Global Classroom Global Classroom Learning EpisodeLearning Episode

OLV Global KidsOLV Global KidsSaints and Inspiring People – Saints and Inspiring People –

Mary MacKillop Mary MacKillop and the Order of Sisters of Saint Josephand the Order of Sisters of Saint Joseph

Context for studyContext for study• The context for which this project took place is as follows.The context for which this project took place is as follows.

• A group of 6 year 5/6 students worked with the e and c teacher to A group of 6 year 5/6 students worked with the e and c teacher to undertake research about Mary Mc Killop in the context of their undertake research about Mary Mc Killop in the context of their current Religious Education strand – Saints and Inspiring People. current Religious Education strand – Saints and Inspiring People. This strand is taught by all Catholic Schools at this time. A This strand is taught by all Catholic Schools at this time. A research project is a major part of this strand and forms the basis research project is a major part of this strand and forms the basis of understanding the Communion of Saints in the Catholic Church.of understanding the Communion of Saints in the Catholic Church.

• Mary Mc Killop was the founder of the Order of St Josephs in Mary Mc Killop was the founder of the Order of St Josephs in Australia. Mother Mary became the first Australian to be formally Australia. Mother Mary became the first Australian to be formally proposed to Rome as a candidate for canonization (1973), she was proposed to Rome as a candidate for canonization (1973), she was beautified (1990s) by Pope John Paul II. The Order of the beautified (1990s) by Pope John Paul II. The Order of the Josephites works throughout Australia, New Zealand and Peru.Josephites works throughout Australia, New Zealand and Peru.

• The students will participate in discussion and research with a The students will participate in discussion and research with a fellow Catholic School in Christchurch. The students will also use fellow Catholic School in Christchurch. The students will also use synchronous communication to interview and research both in synchronous communication to interview and research both in Australia and New Zealand. This research will then be shared on a Australia and New Zealand. This research will then be shared on a group blog. This will be used to asynchronously communicate group blog. This will be used to asynchronously communicate with both our E class and the OLV students home class.with both our E class and the OLV students home class.

What I hoped to achieve..What I hoped to achieve..• -The students will connect with a class from another -The students will connect with a class from another

catholic school in the city to develop a community of catholic school in the city to develop a community of learners, by both sharing knowledge and communicating learners, by both sharing knowledge and communicating both synchronously and asynchronously.both synchronously and asynchronously.

• -The OLV students will collaboratively research and present -The OLV students will collaboratively research and present findings about Mary McKillop through the use of a blog.findings about Mary McKillop through the use of a blog.

• -The students will develop a blog and use this to share and -The students will develop a blog and use this to share and interact with their new friends. interact with their new friends.

• -The students will use asynchronous communication to -The students will use asynchronous communication to interact with Room 4, and also synchronously interview and interact with Room 4, and also synchronously interview and research about Mary MacKillop. research about Mary MacKillop.

• -The students will make use of audio conferencing in the -The students will make use of audio conferencing in the research process to enhance their understanding.research process to enhance their understanding.

What occurred?What occurred?• The students individually gathered information about Mary The students individually gathered information about Mary

MacKillop. This information was sourced from a variety of MacKillop. This information was sourced from a variety of websites.websites.

• The students interviewed an educator at the Mary MacKillop Place The students interviewed an educator at the Mary MacKillop Place museum, (Sydney) through audio conference.museum, (Sydney) through audio conference.

• The students interviewed a Sister of St Joseph here in Christchurch The students interviewed a Sister of St Joseph here in Christchurch through audio conference.through audio conference.

• The students pooled their information and put together in groups The students pooled their information and put together in groups two power point presentations. two power point presentations.

• This information was the basis for our OLVGlobal Kids Blog.This information was the basis for our OLVGlobal Kids Blog.

• We introduced ourselves to another Catholic School here in We introduced ourselves to another Catholic School here in Christchurch by audio conference and are sharing our research on Christchurch by audio conference and are sharing our research on our blog with them.our blog with them.

Key learning that took placeKey learning that took place• The accessing of key information from relevant The accessing of key information from relevant

websites.websites.

• The research and inquiry into Mary MacKillops life The research and inquiry into Mary MacKillops life and journey. Key events and dates identified and and journey. Key events and dates identified and shared.shared.

• Presentation of their research on both powerpoint Presentation of their research on both powerpoint and on our OLV Global Kids blog.and on our OLV Global Kids blog.

• Audio conferencing to both source information and to Audio conferencing to both source information and to share information.share information.

• Collaborative, co-operative investigating and sharing Collaborative, co-operative investigating and sharing of information.of information.

Key Learning that took Key Learning that took place..place..Merrill asserts that …Merrill asserts that …

• knowledge is constructed from experienceknowledge is constructed from experience

• learning is a personal interpretation of the worldlearning is a personal interpretation of the world

• learning is an active process in which meaning is developed learning is an active process in which meaning is developed on the basis of experienceon the basis of experience

• conceptual growth comes from the negotiation of meaning, conceptual growth comes from the negotiation of meaning, the sharing of multiple perspectives and the changing of the sharing of multiple perspectives and the changing of our internal representations through collaborative learningour internal representations through collaborative learning

• learning should be situated in realistic settings; testing learning should be situated in realistic settings; testing should be integrated with the task and not a separate should be integrated with the task and not a separate activityactivity

(Merrill, 1991, in Smorgansbord, 1997) (Merrill, 1991, in Smorgansbord, 1997)

Summary of learningSummary of learning

• The audio conference component I believe was an The audio conference component I believe was an extremely powerful tool which enabled students extremely powerful tool which enabled students to facilitate their own learning and share with one to facilitate their own learning and share with one another.another.

• ““Technologies should be used as engagers and Technologies should be used as engagers and facilitators of thinking and knowledge. Students facilitators of thinking and knowledge. Students learn with technology rather than from it” learn with technology rather than from it” Jonassen(2003)Jonassen(2003)

• The research was successfully shared on the The research was successfully shared on the creation of our Blog and has opened the door for creation of our Blog and has opened the door for further thinking, learning and sharing in this area. further thinking, learning and sharing in this area.

Meet the Meet the OLVOLVGlobalkidsGlobalkidsTeamTeam

http://http://olvglobalkids.blogspot.comolvglobalkids.blogspot.com/ /

What?What?

A group of students researched A group of students researched the life of Mary MacKillop the life of Mary MacKillop through audio conferencing, through audio conferencing, interviewing, and web interviewing, and web searches. searches.

They collaboratively and They collaboratively and

co-operatively put together a co-operatively put together a blog to share information and blog to share information and learning experiences with learning experiences with another Christchurch Class.another Christchurch Class.

What Next?

The students and fellow Christchurch class wish to continue communication this way.

The students wish to go and meet the Sister of Saint Joseph who they interviewed by audio conference.

The students wish to set up a blog with their home class.

How?

Longer timeframe

Teacher needs more PD on using blogs to ensure that the settings are correct.

Peer teachers set up in class to teach the other students, both how to set up their blog and how to access and contribute to the class one.

Why?

A collaborative way to share research and ideas with another group.

Gain an insight into asynchronous communication as a tool to enhance learning and understanding.

To learn new ideas and ways of doing things.