#CBE182 Day 146: Katrina Watson, Teacher, Louis Riel School

“Anyone who has never made a mistake, has never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein

This year I moved into a new role teaching grade 9 math and science and I have had plenty of opportunity to make mistakes. Through my mistakes, I learn something new daily.

Today, my students had the opportunity to consult with engineers, geologists, and science specialists through the TELUS Spark Prototype Project. Over the past few months my grade 9’s have conceived, designed, built and tested their own interactive, hands-on science centre exhibits focused on electrical principles. Experts along the way have mentored not just my students but US. They have come to our classroom and worked with us in small groups and have helped us work through questions that neither the textbooks nor Google could answer. WE have engaged in creative problem solving alongside our expert mentors and OUR understanding of electrical concepts has made leaps and bounds. 

As a part of the Prototype Project, my students will share their exhibits with the public and to help set them up for success we discussed what it meant to “facilitate”. Student answers included to:
 
“make easier”
“built excitement”
“help someone understand”
“communicate”
“walk/talk someone through a problem”
“get them engaged so they try it”

Their responses struck a chord for me – it was exactly what I had been striving for this year. Today my grade 9 students taught me that I am not a teacher of numbers and concepts but a facilitator of knowledge and ideas.


Katrina Watson (@BusyBeakers) graduated from kindergarten last year to become a grade 9 math and science facilitator this year.