Adding Extra Help for Students who can't get to Meets

I have been concerned about my senior students who can't get to online meets while we are on lockdown. I fully understand the various reasons for this (working being the main one), but I worry about how they will cope with being so far behind the students who have been coming to class when we get back to "normal".
My inquiry group are some of these students (my Y13 class) so I thought I would try something different.

I have added a page to the class site that is specifically for help with the individual aspects of the current project we are doing.
I have recorded myself talking about the different activities they have to complete and put up the example that I work through in the video for them to use as an example.

As of writing this blog post, I have only just started this so it is no where near complete. I have emailed the link to it to that class to get their feedback and to let them know it is there for them to refer to.

Link to page on class site.
Link to workspace - I have purposefully not put all of the activities on this workspace for this class yet as I have a couple of students who would try too much at once and they have enough to cope with. All of the activities are set up on the class site  and when we are ready, will be transferred to the workspace to aid tracking.

Teaching Online - Sketching

I wanted to do some drawing with my seniors. We have been working on Google docs etc for the whole time we have been on lockdown so we really need to get on with some drawn work. I have been doing some experiments on how to set this up - blog post here - and I decided to to use the webcam and paper and pencil.

Here is my set up for today.

I set up to do drawing with my Year 12 class P1 this morning where I want them to look at drawing design elements from their chosen design era. None of them turned up today (email conversations about the docs they are working on were going on through the session). I decided to run the session anyway and record it so it can be used to look back on and be rewindable,

There is not a lot of talking on this recording as I did not have any students in the online meet. There is more towards the end where I am describing what I have done. I looked at Arts and Crafts particularly as my most frequent visitor at Y12 chose this design era to look at.

For P2 I got three of my Year 13 boys come in and it was great to test the set up in a real situation to see how it went. This video is the lesson with the Y13 boys. Nothing really happens till about 5 minutes in when they start joining the class, just me scuffling about and then the drawing stuff starts about 9 minutes in. We focussed in on drawings skills today to warm us up as we haven't done any drawing in AGES. On the whole, the set up worked really well. The webcam has a few issues focussing sometimes but it is only a cheap one. I could try setting my camera up in a similar manner as it has the ability to be focussed. Sounds like an excuse to do more experiments!
As I said to the kids today. It was so good to hear the scratch of pencil on paper.

Learning Geometric Drawing through Pattern Making

My intermediate classes have been learning how to draw geometric shapes using drawing equipment lately. The equipment we have been using is rulers and compasses to draw circles, triangles, hexagons and isometric cubes.
To make this more fun, we have been doing this learning as pattern making.

To start with, we practiced some circles and when we were feeling more confident we started putting 7 circles together. From these 7 circles you can colour a flower or add some extra straight lines to make stars or flowers.
The link to the instruction on the class site for this is here.

Then we used our compass skills to draw equilateral triangles and hexagons. Link to class site instructions

All the time while doing this we were talking about the new vocabulary we were coming across and finding examples of it to explain and clarify it further. Blog post here.

Then we moved onto using isometric grid paper to make templates for our coloured cubes.

This template was used to draw around on 3 different colours of sugar paper that they then assembled to create a stacked cube illusion.

This is the link to the folder with their work in it. 

Their flowers, stars and cubes are all decorating my classroom wall and they look great.

Manaiakalani Google Class OnAir Lesson 7 - Using their isometric skills on design developments

Click here to see the whole Class OnAir Team


This is lesson 3 of 3 in a set of lessons about isometric sketching.
In the first lesson the students learned the isometric sketching skills they need for their project work.
In the second lesson, the students consolidated what they had learned by creating their own rewindable resources about isometric sketching.
In this lesson, the students are using their isometric skills to produce the design development work for their product design projects.

Direct Instruction
The Year 12 students 9and any Year 13 students who want the reminder, as we went over this least week), are to come round the front for a drawing demonstration.

The students are shown how to use the isometric skills that they worked on last week on their design developments.

My Year 12 and Year 13 class entering the room and getting on with their individual instructions. (including 1 Year 11 student who has joined this class)

Here is the direct instruction for what the group has to do to produce their design developments based on their isometric skills sessions last week.

