What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains

An interesting view on what's happening to us... kids AND adults (we are also guilty!)

What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains [Epipheo.TV] - (RunTime - 3:54)

   

Skills teachers need today!

Check out these two lists about what skills teachers need TODAY and into the future:

http://edudemic.com/2013/03/the-10-skills-modern-teachers-must-have/ 

http://edudemic.com/2013/04/27-ways-to-be-a-21st-century-teacher/

Share your thoughts in the COMMENTS below.

Twitter in Biology Classroom: Organelle Wars!

Below is a great idea from a science teacher (Brad Graba) who posted this on an NSTA listserv (reprinted with permission, additional links added to his references)... 

This creative idea could be adjusted/adapted for other disciplines as well. The idea is to be creative and think of NEW ways to get students interacting, thinking, creating, communicating, and applying content/subject knowledge!

Thanks for sharing, Brad!!!

This year when I did my cell unit, I had the students run a campaign to get one organelle elected president of the cell (thank you to Ms. Chamberlain in California for the idea).  I added a twist, though, in that I asked the students to create a Twitter account in the name of their organelle to campaign for their organelle and smear other organelles. 

A biologist, Dr. Anne Osterrieder in England, researches the Golgi Body, and was looking on Twitter to see if anyone was mentioning Golgi Body in their tweets so she could keep up on current research.  She happened upon my students' Twitter accounts and began tweeting with them.  Soon, scientist friends of hers were tweeting with my students, helping them research their favorite organelles and smear other organelles. 

The campaign was dubbed #organellewars, and it took on a life of its own.  One of the scientists that got involved has his own BBC radio show as Dr. Molecule and talked about us on his radio show, several of the scientists blogged about the project, and our school newspaper made the project front page news for our school paper. 

I've gained a lot of valuable contacts and resources with the scientists who participated with us.  Whenever I have questions I can't answer myself I go to them now.  My students were more engaged in this project than any I've ever run in my classroom, and were getting great help from biologists around the globe in learning about the cell.  It turned out to be the most rewarding project I've ever done in my classroom.

Brad Graba

AP Biology Teacher

Accelerated Freshman Biology Teacher

Science Bowl Sponsor

William Fremd High School

Palatine, IL 

Top 50 Tips for New (and Returning!) Teachers

Here are just a few from the So You Want To Teach? Blog… Many refer to personal growth and/or reflection of one's teaching. Just as students need to think about and focus on their learning, we need to do the same with our teaching! Here's the list (with bold accents for emphasis from me!):

1. Persevere  
2. Learn from the wisdom of others
3. Avoid gossip
4. Work diligently
5. Leave room for a personal life
6. Live on less than you earn
7. Students are a reflection of their parents
8. Students are a reflection of their teacher
9. Persistent problems are usually caused by something you are doing/allowing/omitting/forgetting
10. Find a core group of other young teachers and learn together
11. Mistakes happen; admit when you are wrong
12. Parents often know about problems before class is over; students text crazy fast and subtly
13. If a parent complaint is going to hit an administrator's desk, make sure they are prepared beforehand
14. Take "mental health" days off from time-to-time as necessary
15. Don't try to understand why kids do what they do, try to planhow you will respond
16. We're all making it up as we go
17. Don't take anything personally
18. Love your students
19. Don't let anyone walk all over you
20. Smile more (read You Better Smile Before Christmas!)
21. Plan your lessons, but don't tie yourself to your lesson plan
22. Fire drills happen
23. Bus tires don't always stay inflated
24. Bus wrecks sometimes happen too
25. Before you yell at kids for not staying focused, think back to how your acted during your last inservice
26. Don't argue with anyone in front of anyone else
27. Choose your battles (I used to have kids call home about chewing gum, now I simply have them spit it out)
28. Practice THE LOOK (authoritative, but not condescending)
29. Study your body language
30. Shut your mouth more often
31. Strive to eliminate these words: Umm, uh
32. Minimize the use of these words: Like, cool, well
33. Ending your directives at a lower pitch level will greatly increase student compliance
34. Audio record 20-45 minutes of teaching a week (however much you can bear to listen to); find one area to fix and write it down in a journal
35. Write that same focus area on a post-it note and keep it with you whenever you are teaching
36. When you listen to the recording the next week, figure out if the problem got better; if not, address it again
37. If a problem persists for three weeks in a row, move on to another problem and come back to this one later
38. This same process works with your students too; if they are having a particular problem, address it three times, then move on and come back to it later
39. Go observe other teachers as much as you can
40. Find at least one mentor
41. Create a Culture of Encouragement rather than a Fortress of Fear
42. Remember that your students are real multidimensional people
43. Teenage girls are crazy; Teenage boys occasionally have brains and use them even less often
44. Respect comes when people feel safe
45. Be as consistent as you possibly can be
46. If you must be inconsistent, make every effort to at least be fair
47. Make someone's day every day
48. Say "thank you" more
49. The secretaries run the school/district; treat them accordingly
50. Don't seek out special recognition

