Collective Capacity and Collegial Learning.

The CRT Resource Challenge has come to a close and we thought we'd discuss two of the reasons we hold this internally;  Allowing newer members to see the potential of collegial learning in action and help them remain enthusiastic about teaching.

For the challenge, one of our members chose to base their ideas on a simple Paperclip.  The first time we saw her list it looked like this.

• Ebay success story;  Kylie McDonald going from a red paperclip to a house in 14 sales.
• Join Paperclips together;  Predict length and then predict how many to make any given length.
• Weight bearing exercises:  How many pieces of paper can each size hold.
• Arrange by colour/size/type etc and graph the results.
• Paperclip Bingo.

After taking this to the table to discuss what we were doing, further ideas were added.

• Build an object.
• Paperclips in Art.
• Write a story "A day in the life of a paperclip".
• Different uses of a paperclip (divergent Thinking exercise).
• Who invented the paperclip, what is it made of, how is it made, where are they made.
• Maths equations eg;  2 yellow = 1 blue, 2 blue = 1 red, 2 red = silver.

On the 3rd visitation with another group

• Paperclip Jewellery
• How many paperclips can you string under a magnet?
• What can a paperclip be replaced by?
• Paperclip rubbings/Paperclip tracings.
  Glue down coloured paperclips to make a picture.
• Informal Measuring.

Each time it was brought to a new group of people, different thinking brought new ideas, variations on ideas already there or specific ideas about how to use the paperclips in another idea..

• Predicting the length of paperclips grew to include using them as an informal form of measurement.
• Paperclips in Art got refined by specific activities;  Rubbings, tracings, gluing.

It must be mentioned that this was by no means the full list, all extending from something as simple as a paperclip.  Seeking the ideas of others allows you to expand your options and refine your lessons to something really special that your students are going to have a lot of fun with.  Doing this improves your results as a teacher and makes you a more effective and desirable CRT.  That, however, is not all it does.

Being in on this process, as well as having similar input into their own projects, allows our newer members to see EXACTLY where the advantages are in collegial groups in a hands-on way.  Essentially it's just a translation of the hands-on learning advantages we give our students back on ourselves as teachers.  By immersing them in a way that is totally relevant to THEM, they walk away with a much deeper understanding of the collegial framework and the benefits it offers.

It also serves as a yearly reminder of how important it is that we make our classrooms hands-on and relevant to the students wherever possible.  By allowing ourselves to become immersed in the process of the CRT Resource Challenge we refresh our understanding and enthusiasm for these educational concepts, helping to prevent us to become jaded about them as "just something we are supposed to do".

It reminds us of why we became Teachers in the first place;  How fun and rewarding it is being a teacher.  When we are able to supply our students with these sorts of experiences in their educational journey we are offering them a gateway to share in the same sorts of positive feelings we get from educating and being educated.

Regards,

Mel.