Author Archives: Beyond The Apple

About Beyond The Apple

Beyond the Apple provides everything a Professional Learning Community needs! Designed to follow Beyond the Apple's Tenets of Adult Education, our videos re-ignite the excitement of professional conversations among educators in the classroom, university, colleges and professional training. Our free teaching and learning resources provide a follow up with more information that is current, research based and practical.

1st TODIE??? Seeing errors as a call to action

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Beyond The Apple

Taking time to unpack the thinking involved in noticing and correcting an error is a powerful way to better understand the layers of cognition an error sets in motion. Here’s an example: On first glance, I read the title of … Continue reading →

Posted in Linking Assessment to Learning | Tagged error solving, metacognition, problem solving, questioning, self correcting, visible thinking | Leave a comment

How to Score Student Work Equitably

Posted on October 13, 2016 by Beyond The Apple

Contrary to public perception, scoring student assignments and tests goes well beyond determining whether an answer is correct or incorrect. To score equitably, a teacher needs to be familiar with the art and the science of scoring. It’s an important … Continue reading →

Posted in Linking Assessment to Learning | Tagged CMEC, equitable assessment, equitable scoring, fair assessment practice, feedback, marking, principles of fair assessmetn practice, scoring assessments, scoring guides, student assessment in Canada | Leave a comment

When Students Think They Can’t Read

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Beyond The Apple

We share the following script, taken from a teacher’s real experience, as a discussion starter about high school students who see themselves as non-readers. As you and your professional colleagues read “I Can’t Read” (or maybe ask some colleagues to … Continue reading →

Posted in Educational Change | Tagged adult literacy, disengaged students, high school literacy, Kirk Johnson, known to new, relationships, Struggling readers | 3 Comments

Appreciative Inquiry: Beyond the Apple’s Applications for Education

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Beyond The Apple

There’s a lot of interest in Appreciative Inquiry and its application for educational change. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) was designed by David Cooperrider as a strategic planning tool; its applications in an educational setting are creating a lot of excitement. Here’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Educational Change | Tagged AI in education, appreciative inquiry and assessment, appreciative inquiry and educational change, appreciative inquiry in the classroom, David Cooperrider, Educational Change, Growth Mindset, Sarah Lewis, school wellbeing initiative, Todd Conkrite appreciate inquiry | 2 Comments

Arts based pedagogy: gaining insight through multiple lenses

Posted on June 28, 2016 by Beyond The Apple

The idea of teaching through the arts is embraced by some, questioned by many, and ignored by others. We’re excited by the opportunity to explore the multiple lenses the arts provide. Here are our first thoughts – they might be … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning is About Wondering, Questioning and Problem Solving | Tagged Arts Based Pedagogy, Grant Wiggins creative rubric, Mae Jamison arts and sciences, multiple representations of learning, the arts and social justice, the arts in the classroom, wondering | 1 Comment

Effective Listening, the key to success in a professional learning community.

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Beyond The Apple

The success of a professional learning community is heavily influenced by how effectively the participants communicate with each other. Clearly, this is obvious, but what’s not obvious is that it’s not only how we speak to each other, it’s how … Continue reading →

Posted in Educational Change | Tagged Delmar Hatesohl listening, dick Lee listening, Effective Listening, Eugene Raudsepp listening, Karen Engels Listening, listening, listening and professional conversations, listening in the classroom, PLS and listening, professioanl learning communities, Ralph Nicols listening, Torraine listening | 1 Comment

Wondering Leads to Learning

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Beyond The Apple

Can you remember the last time you had a chance to simply sit and allow your wind to wander? If you can’t remember, now’s the time to try it. Have a look at our video about wondering and open the … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning is About Wondering, Questioning and Problem Solving | Tagged Catherine L'Ecuver wonder appraoch to learning, Chris Bodenner creativity and daydreaming, daydreaming and creativity, I wonder why questions, Jeff Hoffman The Power of Wonder, questioning, wondering, wondering and learning, wondering and thinking | 3 Comments

Re-igniting professional learning with a challenge to think

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Beyond The Apple

The first 10-15 minutes of any professional learning session provide an opportunity to set the stage for thinking, wondering, and sharing. Before you jump into the content, grease the participants’ thinking cogs by demonstrating a discrepant event. Here’s an example … Continue reading →

Posted in Educational Change | Tagged ambiguous images, discrepant events, PLCs, professional development, professional learning communties, Steve Spengler science, teacher PD, thinking | 1 Comment