Detailed Lesson Plan

Lesson Topic :- Design Development using Isometric Drawing skills Level 2 - Development of concept ideas - AS91342 Level 3 - Development of concept ideas - AS91630
Year Group :-  Year 12 and Year 13
Learning Outcome	To be able to produce design development drawings in 3D using isometric drawing skills. They have to combine their concept ideas, the feedback from their client and their 3D drawing skills to produce a range of design developments of their product design.
Success Criteria Using SOLO	Uni structural Multi structural Relational Extended abstract Produce 3D drawings that replicate simple design concepts in 3D. Combine the use of crating and guidelines to reproduce design concepts. Analyse concept ideas and produce design developments that use isometric skills that explain the best elements of the concept sketches. To be able to reflect on the concept sketches and create design developments based on the elements that have been evaluated as the best. These design developments are created with appropriate use of isometric sketching skills.
Links with the New Zealand Curriculum	Level 2 Curriculum Level: 7 Learning Area: Technology Strand: Design and Visual Communication Achievement Objective: Outcome development and evaluation Critically analyse their own and others’ outcomes and evaluative practices to inform the development of ideas for feasible outcomes. Undertake a critical evaluation that is informed by ongoing experimentation and functional modelling, stakeholder feedback, and trialling in the physical and social environments. Use the information gained to select, justify, and develop an outcome. Evaluate this outcome’s fitness for purpose against the brief. Justify the evaluation, using feedback from stakeholders and demonstrating a critical understanding of the issue. Achievement Standard: AS91342 Level 3 Curriculum Level: 8 Learning Area: Technology Strand: Design and Visual Communication Achievement Objective: Outcome development and evaluation Critically analyse their own and others’ outcomes and fitness-for-purpose determinations in order to inform the development of ideas for feasible outcomes. Undertake a critical evaluation that is informed by ongoing experimentation and functional modelling, stakeholder feedback, trialling in the physical and social environments, and an understanding of the issue as it relates to the wider context. Use the information gained to select, justify, and develop an outcome. Evaluate this outcome’s fitness for purpose against the brief. Justify the evaluation, using feedback from stakeholders and demonstrating a critical understanding of the issue that takes account of all contextual dimensions. Achievement Standard: AS91630
Key Competencies	Thinking Using language, symbols, and texts Managing self Participating and contributing
Prior knowledge	They have produced 2D concept sketches of lighting (level 2) and shelters (level 3). They have feedback from their clients about their concept sketches. They have done exercises based on isometric sketching using the grid sheets - including using crating, combining shapes and ellipses. In their projects they have done product research and seen their client. They are into the design production and have created concept ideas based on what their client initially wanted and have shown their client these concepts to get some feedback. They are now ready to develop these ideas into something more usable and practical.
Lesson Sequence	Session 1 Student Activity Teacher Activity Sit round the table with the teacher and watch the demonstration. Ask questions where needed for clarity or with elements to do with their own design concepts. Demonstration of using isometric grid technique to draw design developments. Stress use of crating to construct the design. Sketch examples using both the construction from the side and the base methods, depending on the concept idea they are wanting to develop. Session 2 Student Activity Teacher Activity Have their concept ideas open and make decisions about what direction to take their design developments based on the feedback from their client. Draw design developments using key parts of their concepts. Focus on making changes and improvements from their concepts. Draw in isometric using the support grid sheet. Individual or small group help as needed for individual problems based on concept ideas. Keeping students on track with using the grid paper as a guide to the isometric format.
Resources	Plain paper Isometric grid sheets Drawing pencils Sketchbooks Scanned examples made by teacher Isometric exercises and rewindable resources made by the students.
Next Steps	We will be moving on to including colour and tones on these 3D drawings so they are rendered to look like they are made from specific materials. We will also be including cross sectional views so the students can think about how the designs will be put together. We will also be including notes that explain how the design will be used, what it will be made from and how it will be constructed. These notes will also include how the design satisfies the needs of the client.
Reflection and Analysis
	What went well? The students remembered their isometric skills quite well and were applying them to their own design ideas. They understood what they needed to do and got on with it. They had a pleasing amount of confidence while they were working, even when it wasn’t going quite as planned. It was good to see them just getting on with it even when mistakes and misunderstandings were happening throughout the process. They are always more than happy to support and help each other when they are stuck and they are never shy to ask for help which is great. They had completed the drawing of at least one or two different designs by the end of the session today so we are ready to move on to talking about rendering next lesson so they can create a more complete set of designs. What did not go so well? Some confusion as to the process, especially in terms of using centre lines and construction lines to help support where elements go within the crate. Deciding what part of their concept ideas that they were going to move ahead with. This is related to their client not being specific about this but giving a more general feedback, so did not give them a very direct way to go. What could I do better? We could have looked at each other’ work as a team and the feedback that was given, and come up with ideas and directions to go in for each other. Produced some handouts that had the bare bones of crates / guidelines / centre lines for some specific shapes so they had these to refer to.

