My New Blog!!! :)

Please visit my new site - all posts from this site have been transferred over.

http://teachercalder.ca

Thanks!
Jac

Family of Schools - Building Capacity

2:105

That's the ratio of ICT Consultants to schools. We've has taken a wonderful step in "decentralizing PD". Job embedded, PLC, action research.... you get the idea. Wonderful steps towards empowering teachers in their own learning. Awesome things happening. Sometimes though... teachers need the support of others to brainstorm, collaborate or just figure out a tool and how it could be used best to support their learning goal. Outside of a formal cycle. In these cases a 2:105 ratio could be viewed as a barrier. Especially seeing as the ICT Consultants spend much of our time working on large-scale projects like teacher notebook rollouts, numeracy videoconference co-teaching projects, e-Learning, action research, etc. Then we realized...

WAIT. It's not about us. Its about the teachers. We don't hold the answers. But we can support the networking. So, our board created Family of School IT Teams (FOSIT Teams, because we really needed another darn acronym). One teacher from each school joined in a collaborative meeting among their "family" (a secondary and the elementary schools in the area). Some schools sent two people. The person could be anyone on staff who had an interest in the goings on of ICT in the board. There is no coaching role involved, simply a contact person so we can communicate with schools easily, and they can get a hold of us easily. Someone we can share ideas with and them us. Since these meetings (2 weeks ago) I have watched an amazing transformation and progression. Teachers calling teachers from schools next door to pop over for 5 minutes. Projects being completed between secondary and elementary. Teachers collaborating and sharing. We created a site to facilitate the sharing (http://scdsbnetworkedlearning.ca) and people are sending in ideas, posting links, and SHARING. Did I mention how much sharing is going on? :)

Now, I'm certain that most of these things were happening before. They were just happening in the background and in isolation. The sharing and license for innovation has just built an excitement for sharing and trying new things that has the potential to spread.

The types of emails I'm getting have shifted from "can you please come out and run a session on smart boards" to "do you know who is in our area that could collaborate with our teacher so our own teacher can support some projects using the smart board in our own school".

We are in the process of surveying teachers to identify where our strengths are. This allows us to celebrate these strengths and network people together as needed. It also allows us to identify our needs. If there is an area where no-one knows how to use the video conferencing equipment and they are interested in connecting their class to the world, then we can support them in that way. As we continue to get feedback via the survey (simple google form) I am amazed at how many folks are out there willing to share and some of the AMAZING things going on.

Energizing and positive! OH! I've also found handfuls of teachers in our board making great use of twitter to support their own learning :) Power to the networks... I can't wait until our next round of face-to-face meetings.

Learning Mathematics Together

I've had the honor of participating in an amazing project with some amazing educators this year. Today we all met to debrief the project to date. We have three pairs of teachers who are piloting the project before we expand it.

They are co-planning and then co-teaching math classes via video conference. We're using a variety of tools to support the project including Polycom video conferencing units, adobe connect, Taking IT Global, SMART boards, document cameras, google docs, blogs and wikis. The main purpose of our pilot is to investigate the various situations possible and to look into potentially enhancing our typical demonstration classrooms and co-teaching professional development opportunities with technology.

Pair 1 - two grade 3/4 classes about 80 km apart (one class mostly grade 3's and the other mostly grade 4's)
Pair 2 - a grade 4/5 class and a grade 6 class about 70 km apart
Pair 3 - two grade 8 classes about 80 km apart

Here are some of our teams observations from each pairing. Our debriefing team consists of the teachers, numeracy consultant, instructional strategy consultants, ICT consultants and a ministry project manager. We focused a lot on the classroom dynamics piece this time.

