Today was a full day! We left Plymouth by coach at 6:30 am to drive northeast to visit Stonehenge. It was rainy and windy, but we braved the weather to walk around and experience the magical site of Stonehenge. Listening to the audio guide and talking to the English Heritage guides helped us learn about the history of the site.
After Stonehenge we drove to the town of Bath. It was still raining, but luckily it was dry and warm in the Roman Baths, where we took a tour and learned about how the baths were discovered, how they have been used over the centuries, and how the waters are still used today.
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Schools: Day 2
We spent the morning learning about podcasting: how to create podcasts, how to subscribe to podcasts, and how podcasts might be used in the classroom. We also listened to an example from This American Life, and watched a tutorial about good storytelling by Ira Glass. We also had some time to work on planning our podcasts for Inquiry #2, which will be about our experiences in the schools.
In the afternoon we visited the local schools again, to get a sense of the full school day.
In the afternoon we visited the local schools again, to get a sense of the full school day.
First Day in Schools
Today was our first day visiting Plymouth schools. We divided into three groups, and spent the morning at three different area schools: Chaucer, Widey, and Tamarside.
In the afternoon, we met to talk about our experiences. Also, Nick Pratt, a professor in the college of education at the University of Plymouth, came and spoke with us about the British educational system. He gave us an overview of the grade levels, testing system, and teacher training systems. He also helped answer questions about things we observed while visiting the schools.
In the afternoon, we met to talk about our experiences. Also, Nick Pratt, a professor in the college of education at the University of Plymouth, came and spoke with us about the British educational system. He gave us an overview of the grade levels, testing system, and teacher training systems. He also helped answer questions about things we observed while visiting the schools.
Ending Week 1
We continued our discussion today of Preschool in Three Cultures and also watched the remaining footage from the video. This helped us get ready for visiting three area Plymouth schools during week 2. We also worked on the digital story-telling assignment for inquiry 1.
Thursday, 3 July 2008
School, Culture, & Moviemaking
Today we discussed and watched video footage from the study "Preschool in Three Cultures" (Tobin, Wu, & Davidson, 1983). We began our work of examining culture though the lens of schooling, thinking about how culture may or may not be manifested through schools and the process of schooling in a given society. Students read a chapter focusing on the Japanese preschool in the study and we watched a 15-minute summary of the Chinese preschool. Our discussion was quite multifaceted, as students made connections between the three cultures. We also discussed using the methodology from the study in their own inquiry about culture when they visit British schools next week.
After beginning to explore the various movie-making technologies (iMovie, MovieMaker, PhotoStory) the previous night for homework, students worked today to make an initial sample digital story. Students used photographs, movies, and voice to create digital stories that would help them learn how to use the technology. They will use this technology to complete their first Inquiry project. Students also learned how to post video (their digital stories) on their blogs!
Evening Assignments: 1) Work on Inquiry #1; 2) Continue London research and post to Wiki; 3) Continue blogging; 4) Optional: review/re-read Preschool in Three Cultures.
After beginning to explore the various movie-making technologies (iMovie, MovieMaker, PhotoStory) the previous night for homework, students worked today to make an initial sample digital story. Students used photographs, movies, and voice to create digital stories that would help them learn how to use the technology. They will use this technology to complete their first Inquiry project. Students also learned how to post video (their digital stories) on their blogs!
Evening Assignments: 1) Work on Inquiry #1; 2) Continue London research and post to Wiki; 3) Continue blogging; 4) Optional: review/re-read Preschool in Three Cultures.
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
49 Up & Multimedia
Today we watched the documentary "49 Up," which is the most recent video in a series following a group of British school children every seven years since they were seven. The movie allowed us to get a closer glimpse into British culture, as it relates to schooling and class status.
During technology time, we learned how to edit our Wikispaces page, to link to specific photo albums in Picasa, make general edits to add information, and how to organize information on the site.
Once we had posted links to our Picasa albums featuring the photos of adjectives taken for the photo challenge yesterday. We looked at both the original and the versions we edited with Picnik. Here is a slideshow of our challenge pictures...see if you can guess the adjective each is depicting!
During technology time, we learned how to edit our Wikispaces page, to link to specific photo albums in Picasa, make general edits to add information, and how to organize information on the site.
Once we had posted links to our Picasa albums featuring the photos of adjectives taken for the photo challenge yesterday. We looked at both the original and the versions we edited with Picnik. Here is a slideshow of our challenge pictures...see if you can guess the adjective each is depicting!
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Exploring Culture Part 2
Based on the three internet articles on culture that were read for homework the previous night, we discussed the differing definitions of culture proposed by the various authors. Among these definitions were:
Finally, students shared the pictures of a cultural aspect they took around Plymouth from the previous day and explained what aspect of culture they were capturing and why they found it intriguing. We discussed some of the photographs in relation to the prior discussion on culture. Here is a slideshow of their pictures:
- Culture=diversity
- Culture is learned and taught
- Culture=high society
- Culture=biology
- Culture is changing
Finally, students shared the pictures of a cultural aspect they took around Plymouth from the previous day and explained what aspect of culture they were capturing and why they found it intriguing. We discussed some of the photographs in relation to the prior discussion on culture. Here is a slideshow of their pictures:
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