[Robin Long]

March 11, 2024

Dear Teacher Hotline – Process Checklist

Hello everyone!

Thanks for coming to the Voc Talk Café and if you weren’t able to make it, no worries! You can check out the recording, discussion notes and resources on the Voc Talk Café by Après-cours website page here, and read the session summary below!

Summary

In this week’s Dear Teacher Hotline, we discussed using a process checklist to help students focus on the steps in the process during an authentic work task. To create a tailored checklist for effective learning, it’s essential to consider the targeted learning goal as well as the student’s current level of proficiency. For beginners, tasks should be broken down into manageable steps, while advanced learners may require less detailed guidance. Feedback from the instructor is important, and sticky points or teacher checkpoints can be incorporated into the checklist. As well, encouraging students to reflect on their performance, identify challenges, and rewrite the checklist in narrative form promotes deeper understanding and consolidation of knowledge.

In terms of format and tools, leveraging common text software like Microsoft Word or Google Docs facilitates accessibility. Structuring the checklist using tables, checkboxes, and strikethrough features aids in progress tracking, while including identification details ensures clarity and organization.

To customize the content of this checklist for your trade, look at the competency and think about job tasks in the workforce and list the steps in the process of completing that task. Asking colleagues or students to collaborate is essential to identify common pitfalls and critical steps. Present tasks logically, grouped by natural categories, and incorporate sensory descriptors to foster comprehension and introduce industry terminology. The customized checklist serves as a comprehensive guide, facilitating effective learning experiences aligned with students’ needs and objectives.

▶Click here to access the interactive tool

📋Click here to access a downloadable, customizable copy

Do you have an idea for a Voc Talk Café discussion topic that you would like to discuss with your fellow teachers across the province? Let us know! We can help you set it up! Thanks to all who participated in discussing this very interesting subject, and I look forward to the next session!

📱👩‍🍳 Robin

[Robin Long]

May 5, 2024

Dear Teacher Hotline – Group Tracking Tool

Hello everyone!

Thanks for coming to the Voc Talk Café and if you weren’t able to make it, no worries! You can check out the recording, discussion notes and resources on the Voc Talk Café by Après-cours website page here, and read the session summary below!

Summary

In our session today, we looked at a group tracking tool. It was designed using spreadsheet software and features pre-filled drop-down menus in the cells for easy use during class. It focuses on analyzing and adapting a worked example. We had a deep discussion on crucial elements and their importance in student learning, as well as customizing the teaching tool to fit the needs of specific programs and the lab reality. The task emphasizes creating a document aligned with the program of study, incorporating both physical and digital learning elements to enhance accessibility, flexibility, and understanding of how various roles connect to the curriculum. Additionally, we suggested that allocating time to research and create a student account to gain insight into the student perspective and test sharing and permission features would be very beneficial to the final design.

▶ Click here to access the interactive tool

🛠 Click here to access a downloadable, customizable copy

Do you have an idea for a Voc Talk Café discussion topic that you would like to discuss with your fellow teachers across the province? Let us know! We can help you set it up! Thanks to all who participated in discussing this very interesting subject, and I look forward to the next session!

👩‍🍳📱 Robin

[Robin Long]

October 2, 2024

Dear Teacher Hotline – Macroplanning

Hello everyone! 👋

Thanks for coming to the Voc Talk Café and if you weren’t able to make it, no worries! You can read the session summary below, and follow the links to check out the curated resources!

• presentation

• agenda, discussion notes, and shared resources

• interactive tool

• customizable tool

• session recording (not available quite yet!)

Summary

In today’s Voc Talk Café we we explored macroplanning as an essential tool for organizing learning goals and guiding teacher support. Using a spreadsheet helps teachers organize activities and goals within a set timeframe, ensuring alignment with the program of study and coverage of all course content. Key elements include scheduling, prior skills, formative assessments, and administrative details. While primarily for teachers, it’s crucial for creating the syllabus that students use, situating learning objectives in real-world contexts and showing how new knowledge builds on prior skills.

It is especially useful for pedagogical consultants working with novice teachers, facilitating discussions on lessons, topics, and subject matter, with guidance from the evaluation framework (such as inforouteFPT) to prioritize content. Adding verdict rules in a separate column can help streamline planning. Keeping a master document of macroplans supports consistency, and for a less linear approach, a mind map could be a helpful alternative. Both tools are vital for structuring and enhancing student learning.

Do you have an idea for a Voc Talk Café discussion topic that you would like to discuss with your fellow teachers across the province? Let us know! We can help you set it up! Thanks to all who participated in discussing this very interesting subject, and I look forward to the next session!

📱👩‍🍳 Robin

[Robin Long]

November 4, 2024

Dear Teacher Hotline – Student Syllabus

Hello everyone!

Thanks for coming to the Voc Talk Café and if you weren’t able to make it, no worries! You can read the session summary below, and follow the links to check out the curated resources!

• presentation

• agenda, discussion notes, and shared resources

• session recording (not available quite yet!)

Summary

In today’s Dear Teacher Hotline sessions, we explored a student syllabus through a worked example. We identified its key elements, and discussed how to adapt it to our teaching reality. We learned that a well-designed example serves as a roadmap, aligning learning goals and activities within a clear timeframe. It functions as a communication tool, setting expectations for students, and is most effective when created from a student’s perspective. By filling it out using the program of study and our macroplan, we can better connect teaching strategies, learning activities, and trade tasks. The document acts as both a motivational and organizational tool, offering students guidance on how to succeed in the course. It also serves as a contract between teacher and student, supporting collaboration and shared responsibility. As a professional development tool, it allows us to reflect on and compare teaching methods with colleagues, ensuring our approaches remain relevant, clear, and student-centered.

Do you have an idea for a Voc Talk Café discussion topic that you would like to discuss with your fellow teachers across the province? Let us know! We can help you set it up! Thanks to all who participated in discussing this very interesting subject, and I look forward to the next session!

👩‍🍳📱Robin

• This reply was modified 2 days, 22 hours ago by  Robin Long.

[Robin Long]

December 2, 2024

Hello everyone! 👋

Thanks for coming to the Voc Talk Café and if you weren’t able to make it, no worries! You can read the session summary below, and follow the links to check out the curated resources!

• presentation

• agenda, discussion notes, and shared resources

• customizable tool

• session recording (not available quite yet!)

Summary

In our session today, we explored a rubric from 2 worked examples, identifying its key elements and discussing how they impact student learning. Together, we brainstormed ways to adapt this teaching tool to fit our diverse realities. A key takeaway was designing tools from a student’s perspective, using everyday language to clarify competencies. We highlighted the benefits of co-creating rubrics with students to enhance motivation, foster growth mindsets, and increase assessment transparency. Ideas included breaking tasks into steps, adding enrichment levels for fast learners, and incorporating badges as rewards. While we acknowledged that rubrics take time to create and refine, we agreed that collaboration with colleagues helps manage the workload. We also looked at tech tools like Microsoft Stream, with features like interactive media and a built-in prompter, as a way to create engaging content. Overall, we left with practical strategies for building growth-oriented, student-centered learning experiences.

Do you have an idea for a Voc Talk Café discussion topic that you would like to discuss with your fellow teachers across the province? Let us know! We can help you set it up! Thanks to all who participated in discussing this very interesting subject, and I look forward to the next session!

📱👩‍🍳 Robin