PART 2

Welcome to part two of Developing Self Directed Learners. 

In our last newsletter I gave an overview of the learning systems available to students to help their progress towards being a self-directed learner, this included Assignment Writing, use of Canvas and the Learning Centre Practice (Assignment, Lesson, Study).  I will look at these in more depth in coming newsletters.   

Today in part two of being a Self-Directed Learner, I want to focus on the attributes that students need for being a self-directed learner. 

As the New Zealand Curriculum makes clear, the capacity to manage oneself confidently, relate to others, communicate articulately, participate and contribute and think critically have a direct impact on student’s wellbeing, learning and achievement.  

Today our students live in the ‘Knowledge Age’ that is rapidly changing where they still need to know things but also increasingly to make sense of the vast amounts of information available to them (on and offline). Each student needs to be able to locate, access and critique information, use it to make new knowledge and then communicate that to others.   

Below are the essential attributes/competencies as identified within education but more important by employers of the key skills they require from their employees.  

Relating to others: Ability to listen and share ideas while valuing other perspectives. 

(Listening, sharing ideas, valuing other perspectives, caring, show empathy, respects our differences, team/group work, inclusive, open to new ideas, considers feelings, works with others, is nice, accepts mistakes, honest) 

Using Language, symbols, and text: Ability to use a variety of mediums to communicate ideas. 

(Make meaning, communicate, writing, reading, symbols, text, verbal, digital, pictures, stories, images, numbers). 

Self-Management: Ability to follow instructions. Be on time and prepared. Has a can do attitude. Is reliable. 

(Following instructions, being on time, meets deadlines, prepared, on-task, motivated, setting goals, time management, resilient, perseverance, responsible for own actions, asking for help when needed) 

Participation and Contributing: Ability to join in and get involved. 

(Joining in, interact, makes choices, communicates and sharing ideas, discussions, accepting other opinions, includes others) 

Thinking: Ability to solve problems in order to; be innovative, show insight, create strategies, reflect on and make positive decisions about their learning.  

(Asking questions, solving problems, innovative, show insight, creative, reflection, making decisions, leadership, forming an opinion, fact v fiction, using evidence, apply prior learning, makes connections between subject areas) 

People use these attribute/competencies to live, learn, work, and contribute as active members of their communities. They are not separate or stand-alone. They are the key to learning in every learning area.

Along with a knowledge base, we endeavor to develop the whole learner to enable students to gain essential qualifications while also developing the attributes that will equip them to thrive in such a world.

Join us on flight US2019, Monday 17th June, for a breathtaking journey viewing the talents of Upper South Campus.

2019’s Year 13 pilots are on a mission to reach their goal for the year - to bring Upper South together as ONESCHOOL.

Please take the time to read through the following information to ensure you have an enjoyable flight.

Students please make sure you read through the PDF file below carefully as there is vital information about due dates for activities.

Please use this link to book your seat https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GP96JXZ

This year the Cross Country will be held on Friday 5th July at the River Trail, Westport. 

The West Coast are excited to host this event and can't wait to see everyone - we hope you are training hard!

More details to follow in the coming weeks.

WEST COAST CAMPUS UPDATE

GIANNI - RDA

We finally made it to RDA this week. This year is very exciting and new with having a new instructor. This week they played musical chairs but on a horse.

Gianni giggled and sung the whole time. He threw hoola hoops over poles, never missing.

INTEGRITY SONG

Apologies to those who could not view this in a previous newsletter - hopefully there is no error this time. If you are still experiencing difficulties please try viewing via google chrome and not internet explorer.

A “CHANGED" PHOTO

At the beginning of the term on “Collaborative Monday” which also happened to be School Photo Day, WC 3-6 students were challenged with the collaborative task of changing the class photo and creating a new one then, designing and making a frame to hold it.

The photo and its frame needed to meet very specific criteria. In the photo, the class members were not to be immediately recognizable but, could be readily identified.

These are the outcomes. Can you identify our students? Which one is easiest? Which one is almost impossible?

JOVAN CLIFFORD - YEAR 5

PYJAMA COLLECTION

The Year 3–6 students at the Blenheim Campus recently organised a collection of winter PJ’s, underwear and toiletries for Foster Hope Marlborough.  This organisation supports children who have entered foster care by providing them with essential and comfort items. 

We’d like to challenge the Tasman and West Coast sites to organise a similar collection of their own for similar organisations in their area!

We have included the contact details for you!

FRACTION BAKING

The Year 3–6 students recently finished some work on fractions. Their end of unit assessment involved using their knowledge to bake cookies. There was minimal help from the teachers, and the end results were somewhat interesting! Considering each group was working from the same recipe, we ended up with three very different looking batches of cookies! They all tasted delicious however, and it was a fun way to conclude our unit.

YEAR 11 HORT ASSESSMENT - SOAKING SEEDS

Junior School OSG-Nelson have been busy working in their Outdoor Classroom at Motueka Spit. On this particular day the children were inspired by the Artist Andy Goldsworthy, an environmental sculptor. They are studying how nature is always changing and with it the immense beauty of life.

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=e15b8c1810434c4989fb6c411d2f924b

Click on the link above for more details.