FUSION:
Working collaboratively in a Project based way in our new ILE/MLE with Years 9-13
Mathematics, Social Sciences, and Technology
Justin Thompson with support of Tara Egerton and Dave Woodcock
What is it?
Fusion is the term we have given to a collaborative venture at Oxford Area School.
Teachers in Social Studies, Mathematics and Technology work together to deliver programmes of teaching and learning to students in Years 9 and 10.
The learning is genuinely cross curricular, inquiry based and project based.
This is done during 8 lessons a week.
This workshop looks at how ‘Fusion’ came about and how it works.
How we use our MLE/ILE Space and how we use SOLO and Multi-Intelligence Matrices with our learners.
The Background … The Why?
Key Thoughts in the set-up:
They must be subjects which will overlap, and enhance understanding of each of them.
The teachers who teach the subjects must be willing to work with each other.
Teachers must be able to work co-operatively, and have a shared vision.
There is always an overlap between Mathematics & Technology, Social Sciences lends itself to providing great contexts for the learning.
WHO
Dave Woodcock - HOD Technology
Tara Egerton - HOD Mathematics
Justin Thompson - HOD Social Science
Joseph Burston - Extra Maths support
Big Picture - How does it work?
2 Year Cycle
We have a theme for each term
The theme includes all 3 subjects, but 1 subject might be stronger
We now do a three week immersion into a topic with explicit teaching of key ideas
7 Week Matrix (multi-intelligence, modified to SOLO) including and based around a project
OXPO
Little Picture - How does it work
All year 9/10 students
8 hours per week
3 teachers on at one time (the same 3 teachers this year)
2 hours with extra Maths teacher
2 hours specialist Maths lesson
Workshops
Immersion – Big/Small groups. Rotation.
Matrix – Choice of task.
Workspace
The latest Matrix
Workspace or Student/Teacher Dashboard
MLE/ILE Workspace
Year 1:
Used the Library Space. 4 periods a week.
Had 2 classrooms (sometimes-interconnected). 4 periods a week.
Year 2:
Now in Puaka … this is a part of the Aotahi Building completed in 2017.
Images
Images
Issues to overcome
Timetable
Changing Parent and Student mindset
ICT needs/requirements (BYOD)
Teacher Expectations and outcomes (over or under)
Plan, plan and plan some more, then throw it out!
Honest communication between the teachers
Celebrating student success
The Social Science
2 Year Programme allows for coverage of the Achievement Objectives
Aim for Level 5 but have students working at Level 4 and sometimes Level 3. This year we have students close to Level 6.
Lead or a part of 3 of the 4 topics each year to date.
Collaboration and Digital Content helps.
What we want students to learn/do!
Self management
Thinking outside the square
Recording evidence
Research (learning how to)
Evaluating and Analysing skills - Critical Thinking
Sourcing Information - not Wikipedia!
Digital citizenship
Using the Inquiry Model (Project Pathway)
NCEA
Geography and History taught in space at same time
Tourism students in there too
2018 Plan to do a combo course plus the traditional ones
Throw up all the standards and get students to choose
Consultation key
Next Steps
2017 Term 4 Review our first two years
2017 Term 4 Frame up and organise Passion Projects
2018 Continue FUSION (3rd Year)
Re-visit Year 1 - USE and DISCARD
2018 Social Science COMBO Course
2018 Work on the 100% Project Completion in Fusion
Questions
Email: justin@oxford.school.nz FEEL FREE TO COME VISIT ANYTIME!