Welcome to #scitlap Introduce yourself and tell us where you are chatting from.
I have a feeling tonight's chat will go in a lot of directions. There are 8 questions, but feel free to go ed-camp style if you want to go off on a "tangent"!
Karla from Central CA, 7th grade science + electives. Heading out this weekend for a MDA STEM institute in Richmond VA. Glad I could join in tonight. #scitlap
A1 I do this all the time. I always watch TV with my iPad. A movie example was after I saw The Greatest Showman. Good movie, but as soon as the credits started I was looking up the True story of PT Barnum. #scitlap
A1 has have been fascinated by the lava flows from Kilauea in HI. I started watching updates from USGS, Hawaii Civil Defense and started following a tour guide who was making daily videos. Did in class w/ kiddos and still following/researching. #scitlap
A1 I research strategies for games I play like @ClashRoyale but not much tangential there. However, I do more research when I see suspect claims on social media. #scitlap
I looked more into lava flows AFTER regular classes ended and I could no longer share with Ss. I tried to find various live streams to watch. Lava flows are just mesmerizing! #scitlap
A1: My family watched the @netflix series, The Terror https://t.co/rcFFwt8NtZ which inspired us to search the history of the early Arctic explorers. We were *so* excited when we found the Nova documentary, Arctic, Ghost Ship! Now we want to know more! #scitlap
From Wikipedia: Tangential learning is the process by which people self-educate if a topic is exposed to them in a context that they already enjoy.
#scitlap
If you haven’t watched the show, I’d suggest the show first (otherwise, there’ll be “spoilers” or maybe even disappointments if you learn the true story first...) IMO The tangential learning after has been very satisfying! #scitlap
Also love that you said your family wanted more.....this makes learning more meaningful when parents and kids learn together. Imagine the power this could have on our students. #scitlap
I was watching TedTalk Vids on the ocean floor. The scientist made the point that the scientific process is not how they learn. They just stumble across things. #scitlap.
A2 I have not heard of it but relate it to getting off on a tangent where one thought beaches off into another then another until you have a while new body of knowledge. I’ve had whole weeks of lessons go into a different directions from original plans. #scitlap
So a little clarification here. I watched a video explaining TL and it talks about how game developers can add learning experiences to their games. #scitlap
Q2: I’ve learned it means you are inspired to learn more about something on your own that you stumbled upon while playing a game or hearing a story or I guess... browsing around social media for like minded folks! =) #scitlap
I’d never heard of the phrase “tangential learning” but it sounded interesting, so I googled the phrase & watched this: https://t.co/2P1nCX3l7T & then I realized, I’d just done, what it said it was, while I was learning what it was... So, I’m in! See u at #scichat
A3 - I like the idea of harnessing tangential learning to allow students to personalize their learning experience & dive deeper into topics they're really interested in! #scitlap
I really never mind going on a tangent, as long as it's productive. Kids think they get you off topic, but you are really just seizing the moment! #scitlap
A3 I teach a Gaming Elective. I’ve watched lots of YouTube to learn about different types of board games across lots of categories. This had lead me & Ss 2 researching other games and now I have quite the collection in my class. Awesome interaction. #scitlap
There is a grey area when it comes to tangents in class. Ss will joy in you pontificating instead of getting "on with it". I plan in tangents. They think they are getting me off topic. nope. #scitlap
A4 Oops, should have said this as my answer....Genius Hour. #scitlap
But also, letting kids talk and share something they learned. Creating that kind of accepting culture and being excited with them is impt.
A3: I love experiential learning & reenactments. I also think sharing with kids projects other schools have done often inspires my kids to want to learn more about their own topics of interest. With 5th graders I try to make time & access to that learning. #scitlap
A4 hard to do a 20% project in sci. I already give time once a wk 4 recreational reading, I have to fit in sex Ed, nutrition and all NGSS. However Our electives are built with tangential learning in mind. SS have 6 opportunities a year. #scitlap
A4 I always task students to answer their own questions that are tangential. They often don't but sometimes do. All those "what if" questions. #scitlap
A4 - TL could be used in so many ways. You just need a jumping off point to guide Ss. Specifically during a lesson about the periodic table, Ss could choose an element that interests them & share out #scitlap
A4: (a) I shared with my students this video: A man who planted a forest, to inspire my students to believe each one of them can make a real difference: https://t.co/xTVrUDCCJf The video tells the story of a man who year after year, planting more trees, grew a forest! #scitlap
(b) What I didn’t know was that I inspired my students also to learn about the native trees in their city which got us planting Monterey Pine trees (our local native conifers) from seeds collected on the playground! #scitlap
P.S. Agency is the control you have over your future.....lack of agency is the lack of control students feel (because of situations they are in at home, etc.) #scitlap
A5: In my district we provide both standards-based & letter grades on report cards, so teachers can record a student’s formative growth on a standard & not necessarily have to give this type of independent learning a “letter grade” or a pass/fail grade. #scitlap
A6: I remember when I first learned the word “efficacy” when learning about quality teaching & I remember thinking, this is what we need to foster in our students! They will grow in this way through *doing* & through ownership! #agency#resilience#pride#independence#scitlap
If you guys get a chance, watch this video too, on how gamifying education helps beat traditional grading, and helps students with agency. Definitely food for thought. #scitlaphttps://t.co/i1Z2zUI9cE
A7: (Wow this chat moves fast 🚀) I think first we need to talk to the students & find out what they have been inspired to learn more about. Especially in a middle school, kids love to talk about what they learned in their other classes & share their questions! #scitlap
A7 - TL makes content more accessible and relatable to Ss. With the right guidance and use of resources, Ss will find a deeper connection with what they are learning #scitlap
Been reading Make it Stick. One of the tenets it mentions is applying knowledge across content enables more learning. I can see tangential learning being a source of extending the content. #scitlap
A8 I was thinking of creating a class @padlet for students to share pictures, videos, and link with other students. We could check our Padlet once a week. #scitlap
A8 I was thinking of creating a class @padlet for students to share pictures, videos, and link with other students. We could check our Padlet once a week. #scitlap
