iServi News | 22 May 2020 | Term 2, Week 4
Our Vision for Learning at Servite places a core emphasis on student-centred education. We nurture curiosity, build critical thinking skills and encourage collaboration through various contemporary teaching practices. Project-based learning enables students to actively participate in their skills development and can often involve students creating solutions to real-world problems. “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn,” is a quick summary of the philosophy behind project-based learning.
During our remote learning period, Religious Education Learning Area staff allocated investigation tasks to students in Year 7-10. I have been very impressed with our students’ capacity to explore authentic problems and master complex issues. Students showed perseverance and joy throughout the investigation process and some exciting and innovative projects were created that demonstrated deep, rich learning.
Ms Melissa Plant
(Acting) Head of Learning Area – Religious Education
Year 7
At the start of this Term we started remote learning for two weeks, then we returned back to school in Week 3. Remote learning was a great experience for some people. We learnt how to work independently without supervision or without our teachers supporting us.Going back to school was a great environment to be in. We got to see our friends and teachers and classmates. We honestly think that remote learning was a great way to learn how to be independent.
In religion with Mr Allen we have been learning about our environment we live in. We got to watch the Lorax in class. The movie was about why we should treat our environment respectfully and responsibly and take care of our trees because we need them on this earth. We have been doing research about how to clean our environment and earth safe we found that if we use metal straws we can wash them after using it than dumping them in the bin because when we do, it goes to our land fill and that’s bad and another thing we found is that we should put the right things in our bins because the leftovers things that aren’t supposed to be recycled it will go to our land and end up into our beaches and parks. So let’s be great citizens by doing the right thing and most of all stay safe.
Yeimiatta Koroma (AN6) and Adut Luenge (AN5)
Year 8
At the start of Term 2, students were challenged to stay at home and transition to remote learning. Over the course of two weeks, we adapted to our new learning system and worked independently. Even if we had multiple assessments, we strived to our best ability to learn and concentrate during classes. We were encouraged to stay positive and hopeful for the future. Our teachers were very understanding of the pressure we were under at the time.
One of the best projects we had was the ‘Catholic perspective on the desire for happiness’. We were asked to discover why religion is important when discussing true happiness. We recognised and understood that God is the facilitator and without having faith and believing in him, we were not able to experience true happiness in our lives.
Thank you to all the teachers who thoroughly organised and maintained our online lessons.
Chanel Nalberski (SA4)
Year 9
During remote learning and isolation, we were given a very interesting project in Religion which I’m sure all students have thoroughly enjoyed. The task was split up into three different parts, each part was a guided inquiry process that led into one final project. The objective was to discover people’s spirituality through research and interviews or surveys. Students chose which method of delivery they would like to do and whilst completing this project we planned, investigated and researched about spirituality. We did this whilst completing daily activities showing students performing meditation, creating resources and writing Cornell notes. This project has provided many useful skills and lots of knowledge about spirituality. By interviewing people we had the opportunity to engage and explore insights and opinions on a very complicated topic. Overall, the project was an amazing and informative task that allowed all students to discover and research about others’ spirituality which is an experience that I will certainly cherish and uphold with dignity.
Aria Cozza (OLS2)
Year 10
In Religion this term the Year 10 students have been exploring the meaning of vocation. My class had a six activity project that helped us recognize the deeper meaning of this word. We started off with a brainstorm which allowed us to get somewhat of an understanding on this topic. Then we watched and analysed the movie The Blind Side. This helped us to form a deeper appreciation for vocation. Then we dived into our own personal vocation and what our special gifts and talents are. This encouraged us to acknowledge our gifts and to value ourselves a little more. We investigated and researched why some people fail to open up to God’s guidance and how we can be inspired by God to find ways out of difficult times and situations that may not be so pleasant. We sometimes don’t need to be so distracted by the negative things that bring us down and effect us and focus more on our own happiness and the positive things in life. Following this activity we began to explore podcasts. We reviewed one and then started to plan our own. This project really broadened my perception on vocation and I thoroughly enjoyed this project.
Megan Howley (SA4)