Ongoing Lesson

Here is the ongoing lesson after the direct instruction by the teacher has been given. It shows Year 12 ad Year 13 students getting on with their work and the teacher giving help where needed as the lesson goes on.

Examples of design development work supplied to students.

Making rewindable resources with the students

My mixed class of NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 students have been practicing their isometric sketching skills in preparation for drawing their design developments for their product designs.
To reinforce their learning, they have been making rewindable resources for them to refer back to if they forget what to do. This was quite a simple skill but I want them to get used to the idea of making these resources for skills as they learn them, so they have a bank of them to refer to. I also want them to get used to sharing them so they are looking at and referring to each others work.
To get all of the resources available in one place we are putting them onto a blog made specially for this. This blog was started during Jump Start last year, but this was the first time we have had chance to use it this year.

Click here to see the blog

What was good to see during this was the fact that the students were focusing on their isometric resources and not the skill itself, so they didn't realise how good their 3D drawing had got.

As part of this activity, we looked at each others work and analysed what they thought of it. This feedback was filled in on a Google Form.  I have also given the students access to the results of this analysis so they can see what others thought about their work. We had a chat about this, so they knew that it is about the work and not the person and not to take anything personally.

I have sent this Google Form to the students to find out what they thought of this activity and if it is useful enough to continue with.

Manaiakalani Google Class OnAir Lesson 6 - Making Rewindable Isometric Resources

Click here to see the whole Class OnAir Team

Direct Instruction
The students have been practicing their 3D drawings skills, with a focus on isometric using grid sheets.
They were shown the options that they could choose from to create a digital resource that could be referred to afterwards by them and other members of the class to remind themselves of what they had done.
They could then choose what skill they wanted to showcase and how they were going to do it.
The students were also shown the self assessment form that was shared on the class communities that they are going to fill in to give each other feedback on their work.

