A presentation by Cierra Coyner, Biology teacher at Mechanicsville High School
Follow along with the presentation here: https://adobe.ly/3oU8ASM
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Where I Started: Interactive Notes and Notebooks
When I first started teaching, I trained my students to do interactive notes (as pictured at left), which progressed into interactive notebooks. Here is the presentation I used to explain the setup to my students - https://bit.ly/3NgEa6X. The layout and approach to these notes and notebooks capitalizes on the strengths and abilities of either side of the brain, based on brain research (more info here - https://bit.ly/3OfOk9q).
Next Step: Digital Portfolios
In the 2019-2020 school year, I helped my students set up digital portfolios using Google Sites. Throughout the year, they both documented and reflected on their learning for each unit by uploading artifacts and writing reflections on their learning in relation to the essential skills and understandings for our course content. Unfortunately, due to the COVID closure, students did not get to finish their portfolios, but it was a "step in the right direction."
Google Slides and Digital Reflective Journals - Version One
I taught online during the 2020-2021 school year. Knowing my students would not have any printed review for their end of course assessment, I modified the digital portfolio in the layout of an interactive notebook, using Google Slides, to give students a personalized review guide of course content. The template I provided my students is pictured at left and accessible here - https://bit.ly/3boowt9. A screenshot of a reflection slide made by one of my students last school year is provided below.
Google Slides and Digital Reflective Journals - Version Two
After seeing the benefit these reflective journals provided, I decided to continue using them during the 2021-2022 school year, though modified to included content like in an interactive notebook combined with the personalized element of the reflective journals. A screenshot of the revised cover slide is pictured at right; an excerpt of the template slides is available here - https://bit.ly/3yd2jqK. A screenshot of a student's reflection slide in this version is provided below.
Next Steps: Sketchnotes and Reflective Journals
For next school year, I plan to continue integrating reflection and student ownership of their learning by integrating sketchnotes into the reflective journals. At left is an example of a sketchnote one of my students made this past school year to process course content. See a presentation by Jackie Calder, ITRT at Mechanicsville High School, on sketchnotes here - https://bit.ly/3bbX0Pg.
Check out the articles below for additional information on the importance and benefits of student (and teacher!) reflection:
- https://www.amle.org/student-reflection-a-tool-for-growth-and-development/
- https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/scaffolding-student-reflections-sample-questions
- https://reflectiveteachingjournal.com/benefits-of-reflective-teaching/
Thoughts? Questions?
Thank you for your time today!
Any further questions or comments, contact me at ccoyner@hcps.us!
Credits:
Created with an image by ijeab - "Close up hands with pen writing on notebook."