Pair 1 (primary) observations -

• they started their first lesson having the students come up to the camera in groups of 3 and state their name, one thing about themselves (I like hockey, have 2 dogs, etc.) and then pose a challenge question for the other class. These were math questions that the students had created. A group who had the answer in the other classroom would then respond by stepping up to the camera and introducing themselves (name and one thing about themselves). They would then pose their challenge question. This went back and forth quickly and the entire classes were very engaged in solving each problem posed to their class.
• one class was set up as a horseshoe layout where the camera was at the open end and the students stepped up when they shared their problem
• students wrote their challenge problem on a whiteboard and then showed it to the camera
• geoboards were hard to see on the camera with the lighting
• each classroom had two set ups - one with the polycom and projector, the other with document camera, smart board and projector. This allowed the teachers to be using the same smart notebook file in each classroom. They included timers and challenge instructions on the boards.
• the teachers had prepared their classes by having the polycom set up for a few days before, allowing students to see themselves on the screen. One also had her class practice asking their questions and she videotaped them. She then played it back for them allowing them to decide what they needed to do better when "live" (speak louder or clearer, step up closer to the camera).
• the teachers took turns leading the parts of the lesson
• the lesson included open questions where the students came up with a variety of solutions for each problem. Most of the questions were multiplication and division. They then shared their responses with each class.
• students were particularly engaged because they wanted to have different solutions than everyone else so that they got a chance to share. Watching these students really stretch their thinking to allow themselves to be the one to share was great.
• a whole host of manipulatives were used
• teachers put a tape line on the floor where students should stand to share with the other class
• one comment from some observers "we felt like we were in the room with the other class"
• some areas to improve on next time - maybe sticking to one or two manipulatives for a lesson to ease the mangement. Perhaps might have been too ambitious for the first few lessons using multiple manipulatives at a time and then making sure the teachers have determined who is going to lead which part so they can naturally flow back and forth
• interesting to watch the grade 3's become engaged in the grade 4's challenge questions that were multiplication beyond what they had been exposed to before. They really stretched their minds, chose tools to help them and tried to figure these problems out (because they wanted to go up and share). It was amazing to watch.
• these two teachers co-planned in person

Pair 2 (junior) observations:

• they started by introducing themselves and then went into a game using link cubes and guessing each others patterns. They asked each class great questions about patterns to determine the other classes pattern.
• some really interesting non-verbal signals used between these two classes. One class uses some sign language in class (thank you or appreciation is expressed by waiving both hands up and then a demonstration of friendly love is expressed with a hand signal). Another class introduced their yes and know signals (thumbs up and a big X across their chest with forearms). These signals were wonderful via videoconference because they didn't create distracting noise and the kids picked them up and initiated the signals on a consistent basis.
• we learned that bins of link cubes make a lot of noise that wouldn't be a problem in a "normal" class, but when on videoconference can be distracting. We thought maybe having the cubes out without the bins (or using bags) and felt on the desks might help
• another activity they did was guess my number using hundreds charts. They had a neat discussion about characteristics of numbers and good effective questioning.
• the classes have continued their collaboration by answering discussions and math challenges on the Taking IT Global ED classroom feature.
• there was one gentleman in this class that normally does not participate who stepped up and did awesome, answering questions and sharing freely
• these two teachers co-planned via adobe connect
• they debriefed immediately afterwards via adobe connect with a few consultants. The immediate discussion was invaluable.

Pair 3 (intermediate) observations:

• a very distinct different between grade 8 and the younger kids. They are much more concerned about what other people think about them and so behaviours changed completely. Some who were outgoing were suddenly shy and some who were shy stepped up. They also wanted to know much more about how the equipment worked and more about the students on the other end of the camera. They had really neat questions to ask.
• the kids started with an introductory activity where they shared with each other the different topics they had covered in math class so far. It was a really neat summary and intro activity for this age group. The students thought to grab their notebooks and start looking for the "big ideas".
• the teachers were intuitive to recognize that with the grade 8's the activity had to be very student focused and so partnered them all up with groups on each side of the camera and they created and shared challenge questions with each other. Groups were made based on interested indicated in the introduction activity and so many of the kids made really neat math problems based on these areas of interest
• we did learn that we may have been using the wrong technology for this part of the lesson. Having students come up in small groups to the camera to share with partners while the rest of the class working on their challenges was distracting and noisy. Perhaps a station with headsets and adobe connect would have worked better? We will continue to work on this
• the groups are continuing on with their math problems using the Taking IT Global ED platform as well
• the challenge questions created by students for their partners were very high quality
• grade 8's dress their best and do their hair on days when they are videoconferencing :)

Overall notes:

• in general student engagement was amazing
  
• the teachers of these classes are incredible risk takers and collaborators
• its NOT about the tools (tech), its about the relationships and collaboration
  

Resources we used:

* Permission form (adapted by each teacher to fit what they needed)
* Ministry GAINS Classroom Dynamics materials
* Taking IT Global Ed (TIGed)

Follow-Up to Minds On Media

I had the most amazing experience this morning. I went into the school where we did the Minds on Media PD Day (see previous post) a few weeks ago. I went in to do some follow-up work. The Extended French teacher wanted to digitize her students children books. We set up a wiki where students could share voicethreads of their scanned in illustrated story books with narration en francais and then comment on each others work en francais.

