Greetings Teacher Leaders!!!
It's been a while since we were on the mountain... hope you are all doing well as we barrel towards winter break. I'm writing to you from a session at the National Staff Development Council (now known as Learning Forward) called "Hooked on 'Tronics-the ABCs of Technology and Professional Learning"... so far we've used Poll Everywhere and set up a Delicious account- sound familiar? I'm optimistic that I'll leave the session with new resources and/or new applications for resources we already know.
I'm posting a seperate blog entry where you can report on the conversation you've had with a "non-education" person about education- remember, that's part of your "next steps" to be done for Session 3 so if you haven't done it yet, there's still time.
Keep checking getaflipchart for updates and resources for our Personal Learning Networks!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Web 2.0 Advent Calendar
Hey Everyone,
December first is here which means the Holidays are in full swing!! I would like give all my teacher institute friends a little cyber holiday present.
I keep track of a blog called iLearn Technology, which has given me a wealth of tech innovation and information since I began following in July. Today's blog is all about digital advent calendars for the classroom. I invite you all to check them out, they are pretty cool! What I found for you guys, though is an advent calendar created on Wix, by the author of this blog. It is a Web 2.0 Advent Calendar. It is so adorable and December first already has a cool Web 2.0 tool that is becoming more and more popular.
Anyway, I hope you all find this entertaining and informative, and I wish you all the best during the close of the semester.
Happy Holidays and thank you iLearn Technology!!!
Monday, November 8, 2010
The Season of Giving is here...
Actually it's been at my local Hobby Lobby since, like, September... but I digress...
When we think about "giving", how often do we consider the "gifts" we can give pre-service teachers, teacher interns, young teachers, struggling teachers, ANY teacher, really.
So in the spirit of giving, I'd like to make this post the place you can leave a "gift" for teachers. By gift, any resource- book, website, video, person to talk to, school to visit, etc.- where tips for not just surviving, but being a happy, fulfilled teacher can be found... as tempting as it may be, please avoid posting resources related to weekly sales at the liquor store or websites offering discounted prescription medication.
I'll get us started with a gift- this blog is hosted by Teacher Magazine and has posts related to a variety of "happenings" in the classroom. What caught my eye was his blog post regarding what to do when kids don't bring a pencil to class... been down that road (and a million versions of that road) countless times!
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/coach_gs_teaching_tips/
So share your "gifts" in the comments section... and PLEASE feel free to share these resources with the pre-service, intern, young, struggling and otherwise teachers in your life.
The work of teaching and learning is too difficult to tackle alone- as teacher leaders it is our moral obligation to be a model of professionalism, supporting other teachers with our thoughts, words and actions.
When we think about "giving", how often do we consider the "gifts" we can give pre-service teachers, teacher interns, young teachers, struggling teachers, ANY teacher, really.
So in the spirit of giving, I'd like to make this post the place you can leave a "gift" for teachers. By gift, any resource- book, website, video, person to talk to, school to visit, etc.- where tips for not just surviving, but being a happy, fulfilled teacher can be found... as tempting as it may be, please avoid posting resources related to weekly sales at the liquor store or websites offering discounted prescription medication.
I'll get us started with a gift- this blog is hosted by Teacher Magazine and has posts related to a variety of "happenings" in the classroom. What caught my eye was his blog post regarding what to do when kids don't bring a pencil to class... been down that road (and a million versions of that road) countless times!
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/coach_gs_teaching_tips/
So share your "gifts" in the comments section... and PLEASE feel free to share these resources with the pre-service, intern, young, struggling and otherwise teachers in your life.
The work of teaching and learning is too difficult to tackle alone- as teacher leaders it is our moral obligation to be a model of professionalism, supporting other teachers with our thoughts, words and actions.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Why blocking our "Tube" has to stop...
To paraphrase the 1967 movie The Graduate (for our baby teachers, check it out on Netflix.com... not saying that just because you might be a baby teacher you don't know this film :) )
Mr. McGuire: I want to say one word to you. Just one word.
Benjamin: Yes, sir.
