SOLEs for the Soul of Education

An exploration of Self-Organized Learning Environments (SOLEs)

Hopes for today:We will look through the “Hole in the Wall”

and explore our own reflection based on what we see as we watch children learn

1. Be exposed to Sugata Mitra’s SOLEs (Self-Organized Learning Environments)

2.Invite participation3. Reflect 4. Share

Interview with Sugata Mitra

Where did the SOLEs idea come from?Sugata Mitra’s “Hole in the Wall” experiment (1999).

“There are places on Earth, in every country, where, for various reasons, good schools cannot be built and good teachers cannot or do not want to go…There are still children in these places who want and need to learn, so what can be done?”

To answer this question, Mitra conducted further research in poor areas of India, S. Africa and Cambodia. (1999-2003) Since his endeavors have spread from England to Italy and the US.

This led to the beginning of SOLEs. “If children have interest, education occurs”

Example from Gateshead, England

Critical Elements of SOLEsQuestion --- based on a BIG concept with

enduring understandings, open-ended and relevant to the learners.

Groups of 4 with one computer with internet access.

Teacher’s role is to pose the question to initiate dialogue, then step back and admire.

Audience: Granny Cloud, college students, parent volunteers, etc., whose role is for authenticating and affirming the learning.

Trying it out with 3rd Graders to address state standards and global issues.1st attempt

What is a glacier?How did glaciers impact MN landforms?

2nd attempt Who were the Freedom Riders? What did they do and why?

40 minute session

SharingAfter whole group sharing, students turn and talk with a partner.

Reflections on the 3rd grade process:Teacher thoughts:Try a more open-ended question, e.g. Where

does language come from?How strict is the 4 students to 1 computer?Long-term understanding?Students gained a lot of information based

on what they found most interesting. There were some misconceptions to clear up. Seemed like a great way to begin a new unit of study.

Reflections continued…Student thoughts

Positive:Working with a groupTrying to find sitesMoving to different groupsIt’s good to learn new thingsThe teacher didn’t tell the answers so it was harderWe found lots of different ideas

Negative:It was hard to find sites

It was hard to share, I couldn’t go to MY choiceIt was hard to see the computer, sometimes I got pushed out.

The reading was hard to understand.

Connections and Questions:Mitra’sEMID’sYoursOthersIB Design Cycle (Investigate, Plan, Create, Evaluate)Scientific Method Inquiry Based LearningThe creative process

Resources:Sugata Mitra’s Biographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugata_Mitra

Sugata Mitra’s New Experiments in Self-Teaching @ TED talk, July 2010http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk60sYrU2RU&feature=related

Sugata Mitra’s Granny Cloudhttp://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/2011/01/sugata-mitra-the-granny-cloud.html

Video from What’s a Glacier ? Experiment (by Carl Anderson)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_LMGfE_VSY

Lab Report Procedure section guidehttp://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/lab_report_complete.html