EdCafes
EdCafes are student-led discussions that can be used for a variety of purposes. The purposes range from review, student-student learning, deep dives into a topic, etc. Truthfully, the possibilities are limitless. EdCafes empower students to take control of the discussion and their own learning.
EdCafes are modeled after EdCamps, which are un-conferences for educators. In an edcamp, the sessions are created the day of the conference and the sessions vary. That flexibility is what makes EdCafes a valuable instructional strategy. Here are some EdCamp sessions I participated in:
- 1:1 Technology: The topic was suggested by someone whose school was going to 1:1. I went to offer my perspective/assistance since we--of course--are a 1:1 school.
- Beyond the Bake Sale/Increasing Family Engagement: Joe Mazza, an authority on family engagement, led this session with a presentation followed by a discussion.
- How can educators better support each other? This was a pure discussion. No experts; just a conversation.
I share these because they demonstrate the flexible purposes and intentions of EdCafes. See below for some examples. EdCafes can easily be adapted to every subject!
Why use EdCafes?
- Improves communication and other soft skills
- Creates a collaborative culture
- Increases student autonomy and mastery
- Provides opportunity to for student-student feedback and formative assessment
- Low-risk
- Teaches authentic note-taking
- Instructionally flexible
Steps:
- Share with students the instructional objective/learning targets with the students. In edcafes there are probably instructional and behavioral objectives, for example collaboration or developing specific soft skills.
- Explain or collectively discuss, expectations such as note taking, participation, etc. Some of this will also depend on student readiness. Do the students know how to respectfully disagree? Do they know how to respond when a personal issue arises? How can students support each other? What are some supportive words and phrases that can be used?
- Create the topics. You may want to have a couple of topics ready for the students (especially for the first time), but it’s important that you give students the opportunity to create some of the topics. You can facilitate this, students can simply write topics on a sticky note, or you can create a collaborative schedule through Google Docs.
- If the topics are student-created, give the students who created a topic, an opportunity to explain what they want their session to be about and why people should come.
- Students discuss, learn and reflect. Facilitate as needed.
- Have students share their take-aways. In edcamp lingo this is a smackdown. This can be done after each session or after all sessions. This is also a great opportunity for students to do a quick write before sharing.
Session Schedule Based on Student Research: Each student leading 1 session
Session
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Station 1
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Station 2
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Station 3
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Station 4
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1 (8:00-8:15)
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Why are they called the Roaring 20s?
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Rising popularity of jazz
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American race relations
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The stock market crash
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2 (8:18-8:33)
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American diplomacy
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Car culture; the Model T
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Scopes Monkey Trial
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Forgotten farmers
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3 (8:36-8:51)
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Ads and what they tell us
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Teapot Dome Scandal
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Grantland Rice and Sportswriting
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The homemaker
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Session Schedule For Review/Re-teaching
In this case the students sign up to go to one of the sessions. It’s a great opportunity for students to teach each other. You can also place strong students in charge of the four topics to serve as sages/facilitators.
Students can create the sessions (I need help with), sessions can be determined by the teacher, or any combination.
Angle Relationships to Prove Lines Parallel
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Rules of Symmetry to Solve a Problem
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Determine a Second Point on a Line That is Parallel
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Conclusions Based on Set of Statements
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Session 1
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Session 2
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Session 3
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Session Schedule For Discussion Topics
Teacher or student created. The possibilities for historical events, debate topics, book talks, etc. You can scaffold these in multiple ways. One way would be for session 1 to be recall/reproduction, session 2 could be application and session 3 could be strategic or extension. Alternatively, you could offer a recall/reproduction, application and strategic/extension during each session.
This example is from the Great Gatsby (Teacher Created/Scaffolded)
Near Door
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Near Window
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Bulletin board
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Center of class
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Session 1
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Who is the mistress?
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Why is Nick disappointed?
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Who is Meyer Wolfsheim?
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How does Daisy behave before her wedding?
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Session 2
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What does Gatsby want Nick to do? For what reason?
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What do we know about Daisy and Tom’s marriage?
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Nick’s mind changes. Why do you think this happens?
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What do we learn about Gatsby in this chapter?
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Session 3
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Which line shows the relationship between Gatsby and his guests?
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When Gatsby meets Tom, how does he react? Why?
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What is meant by “There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired”?
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Who do you think wrote the letter?
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Current US Foreign Policy (Student Created)
SmartBoard
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Bulletin Board
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Windows
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Session 1
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Trade with China
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NAFTA
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Role Oil/Petroleum plays
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Session 2
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Russia
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Dealing with Islamic State
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Role in United Nations
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Session 3
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Changes with Trump Administration
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Effect of new technologies
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Foreign aid to developing countries
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Tips and Tricks
- You can assign students to come up with a discussion topic for homework. I like this as a homework assignment because it requires to students to reflect on their own learning and there’s a positive pressure for the students to be ready before class.
