The FIS Digital Farm

The Digital Farm is an experiment in constructivism. We believe that students should take an active role in daily classroom events, determining the scope and content of their learning. Just as a successful farm needs everyone pitching in and doing his or her part, a classroom functions best when each individual contributes to everyone's learning.

Our work is inspired by Alan November. Read an article on his conception of The Digital Farm.

CLICK HERE to see an example of Digital Farm work in Mr. Neal's English 11 classes in 2011.

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LIST OF CHORES
Each chore is described below. Click on the link to publish your work, share links, etc. If the page does not yet exist...create it. If the page does exist...improve it.
03B List of Chores: Wednesday, Feb. 11 - Monday, March 1608B List of Chores: Wednesday, Feb. 11 - Monday, March 16
O3B List of Chores: Wednesday, Nov. 26 - Monday, January 2608B List of Chores: Wednesday, Nov. 26 - Monday, January 26
O3B List of Chores: Thursday, Oct. 23 - Nov. 25
O8B List of Chores: Thursday, Oct. 23 - Nov. 25

Student Scribe: EVERYONE takes this role (see instructions). Synthesizes the learning for the day, taking notes in such a way that someone who was absent can understand the main points of our class. There is a more detailed description on the Student Scribe page.

Feedback Provider: while Mr. Neal works his way through essays, this group of students provides immediate feedback to four or five other students. This feedback goes beyond a peer review.The feedback provider should give detailed feedback, on par with Mr. Neal's work.

Philanthropist: finds ways to make charitable action (not monetary giving) a part of our daily curriculum.

Party Planner: finds ways to make celebration, play, and silliness a part of our LEARNING.

Discussion Leader: prepares discussion questions BEFORE class (and shares these with Mr. Neal at least one class day beforehand). In class these people address the confusion people had over the reading and guide the class into deeper exploration of the text. The Discussion Leader has to be proactive, positive, and creative to get ALL other students to participate. (Don't worry...Mr. Neal will help you.)

Innovator: finds a way to learn in a method we’ve never used before. Think about your other classes. What have you done there that we can do in our class? Better yet, come up with something completely new. Make excellent mistakes. Break stuff.

BIG Thinker: finds connections between our class discussions and other bodies of knowledge, making connections to other literature, moments in history, current events, and other subjects.

Global Communicator: finds connections to experts, students, and others outside of the classroom, setting up Skype sessions or other conversations.

Graphic Designer-Videographer: finds some way to make our learning visual in an original art piece, photo, or video. This work will be shared through the Wiki.

Life Lesson-Role Call: creates the life lesson at the start of the week and thinks of a role call question we MIGHT use.

Despot of Music: in charge of DJing for the class during class work.