Quote of the Week: We Don't Blame the Exercise Books

Quote of the week (by José Picardo in England):

"Whenever students achieve poorly in their exercise books, we don't blame the exercise books and decide to stop using them. Instead we tackle whatever problems led to such poor achievement in the first place and even apply sanctions if deemed necessary. The same principles should apply to using tools such as Glogster. The internet is not an excuse for poor teaching."

… "However, students must be taught how to write good comments – years of schools' refusal to engage with pupils using social media has meant that they have not learnt how to interact appropriately online. I believe it's our job to teach them… And we always model the comments, that is to say, we show them what good and bad comments look like so that they know within which parameters to operate. Dedicating some time to teaching students to write good, meaningful comments is essential if we are to establish purposeful learning conversations.

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From Box of Tricks >> ICT in Education POST

Teacher Appreciation Week: Teachers Count

To finish out TAW (Teacher Appreciation Week), take a glance at some famous people and the teachers who inspired them at the Teachers Count website. You can also request free posters from these stars (both teachers and their famous pupils)! Here are some famous people who are included:

• Guy Fieri (chef)
• Edie Falco (actress)
• Carrie Underwood (singer)
• Ne-Yo (singer)
• Jeremy Pivens (actor)
• Alec Baldwin (Words with Friends aficionado)
• CC Sabathia (baseball pitcher)

Now think about your students... first of all, who will be one of the "famous ones" in the future... and would they pick you to be the teacher standing behind them in their poster?

Thinking Thursday: The Don'ts & Don'ts of Teaching

Strange to have a "don'ts and don'ts" list, but the author explains...

Here's a GREAT article from ASCD for novice AND experienced teachers!!! Wish I knew all these when I was teaching! It will be 5-10 minutes well spent to refine your teaching craft… Here's the abbreviated list, but read the details at the link above:

1. Don't try to teach too much in one day.

2. Don't teach a lesson without a student activity.

3. Don't send kids to the office.

4. Don't allow students to shout out answers.

5. Don't make tests too hard.

6. Don't be indecisive.

7. Don't tell a student you're calling home.

8. Don't try to be a buddy.

9. Don't dress too casually.

10. Don't babble.

Wonder Wednesday: Most Important Critical Thinking Skill(s)

Participate in the poll above... (by Feb. 9)

This month's poll is about Critical Thinking... What is the most important (or CRITICAL) Thinking skill to teach students today? (You can select more than one)

RECAP:
The last Wonder Wednesday poll saw a 3-way tie for the Favorite Teacher-Focused movie... Stand & Deliver, Dead Poets Society, and Pay It Forward all received 5 votes (click the image to see it larger)

Wonder Wednesday: Are you "on a roll" yet?

Participate in the poll above to share how long it takes you to get back in the routine of teaching again once school starts... is it 1 week? 2-3? or much longer? (or never!?!?!?)

Below are the results from the last poll... (click image to see it larger)
Only 12 respondents, but Interactive White Boards seem to have "won" over Web 2.0, but just by a hair. And watch out for iPads...

Video: Can You Be Their Teacher???

In preparation for the 1st day... An “oldie, but goodie” (from WAY back in Fall 2009) that should be seen by ALL teachers. It’s always a good idea to reflect upon and make sure we are the teacher that our students need. If you’re not, make efforts to become that teacher...

Watch this 2 min. video first, then re-read the text/transcript below from the video.

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You can't be my teacher... 
By Darren Cannell

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From Cannell’s YouTube page:
If you don't know the internet you can't be my teacher, I need someone who knows what I know.  Meet me on the web, at least half way.  Teachers today need to be literate to relate to digital natives.