While I was there, another teacher stopped me to explain their student-created interactive element websites for chemistry. One teacher asked me to brainstorm some ways to support some of our students who get between 50%-59% in grade 9 applied mathematics, so they are prepared for grade 10 applied mathematics. A teacher decided to work with the law teacher to do a lesson on Creative Commons and legal aspects. The Student Success Teacher talked about moving to an electronic communication method for supporting at-risk students. When I went to search for equipment (headphone/microphone headsets) that had previously sat around gathering dust, they were out BEING USED! :) Lastly, one teacher who has been integrating tons of wonderful tasks into her class has now looked at her assessment practices and decided to improve the way she tracks and marks to be more holistic and appropriate. This type of love of learning spreads beyond simply doing a "tech" project, but infects us with a great desire to be better teachers.

Creativity, innovation and risk-taking is spreading like wild fire through the school. I mean, they were a radical bunch to begin with :) , but I think the Minds on Media PD Day combined with Teacher Notebooks in hand have certainly helped empower this passionate group. The positive energy is palpable - a great staff.

It has made my day! Now to go battle the snow covered roads for a drive to the next school on my list today. :)

Minds On Media at PSS

After today, Minds on Media, the brainchild of Peter Skillen (@peterskillen www.peterskillen.org ) and Brenda Sherry (@brendasherry http://www.brendasherry.com) is officially my favorite way of starting with teachers to integrate technology. Brenda and Peter created it for ECOO and it is always a big hit. Minds on Media involves having centres around in one room with facilitators covering a wide variety of topics. Participants bring their own laptop and visit the stations they wish and move around as they wish.

A principal asked me to come in and support their school on a PD Day to work on integrating technology. My mind started reeling - how could we run something that would allow each teacher, all starting in very different places to access and learn while moving the school along with their school improvement plan? The only thing they all had in common was that they had all just received the same HP Mini Teacher Notebook computer.

I started to think about having separate break out groups in different rooms and then I remembered the Minds On Media session Peter and Brenda ran for iEARN Canada's conference this summer in Barrie, ON. A quick tweet to Peter and Brenda asking if I could copy their idea resulted in permission to use their logo and ideas and most importantly, overwhelming support. The only debate was with Peter as he went back and forth trying to decide which of his websites I should use when giving credit. :) Oh, and trying to figure out Peter and Brenda speak as they started referencing the Roger Waters phenomenom as in a post by Peter a few years ago. I thought they might have actually created their own language...

To start our versions of Minds On Media, we created a wiki to post links for teachers as they floated around from station to station. We found a handful of EXCELLENT leaders from within the school to run the stations.

Today was the day for Minds on Media in Penetanguishene and it went GREAT! Below are some of the reasons why.


Reasons Minds on Media is good for teachers:

• accessible by all. Each teacher was met where they were. For beginners, there was a station about "personalizing your notebook" where we spent time showing teachers how to connect their notebook to a projector and how to make a video play full screen. We didn't call this the "for dummies" station and respected EVERY question. Everyone felt comfortable. We threw in some tricks of the trade to make the tiny netbook easier to work with (getting rid of tool bars on Internet Explorer, changing how the mouse track pad works, moving the windows start menu to the side instead of the bottom). These tricks of the trade intrigued seasoned computer users who came over and ended up coaching others as well.
  
• work at own pace
• choice, choice, choice - valuing their professional judgement
  
• choice of going into depth at a station or skimming through them all
• watching others to see the possibilities that technology can bring (especially for those who are not "techies" as they say)
  
• great discussion about best practices
• learn from the station leaders AND other teachers at the same table
• personalized learning

Reasons administration liked Minds On Media:

• every teacher eventually engaged. Some started by hovering around stations afraid to jump in because they were intimidated, but they eventually found a station they were comfortable getting started at
  
• some teachers who wanted support while creating lessons or activities, sat down and created right then and there with facilitators to help
• some teachers who are comfortable integrating lots of different technology floated around and gathered ideas then took those ideas and adapted them to work for their own classes
• developed leadership in the station leaders in a non-threatening way. It took those teachers who were using the technology and put them in a low-risk situation where they could lead others without running the whole show
• built capacity among schools own staff. In the future when teachers want support with a technology, chances are they will go to one of the teachers who led the stations instead of automatically calling the board support staff
  
• teachers were asking for MORE! Some staff connected with others and made plans to work on projects together. Some planned action research projects
  
