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OTF Connects

December 15, 2013

ExpiredInquiry & Multimedia: Are Students Really Constructing Knowledge?

Find out how journal writing, collaboration, scaffolding and information technologies can be brought to bear on student inquiry and knowledge construction. You will learn many techniques to develop students’ deep understanding of the content and of their thinking processes.

Many students are engaged in inquiry-based projects and in creating ‘multimedia presentations’ to report their project findings. These presentations typically include graphics, text, sound, animation, and video.  
Many of these projects are attractive and interesting, but:
  • What knowledge have the students constructed in their creation or was it merely a ‘cut and paste’ activity?
  • Did they learn procedural or metacognitive knowledge that will add to their expertise as a learner?  That is, did they learn more about how to learn?

Presented by: Brenda Sherry and Peter Skillen

Audience: All levels

About the Facilitators:brenda3

Brenda Sherry is currently an Itinerant Technology Coach at Upper Grand District School Board in Guelph, Ontario, after 20 years as a regular classroom and special education teacher.  She has co-founded  Minds On Media, works on the  Educational Computing Organization’s Annual Conference, develops and facilitates professional learning for the Ontario Teacher’s Federation  and Wilfrid Laurier University (AQ Courses) and has been a Connected Coach and a Community Leader with the  PLP Network,  a professional learning community for educators.
Twitter: @brendasherry
Blog/Website: The Learning Zone www.brendasherry.com

Peter Skillen has been involved in technology supported,  project-based learning since the late 1970s and continues to explore &Peter  develop deep applications of the latest Web 2.0 technologies – particularly as it relates to learner agency, passion, motivation and cognitive intent. Peter is Manager of Professional Learning with the YMCA of Greater Toronto, co-founder of Minds On Media, and also serves iEARN-Canada, Teacher Learning & Leadership Program (TLLP),  Educational Computing Organization of Ontario (ECOO), International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) as global ambassador, and teaches online & face-to-face with the Ontario Teachers’ Federation.  His latest passion is involvement with Global Dignity Day!
Twitter: @peterskillen
Blog: peterskillen.org