Text from the video:
Are you going to teach me in a school?
Are you going to make me sit in a desk all day?
Is this what you are going to use to teach me with?
Is this what you are going to use to teach me with? (echo)
Do you know how to use a computer?
Do you know how to use a computer? (echo)
Are you a teacher?
Are you my teacher?
Are you going to teach me using the internet?
Are you going to teach me how to be safe on the internet?
Do you know what goes on on the internet?
Are you sure you are my teacher?
Are you sure you are my teacher? (echo)
Are you going to learn how to use the technology?
I am a digital native.
Do computers scare you?
Are you afraid to use them?
Have you been on facebook?
Have you been on twitter?
Have you been surfing?
Do you even know what is on the internet?
Are you going to be my teacher?
Or just that textbook?
Because I want to know...
what the world has to offer
And if you are not on the internet...
and know nothing about computers.
you can't be my teacher!
I said you can't be my teacher.
Make room for somebody who knows how to use the internet.
Do you think I am going to be ready?
Do you think I am going to be ready?
Do you think you are preparing me for the
 world that I have to live in?
Do you think I am going to be ready?
That's your job!
That's your job! (echo) 

Teaching Social Studies Resources

Thanks to Chuck Cox (HS) for these links!

Teaching Tips Index - great for ALL subject areas!
http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/teachtip.htm#syllabus

Powerpoint Palooza
http://www.pptpalooza.net/ 

Annenberg Media - Social Studies
http://www.learner.org/resources/browse.html?discipline=7

Ohio Treasure Chest of Technology Resources
http://www.ohiotreasurechest.org/cgi-bin/course_list.pl?content_area=CSS

 

Teaching & Learning 2.0 Institute

On June 21-22, eight teachers representing each of Rossford's five schools attended the first Teaching and Learning 2.0 Institute. Although from various grade levels and subject areas, TL2 Institute participants still found common ground with their experiences in teaching students today, including how they can continue to work to help students be successful in the classroom and future pursuits.

Outcomes for the T&L 2.0 Institute included:

• Explore the NETS-S, 21st Century Skills, and the Ohio Academic Content Standards and how they can be integrated to meet student needs
• Identify tools and alternatives that allow students to meet educational goals and prepare them for their future
• Begin (or continue) the process to develop a life-long learning plan and practice for meeting your professional goals
• Develop lessons and assessments for 21st Century Learning
• Find and use online resources for curriculum and lesson development

This wiki site shows some of the topics, tools, and lesson ideas that participants worked on (and continue to work on throughout the year). Look for more opportunities similar to this during the 2010-11 school year and next summer!

Jamie McKenzie Workshop on "Questions of Import"

Author, former teacher, and international speaker Jamie McKenzie visited Rossford on June 9th to work with teachers as part of the I-LITE grant series, which also included sessions on June 7 and 8. Jamie presented a session called "Beyond Cut and Paste" for over a dozen educators from Rossford and surrounding school districts. Below are a few of the highlights and pictures from his session and Jamie's discussion with participants:

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For research projects, change from "Scoop and Smush" (topic research projects) to researching "Questions of Import" (see his article here).  

An example... rather than assign students to do a research paper on "Captain James Cook" or some other explorer, have them answer this question: "Which of the following captains was the best at navigation? (Captain James Cook, Captain Matthew Flinders, Captain George Vancouver, or Captain William Bligh)"

And as Jamie states, "This type of research is much more demanding than copy-and-paste research, but ultimately more rewarding and more empowering because it equips students to wrestle with the real issues of their own lives." Students must "think toward the top" (of Bloom's taxonomy) -- analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. In other words, students should not be required to just paraphrase or regurgitate, but have and articulate original ideas.

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Jamie speaks to participants about "Beyond Cut-and-Paste" research...

"Replacing Topical Research with Inquiry that Matters"... (aka - "Questions of Import")

Teachers hard at work crafting their "Questions of Import" lessons...

Teachers share their lessons and view others'...

Two sample lessons from pictures...

Outsourcing Grading?

Perhaps only a teachers dream??? ;-)

Valerie Strauss  of the Washington Post:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/grades/and-now-outsourcing-the-gradin.html

FRONTLINE: Digital Nation (PBS)

Digital Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier

Watch the entire 90 minute show online (aired February 2010) as well as the supplementary videos under the LEARNING tab. 

