In 2007 we are offering students the option of joining Special Interest Groups (SIGs) that are tied to our normal mentor/counselling groups.In the past all students were timetabled to attend a mentor/counselling group for 30 mins once a week with a teacher. In 2006 one of these groups was based on a student interest so that rather than students having a common teacher or subject they have a common interest. It has worked very well with much better attendance and enthusiastic participation.
Several groups of teachers have now decided to offer a range of Special Interest Groups for 2007. The idea is that two or more teachers will combine their mentor/counselling groups to form a larger group that is facilitiated by a team of teachers. Students are curently nominating a SIG on their 2007 enrolment forms.
Student interest has been very high. The details have yet to be worked out but in essence the groups will have one timetabled meeting each week with other activities organised by teachers, students or memebers of the wider community.
We still have many details to work out but the notion of a group of students meeting and chatting about an area they are passionate about has a lot of appeal...
We have also been investigating online learning groups such as the Virtual Learning Commons at the University of Manitoba via George Sieman's blog. Perhaps we can extend the special interest concept to self-organising student groups as well - even if they are just virtual.
