One of our presenters, Richard Dixon, showed CBC‘s Briar Stewart how oil is extracted from bitumen. Turns out, it’s a pretty simple process! Note: You will have to turn up the clip quite a bit as it is quite quiet.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Chicken Eggs and Bean Tails
Our grade 4 class from Northmount School and our grade 9 class from Spruce Avenue School had some special visitors from the U of A Alumni Association. They were their to write a fabulous article on what it is like to visit U School. We were lucky enough to have sessions about plant development and a chicken dissection for them observe. Check out what they thought of the U School experience!
Happy Volunteer Appreciation Week!
We would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all of the classroom volunteers and presenters, without whom we could not make U School the experience that it is. All of our students greatly appreciate the time that you offer to the program and you will never know the vast impact you have on our students’ lives. U School can never thank you enough.
Please check out this video that U of A Alumni Relations produced on one of our long time volunteers, Cathy Zoleta.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Edmonton
As you may have heard, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is in Edmonton this weekend. There are a number events happening around the city, including some hosted by the University of Alberta. If you are free, please check out some of the events that are hosted around Edmonton. There are also a number of resources available online if you or you students have questions about the TRC, including this website set up by CBC.
Tuji playing the tympani in Dr. Schroeder’s wind ensemble class
Metro News Edmonton came to visit us this week and here’s their story.
Look What They’re Saying About Us
YouAlberta, the U of A’s prospective student blog, recently featured U School. Click the title above to see what they had to say! Check out what they had to say.
The grade 6 class from Montrose School got to learn about Philosophy through activities. Thank you so much to Lisa, Vicki and Joey from Philosophy for Children for spending the morning with us and teaching us about our thinking.
U School Award!
U School will be offering an award to students who have attended U School and have been accepted to the University of Alberta. We are currently working on the details, but will be offering our first award in late September/early October.
If you know of a U School student who is planning on attending the U of A, please share with them this link!
New Student Photos and Posters
We’ve been busy cleaning up from 2012-2013 and preparing for 2013-2014 here at U School. As such, we have taken a little hiatus from blogging… but we’re back!
Thanks to one of our wonderful photography instructors, Vi Warkentin, we have a brand new batch of student photos to share with you. Additionally, we have shared some selections from our winter semester poster and essay content submissions.
Cooperative Learning Activities
Cooperative Learning Activities: An Effective Teaching and Learning Approach in Physical Education
Submitted by Brent Bradford & Dr. Clive Hickson
Identified as one of the most effective teaching and learning approaches in schools, the use of cooperative learning activities promotes group work and the achievement of reaching a common goal! Throughout each week at U School (Physical Education classes), students participate in cooperative learning activities, discuss the benefits of cooperative learning activities, share their background knowledge about cooperation, and discover innovative ways to enhance their cooperative skills (e.g., changing the rules of an activity). It is, therefore, hoped that teachers and students continue to employ cooperative learning activities, such as the ones that are taught and learned at U School, in their physical education programs!
“Learning to cooperate with others is an essential for a productive and happy life in family, in school, and in adult life.” (Joyce et al., 2009)
BENEFITS: Cooperative learning activities provide several benefits to physical education programs. For example, cooperative learning activities … • help teachers achieve the ABCD’s of the Physical Education Program of Studies (e.g., CK-1, C3-5)
- provide opportunities for students to practice their basic fundamental motor skills
- provide an excellent way to teach positive social interactions and respect for others
- enhance student achievement
- encourage problem-solving, critical thought and teamwork
- teach appreciation for student differences • provide enjoyment to physical education programs
- add breadth and variety to physical education programs
KEY ELEMENTS: When students are engaged in cooperative learning activities, six key elements must emerge (Fishburne, 2005). The six key elements are as follows:
- FUN: Students experience enjoyment!
- PARTICIPATION: Each student is involved!
- SUCCESS: The level of challenge sets each student up for success!
- COOPERATION: Students work together to attain a common goal!
- EQUALITY: Each student has a valuable and contributing role!
- TRUST: All students must rely on and trust each other!
MODIFICATIONS: There is an array of ways to modify cooperative learning activities to ensure they are developmentally appropriate for students. Using the REPS formula is an effective beginning point for teachers. Consider modifying…
- R – Rules – modify rules to simplify or add complexity
- E – Equipment – change the size, type, amount and/or weight of the equipment
- P – Participants – group students into pairs, small groups or whole class
- S – Space – small or large spaces, gymnasium, outdoors, classroom, etc.
Cooperative learning activities are a terrific way to establish a positive classroom culture. While they can be introduced at any point throughout the school year, below are a few critical times to consider:
- at the beginning of the school year
- after a break from school (e.g., long weekend, spring break)
- when a new student joins the class
- after a conflict to re-establish a positive learning environment in the classroom
- during a cross-grade group activity
- during a whole school event
TEACHING CONSIDERATIONS: When using cooperative learning activities in physical education, there are some important teaching considerations to take into account, such as:
- groups should typically be chosen by teachers
- groups should reflect a range of abilities, personalities, gender, and backgrounds
- groups should “sink or swim” together – interdependence amongst the groups must be established
- each group member should be assigned a role initially (e.g., the leader, the equipment collector, the cheerleader, the timekeeper, the coach, the speaker, etc.)
- groups should be taught explicitly how to use and appreciate effective interpersonal skills
- each group member should be assessed individually for the contribution he/she made to the group; ensure that no group member takes a “free ride”
ENJOY CONTINUING TO ‘TEACH’ AND ‘LEARN’ IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION!
References:
- Fishburne, G. J. (2005). Developmentally Appropriate Physical Education for Children and Youth. Alberta: Ripon Publishing: A Division of Ripon Consulting Ltd.
- Joyce, B., Calhoun, E., & Hopkins, D. (2009). Models of learning: Tools for teaching. (3rd Ed.). Berkshire, England: Open University Press.
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SELECTED ARTICLE FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES
Celebrating the Perfect PE Storm! (Hickson & Bradford, 2011)
U School 