• developed a culture of collaboration. Teachers asked other teachers how to do things, teachers shared stories, teachers shared links and resources, everyone worked together to make sure everyone at the table could keep up

Things to keep in mind when planning something like this:

• lots of chairs and tables including a few in the centre at a "non-station" to allow those who get into a project a space to work quietly if they need for a few minutes
  
• we had 8 stations for 35-40 people and that worked out well
• lots of extension cords for projectors, SMART boards and for teachers to plug in and power up
• screens or walls to project onto - remember lights will be on so test projectors
• send out info about stations ahead of time so teachers can mentally prepare themselves
• it is important to have someone helping organize who knows the staff of the school so leaders can be drawn out and encouraged
• choose station topics of varying degrees of complexity - some very basic stations as entry points and some more complicated ones to engage your "techie" teachers :)
  
• all stations must be in the same room so teachers can see what is going on across the room and get up and move whenever they wish. This ability to float and move is important
• Open the invitation to lead a station to all teacher so you get topics they are interested in
• lead and follow-up with discussions about how different technology uses are supporting the school improvement plan. What is the ultimate goal (what are the learning goals)? Technology is just the tool...
  

THANK YOU BRENDA AND PETER!!! Thank you for your ongoing encouragement, sharing and mentoring me to set this up.

Peter Skillen - @peterskillen www.peterskillen.org
Brenda Sherry - @brendasherry http://www.brendasherry.com

Livescribe and privacy

I've had a new fancy Livescribe pen for a few weeks now. I love it. I moved into a consultant role this year which equates to even more meetings. Some formal, some impromptu crazy brainstorming sessions where you finish with your head spinning in a million directions. I began the year taking my laptop to each meeting. When I got bored or disengaged or felt pressured for time I worked on other projects (planning, communication, video editing). My boss took notice and started giving me "alternative" tasks to complete during meetings. To "use my powers for good not evil". I started to wonder how many things I was missing? I was spending most of my day absent from what was happening right in front of me. That bothered me.

In comes my new magic pen. Now I can take notes with or without audio recording and they can go directly into my Evernote with all other things I do. Tagged and organized. I'm more present and personal again in meetings. I'm not using my screen as a shield. One problem I ran into is that I still need to be connected to look something up, check a calendar or find a file. So, the iPad or iPhone has to come along. But for me it's no where near as distracting. For me this works. I can review the parts of a meeting where my mind wandered. Sometimes the laptop is still needed, but less often. Sometimes i still choose the laptop if i know its going to be really boring :) I just wish the notes imported into Evernote with the audio right in them. I'm having trouble getting the audio in at all. Any solutions?

Two things I've learned:

1. Be VERY aware of the conversation, let others know that you are recording and turn it off if the conversation slips out of the professional zone.
2. I need to write neater and stop doodling to make the writing to text feature more effective.

I can imagine many good uses for this in a secondary math class in group work and creating electronic BANSHOs. For me in my current role I'm loving how it allows me to remain a little more present. I just need to remain aware of privacy and work on my handwriting. I'm having flashbacks to elementary school where I was given remedial work for my handwriting and enrichment in math. My brain worked differently even back then. I wonder how a livescribe pen could have helped?

So... How do you feel about being recorded at meetings?

George Couros' "Security on our Wordpress Site"

What a great video by @gcouros to explain how their school blog is secure and safe.

Stalking the OTF Google Learning Institute

I was very disappointed to miss OTFs "The Google Learning Institute". I had planned on stalking the learning experience on Saturday via twitter. I hoped that enough people would be tweeting about it that I could pick up bits and pieces throughout the day. Saturday ended up being a beautiful day around Southern Georgian Bay and in order to maintain some balance in my life I have a personal rule that if it's sunny out, I need to be outside playing. Otherwise I slowly turn into some evil person I no longer recognize. So I thought that I had missed the learning all together.

Sunday morning proved to be rainy, overcast and cold out. Aside from walking the dog and hunting the red squirrels that have found their way into my attic, it was going to be a day to catch up on chores indoors. First and foremost I opened up tweetdeck to see what I had missed over the past few days. My #OTFCUE column was full. Yeah! I worked from the beginning and started my own learning based on the tweets of those attending. THANK YOU all for sharing. Below is what I've learned in a few hours of catch-up.