Mr. McGuire: Are you listening?
Benjamin: Yes, I am.
Mr. McGuire: Plastics. VIDEO
If you don't use video clips with your students and/or adult learners or you haven't at least looked into the notion (and I don't blame you if you haven't... it can be a PAIN to get around all the obstacles to these resources) HOWEVER, there are so many great, engaging, inspiring, informative, videos out there... it's such a shame to leave them untapped. Several of the "big thinkers" mention video as one of the digital tools that will remain important in the years to come.
Here's a little food for thought from Marc Prensky on Why You Tube Matters... (if you are short on time, skip to page 9 and start reading at "Making the Trade Off Correctly"
http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky-Why_You_Tube_Matters-01.pdf
Below are some resources for video- some require You Tube, many do not, infact here's one...
30+ Alternatives to You Tube
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2009/06/30-alternatives-to-youtube.html
100 Incredibly Useful You Tube channels for teachers
http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2010/10/20/100-incredibly-useful-youtube-channels-for-teachers/
To feed your own brain, and perhaps the brains of some of your older kids-
TED: Ideas Worth Sharing
www.ted.com
We used TED if you recall in session 1 to watch Sir Ken Robinson and the Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Big Think
www.bigthink.com
This is a relatively new site for me- I'm having to digest it in little bites... I think you could get "lost" in all the things to watch very easily. I will caution you that when they say "big think" they mean a BROAD range of ideas, political and social opinions, etc. Thought provoking information, however some of the information might be a little controversial or uncomfortable for some viewers/ communities- don't let that scare you, just a heads up. Most of the videos are broken down and labeled into smaller clips within the video, so you could just use a small part of a video instead of the entire file.
Mediastorm
http://www.mediastorm.com/
SO what are your favorite video resources? WHAT tricks or services do you use to share video at school when you know the video is going to be blocked? HOW do you use video clips with students? WHAT'S the PLAN for making a case for not automatically blocking all video resources?
Comment, please!!!
Mr. McGuire: I want to say one word to you. Just one word.
Benjamin: Yes, sir.
Mr. McGuire: Are you listening?
Benjamin: Yes, I am.
If you don't use video clips with your students and/or adult learners or you haven't at least looked into the notion (and I don't blame you if you haven't... it can be a PAIN to get around all the obstacles to these resources) HOWEVER, there are so many great, engaging, inspiring, informative, videos out there... it's such a shame to leave them untapped. Several of the "big thinkers" mention video as one of the digital tools that will remain important in the years to come.
Here's a little food for thought from Marc Prensky on Why You Tube Matters... (if you are short on time, skip to page 9 and start reading at "Making the Trade Off Correctly"
http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky-Why_You_Tube_Matters-01.pdf
Below are some resources for video- some require You Tube, many do not, infact here's one...
30+ Alternatives to You Tube
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2009/06/30-alternatives-to-youtube.html
100 Incredibly Useful You Tube channels for teachers
http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2010/10/20/100-incredibly-useful-youtube-channels-for-teachers/
To feed your own brain, and perhaps the brains of some of your older kids-
TED: Ideas Worth Sharing
www.ted.com
We used TED if you recall in session 1 to watch Sir Ken Robinson and the Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Big Think
www.bigthink.com
This is a relatively new site for me- I'm having to digest it in little bites... I think you could get "lost" in all the things to watch very easily. I will caution you that when they say "big think" they mean a BROAD range of ideas, political and social opinions, etc. Thought provoking information, however some of the information might be a little controversial or uncomfortable for some viewers/ communities- don't let that scare you, just a heads up. Most of the videos are broken down and labeled into smaller clips within the video, so you could just use a small part of a video instead of the entire file.
Mediastorm
http://www.mediastorm.com/
From their description... MediaStorm's online publication is an eclectic showcase for multimedia storytelling. The goal is to tell the story of today's world in a truly in-depth manner.
SO what are your favorite video resources? WHAT tricks or services do you use to share video at school when you know the video is going to be blocked? HOW do you use video clips with students? WHAT'S the PLAN for making a case for not automatically blocking all video resources?
