School Name: EBUS Academy
School District: SD#91 Nechako Lakes
Inquiry Team Members: Alex Chan: jchan@sd91.bc.ca
Inquiry Team Contact Email: tclark@sd91.bc.ca
Type of Inquiry: NOIIE
Grade Levels: Secondary (8-12)
Curricular Area(s): Mathematics / Numeracy
Focus Addressed: Community-based learning, Core competencies (for example, critical thinking, communication, problem solving), Differentiated instruction, Flexible learning, Formative assessment, Growth mindset, Inclusion and inclusive instructional strategies, Self-regulation
In one sentence, what was your focus for the year? Engaging students through competency based learning while covering the content.
Scanning: Students were not confident in Math. We wanted to start building success for students and give them an opportunity to enter into a problem at a variety of levels. We used the OECD Principles of Learning, Learners at the center, because we did not assume their feelings, we asked them.
Focus: We hoped students would gain confidence in Math.
Hunch:
- Students are taking passive notes
- Students are being lectured
- Guiding students through a process
- Not allowing for creativity
- Students don’t get a choice
- Paper and pencil assessment
- Focusing on the content
New Professional Learning:
- We discovered Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics by Dr. Peter Liljedahl and felt that this would give students deeper learning and understanding of mathematics
- Collaboration with colleagues including a book club and Professional Development session
Taking Action:
- Start small – take little steps but do something
- Use a learning partner
Checking: “I do math as if I have loved it my whole life. When as a matter of fact I highly disliked it but now I actually enjoy doing math majority of the days because of this course and the fact that I have a great teacher.“
“I feel that I do quite well in math now, it was always one of my favorite subjects, but I never understood it at the level that I do now.“
Reflections/Advice: Just do it. How do you know what you are capable of until you try. Next: increase our influence; change more courses and continue the conversation with colleagues.