1. Using Google Alerts for parents to keep track of their children's digital footprint. I use it myself, but never thought to encourage parents. Great idea Zoe!
2. Google Insight - creating graphs and tables on the interest of specific search terms. What a great opportunity for a business or marketing course.
3. Creating Google Custom Searches and embedding into your website. Great for students when they only need to search a few websites.
4. Google is great, but there are other options. This presentation makes some great points about research skills. It's all about choosing the right tool for the job.
   
5. Google Scribe could be very useful for struggling writers.
6. Google Forms allow you to embed maps.
7. Google Lit Trips - connecting maps, images and locations to literature.
8. Google News - one-stop shopping for the most popular news of the minute.
9. Google New - a place to read about all the new things happening at Google.
10. Google Wonder Wheel - searching for topics connected to your original search term - using graphics to organize.
11. Google Squared - creating a table from search information. Great to help students with organization of information.
    
12. Google Search Stories - Telling story (video) through google searches. I've seen these before but can never think of a good use. Some great ideas thrown around by educators on twitter!
13. Embedding Google Lookup into a spreadsheet (Google Doc)- This one is my FAVORITE!!! What a great way to collect data - you enter the search into the spreadsheet and it pulls in the data from the web. So many possibilities. The one I created (based on an example given by Google) is a table of elements and their characteristics.
14. Red squirrels are going to drive me insane! I can hear them - but I can't find out where they are or how they are getting in for the life of me. It's time to start an all-out war!
    

If I've missed any great tips and ideas from the Google session (or if you have tips on getting rid of the monsters in my attic) please share!

Thanks to the following for helping me grab some excellent ideas even if I couldn't participate in the learning in real time: @susayoun, @mathattck, @dougpete, @tgianno, @rickbudd, @msjweir, @pmcash, @zbpipe and @cyndiejacobs!

Testing Livescribe

Ok, pretty cool - i'm sold. Testing Livescribe.

testing
brought to you by Livescribe

Live Learning with Livescribe

If you haven't seen this blog and TLLP project by Zoe Branigan-Pipe, Aviva Dunsinger and others, you must! It's a great way to share ways of increasing student achievement and demonstrations of student work. It really is all about student work. I've finally folded and ordered my own Livescribe Pen. I can't wait for it to arrive.

Sir Ken Robinson RSA

I love this. It makes me really think. Unfortunately, it also makes me question every project that I'm working on.

CAS-like capabilities in MS Word????

I found this blog post and video via @sig225 on twitter. I never knew that MS Word has this add-on available.

We are the people you've been waiting for

Cellphones in the classroom

This morning, like all others, I awoke to the local radio station. At 5:45 am I simply cannot stomach the beep, beep, beep of an alarm clock. And the great part is that my local radio station ROCKS. They have an excellent morning show with good debates. I figure that any radio show that can make me frantically reach for my iPhone to send off passionate emails before 6:00 am are pretty impressive. This morning like many other media outlets (The Star article) the quick conversation was about cellphones in the classroom. Dalton McGuinty made some comments over the past few days about boards being able to allow cellphones in the classroom when appropriate. The quick 6:00 am banter on The Dock FM included the radio hosts commenting on how distracted their teens (and others) are texting and emailing in the classroom. This is what got me hopping.

I've harassed the poor morning show host Meg before (she is wonderful and comes into the local high school for literacy conferences on a regular basis) and so sent her off an email. This is what it said:

"If we DON'T use mobile devices in the classroom, who exactly is modeling appropriate use? How do they learn how to use them properly?

Why do we all have this vision of kids sitting in rows in order to learn? What kind of job is like that? By NOT having mobile devices in class we are saying that we don't want kids collaborating, communicating and searching for information. COME ON!!! This is the 21st century!!! These are skills that are needed for success. Mobile devices are Powerful learning devices. So, never thought I'd say this - props to @Dalton_McGuinty ( his twitter handle). He gets that we need to change our view of education in order to prepare these poor kids for THEIR future, not our past."

I received this response "Good points Jacyln. Hope you heard our discussion on this.....this email featured heavily:)"

I unfortunately missed this later discussion and am highly curious as to whether I was debated or agreed with. Either way I'm happy. If I was agreed with, than maybe more people (listeners) were swayed towards my opinion. If I was debated, then it would have been a great learning experience (if only I had heard it and responded).