Comment, please!!!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Our kids as workers who will create workplaces
The feature below, from GOOD magazine- http://www.good.is/
Pretty cool just to see profiles of 30 companies from all across the world of work,
http://www.good.is/post/30-places-we-want-to-work/
however the longer I studied the list, I started thinking about what kind of people start these companies... what in their background (school, home, community, life experience) caused them to think and act in a way resulting in a company labeled as a "place we want to work"? Below the description of each company is a legend explaining how that company made it on the list of 30. The criteria used to select the companies is an interesting commentary on what the world of work looks like today and how it will likely evolve for us and more importantly for the young people we teach.
SO, here's a question for the COMMENT SECTION... how do we (how do our schools) prepare students, not just to work in companies like these, BUT how do we prepare them to do the TYPES of work described and MAYBE MOST IMPORTANTLY, how do we prepare them to be the FOUNDERS and ORGANIZERS of companies... ESPECIALLY our kids who will graduate and remain in ARKANSAS?
Pretty cool just to see profiles of 30 companies from all across the world of work,
http://www.good.is/post/30-places-we-want-to-work/
however the longer I studied the list, I started thinking about what kind of people start these companies... what in their background (school, home, community, life experience) caused them to think and act in a way resulting in a company labeled as a "place we want to work"? Below the description of each company is a legend explaining how that company made it on the list of 30. The criteria used to select the companies is an interesting commentary on what the world of work looks like today and how it will likely evolve for us and more importantly for the young people we teach.
SO, here's a question for the COMMENT SECTION... how do we (how do our schools) prepare students, not just to work in companies like these, BUT how do we prepare them to do the TYPES of work described and MAYBE MOST IMPORTANTLY, how do we prepare them to be the FOUNDERS and ORGANIZERS of companies... ESPECIALLY our kids who will graduate and remain in ARKANSAS?
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
What does the future hold for baby Maxwell?
Here's an example of a media piece related to education that's not from an education source (from your assignments... remember?)
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/10/26/pm-the-next-generations-job-market/
Anything sound familiar?
Baby Maxwell will need to be a_a_ _ _ _ e?
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/10/26/pm-the-next-generations-job-market/
Anything sound familiar?
Baby Maxwell will need to be a_a_ _ _ _ e?
Find your way in the Social Media Landscape
Cool Tools for your Team to Check Out...
Top 100 tools for 2010 (earlier years are there as well)
Google "social media landscape"
Examine the various charts and diagrams for examples of tools to try out with student and adult learners
Any other "tool sites" ilearntechnology, etc.
Educator's Guide for Integrating Social Media- http://emergentbydesign.com/2009/11/24/75-resources-educator-guide-for-integrating-social-media/
Follow on Twitter
Feeling a little overwhelmed by Twitter? No worries! Try following some of your tried and true educator pals:
Teacher Institute Facilitator, Amanda - aclinn
Lincoln High School Instructional Facilitator, Heather - hbhbottoms2
Both Amanda and Heather will tweet information that they feel are important for teacher leaders. There is no need to get bogged down by all the resources available on Twitter, steal the resources from someone else!! :)
Extra: Try setting up a phone account online. It will enable tweeting texts from certain important resources you would like to follow closely.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Resources for High School Teachers/Students
Audience Participation...I'll get you started.
Add your favorite resources- websites, blogs, even books, articles, humans... as a comment below
50 Web 2.0 tools to Tell a Story
http://cogdogroo.wikispaces.com/StoryTools
Add your favorite resources- websites, blogs, even books, articles, humans... as a comment below
50 Web 2.0 tools to Tell a Story
http://cogdogroo.wikispaces.com/StoryTools
Resources for Middle School/ Junior High Teachers/Students
Audience Participation... I'll get you started.
50 Web 2.0 tools to Tell a Story
http://cogdogroo.wikispaces.com/StoryTools
Add your favorite resources- websites, blogs, even books, articles, humans... as a comment below
50 Web 2.0 tools to Tell a Story
http://cogdogroo.wikispaces.com/StoryTools
Add your favorite resources- websites, blogs, even books, articles, humans... as a comment below
Resources for Elementary teachers/students
Audience Participation... I'll get you started.
