I’d like to thank Barbara Bray and Kathleen McClaskey at PersonalizeLearning.com for inviting some our our Inquiry Hub students to present in a Webinar. I asked for their permission to share their post here and again want to thank them for allowing me to do so. I hope you enjoy the presentation and would love to hear your thoughts on what our students shared.
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Kids Talk about Learning at The Inquiry Hub
The Personalize Learning Webinar Series presented The Inquiry Hub with David Truss and five amazing learners. The Inquiry Hub provides 9th through 12th grade learners an innovative, technology driven, full-time program that allows learners to pursue their own learning by shaping their educational experience around their interests and questions instead of structured classes.
We have written about The Inquiry Hub, shared their story in another webinar, and now that the school is in its second year, we wanted to ask the kids what it’s like at their school. Dave found five amazing learners who eloquently shared their perspective of learning.
Personalize Learning Webinar Series: The Inquiry Hub (on YouTube)
They shared their main reasons to coming to the Inquiry Hub and their biggest challenges at the Inquiry Hub.
Main reasons:
- flexibility
- self-paced
- explore different interests
- technology
- can finish courses even faster
Biggest challenges:
- being disciplined to get course work done
- use time effectively
- balancing work at home and work at school
Two great quotes and take-aways from this webinar:
- learning how to learn to fail
- learning differences not disabilities
Thank you Dave, Shauna, Joey, Sophia, Hannah, and Joshua!
Hello Mr. Truss, My name is Alyx Kellam and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in a class called EDM310. I think it is so neat that there is online learning for kids that like to on the computer. Everyone learns differently and in their own ways. I wish I had that option in high school. Do you know if they have any schooling like that in the United States? I am currently learning a lot more about using technology in my class. It is quite difficult right now, but will be beneficial in the long run. It is nice that the students are learning to be more responsible and disciplined in their school work by doing it over the internet. If you would like to visit my blog, you can find it at . I hope you have a great day!
Sincerely,
Alyx Kellam
You may recall our youngest son, such an inter-personal learner.
When we returned back to China last August, I decided to get him engaged with distance learning online, following the BC curriculum, for several personal reasons.
I have been delighted with the results as I have observed him having to develop his intra-personal learning skills and become more responsible and disciplined (about his learning). If we had not opted for an online programme, I do not believe these skills would be encouraged to develop as they have.
Bravo and my hats off to you, David, for you are absolutely right to provide online learners opportunities for sharing and interaction, otherwise it is the ‘Sesame Street’ method all over again.
So to resolve this situation for our son here in China, there is a staff member at the school to oversee students engaged in distance courses learning online, whose doctorate degree is in assessment. Not only am I thankful that she is able to guide and provide students opportunities for sharing in learning, as well as provide meaningful feedback to me as a parent through her knowledge in assessment, but also to take the heat of me as a parent, diffusing potential parent/chlld conflicts during the initial approach as he adapts and acquires the skills required to become an online learner.
Oddly enough, I receive better communication regarding feedback and results, from my child’s teacher online in Canada, than I ever have through any of my children attending the ‘regular’ school programme.
My son and I have also discussed the pros and cons of online learning, should we return to Canada, and I was thrilled to discover that he would consider continuing being online learner, despite the all the challenges. I also recognise that I’ve a lot of work to do with learning how best to see this plan through, as a responsible parent.
Thanks for sharing Esmeralda!
It’s great to hear of such a positive online experience. I am keenly aware of another experience you had with online learning that wasn’t as easy, and I’d love to skype with you about what is working so well now.
The Inquiry Hub is a blended learning experience with students coming to school every day. But with my other role as VP of Open (online) Learning, I think there are a lot of things that can improve with respect to the program and communication both to students and parents.
Please send a warm hello to your family from all of us,
Dave