This little early morning interaction reminds me how education has to change to reflect changes in society. Twenty years ago a "nobody" like myself would never have their opinion heard, considered and debated on a radio station like The Dock FM. Technology has facilitated communication and collaboration to a degree that it permeates almost every career. How on earth do we expect our students to learn how to use this technology to help them be heard and to share ideas if we use blanket policies to ban them from schools? Will they be distracting? YES! Absolutely! When students hand wrote and passed notes did we ban the pen and paper? No, because they were seen as integral to the learning process. Technology is integral to the learning process when used properly. Technology in itself is useless. You could have a classroom with laptops on every desk and an interactive whiteboard at the front, that functions exactly like a classroom from the 1950's. Students are seated in rows typing out notes. The teaching needs to change along with technology use.

We need to ask our selves "is this helping students succeed in today's world?". What skills do they need to succeed? My guess is collaboration, communication and innovation. Recalling facts is not important if you can "google it". Using that information to form ideas, arguments and communicate those thoughts are much more important. Technology can facilitate that. We can't be sure what today's students will be faced with in 50 years. How can I know what to teach them that will be relevant? Things change so fast. Maybe if we teach them how to learn for themselves, communicate and problem solve, they'll be able to figure it out for themselves?

So, thanks to The Dock FM for the thought-provoking morning. I've also learned an important lesson - if I decide to harass you, I'd darn well better listen to the rest of the morning show! :)

Amazing Race, Take 9!

I've had a few people ask me about our Amazing Race Grade 9 activity and I need to pass the task of organizer off to another staff member while I'm away this year - so I've described our day here to kill two birds with one stone.

I LOVE starting the year off right. Instead of talking at our grade 9's and organizing guided tours we do something a little different. Every time we do it, staff, students and parents talk about how enjoyable it is. Staff get to meet the incoming grade 9's in a fun, relaxed environment and the kids get to be, well, kids! It's the only time grade 9s feel like they are the only ones in the school and they love it.

This idea began when I was teaching in Moosonee, Ontario at Northern Lights Secondary School. Like all good ideas, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly who came up with it, but I believe Angela Tozer and Sandy Lederer are to be given credit for this idea.

When I moved to PSS, I brought the idea with me and this is how our day goes:

9:30 - 10:00 am - Welcome by Principal, Vice-Principal and Student Council leaders, introduction of staff (Guidance, Special Education, Student Success)

10:00 - 11: 15 am - The Amazing Race Activity

11:15 - 11:30 - wrap up, questions and refreshments in the cafeteria

During the Amazing Race students visit the rooms listed on their passport, complete a challenge there and get sticker or stamp for their passport. Here is a link to the Google Doc copy of our Amazing Race "passport" students use. At the end they trade in their completed passport for their timetable (and a lesson on how to read it).

In terms of organization, here is what we do:

- put up sign-up sheet for staff during last week of school. Take 9! Day is on a holiday, so staff volunteer. Any staff member is welcome (custodial, office, educational assistants, teachers, administration)

- the day before I set up all the challenges as needed (most staff organize their own now) and put envelopes in each volunteers mailbox with materials they need and stickers/stamps for the passports. I also revamp the passport with the appropriate room numbers for this years challenges and print them.

- on the day of we tell teachers that students will start coming to the classrooms around 10:00 am. We then make an announcement at the end, asking all Grade 9s to return to the cafeteria. This is really a signal for teachers that it is over.

Common Challenges:

- how to log onto the computer system (our passwords start as YYYYMMDD and then need to be changed) in the resource room

- how to use a lock - students must open a combo lock to complete challenge

- something in the gym (shoot a basket, soccer goal, floor hockey, sit ups, push ups, etc.)

- something in the shops (hammer a nail into a board, etc.)

- something dramatic in the drama room

- find/label a few rooms on the school map

- something in the hospitality room (measuring, mixing, a step in baking something, etc.)

- purchasing of their package deals (student fees, yearbook, etc.) or getting info about it

- getting their timetables and learning how to read them (rooms, course codes, locker number, etc.)

- extra-curricular, something about clubs and teams

After the first year, most teachers will set up their own challenges without any help from the organizer. It is a time for teachers to "sell" clubs and subjects as well. For example, breakfast club or green team leaders have challenges around those clubs. The first year it helps to provide teachers with "challenges in an envelope" so they get the idea.

Starting the year off with bubbling grade 9's wandering through the school trying to find classrooms (until they get to the challenge where they get a map of the school) is amazing. Staff love this way of meeting grade 9s. We've used name tags before and then provided awards that the teachers decided on (one for each challenge, just silly things - like most innovative way of doing something, most helpful, etc.). Our students' council leaders often run or help out with the challenges in the classrooms to relieve congestion. Starting the year off right while building community!