The Board of Education launched a "Salute to Excellence" program at the January 10, 2019 meeting by recognizing Cider Mill staff and students for their exemplary work in creating an interactive museum using a transdisciplinary approach. The museum comprised student-created artifacts representing the life of Indigenous People, a culminating performance task for a Transdisciplinary Learning experience. Over a dozen students showcased their work preceding the Board of Education Meeting. Visitors were treated to students explaining their projects, helping those who needed help with QR Code readers, and engaging in games that they had created.
The work integrated many areas of learning - from reading and research online, listening to music, looking at primary sources of art, to choosing an artifact that they wanted to create and taking it from the prototype drawing to the finished artifact. The finished presentation included the students each making a voice recording to inform the audience all about their chosen artifact, its purpose and why they want to share it.
Students from Ms. Ryan's class demonstrated with enthusiasm the artifacts they had made at the culmination of the unit. Simran created a drum, Lillianna a talking stick, Wyland made a bow and arrow, Sameer a flute and Johnny a fishing spear.
Ms. Ryan spoke to the high level of engagement that the students had with the work and that was really evident in their presentations. The hands-on nature of the unit and the multiple ways that the students were able to learn about indigenous people have made a deep impression on these students.
"Transdisciplinary Learning represents a way to make 21st century skills come alive" says Fran Kompar, Director, Digital Learning. By integrating several subjects (going beyond disciplines) and employing inquiry, student choice, agency, and an authentic audience, students engage in critical skills that also go beyond the use of technology in isolation." The project involved lots of collaboration between the Learning Commons team and all the teachers. It is important to recognize the effort that the entire Cider Mill staff and students put into making this project meaningful, relevant and memorable for our students.
Published on Jan 14 2019 10:03 AM
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