Lead+Teacher+Days

Lead Teachers Day**
 * __2007__

The Term 3 Lead Teachers' Day started with discussion on embedding the Key Competencies into the Inquiry process.We watched [|Rose Hipkins video] and followed up with discussion on the main points she makes.Two important aspects were discussed -1. Curriculum cohesion - Rose mentions this and it is a ongoing issue for many schools. Pressures of timetabling and balance make it difficult for the full inquiry process to take place often resulting in unfinished and shallow outcomes, leaving both teachers and students frustrated.2. Assessment of Inquiry - a matter of ongoing discussion - what do we actually assess, and what does that assessment look like. What is the purpose of the assessment, and what does it mean?We also watched the [|Yoram Harpaz series of videos] on thinking. A wonderful resource and one that kept us in discussion for a long time.The afternoon was spent looking at podcasting. We made audio files in [|Garageband] or [|Audacity], and uploaded them to [|Podomatic]. These podcasts were then able to be subscribed to through Apple Store in iTunes.**Cluster Sharing Session:**During August we met again as a cluster. This time to look at what has been happening in classrooms.Many teachers presented digital stories they had worked on with their classes.Mellons Bay School made digital stories made in Power Point, of Inquiry Learning Journeys -Year 1 Pukeko Alphabet, and Year 2 Inquiry Journey.Macleans Primary shared some very clever animations made as part of their GATE programme,using ICanAnimate.Pigeon Mountain School shared digital stories made in Power Point, that showed their enviromental programme in action. Bucklands Beach Primary showed some animations also made in ICanAnimate using clay models. They showed how young students can produce high quality work Bucklands Beach Intermediate shared students' personal digital stories made with GarageBand. The emphasis in these was giving students a personal voice.

Inquiry was a focus of the Bucklands Beach Lead Teachers Day held in June. Pedagogy and inquiry models were discussed and debated. We looked at some key issues/challenges of Inquiry and asked ourselves some difficult questions, such as: What is Inquiry? What kind of learners do we want? What are we doing already? What is powerful learning? What is powerful to learn? What is the difference between knowledge/information?
 * Lead Teachers Day:**


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 * [[image:bucklandsbeach:knowtoinfo.gif width="578" height="424" caption="knowtoinfo.gif"]] ||
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Bucklands Beach Intermediate Inquiry Model[| inquirystaffmeeting2.ppt] Bucklands Beach Primary Inquiry Model[| BBPStree.ppt] Bucklands Beach Primary Planning Template[| BBPS Integrated Inquiry Plan]

A series of staff meetings have been held exploring Inquiry and the draft Social Science curriculum document. Bucklands Beach Intermediate School have developed their own model for Inquiry and the staff are now trialing this model in the classroom. The emphasis is on student choice and students taking control of their own learning in an authentic context. The following powerpoint presentations look at the big idea of inquiry and what it means, and examine the Bucklands Beach Intermediate Inquiry model in detail. [| inquiry.ppt] [| inquirystaffmeeting2.ppt]
 * Inquiry Learning:**