Student created work on Ako Ngātahi blog

Direct instruction for producing the rewindable digital resources

Direct instruction for peer to peer assessment and feedback

Detailed Lesson Plan

Lesson Topic :- Creation of rewindable resources based on isometric drawing skills. Level 1 - Preparation for chair designs - AS91067 Level 2 - Development of concept ideas - AS91342 Level 3 - Development of concept ideas - AS91630
Year Group :- Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13
Learning Outcome	To consolidate their skills about isometric sketching by the creation of their own rewindable resources. The outcome will be some form of rewindable resource from the selection of choices given or a method of their own choosing.
Success Criteria Using SOLO	Uni structural Multi structural Relational Extended abstract To video or photograph themselves working with no reference to key points or explanation. To video or photograph themselves working / producing an isometric drawing. Steps are shown in order to create the final piece of work. To create a digital resource to use as a reminder about the key steps in producing an isometric sketch. The resource will show the steps in order that need to be taken so it can be followed as a reminder. To create a digital resource to help themselves and others remember the key points of isometric sketching. The resource will be clear, show the steps in order and explain each step.
Links with the New Zealand Curriculum	Level 1 Curriculum Level: 6 Learning Area: Technology Strand: Design and Visual Communication Achievement Objective: Outcome development and evaluation Critically analyse their own and others’ outcomes to inform the development of ideas for feasible outcomes. Undertake ongoing experimentation and functional modelling, taking account of stakeholder feedback and trialling in the physical and social environments. Use the information gained to select, justify, and develop a final outcome. Evaluate this outcome’s fitness for purpose against the brief and justify the evaluation, using feedback from stakeholders. Achievement Standard: AS91067 Level 2 Curriculum Level: 7 Learning Area: Technology Strand: Design and Visual Communication Achievement Objective: Outcome development and evaluation Critically analyse their own and others’ outcomes and evaluative practices to inform the development of ideas for feasible outcomes. Undertake a critical evaluation that is informed by ongoing experimentation and functional modelling, stakeholder feedback, and trialling in the physical and social environments. Use the information gained to select, justify, and develop an outcome. Evaluate this outcome’s fitness for purpose against the brief. Justify the evaluation, using feedback from stakeholders and demonstrating a critical understanding of the issue. Achievement Standard: AS91342 Level 3 Curriculum Level: 8 Learning Area: Technology Strand: Design and Visual Communication Achievement Objective: Outcome development and evaluation Critically analyse their own and others’ outcomes and fitness-for-purpose determinations in order to inform the development of ideas for feasible outcomes. Undertake a critical evaluation that is informed by ongoing experimentation and functional modelling, stakeholder feedback, trialling in the physical and social environments, and an understanding of the issue as it relates to the wider context. Use the information gained to select, justify, and develop an outcome. Evaluate this outcome’s fitness for purpose against the brief. Justify the evaluation, using feedback from stakeholders and demonstrating a critical understanding of the issue that takes account of all contextual dimensions. Achievement Standard: AS91630
Key Competencies	Thinking Using language, symbols, and texts Managing self Participating and contributing
Prior knowledge	The students have been working through isometric skills exercises with the teacher, and have drawn basic shapes, used crating and drawn curves and ellipses.
Lesson Sequence	Session 1 Student Activity Teacher Activity Sit round with the teacher as they go through some options available to produce their rewindable resource. Make a decision about what equipment they need based on what kind of resource they are planning on creating. Show students the options available Using the drawing board projector and laptop to produce a screencast Using the iPads to record the page as they draw. Using the iPads to take photographs at each stage as they draw in order to produce a Google Presentation of steps. Session 2 Student Activity Teacher Activity Creation of digital resources based on isometric sketching. They can use whatever equipment and resources they need for this and may need to move to different areas if they are recording and need quiet. Help where needed for individual students or groups of students. Supplying of additional resources and equipment if called for. Uploading  / help with the uploading of the completed resources to the class communities. Session 3 Student Activity Teacher Activity Use the self assessment tool to watch the work made by others and analyse it. This tool  (google form) will be available in the class communities for them to access and the results of this form will be published there too for them all to see the results. Students will critically analyse the work of others based on the criteria in the google form. Students will look at the results coming in from the form and see what others thought of their digital resource. Explaining / discussing with the students about how to look at the work of others critically and how to be honest about it when they know the people involved. Discussing how to read the results about their own work without taking it personally, but taking it as a chance to see where they can improve.
Resources	Isometric Sketching Level 1 Community Level 2 Community Level 3 Community Isometric grid paper - to be printed off Plain A3 paper Drawing pencils iPads Drawing board projector and laptop Analysis of Isometric Resources Google Form
Next Steps	The students will now be moving on to using these skills on their own design work. The resources they have created will be shared in all 3 class communities so all of them are available for all the students to watch and refer to if they need to.
Reflection and Analysis
	What went well? The students came up with their own ways to produce the resources. “Can we use our phones?”....yes “Can I make a moving gif on my phone?”.... Yes “Can i make a stop motion?”.... Yes The students were comfortable working by themselves or in pairs, which was good to see and is a direct roll on from the group work I have been building into the Year 12 course. They did not even think about it anymore, they just did it. They were so engrossed in making the resources they did not realise their 3D drawing skills in isometric were really good. We had a double period to do this so there was plenty of time for them not to rush this activity and could get properly into it. Reading the feedback that they have started to give each other was fun as it was what I was thinking but I kept it to myself. It is good to see that they pick things up in others work. What did not go so well? The weaker members of the group were working alone and had difficulty doing the explanations on the steps. The weather was terrible so there was not too many places available for them to go and get some quiet for filming. What could I do better? Give more options for creating the resources. Have sentence starters and scaffolding ready for students to use if they need it when they are writing the explanations on the steps.

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Google From for the students to complete to give feedback to each other about their work.




Here is the link to the results of this form 

This is the ongoing lesson on the day