MIS Navigator
April Edition
Our Goal: To help you navigate all the strategies and tools we have available within MGSD and Mooresville Intermediate School!
This Month's Focus: M-8 & M-9
M-8: Research and Inquiry-Based Thinking
Students demonstrate critical thinking and higher-level understanding through rigorous questioning, project-based learning and inquiry-based instruction.
M-9: Students Skilled for Success (4Cs)
Students routinely choose, critically analyze and evaluate resources, collaborate with peers, and communicate their ideas in creative ways.M-8: Research and Inquiry-Based Thinking
The Big6 Research Process
Critical Thinking Skills and Bloom's Taxonomy
Project Based Learning
What does it mean?
Students are being challenged by rigorous content on a daily basis. They are using critical thinking skills and are given opportunities to receive instruction through project-based and inquiry-based learning.
What does it actually look like at MIS?
- Use questioning at different levels of knowledge (recall vs. application)
- Incorporate elements of research in learning activities
- Plan lessons that allow for inquiry-based learning vs. direct instruction
- Allow students to apply their learning and new knowledge through project-based learning
- Let students learn by experimenting, trying, doing, and questioning versus you telling them
- Incorporate multiple perspectives into learning materials and resources
- Experiment with Makerspace, STEM, Virtual Reality, Coding, and other activities that focus on future careers
- Teach students how to evaluate sources for bias and validity
- Bring in or Skype with community speakers, and arrange (virtual) field trips to allow for experiential learning
- Model thinking with academic conversations such as "I wonder...", scenarios, and think-alouds
- Teach note-taking strategies and graphic organizing to help students make connections to content
- Collaborate with School Library Media Coordinator to design research-based lessons and activities
- Use research features within Google (Google Scholar, Easy Bib, etc.)
- Implement rigorous questioning and brain puzzling challenges to encourage higher-level thinking
- Analyze current events, primary sources and texts to investigate essential questions
Educational Articles
- Project-Based Learning: 7 Ways to Make It Work - Educational Leadership
- It's a Project-Based World - Educational Leadership
- Pursuing the Depths of Knowledge - Educational Leadership
- Making Questions Flow - Educational Leadership
- More Than a Google Search - Educational Leadership
- A New Rhythm for Responding - Educational Leadership
- Designing Great Hinge Questions - Educational Leadership
Self-Paced PD
To explore more about this strategy, click HERE to check out some of the sessions that have been offered at previous Summer Institutes related to this strategy. Each one contains lots of strategies you can implement and resources you can use to improve your practice.
"Techify It!"
Google Hangouts
- Collaborate with classrooms in other states or countries
- Bring community/content experts in for a virtual field trip
Popplet
- Have students organize research into concept maps with video, links and images
- Create learning flow charts with resources for students to explore
Thinglink
- Use a graphic organizer as a background image, students tag with resources/questions
- Curate research and sources for students to explore via choice board
Digital Resources for Research and Inquiry:
Digital Resources for Creation and Presentation of Material:
M-9: Students Skilled for Success (4Cs)
What does it mean?
What does it actually look like here at MIS?
- Develop the skills of persistence and problem-solving by letting students struggle within reason
- Teach students to evaluate websites and resources for bias and validity
- Incorporate primary sources and texts into classroom readings
- Provide opportunities for students to hear from and work with outside experts
- Let students choose the best tool and method to present their learning
- Teach students effective listening and public speaking skills
- Allow students to learn teamwork and collaboration skills by working with diverse partners and groups
- Use Common Sense Media and other sources to teach students how to be responsible digital citizens
- Teach reading and writing skills that will transfer to future school and workplace
- Integrate soft skills such as communication, adaptability, teamwork, problem-solving and conflict resolution
- Use literacy strategies such as text annotation to help students read critically
- Model being a lifelong learner who embraces growth and accepts feedback
- Use collaborative groups with defined roles to help students develop leadership skills
Educational Articles
The 4 C's Research Series by the Partnership for 21st Century Learning
An Educator's Guide to the 4 C's: Preparing 21st Century Students for a Global Society by NEA
What are the 21st Century skills needed inside a classroom? by Simple K12
13 Essential 21st Century Skills for Today's Students by Envision
Self-Paced PD
To explore more about this strategy, click HERE to check out some of the sessions that have been offered at previous Summer Institutes related to this strategy. Each one contains lots of strategies you can implement and resources you can use to improve your practice.
"Techify It!"
Google Apps
- Collaborate with classmates on research and presentations
- Build websites and author blogs to showcase student creations
NC Wise Owl
- Identify, evaluate and select creation tools to share student learning
- Incorporate elements of digital citizenship into daily lessons
Common Sense Media
- Teach students effective searching skills and how to choose resources
- Practice note-taking, reading, summarizing, and critical thinking during research
Additional "Cool Tools" Tech Tools by Category