Blog Post#2

One of the topics I am interested in exploring is how to transform an elementary school library into a learning commons; what this entails, what it looks like, how it changes the learning opportunities for the students.

I found TE Scott Elementary's Learning Commons blog to be a great resource on this topic. The blog is tescott.org-curiosity+creativity. The blog highlights the schools new learning commons and has several pictures. There is also a link to a fun short video called “Transforming Learning Designs” showing how four teachers at the school have embraced new technology into their teaching. This is a great resource to see what a school in Surrey has created as a Learning Commons.

Another useful blog is coyotecreeklibrary.blogspot.ca What I liked about this learning commons blog was the presentation and interactive possibilities of the blog. The teacher-librarian has posted weekly blog entries such as; Today is Canada Book Day What is your favourite book? Tell us in the comments...etc. There is also a authors tab in this blog where students can access a alphabetized directory of authors book trailing and readings through utube. The teacher-librarian also included links to other websites that she uses when teaching with her smart board. The polar bear video links through safesharetv looked very interesting for younger students.

The website bctf.ca/bctla/pub/documents/conference/zubke.pdf includes a great book bibliography on learning commons as well as websites of examples of learning commons.

At commonsconnections.edublogs.org-commonsconnetions, Anna Crosland- Teacher Librarian shares great ideas about learning commons, including Grade 2's tweeting about their learning with the ipads.

A slide show about Anna Croslands learning commons at George Vanier Elementary in Surrey can be viewed at www.slideshare “Developing an Elementary School Learning Commons Physical Space” This website is a great resource to understand the designing involved in the physical space of a learning commons area.

I am also interested in learning more about the flipped classroom style of teaching, as I just accepted a .4 grade 6/7 assignment for the remainder of the school year and I am interested in learning more about this style of teaching for teaching Math. One of the websites I looked at was www.knewton.com/flipped-classroom. This website provides good visuals for understanding the difference between a traditional classroom and a flipped classroom. I also found Jon Bergmann's website useful, jonbergmann.com He is a pioneer of flipped classrooms in Florida. He speaks at conferences and his website provides lots of useful links and information about flipping your classroom. If you go to iteachwithit.wordpress.com/2013/06/19/explain-everything there is helpful information on using the app Explain Everything as a great teaching tool in a flipped classroom.

The other topic I am exploring is using Wikis in the classroom. I found www. techforteachers.net/wikis-in-the-classroom.html very helpful as it provided background information of what a wiki is, how to get one, obstacles with them, and links to other elementary classroom wikis. If you go to www. educatorstechnology.com/2012/07/teachers-guide-on-use-of-wikis-in.html there is more great information and links to other classroom wikis. The resource I found most helpful with setting up a classroom wiki was http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/ Examples of educational Wikis. I liked this website as a resource because it had an enormous collection of links to classroom wiki ranging from Grade1-12 in alphabetical order. Most of the Wikis were from the U.S. But

there were many from Canada and a few from around the world. This was a great resource for ideas on how to use a class wiki and what it would look like. And lastly, www.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/wikiideas2.cfm provides great information on the how, what, when and why of having a classroom wiki.