Module 4 - Orchestrating Discussions
Overview
I think Orchestra conductors make some of the best memes and gifs. Look at three gentleman above. All of them make me smile because of their funny movements and over-the-top theatrics. But that's also what makes the great. They have a passion for what they are doing and find a way to get 80-100 musicians to play as one unit. They are so expressive with their bodies because they have to be. Conductors can't really speak to musicians while they are playing, so they have to find other ways to communicate. I think there are similarities between classrooms and orchestras. Musicians in an orchestra do not all play the same instrument and if they do, they may have different notes (e.g. violins). Some only play a few notes at a time (brass sections) and then rest while others seem to be frantically trying to keep up (strings). And some just sit there and pound on the nearest thing or crash into whatever is near them (percussion). And the teacher is the conductor trying to manage this chaotic scene through large body movements and dance.
It is extremely difficult to manage such chaos. Watch the scene below from the TV show, The Office, and think about how you would handle this chaos if you were the instructor.
It is extremely difficult to manage such chaos. Watch the scene below from the TV show, The Office, and think about how you would handle this chaos if you were the instructor.
When I taught high school, I can distinctly remember having an afternoon geometry classes that went something similar to the video. I was bewildered and amazed had what my classroom had morphed into. I seem to be getting off on a tangent here because I want to focus on how we orchestrate whole discussions. I use the term orchestrate very purposefully here. Just like the conductor does not make the music, a teacher should not be one stating the important ideas. I truly believe a great teacher is not one who explains things well; a great teacher is one who gets their students to explain things well. You have to conduct the chaos of the classroom.
I think classroom discussions are spaces where a ton of learning can occur. Students can present their work and share their ideas to their classmates. Unfortunately, many classroom discussion are conversations between the student presenting and the teacher or a report of what students did in a group. While these are not necessarily bad things, they could be so much better. And technology could help with this. Perhaps we can use technology to help us gather and display student work so students don't have to recreate it at the front of the room. Or maybe we can use it as way for all students can share are ideas at once and then we can look or patterns and come agreements about answers. Or perhaps there is a technology app out there that will help us select who is going to speak. I think technology has the potential to allow the teacher to step aside from being the focus of the discussion and allowing the students ideas to take the lead.
I think classroom discussions are spaces where a ton of learning can occur. Students can present their work and share their ideas to their classmates. Unfortunately, many classroom discussion are conversations between the student presenting and the teacher or a report of what students did in a group. While these are not necessarily bad things, they could be so much better. And technology could help with this. Perhaps we can use technology to help us gather and display student work so students don't have to recreate it at the front of the room. Or maybe we can use it as way for all students can share are ideas at once and then we can look or patterns and come agreements about answers. Or perhaps there is a technology app out there that will help us select who is going to speak. I think technology has the potential to allow the teacher to step aside from being the focus of the discussion and allowing the students ideas to take the lead.
In this assignment, I want you to find four different technologies that could help you orchestrate classroom discussions. The first technology should help you gather and display student work. The second should help you create a shared space for students to place their ideas. The third is you choice. For each tool, you don't necessarily have to provide a specific lesson in which you would use the technology, but a general example would be helpful.
Once you have located and written up the descriptions of your tools, go to the student page and go see which tools your classmates found. I am really impressed with your work thus far and I think it is a shame I am the only one who really seeing it. So, go to your classmates' page and see what tools they found. Then, "steal" their tool and write it up as your own.
Once you have located and written up the descriptions of your tools, go to the student page and go see which tools your classmates found. I am really impressed with your work thus far and I think it is a shame I am the only one who really seeing it. So, go to your classmates' page and see what tools they found. Then, "steal" their tool and write it up as your own.
To Do
Step 1:
Create a webpage in your Weebly site called “Orchestrating Discussions” within the Instructional Support menu.
Step 2:
Describe the grade level and subject you currently or will teach in the near future.
Tool 1
Step 3:
Locate and describe a technological tool that you could use to orchestrate discussions (devices, apps, software) such that the tool could be used to gather and display student/group work. In your description of the tool, provide a brief description of how you would you use it in your future classroom. Provide a link to the tool and include a screen shot/image.
Tool 2
Step 4:
Locate and describe a technological tool that you could use to orchestrate discussions (devices, apps, software) such that the tool could be used to create a shared space for student to place ideas. In your description of the tool, provide a brief description of how you would you use it in your future classroom. Provide a link to the tool and include a screen shot/image.
Tool 3
Step 5:
Locate and describe a technological tool that you could use to orchestrate discussions (devices, apps, software) . In your description of the tool, provide a brief description of how you would you use it in your future classroom. Provide a link to the tool and include a screen shot/image.
Classmate's Tool
Step 6:
Examine the tools and their descriptions that your classmates provide on their Orchestrating Discussions pages. Select 1 tool that is different from the ones you provided that you would really like to use in your classroom. Provide a link to the tool and include a screen shot/image. State why you think this tool could be helpful in orchestrating discussions in your classroom.
Step 7:
Create a divider between each of the closings
Step 1:
Create a webpage in your Weebly site called “Orchestrating Discussions” within the Instructional Support menu.
Step 2:
Describe the grade level and subject you currently or will teach in the near future.
Tool 1
Step 3:
Locate and describe a technological tool that you could use to orchestrate discussions (devices, apps, software) such that the tool could be used to gather and display student/group work. In your description of the tool, provide a brief description of how you would you use it in your future classroom. Provide a link to the tool and include a screen shot/image.
Tool 2
Step 4:
Locate and describe a technological tool that you could use to orchestrate discussions (devices, apps, software) such that the tool could be used to create a shared space for student to place ideas. In your description of the tool, provide a brief description of how you would you use it in your future classroom. Provide a link to the tool and include a screen shot/image.
Tool 3
Step 5:
Locate and describe a technological tool that you could use to orchestrate discussions (devices, apps, software) . In your description of the tool, provide a brief description of how you would you use it in your future classroom. Provide a link to the tool and include a screen shot/image.
Classmate's Tool
Step 6:
Examine the tools and their descriptions that your classmates provide on their Orchestrating Discussions pages. Select 1 tool that is different from the ones you provided that you would really like to use in your classroom. Provide a link to the tool and include a screen shot/image. State why you think this tool could be helpful in orchestrating discussions in your classroom.
Step 7:
Create a divider between each of the closings