin and objectives

of the learning project

Doc 2: Approval Form: Form completed by parents or guardians

Documents

Background - extreme learning

Approval Form

Extreme Learning: WikispacesTeaching Resources

Each pupil made a formal proposal for their project using the Pupil Proposal Form

and then recorded their weekly progress using the Pupil Record Document.

To assist teachers and pupils in selecting a project that was appropriate and

relevant a Pupil Worksheet document was given to all teachers and pupils

engaged in this project. The school management had previously agreed that for

the duration of the project, normal homework would be suspended, and the

children could concentrate purely on their Extreme Learning pojects.

The main resource was the class interactive whiteboard, which was used to

display examples of pupil work; a particular student’s wikispace. The school, like

all primary and secondary schools in East Lothian, has wireless internet access in

all classrooms. Pupils used laptops in class to research, to write and record their

own progress. Pupils used their personal space on www.wikispaces.com to

record their findings, and develop different presentation methods, use of

graphics, images and so on. Peer teaching was employed: if one pupil developed

some learning in a particular area, such as animating lettering, then this was

shared in class. The publishing aspect of the projects was an ongoing, dynamic

and motivating teaching resorce.

Documents

Pupil Proposal Pupil Record Pupil Worksheet

Extreme Learning: WikispacesAssessment and Standards

The Project was planned to enable children to develop research, literacy, numeracy

and technological skills. It also aimed to enable children to work initially at their own

level and then extend themselves. It provided children with the opportunity to make

a link between their experiences in their own community and the learning process

In line with the principles of A Curriculum for Excellence (a Scottish Government

initiative to revitalise the curriculum) the project encouraged teachers to work

creatively, with cross curricular emphasis, and with a focus on education as opposed

to certification.

Formative assessment, the process of learning, making decisions and

improvements to work, during the process was key to this project. Summative

assessment, fed back to pupils on completion of work, by which time it is too late to

change things, and the learning outcome may or may not have been achieved, was

largely avoided. Peer teaching, teacher feedback, engaging with the wider education

community of parents and carers, as well as the school staff, all helped the pupils to

create work in which they felt genuine pride, and in which they had achieved clear

learning objectives, and moved forward at their own levels.

The embedded PowerPoint below provides an indication of the success of this project.

The extracts from the teacher’s blog records aspects of the project that were deemed

to be successful. The word document below includes the learner voice from this

project, with pupils commenting on their experiences, as well as comment from the

Authority project leader.

Documents Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation Learner Voice Jenny's blog

Extreme Learning: WikispacesTeacher and School Information

Jennifer Walker is a class teacher at Ormiston Primary School . This is a small school,

in the picturesque village of the same name. It stands on the north bank of the River

Tyne, a rural setting. The school roll is about 157 with an additional 50 children in

nursery classes. There are several classes in the school: a Primary 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, a

composite 5/6, and a Primary 7.

The school has a committed and creative staff: the school website is indicative of their

dynamism, and the caring, positive ethos in the school.

http://edubuzz.org/blogs/ormiston