Case study
Belouga Case Study
Teacher Learning Journey
I'm Michelle, a teacher in Ottawa, Canada. I've been teaching for 6 years and have taught across elementary grade levels and currently teach grade 7/8 Language. My favourite part of teaching is engaging my students in Deep Learning and Challenge-Based Learning projects.
Over the past few years, Belouga has made my life so much easier, utilizing the platform in multiple ways across a wide variety of age groups. From an isolated lesson aligned to my board's curriculum, to complement special learning experiences (ex: Holocaust Remembrance Day), to enhancing my students' learning experience throughout our Deep Learning projects (ex: introducing the Global Goals, diving deeper into focused content, connecting with experts.).
My
Goals
Content Exploration
Teach my students how to pursue their interests and take control of their learning, this includes the practice of working independently.
Community Learning
Foster a collaborative learning environment that allows students to work with others and develop positive digital citizenship skills.
Community Project
Provide equal access to learning experiences that help create an inclusive environment in my classroom for English Language Learners.
Learning Foundation
While integrating Belouga into her classroom, Michelle looked to create learning experiences that align to her board's curriculum and standards, while also engaging students in activities that build skillsets they can use outside of a classroom environment.
Curriculum:
Ontario Curriculum
Pedagogical Focus:
Deep-Learning
Humanities Focus:
Digital Citizenship
Location:
Ottawa, ON
Content Exploration
Here are a few examples of Belouga series Michelle uses in her classroom:
Mission 2030: The Global Goals
"Founded after the end of the Second World War, the United Nations is an international organization made up of 193 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security. While the history of the United Nations is important, its future depends on what we do today."
View series
The Importance Of Remembering: The Holocaust
View series
Whose Land Is It?
View series
CyberSeniors
View series
Storytellers Have Big Mouths: A Totem Story
View seriesImpactful Learning
"Using Belouga, my students developed their knowledge and understanding across several areas and subjects of focus. With the help of the guiding questions and supplemental information from Belouga, my students are consistently able to connect their learning to personal experiences, especially while using the translate feature that allows me to be able to use Belouga while teaching various languages. Over the past several years, my students have taken what they have learned from Belouga episodes and playlists and applied it to Deep Learning projects where they have produced products and services that work toward achieving Global Goals and have had far-reaching impacts for many communities in need."
Baking A Difference
Baking A Difference is a class of Grade 7 students making and selling a digital recipe book that showcases global cultures and delicious food.
The students involved in the group created a non-profit organization, with all profits being donated to Meals on Wheels which helps to feed people who are hungry.
Their mission is to bring joy to families and contribute to preventing world hunger along the way.
Think Outside The Box
Think Outside the Box is a social enterprise created by a group of High School students who decided that they were collectively passionate about Global Goal #13, Climate Action.
They felt that this goal was particularly important because they had been hearing a lot about the wildfires that were destroying many communities in Canada, along with personally feeling that kids are spending too much time inside in front of screens and not enough time in nature. Their foundational idea focused on how will they can get kids to care about saving our planet from climate change if kids do not have a relationship with nature.
The group created a social enterprise, selling a digital activity passport to raise money for Red Cross Canada Disaster Relief. They also documented the process and turned it into a Belouga series for students worldwide to learn about, called Think OUTSIDE The Box.
Reflections
"In the 21st-century classroom, teachers have so many goals for their students. We need them to be able to take control of their learning, to pursue their interests, to be responsible digital citizens, to be able to work independently as well as be able to collaborate effectively. Educators need to help their students develop global competencies while keeping them safe, interested, and enthusiastic about their learning experiences. Belouga supports teachers in achieving all of these goals."
"This platform allows students to have a personalised learning experience, challenges them to develop their learning skills and competencies, and provides teachers and students with endless vetted content that is entertaining and educational."
