The Learning Cycle is our AISI Project

View the following Learning Cycle documents to see how we are doing:   
Learning Cycle Measuring Our Success
PAT Frequency Distribution Analysis
AISI Project Annual Report 2008-2009

Our journey continues with the Learning Cycle
This school year follows three years of growth and positive change in Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools.  With 2009-2010 comes more steps along our journey of improvement.  We are proud of our growth because it tells us we are doing even better than we used to be, and that we're heading in the right direction.  It means more success for our students.

What is a Learning Cycle
The WRPS Learning Cycle is a working model or process that teachers follow. It helps them provide a quality education in context with learning ensuring success for all students. Teachers are applying effective teaching research, through thoughtful and deliberate planning. The Learning Cycle outlines four Key Elements that teachers use to plan for student learning, 

Outcomes - are goals set by the province. They describe skills and knowledge a student is    expected to have at the end of a particular lesson, unit, or grade. Student learning improves when the student clearly understands what they need to know and can do. We are inviting parents to ask this question; "How can I tell if my child knows what the learner outcomes are at the beginning of each lesson?"

Practices - knowing the outcomes, teachers choose how they'll teach each concept. In WRPS, teachers are encouraged and supported in using practices that have been proven effective. The more students are engaged in their lessons, the more they will learn and understand what they need to know and be able to do. We are inviting parents to ask this question; "What can I do to help you engage my child in his/her school work?"

Assessment - while using proven teaching practices, teachers also find methods of assessment to help them understand how students are doing, such as observations of student work in class, homework assignments, group projects, student comments, and tests. Based on this knowledge, teachers adapt their teaching to address areas that might be challenging for individual students. Practice helps students learn, and not all assignments need to be given a mark to be considered important. We are inviting parents to ask this question; "What assignments were used to help my child understand what he/she needs to know and do?"

Evaluation - having adapted their teaching to the needs of individuals, teachers find students are more prepared to face a final exam or project. Evaluations are based on the outcomes set by the province. When teachers know that students understand the outcome a final assessment is given for grades. We are inviting parents to ask this question; "How will I know what assessments are practice and what assessments are for grades?"

Over the last 3 years, teachers in Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools have been learning about strategies that have shown, through research, to help students succeed. The division has been working on "Assessment FOR Learning" and the "Nine High Yield Instructional Strategies". And most importantly we have been using our Learning Cycle process to change the teacher - student relationships in our classrooms.