Topic 10 – Technology, Classroom Management & Inquiry with Brittany

Head shot photo of Brittany Johnson
Photo by: Dani Johnson

This week we are fortunate that Brittany Johnson, who is a French immersion K-12 educator in Victoria, BC, has taken the time out of their busy schedule to talk to us about her classroom management techniques, inquiry-based learning practice, and assessment in her elementary school classes. 

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe different classroom management techniques and when they can be appropriately used
  • Describe how the inquiry process can be implemented in your elementary or middle school classroom using a scaffolded approach using technology where appropriate.
  • Describe how the “See 👀, Think 💭, Wonder❓” technique could be used to facilitate guided inquiries as early as kindergarten. 
  • Support our classmates with their group presentations

Pre-class Activities:

As you watch the following videos, please do the following:

  • Prepare at least one question to ask Joanna during our class time this week.
  • Make note of the inquiry-based learning suggestions and tips that you think might be helpful to you in your grade level and in particular your practice as a teacher.

Technology & Inquiry

The Habits of the Inquiry Teacher (2 min)

Four Pillars of Inquiry Based Learning - Explore a passion - Aim for a goal - Delve into your curiosities - Take on a new challange

The Four Pillars of Inquiry (2 min)

Inquiry in Rebecca Bathurst-Hunt’s Kindergarten Class

See - Think - Wonder worksheet
Photo: The Curious Kindergarten

Rebecca Bathurst-Hunt, who is a kindergarten teacher at George Jay Elementry School in Victoria, BC often uses “See 👀, Think 💭, Wonder❓” exercises with her kindergarten learners to help them think more critically about the world around them. Rebecca typically does this by asking her learners to look closely at an object or an idea and then encourages them to ask themselves:

  • What do you see?
  • What do you think about that?
  • What does it make you wonder?

Rebecca typically uses paper worksheets and clipboards for her young learners so that they can easily go outside to conduct inquiries in nature as well as in the classroom. As most of her learners are not yet writing, she encourages them to draw on their worksheets, and then Rebecca assists by writing a summary of the learners’ stated thoughts on the form.

Class Time

Guest lecture and Q&A by Joanna Lake (follow her great Twitter feed)!

Brittany graciously shared the slides from her presentation with us, which I hope will be particularly useful to you as you prepare for your practicums:

Checkin scale with 9 guinea pigs
Joanna Lake’s Guinea Pick check-in scale

EdTech Training Resources

These are mostly, but not all, free training resources for EdTech tools and related resources:

Learning Pod Time & Homework

  • Work in learning pods on Assignment 2
  • Complete any outstanding Topic Reflection blog posts
  • Complete any outstanding Free Inquiry blog posts

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