OPLS blog

Online professional learning services

“Why we fight”

By Lee Davis • Jun 12th, 2009 • Category: Teaching and learning

As this is my last post before I leave the IB, I thought I would sign off by sharing with you some correspondence I have had with a person who has both inspired and encouraged me over the 7 years I have been with the organisation.

Barbara Stefanics has been a faculty member for the IB’s online curriculum centre since its inception way back in 1999 and has helped develop a community of learners in ITGS that is both self-sustaining and serves as a model for other curriculum areas within the programmes.  She retired from that role last year in order to become the chief examiner for ITGS.

Over the years, we have exchanged ideas, experiences and stories related to technology in education and how it can transform the design of teaching and learning.  Recently she shared the following with me.  I have copied it verbatim because, to be honest, she tells it better than I do.  It’s a great example of why we fight.

Dear Lee,

The Horizon Project which was amongst one of the first Flatclassroom Projects 2006-07.
 http://horizonproject.wikispaces.com
My first collaborative global project with my ITGS class and David B was a member of this class.

David B had diagnosed health problems that hindered both oral and written communication. He would stutter terribly - often struggling for minutes before he could say the one sentence that he needed to say. We all waited because we knew that that one sentence would have real value and substance. On any written work or test, additional time would make no difference. The longest response he could manage would be only a few words, up to a sentence.

One day in the staffroom (thank goodness for staffrooms), I bumped in to David B’s English teacher. We shared a common problem, and she gave me the first clue that there was a chance for communication. She told me that strangely, David B’s stuttering did not occur when he was involved in drama. That was quite a surprise.

As part of the horizon project there were two breakthroughs that gave me a hint of how to actually get a more reliable assessment for David B and by-pass the communication blocks. Both used technology.

1. All of the students in the horizon project were required to produce a video. David B produced this video at home on his own in his room. It was the evidence that I needed to show that David B could communicate just like any other student if he could use video or similar technology tools. Please go to
 http://horizonproject.wikispaces.com/MMEG+Impact+on+Science+and+Enviroment+and+Health
to see the video … you have to scroll down until you see “Overview of MMEG’s Impact on Health” and David B’s picture on the screen.
2. The second indication I got was in the student meeting on Elluminate with Julie [Lindsay]. All of the students were expected to explain their outcomes of their research and the Horizon Project. I simply could not believe it! Right before my very eyes, David was completely articulate. Unfortunately, it was such a surprise that I did not record it in Elluminate.

When I was in Cardiff at Grade Award 2007, I asked the subject area manager who I could speak to about this and he arranged for someone from the Special Ed’s office to meet with me. I showed her the video (1 above) and this actually started the process going that David B got the opportunity to record his IB examinations in ITGS and English with a microphone.

The result was that instead of a grade 0-1 for ITGS, he got a 5. He also passed his IB! It is truly the most amazing success story of my entire teaching career and all due to the support from IBCA for such a special case.

I thought you would enjoy this and the proof that technology opens doors for special students.

If you have similar stories to tell, please share them. It matters.

Thanks for listening and, as an old mucker of mine used to say, “Have fun!”

Lee

5 Responses to ““Why we fight””

Leave a Reply