Here's a link to Top 10 Web 2.0 Tools for Young Learners....
http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/02/02/top-10-web-20-tools-for-young-learners.aspx
Add your favorite resources- websites, blogs, even books, articles, humans... as a comment below
Here's a link to Top 10 Web 2.0 Tools for Young Learners....
http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/02/02/top-10-web-20-tools-for-young-learners.aspx
Add your favorite resources- websites, blogs, even books, articles, humans... as a comment below
Resources: Personal Learning Networks
One blogger's point of view regarding the stages people go through when establishing their Personal Learning Network- http://www.thethinkingstick.com/stages-of-pln-adoption
http://whatedsaid.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/10-ways-to-help-students-develop-a-pln/
http://whatedsaid.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/10-ways-to-help-students-develop-a-pln/
WHERE TO START: Blogs about Technology and Tech Tools
Top 100 technology blogs for Teachers - http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-100-technology-blogs-for-teachers/
more Educational Technology- http://21centuryedtech.wordpress.com/
and even more... FOR FREE- http://www.freetech4teachers.com/
WHERE TO START: Education in General...
The Edublog awards - http://edublogawards.com/
A List of Top 200 Education Blogs - http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/tips-and-tools/top-education-blogs
WHERE TO START: Blogs by teaching area
Top 40 special Education Blogs - http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-40-special-education-blogs/
Top 15 blogs for Science in the classroom - http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-15-blogs-for-science-in-the-classroom/
Top 15 Blogs on Reading and Literacy - http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-15-blogs-on-reading-and-literacy/
Top 50 blogs in Literacy - http://www.networkedblogs.com/topic/literacy/
Top 25 blogs for Math in the Classroom - http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-25-blogs-for-math-in-the-classroom/
Incredible Art Blogs and Podcasts - http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/links/blogs.html
Top 15 blogs for Science in the classroom - http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-15-blogs-for-science-in-the-classroom/
Top 15 Blogs on Reading and Literacy - http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-15-blogs-on-reading-and-literacy/
Top 50 blogs in Literacy - http://www.networkedblogs.com/topic/literacy/
Top 25 blogs for Math in the Classroom - http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-25-blogs-for-math-in-the-classroom/
Incredible Art Blogs and Podcasts - http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/links/blogs.html
Sunday, October 24, 2010
PLNs: Let's Start Getting Organized
Okay... don't freak out. There are lots of people here to help you...
Heather is talking about this at the front of the room... you can also follow her at-
http://prezi.com/5pw5ewh1l0pg/delicious/
Here's where you go to sign up for delicious...
http://www.delicious.com/
Go here for one woman's pretty sane explanation of Personal Learning Networks...
http://onceateacher.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/pln-your-personal-learning-network-made-easy/
And if you're ready to learn more right now... check this out-
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb09/vol66/num05/Learning-with-Blogs-and-Wikis.aspx
and remember...
Heather is talking about this at the front of the room... you can also follow her at-
http://prezi.com/5pw5ewh1l0pg/delicious/
Here's where you go to sign up for delicious...
http://www.delicious.com/
Go here for one woman's pretty sane explanation of Personal Learning Networks...
http://onceateacher.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/pln-your-personal-learning-network-made-easy/
And if you're ready to learn more right now... check this out-
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb09/vol66/num05/Learning-with-Blogs-and-Wikis.aspx
and remember...
There is nothing new about personal learning networks...
Your network is about to get a lot bigger and a lot COOLER :)
Friday, October 22, 2010
Gov 2.0 Summit 2010: Elizabeth Coleman, "Building Curriculum Around Rea...
Refocus education around stuff that matters...
It makes me happy when really smart people use words like "stuff"
Gov 2.0 Summit 2010: Karen Cator, "Learning Powered by Technology"
Karen Cator- the source of the quote used to open TLI session 2
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)