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| From Wiki workshops to novel ways of teaching math, this year’s Journey to Learn offered something for almost anyone in education |
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Jennifer Sylves often uses Wikis for class projects because she finds the web-based collaboration sites not only help students with organization, but also create both a sense of “individual accountability” and “interdependence.”
Nancy Hoffman helps a colleague at Trinity's Wiki workshop.
Using Wikis also can draw together students who might not otherwise interact and help lower-achieving students contribute on an even footing with students who excel, said Sylves, a Trinity High School English teacher. “They give everyone a meaningful task, so they level the playing field.”
Because Sylves finds them an invaluable teaching tool, she and a colleague, Nancy Hoffman, who teaches math and computer science, presented a workshop about Wikis to peers from across the region as part of The Consortium for Public Education’s 2009 Journey to Learn.
Trinity music instructor John McCarthy rehearses students for their role in an opera workshop.
Journey to Learn is a regional in-service day that The Consortium organizes annually so that educators can share best practices across district lines. Held on October 23, this year’s Journey to Learn boasted 150 workshops, spanned 16 districts and drew 2,600 participants.
Hoffman, who co-hosted the Wiki workshop at Trinity, said she first became familiar with Journey to Learn a couple of years ago as an attendee at a session at Steel Valley High School. “It was the best in service I’d ever participated in,” she said.
Teachers at Trinity's Shakespeare Day workshop acted out scenes to create a Photo Story based on Romeo and Juliet.
Because the experience was so rewarding, she has encouraged Trinity’s continued involvement and volunteered since as a workshop leader. “I’ll do everything I can to keep it going,” Hoffman said, adding that she finds “networking with people from other districts” one of the most important aspects of the event because it fosters an exchange of ideas for enriching classroom learning.
“Getting participants to cross district lines is one of our major objectives and it was hugely fulfilled this year,” said Program Coordinator, Patti Hoke. “Most, if not all of the schools holding workshops drew a majority of their participants from outside their own districts. I was really gratified to attend one session, at Yough High School, where all of the attendees came from outside the district. “All of our region’s schools benefit from that kind of cross pollination.”
Teachers traveled to Logan Middle School in East Allegheny School District to participate in The Recorder Consort session lead by Fred Moyes and Cheryl King.
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Facilitator, S. Jean Toporcer, from Yough High School gives pointers for using the hydroponics unit and using the growing process as a cross-curricular activity.
In addition to the Wiki workshop, Trinity hosted several others, including one on developing a school-wide, interdisciplinary Shakespeare Day; another on engaging students in learning about opera and the lessons beyond music — in languages and history, for example – that opera can enrich; and a session on culinary arts in which participants learned how many different subjects – from math to geography – can be taught in the kitchen.
Dance, dance, dance… follow the lighted floor arrows and raise that heart rate for peak physical fitness. Wii participants at Brownsville Area School District stomped their way to fun learning. In addition to the gaming component, teachers learned about integrating nutrition into their physical education classes in the form of healthy snacking alternatives.
Nor was Trinity the only district to present a rich and varied menu of workshops. Indeed, with 16 districts participating, there were sessions for educators teaching almost any subject; there also were learning opportunities for administrators and other school personnel.
Whether demonstrating 5,000-year-old methods the Egyptians used for comparing fractions, as a math teacher did in McKeesport Area School District; or showing how computer simulations can improve physics instruction, as a middle school teacher did in Monessen City School District, workshop hosts exhibited the same passion for sharing as they do for teaching.
More than 125 teachers participated in a day-long collaboration that addressed how to make connections, develop partnerships and make cross-district opportunities. Above, teachers review K- 12 student artwork set-up gallery style.
In addition to district-sponsored workshops, The Consortium itself also offered two learning opportunities. Associate Executive Director, Steve Seliy, who has a background in film production as well as education, gave a presentation on using Digital Storytelling to engage students and help them build skills ranging from research, writing and organization to visual documentation and presentation. The Consortium’s Director of Initiatives, Mary Kay Babyak, and John McGrail, who serves as a coach in The Consortium’s Middle-High Forum, offered a workshop for middle-school teachers, administrators and counselors on teambuilding strategies for effective problem solving.
Steve Seliy addresses attendees at the Digital Storytelling Workshop at Douglas Education Center in Monessen.
Now in its 11th year, Journey to Learn has enjoyed tremendous expansion since it began with a handful of participating districts in 1998.
“We still have room to grow,” said Hoke, the Program Coordinator. “I’m optimistic that we’ll be adding districts again next fall.”
Diane Dahm-Martin from WomansPlace leads group in an activity that helps educators understand the dynamics of teenage relationships and why it is hard for some teens to end an unhealthy association in “Teen Dating Violence – What are the Signs? How you Can Help.”
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