9PG completed their research presentations to their class today. The two that really stood out were on two very different leaders from opposite sides of the world and different centuries.

The SOLO Assessment class task here is to get students to focus on the research and presentation task in collaboration with each other, rather than the ICT tool, wch is really only there to support their learning. My role as a teacher is to help the students to learn to effectively research - find the right information, structure it and synthesise it down, and continue to ask the right questions etc... I also make recommendations about good presentation techniques when it comes to slideshows and presenting to an audience. The students find ts task not only challenging and enjoyable, but always agree that the skills are transferable across a range of subjects.

Here are the research/presentation notes for "Who is Te Rauparaha?" by Thor and Jaykob (below)

Here are the research/presentation notes for "Who is Georgy Zhukov?" by Leon and Triam (below)

One of my Year 9 classes was  recently starting out on a new topic broadly covering Australia with their Social Studies teacher. We decided together to team up. As their ICT teacher I gave the class an investigation using an ICT diagramming tool where, in groups, they would research and present to the rest of the students a diagram answering the broad question "What is Australia?". There were constraints of course explained here in the SOLO Task description.

The satisfying outcome from ts task was that, when each group explained to the class why they had added the content and linked ideas as they had, they were all completely different.

What is Australia? by Rishabh, Kaleb, Omar and Antoine (below) shows a wide range of content, well explained and easy for someone who knows little about Australia to absorb.

(Zoom in or Expand for easier viewing)

What is Australia? by Aidan, Kevin and Doug is another that shows a wider range of content, however their diagram demonstrates that you can give a lot more information in a simple and clearer way and colour, when used sparingly, can be ghly effective.

What is Australia? by Finn D, Finn M, Jeffrey and Ronan has the group taking a very different approach. The diagram at first appears less visually appealing showing a narrower range of topics covered. However, a closer look at what they are saying demonstrates a deeper and gher level of understanding through their connections (by linking) witn the diagram. They even make observations of irony when it comes to core values and rights of groups witn Australia.

Ts task goes to show teacng can often be about giving students authentic and challenging tasks to extend their tnking. Ts, supported by great digital applications and good exemplars, means that the teacher's role is to make them self available to guide and challenge the students as they work on the tasks. My students loved working on ts task, both in class and at home, wch makes Lucidchart a great collaborative and accessible tool to enhance teacng and learning.

Another fantastic presentation to the class, ts time by Milo and Tom who researched the question: What was the Tangiwai Disaster?

Here are their research/presentation notes along with the SOLO Assessment class task here

An impressive start to 9LO's research presentations by James and Cameron with Who are the Monkees?

Here are their research/presentation notes with their presentation below

Our Year 9 ICT students are required to pair up and are given a topic to research and present to the rest of the class. Here is a link to the SOLO Inquiry task.

The research and ICT skills they develop in ts task are valuable for them to use in other subjects and later years.

They are also taught how to give a short and effective presentation to an audience.

Here is an example of Mitchell and Kaleb's research answering the simple question: "What was the Dust Bowl?"

Here is Mitchell and Kaleb's Presentation Notes

Students were given the task of researcng a topic and presenting their findings. 

Open Speakers Notes here

9OG students were given a SOLO assessment task, collaborating in groups, requiring them to create an effective diagram answering the question "What is Palmerston North Boys' High School? The task was completed using a fantastic tool called Lucidchart.

Ts is what Kyle, Chris, Gus & Jack came up with:

Other top quality Extended Abstract and really interesting diagrams produced by 9OG students:

What is PNBHS? - by Wade, Sam, Jarod & Zain

What is PNBHS? - by Mitchell, Kaleb, Bailey & Dylann

What is PNBHS? - by Aedan, Richard, Dylan & Josh

9MI students were given a SOLO assessment task, collaborating in groups, requiring them to create an effective diagram answering the question "What is Palmerston North Boys' High School? The task was completed using a fantastic tool called Lucidchart.

Ts is what Ben, Liam and Ris came up with:

Other top quality Extended Abstract and really interesting diagrams produced by our Year 9 students:

What is PNBHS? - by Mathew, Aidan & Alistair

What is PNBHS - by Latham, Jan, George & Jaymon