Deep Learning with Learn, Create, Share

In this Department Discussion, Jess Torley from Ōtaki College was our guest speaker.  Jess is the Curriculum Leader (English) at Ōtaki College and is a Lead Teacher for the implementation of NPDL (New Pedagogies for Deep Learning).  Prior to becoming a teacher, Jess worked for the Ministry of Education for 15 years in a variety of roles including qualifications and assessment, corporate services, and policy roles in student loans and allowances, tertiary and secondary funding.  

Jess shared with us the amazing work that she has been doing on an extended text unit she ran with her Year 10 English class last year.  This was based on the Holocaust memoir Night, by Elie Wiesel. The curriculum focus was to read and understand the memoir in its historical context and write a response to text essay. The Deep Learning goal was to develop the Character Deep Learning competency dimension of 'Empathy, grit and compassion'.

Jess is planning to run this again in term three with another group of students and has extended an invitation to work with other teachers who may also be teaching the Holocaust in term three.  She would like to engage her students with some reciprocal blogging across schools.  This is a great opportunity for students to learn from one another and debate their ideas through guided forum style commenting.  

If you are interested and would like to get involved, please contact Kerry Boyde-Preece at kerry.boyde-preece@manaiakalani.org