Marge Kobewka

Inspired, Hopeful and Challenged

Sometimes the contrast between ideas makes you laugh, surprises or disturbs you, or makes you wonder how two ideas can exist in the same sphere. Two of the sessions I attended at the Greater Edmonton Teacher’s Convention (GETCA), did just that. One seemed like a throwback to the past and the other an open door to the future.Continue reading “Inspired, Hopeful and Challenged”

Online Courses – What makes them work for you?

If you were asked, “Identify ten ingredients for an effective and meaningful online course.”,what would you include as essential? Have you taken an online course? What worked for you? What were the challenges? Share your insights, thoughts, and wishes when it comes to online learning. I am curious to hear from students, teachers, parents, and others.Continue reading “Online Courses – What makes them work for you?”

Summer Reading

It’s been a month of intense reading. The Return by Hisham Matar – A recommendation from Barack Obama’s reading list. Hisham Matar’s family was exiled from Libya and lived in Cairo where he attended an American school. Later, both Hisham and his brother attended school in Europe under false identities because of threats to theContinue reading “Summer Reading”

A Community of Learners, Near and Far

This is a story about some of my favorite learners who live throughout Alberta. They access their courses online, connect in Blackboard Collaborate sessions, and share in small groups via Google Meet. Once a week, those that can, meet for for a full day of learning and exploring together. These young students know that youContinue reading “A Community of Learners, Near and Far”

Making Meaning

Several years ago, Jo Boloar’s course ‘How to Learn Math’, included a video clip, of Sebastian Thrun speaking about his approach to problem solving and math. I felt a spark of recognition and a sighed with relief to hear him say that we should not move ahead with a problem until we understand it intuitively; that weContinue reading “Making Meaning”

Rainy Day Thoughts on Fenway and Hattie by Victoria J. Coe

One rainy Saturday in April, a day much like today, I read Fenway and Hattie by Victoria Coe in anticipation of the Global Read Aloud this fall. What a delightful, humorous tale told from a dog’s point of view. Victoria Coe, you captured the mind of a puzzled dog in a way that made me chuckle! I seeContinue reading “Rainy Day Thoughts on Fenway and Hattie by Victoria J. Coe”

Finding the Best Blend for Learning (It’s not about the coffee.)

Last fall, at the BlendED and Online Symposium, one of our discussions centered on this question: How do educators define blended learning? This is relavent question in education today, and one that is especially pertinent to me, because I teach students in both online and face to face settings. How is blended learning put intoContinue reading “Finding the Best Blend for Learning (It’s not about the coffee.)”

Reading Life Part 1

Winter evenings…..time for reading….. and that Reading Challenge on Goodreads! One year I reached a goal of 24 books, but last year, well, I did not even get close. To remedy this underachievement I set this year’s goal at a measly 15 books. Yes, I admit I did that. However I am on a rollContinue reading “Reading Life Part 1”

Reflections on, ‘Creating a Passionate Literacy Classroom’

Today I had the opportunity to hear Pernille Ripp, a Wisconsin 7th grade teacher, who started The Global Read Aloud in 2010. Check her blog: Blogging Through the Fourth Dimension to learn more about her passion for students, learning and literacy. The session, Creating a Passionate Literacy Classroom, was organized by the Edmonton Regional LearningContinue reading “Reflections on, ‘Creating a Passionate Literacy Classroom’”

Question, Interest, Intention

Is it true that those who teach learn twice? If so teachers are the most fortunate of all. My question for this year: “Is there a way I can shift more agency to the learner?” A question inspired by, Invent to Learn by Sylvia Libow Martinez and Gary Stager. My interest and goal: Strive to remainContinue reading “Question, Interest, Intention”