With the digital age upon us creating an environment that cultivates the attributes of the digital citizen in the classroom is imperative, and all the more challenging in the alternate environment. Many students within the alternate classroom have increased struggles with moderating use, and frequently allow impulse to guide their technology use. Trying to model constructive digital behaviour, especially when the majority of students have personal cell phones and the school providing Wi-Fi has been an on-going challenge.
This month we have had a focus on what it means to educate yourself and others with technology use. Studying our local municipal election and the American mid-terms gave us plenty of fodder for learning how to digest the many opposing positions. There was an emphasis on developing critical thinking skills to help understand the political climate. Students were asked to dissect platforms, and separate subjective and objective statements, while seeking corroborating evidence to back-up substantial claims. Students in the class enjoyed learning about the many candidates, and their platforms, in the highly controversial Chilliwack school trustee election. The election created a significant divide in Chilliwack, those for SOGI 123, and those apposing it. Students learned how personal opinion can be masked as ‘fact’, and the difference between anecdotes and controlled studies. Our culminating activity is happening today, as we have Paul Henderson, one of the lead journalists for the Chilliwack Progress, come to our class to talk about what it means to be a journalist in a time where journalistic integrity is often criticized by those on the fringe political spectrums. Paul will talk to the class about writing with integrity, and how to put bias aside and focus on the facts. We are grateful for this opportunity, and I look forward to sharing about how it went.
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Another month has come and gone, and it has been a world of change with regards to the opportunities the Outdoor Education class has had with our Synergy Project. After ironing out the kinks of having to find a new location for our project we have been busy making up for lost time. Through rain and a touch of scattered shine the Outdoor Education students have been busy learning about trail building, and more importantly, experiencing trail building.
We have now spent five Thursdays earnestly working on the Lexw Qwo:m Trail (Halq’emeylem for “Always lots of moss) within the Hack Brown Park https://www.theprogress.com/news/new-trail-link-from-chilliwack-community-forest-to-the-valley-floor-underway/. Over the month the trail has transformed from a mucky marsh to finely manicured trail that has aesthetics and function for years of public use! Students demonstrated resilience’s when hauling literally tons of gravel to the muddiest parts of the trail. Thankfully, the city helped out where our engineering skills were lacking, and built a bridge on the most challenging part of the trail. Most of the heavy lifting is completed and fine some tender loving care will be needed to get the trail ready for the public to start using. Many of the students have expressed their excitement when they see their photos posted on the Chilliwack Park Society’s Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ChilliwackParkSociety/) and Instagram page. Students have benefited from the opportunity of giving back to the community, but also as a result of their actions being recognized by the community. It has allowed them to gain confidence in who they are and to silence some of the stereotypes that ‘alternate students’ often face. While on the trail we have been talking about what it means to be a role model in the community, and why it is important for a society to embracing volunteering. Many of our students are excited for the next stage, when we invite one of the local elementary schools Outdoor Education class to the trail. Students will be able to put their theory into practice as they demonstrate role modelling to the grade 3 & 4 class. Overall it has been a great experience where we’ve have given back to the community while strengthening the sense of community in our class. Our students have been able to learn about the levels of government required to make a forested area become a park for all. We look forward to getting out again before the rain turns to snow and our physical work will be put on hold till the spring melt! |
AuthorsThe Education Centre's Outdoor Education Class!!! Archives
May 2019
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