Presentation by: Tracy Harrington
Session: E | Time: 11:05AM – 11:45AM | Location: Room 202
Will Staff and students be more engaged in “Learning For All” if more cross-curricular opportunities are supported?
Initial scanning three years ago indicated that not all of our learners were successful with traditional practices. Our hunch was that if students had more cross-curricular opportunities to go deeper with their learning they would be more successful.
The culture of collaboration is building in our school and we now have teachers who want to engage in a variety of cross-curricular opportunities. Teachers are encouraged to take risks and are supported in creating innovative new opportunities. Collaborative projects in Art/Wood, Art/Metal, and Art/Calculus are accomplished through teachers connecting and collaborating for the project duration.
On a larger scale, we have a linear English First Peoples10/Art10 program and semester programs including EPIC (Experiential, Project-Based, Indigenous, Community) and Biology 11/English 11 where the teachers are collaborating in this innovative approach to learning. Students love being outside, learning about indigenous culture and content, and engaging in authentic learning opportunities in the cross-curricular model. Assessment in these programs is process-oriented and student driven and leads to a sense of community which runs deep among these groups.
To continue with this work current projects and programs will continue to build, and planning for combinations of Apprenticeship Math 10/ Woodworking 10 and linear Math 8/Physical Education 8 are in discussion. Whenever possible we support our teachers with resources and time as these unique learning opportunities have truly enhanced the learning experience at SOSS.
Students who have the opportunity to take cross-curricular courses benefit from the sense of community and deeper learning that is created. Teachers who are collaborating on projects are rejuvenated and engaged in their own learning, and students benefit from this passion and deeper learning. With the collaboration and energy surrounding this innovative learning the numbers speak to our success. Three years ago we had one program, four courses, one teacher, and twenty-one students. This year, we have three programs, eight courses, five teachers and sixty students involved in cross-curricular, full semester courses.
Abstract: 580