- Students should be discussion leaders. In teacher-created sessions, you may want to appoint the leader. When a group is off-task, direct your question to the discussion leader. Has everyone had a chance to participate? Have you had all of your questions answered?
Important Information: Mustang Morning Reset
We will be doing a Mustang Morning reset when we return from Winter Break. It will require you to re-request students beginning the week of January 7 and you may want to create new sessions.
Creating New Sessions
- Create any sessions that you would like created. You now have the power to create and modify your sessions. You are not able to DELETE sessions yet, because we want to make sure we have the appropriate number of spots for students. You don’t need to do anything if you are keeping your sessions the same. If you’re uncomfortable with the technology or otherwise, Corey and I will be more than glad to help out
- If you want to change the date of a session, you may do so. PLEASE do NOT change study halls without my permission.
- If you are interested in creating a new “course,” please complete this form https://goo.gl/forms/NRKHDkK95ZqrOE0m2
- Students have asked for the following sessions: public speaking, more maker space and robotics, study groups for specific classes and quiet places to study.
How to Create New Sessions: You only need to do this for the week of January 7.
You can create a session if a course has already been created.
- In Adaptive Scheduler > My Schedule Choose the week of January 6.
- Complete 1-5 in the above and select Add Session. The Period must be Mustang Morning.
Editing Sessions
- In My Schedule, select Edit Session.
- Update the fields that need updating and Update.
Requesting Students
- Fill your new Mustang Morning sessions with students (group or individual requests). Rosters are not carrying over.
Important Notes:
- We are trying to do our best to track down students who are not attending Mustang Morning. This requires a team effort and 1A teachers ensuring students are given ample time to sign up AND accurate attendance during Mustang Morning. This means not allowing students to attend your Mustang Morning if they are not on your Mustang Morning roster.
- Please remember, students should not be traveling during Mustang Morning.
- Our Mustang Morning Committee met on Monday and we’re going to be working on some out-of-the box ideas with students for whom Mustang Morning is not working.
- Adding Notes to individual students
- Go to the “Students Schedules” tab
- By typing in a student’s name, you can add a note to that student. Click on the course
- Type your note. Click “Update” after typing your note.
All information can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pR76sh_49zasEAhMGKca_gW_TdjHy2jIR93qSTc-e5w/edit?usp=sharing
Important Information
Midterm Exam Schedule Below
Staff, Student, Faculty Recognition Awards for December due by December 17
Please make sure to use the date 1/20/19 for your exam grade regardless of when you give the assignment. Doing so will place it in the E2 category. Please see Corey with any questions
Important Dates
December 19: Faculty Meeting before school
December 19: Staff luncheon / Potato Bar / Ugly Sweater Contest
January 2: Monticello-based PD. 9-12: Culturally Responsive Teaching Focus Groups, Afternoons: PLC-based work
Field Trips and SOLs
SOLs (see Cindy’s email/Monticello Outlook Calendar)
Birthdays
December 17: William Wells, custodian
December 21: Virginia Johnson, custodian
December 27: Nikki Eubanks
December 27: Nikki Eubanks
December 28: Kristen Sabo
December 31: Miriah Dudley
January 1: Jessica Eisenhauer
Useful Information
Bell Schedules : http://bit.ly/MOHSbells
Morning Announcement Stream: http://streaming.k12albemarle.org/ACPS/links.htm
We’ve got something new! Want something included on the Monticello Outlook Calendar, the Monticello website or in the PowerSchool Daily Bulletin (viewed by parents, students and staff)? Please use this link https://goo.gl/forms/bIjfJLKokWPcEHx33
Worth Your Time
Midterm Exams Bell Schedule
Midterm Exams Bell Schedule
8:55-10:55
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Exam Period 1
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11:00-12:40
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Class Period
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1st lunch: 10:55-11:25
2nd lunch: 11:35-12:00
3rd lunch: 12:10-12:40
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12:45-2:45
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Exam Period 2
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2:50-3:50
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Class Period
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Midterm Exam Schedule
Friday,
Dec 14
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Monday,
Dec 17
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Tuesday,
Dec 18
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Wednesday, Dec 19
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1B-exam
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1A-exam
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2B-exam
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2A-exam
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2b*
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2a*
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1b*
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1a*
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3B-exam
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3A-exam
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4B-exam
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4A-exam
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4b
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4A
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3b
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3a
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Midterm Exam Schedule
December 17
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8:55-10:55
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1A Exam
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11:00-12:40
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2A Class
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12:45-2:45
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3A Exam
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2:50-3:50
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4A Class
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Midterm Exam Schedule
December 18
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8:55-10:55
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2B Exam
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11:00-12:40
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1B Class
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12:45-2:45
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4B Exam
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2:50-3:50
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3B Class
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`
Midterm Exam Schedule
December 19
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8:55-10:55
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2A Exam
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11:00-12:40
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1A Class
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12:45-2:45
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4A Exam
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2:50-3:50
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3A Class
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