PBL and Haiku LMS

Link to Course: https://wssu.haikulearning.com/nick/haikulmsminiunit

This course developed from a need to provide, in a non-threatening manner, an opportunity for teachers to dive deeper into the idea of proficiency-based learning. After the basics of PBL were understood, I then wanted teachers to start thinking about how we’re going to implement it, stressing the need for some kind of technological component. The original project was designed in conjunction with the learning theories discussed in Teaching with Technology. To fulfill the OCT requirements, I included a unit demonstrating how project-based learning can be a strong component of proficiency/competency-based education. Part of this was showing how online collaborative tools can aid in the project-based learning process.

The project combined several online tools. Primarily, the Haiku Learning Management system was used as the central nexus, as I had secured a year long pilot to test out it’s standards-based gradebook capabilities. The introductory video was created using Powtoons. While the project-based learning template was created using Realtime board, and its explanatory video created using Screencastify.

I tested out the first module during a PD session yesterday and received positive feedback from my peer teachers. Although my district is professing a transition toward proficiency-based learning, there has been very little evaluation of the technical side behind the process. No real planning of what the final PDL system will look like has yet occurred. I hope that this might spur us in the right direction and also hope that it convinces others of the need to include some sort of technological component.

PBL and Haiku LMS by Nick Fahey is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Week 12 OCT

Final Project

Link to course in progress: https://wssu.haikulearning.com/nick/haikulmsminiunit

Link to Google Doc Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sRYDw-pljE1sEFjOxl5yEFKJu5DXzJy3UvlXST0GPUk/edit?usp=sharing

I've decided to combine my OCT final project as the final component of my mini-lesson for Teaching with Technology. I wish to create a four part workshop to introduce teachers to the ideas of proficiency-based learning and show how a learning management system like Haiku LMS can aid in facilitating a more personalized approach to learning. Teachers will be evaluated summatively using a standards-based gradebook. Here is the outline of my course:

Course Outline

• Introduction/Overview
• Objectives
• Prerequisites

• Unit 1: PLP and Standards Based Grading

• Objectives
• Demonstrate understanding of Standards/Proficiency-Based Grading and Grade book
• Show understanding regarding why an LMS would be helpful in implementing a personalized proficiency-based learning environment.
• Assessment
• Discussion Posts

• Unit 2: Haiku LMS

• Objectives
• Identify the parts of a Haiku Page
• Home Page
• eportfolio
• Top Toolbar
• Bottom Toolbar
• Class Tabs
• Gradebook
• Assignments
• Dropbox
• Inbox
• Identify Haiku Page Modules
• Polls
• Discussions
• Rubrics
• Assessment
• Haiku Exam

• Unit 3: Create a Class

• Objectives
• Design a Haiku Page
• Decide what is best for your situation:
• Simple or more complex design
• Create an assignment and align it to the standards
• Assessment
• Creation Rubric

• Unit 4: Tools for Creativity: Combining Standards with Project-Based Learning

• Objectives
• Identify ways to use various online tools to enrich instruction
• Assessment
• Haiku Exam
• Rubric

The lessons within each individual unit will be organized using the "read, watch, do" type format.  Unit 4 will be designed to introduce teachers to various online tools and present examples of how the tools can be used to facilitate project-based learning assignments that in turn can be show cased in a student's e-portfolio.

Week 12

This week I began putting My mini course together. After the initial outline I found the task of creating the course to be more difficult than I had imagined. Particularly I was struggling with a balance of introducing the concept of Proficiency-Based Learning as well as give an overview of the Haiku learning management system. I think I ended up with general overview of both the concept and the ability of Haiku to aid in it's facilitation.

 I decided to use the "read, watch, do" type of lesson structure as it seems like the best way to keep content and assessments as simple as possible while still providing for some depth. As I began to create the first unit I struggled to find material to use for the read section that was brief bu thorough. Eventually I settled on using the resources provided on the VT department of ed website. I also decided to try a quick activity where students must evaluate for relevancy and pick and choose 3 readings out of 9. I used Haiku's poll feature as a way of recording choices.

 To complete the unit students will need to participate in an online discussion. I will next need to create some sort of introductory video that shows how, as an enrolled student, your efforts are recorded in the standards based gradebook. I also created some badges that can be earned after mastering the standards.