Learning to Learn in Stage 5
Posted by nmccann on August 12, 2007
I would like to open up the discussion about the format of Learning to Learn for Stage 5. Obviously, L2L has developed into a most significant part of the curriculum for Stage 4. Its place in the Learning Agenda has been adjusted a number of times and currently it is being positively received by students and achieving significant outcomes.
I suppose there are two possibilities for Stage 5. Should L2L continue to be a stand alone lesson or should we develop the program so that it integrates into the normal timetabled lessons. I am sure there are arguments for both.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
I would prefer L2L to be generally integrated into CLES for stage 5 however I would see the Learning Circle and “ICLE” (perhaps differently named) being used to facilitate SEL (relevant to the CLES and to the developmental stage and specific SEL needs of the year group/stage) and L2L relevant to CLES beyond this .
I don’t think that we are utilising the Learning Advisor-Learning Circle small group size or relationships effectively. There is a better match if LAS are both facilitating L2L and supporting their students in applying their knowledge to current and future CLES. Also SEL requires its own scope and sequence which may not always correlate to CLES including opportunities to respond flexibly to student needs/issues and the build up of a degree of appropriate trust and confidentiality that cannot be relied upon in larger groups.LAS are dealing with SEL issues all the time but are not involved in facilitating SEL -this seems like a bandaid approach to SEL.
I feel that completing CLE work and tasks could be achieved in sessions with a larger student to teacher ratio and with more focus at stage 5 on home learning rather than the Stage 4 ICLE time.
It is essential that we maintain significant time for each LA with their Learning CIrcle each day / week! I would prefer that LA -Learning Circle combinations were not dictated by our Learning Agenda so the link to electives is not ideal in my opinion.
I ‘m wary of reducing Showcase to a fortnightly experience and think we need to think through the ramifications of this decision for both stage 5 and stage 4. Showcase is a valid and extremely valuable learning experience that supports whole group/school reflection on learning.
Could the electives 1 and 2 placed in ICLE time not be put into a Monday/ Wednesday/ or Friday Session 1 taking Learning Circle time if necessary-this may require some flexibility once a week in Learning Circle time across stage 4/5 but this seems less limiting to me than delineating LAS as Stage 5/ Stage 4.
Why cannot PE be integrated into CLES as it has been in Stage 4 with Sport as a separate entity? Sorry PDHPE experts if this is an unhelpful question.
Currently, sorry, feel not happy chappy with the proposed Learning Agenda but am always open to being convinced. Is Stage 5 a good time to be introducing some of the ideas that we lost earlier (for good reasons then) or thinking outside of the square eg large group learning to small group learning/ LAS responsible for facilitating core CLE learning including SEL/ L2L with their Learning Circle?