All of that plus the podcast and comments below the video clips... from experts and the general public... are enough for a semester course in 21st century learning!

New Year's Teaching Resolution

Resolution - "a firm decision to do or NOT to do something" 

What is your 2010 teaching resolution?
(Post your comment below...)

Books for Teachers Focused on Improving Student Learning

Looking for a good read that may affect the way you teach and how your students learn? Try one or more of the following:

5 Books for Teachers Focused on Improving Student Learning (and the future of learning!):

1. The World is Open (Curtis Bonk, 2009) - http://worldisopen.com/
2. Generation We (Eric Greenberg & Karl Weber, 2009) - http://www.gen-we.com/
3. A Whole New Mind (Dan Pink, 2005) - http://www.danpink.com/whole-new-mind
4. Brain Rules (John Medina, 2009) - http://www.brainrulesbook.com
5. The World is Flat (Thomas Friedman, 2005) - http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/bookshelf/the-world-is-flat

Do you have other suggestions? Add them to the COMMENTS below...

Take 5 - Vol. 1, Issue 1

Here is your first installment of the Take 5! Integration Update. Take just 5 minutes (or less) to look over these resources and see what might be helpful for your and/or your students.

Better yet, set aside at least 15 minutes a week to focus on finding resources and ideas that will improve student learning and prepare them for their future world!

The focus of these updates will be:

• TIPS & TOOLS - Strategies and tools that help classroom teachers, administrators, and staff... In turn, helping students!
• PONDERINGS - Brief articles, news, or issues that affect teaching and learning today
• OPPORTUNITIES – Learning, professional development, etc.  -- including ours! See our calendar....

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3 Tips and Tools for Teachers

1) Remember Jing? (on your computer screen recordings – up to 5 min. for FREE)
Here’s a Jing recording about how to download then use Jing!
    http://video.techsmith.com/jing/2.1/overview/default.html

    To download Jing - http://www.jingproject.com/

2) SMART Board/Notebook Software Tips
LISTING of MANY SMART Board lessons — LOTS! ;-)
    http://technology.usd259.org/resources/whiteboards/smartlessons.htm

Video – How to update to Lesson Activity Toolkit 2.0... made with Jing! ;-)
    http://www.teacheronlinetraining.com/library/mod/resource/view.php?id=639

3) Create/Synthesize/Design with Online Tools
Here is a listing of a few tools you or your students can use (including examples):
http://ed-tech-integration.pbworks.com/CreateTools

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Ponderings

Short Read:  “How to Keep Kids Engaged in Class” by Tristan de Frondeville
http://www.edutopia.org/classroom-student-participation-tips

Here’s a short list from the article:

10 Rules of Engagement

1. Start Class with a Mind Warm-Up
2. Use Movement to Get Kids Focused
3. Teach Students How to Collaborate Before Expecting Success
4. Use Quickwrites When You Want Quiet Time and Student Reflection
5. Run a Tight Ship When Giving Instructions
6. Use a Fairness Cup to Keep Students Thinking
7. Use Signaling to Allow Everyone to Answer Your Question
8. Use Minimal-Supervision Tasks to Squeeze Dead Time out of Regular Routines
9. Mix up Your Teaching Styles
10. Create Teamwork Tactics That Emphasize Accountability


Point to Ponder...
>> How do you challenge your students to design, create, or build something each week?

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Learning Opportunities

Rossford School District tech offerings calendar - http://ed-tech-integration.pbworks.com/Workshops

Technology in the Classroom Webinars (archives) - http://www.techlearning.com/section/UpcomingWebinars

Upcoming FREE webinar -
Engaging Students in Video Production and Movie Making in the Classroom
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 |  4 pm EST
To register: http://www.techlearning.com/article/25500

Refreshed NETS – Summary Chart

The table below shows a summary of the new "Refreshed NETS" (National Educational Technology Standards). I created it in an attempt to find similarities between the new Student, Teacher, and Administrator standards, but realize that a table is somewhat limiting in showing all possible connections or relationships. Feel free to comment on this version, especially with suggestions for improvement!

CLICK THE IMAGE TO SEE IT LARGER

Another Intersection

Another intersection diagram... learning occurs when these 3 factors combine (teacher, environment, and means or strategies) -- the more ideal each is, the better opportunity for student learning. Simple, right???