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This past October, our middle school students boarded two buses and took off west to Wentworth, Québec, for a special overnight trip. They arrived at the appropriately named Camp du Bon Depart to participate in our annual Classe Nature, which focuses on building bonds among students through outdoor activities and challenges.
Promoting athletic participation and healthy competition are important aspects of the Kells experience, and we encourage our students to get involved and get active, whether that means joining one of our sports clubs or going for a walk and enjoying our natural surroundings. If you want to find out more about how we’re teaching students valuable life lessons and skills through outdoor activities, read on to hear about our Classe Nature trip.
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The transition from secondary school to university is a critical time in any young person’s education. As they prepare to take a more active role in their learning, they should have the freedom and support to explore new interests and cultivate a sense of independence, while still developing the knowledge and skills they need to excel in their postsecondary studies. Kells Academy’s Grade 12 program is designed to help students successfully navigate this important transitional period. We offer an online program delivered through a tutorial approach in a classroom setting. The combination of a high level of support, and access to all program materials online leave students better prepared for admission to top universities.
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At Kells Academy, technology is an essential part of our classrooms. Students each have access to an iPad, which they use to receive assignments, ask questions, collaborate with their classmates, and so much more. Along with Smartboards and iPads, teachers use a wealth of online applications like Pear Deck for interactive presentations, Go Formative for real time assessment and feedback, and Google Apps for Education which allows students and teachers to seamlessly share information, write notes, and work together.
We also know that an important part of using technology in the classroom is staying up to date with the latest changes. Technology is evolving and developing in new ways all the time, which is why Kells teachers participate in a continuous technology-training program. Our latest professional development focused on video creation to facilitate flipped classrooms which enable students to preview lesson content through a personalized video. This allows for maximum interaction between teachers and students during class time in order to provide support and feedback towards lessons and concepts.
Why make technology such an important part of education? Here are just some of the many essential benefits this approach offers.
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Field trips are an important part of the experience we try to create for students at Kells Academy. They offer a chance for them to have some fun, socialize with one another outside of a school setting and to experience some of Canada’s most interesting tourist attractions.
This October, the grade 9 class took an overnight trip to the historic and beautiful Quebec City. In an action-packed two days, our students took part in a number of exciting activities. Along the way, they learned about nature, history and even outer space! Keep reading to find out about some of the most memorable moments of this unforgettable experience.
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In the traditional classroom, learning involves a teacher delivering instructional content, usually by lecture format. Homework is assigned and done at night.
In the flipped classroom, this model is reversed; students watch videos of the lesson at home and come to class the next day prepared for discussion, and what up to now we considered homework. This frees up classroom time for more personalized learning, and means teachers are available to offer assistance and feedback.
The advantages of the flipped classroom approach are many. In a traditional classroom, students are often reluctant to ask questions for clarification. A video, however, gives students the opportunity to press the pause button and repeat. Students can also ask a question online and never have to hear the teacher ask, “Do you understand this?”. Where there are gaps in their knowledge, students can refer to previous videos.
Learning at their own pace and in the privacy of their home empowers students. It humanizes the classroom, and offers teachers an opportunity to get away from the one-size-fits-all model of teaching. The other advantage for the teacher is that time is freed up to walk around and interact with students. This helps them to diagnose problems on the spot, rather than waiting for a test or a quiz.
Data from schools that have used this model indicates that the flipped classroom approach is an effective tool in delivering curriculum. Parents at Kells have made many positive comments on flipping, too. They say that this method of teaching considerably removes stress at home at homework time. They also find that students are more willing to discuss homework, and that it helps develop independent learning in their children.
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