I've been reading about e-portfolios (particularly Jeff's "True E-Folios for Students), at the same time our upper-level teachers are scurrying to get their 8th graders where they need to be for the end of the year. A lot of time is being spent on "getting it all in" and I wonder why it isn't a natural part of what goes on in the classroom throughout the entire year? Digital portfolios are agonized over at this same time every year, and to me, it's pointless.
Spend less of this time agonizing and more time figuring out a proactive plan! Sounds simple, right...?
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
An excerpt from Swine Flu and Breaking News in the Classroom
from Remote Access by Clarence Fisher
"My idea is simply this. How can we use an event like this, and all of the news sources that are available on a breaking, global story in our classrooms? How can we teach kids about which sources of information are valuable in the midst of swirling rumour? They must be able to evaluate the worthiness of primary information surces at a time like this. There are many different channels of information available. How can our understanding be collated and improved instead of swamped by information and rumour? This is a real test of information literacy skills."
Some of the resources he suggested using:
Google map - outbreaks
CDC Twitter
the flu wiki
WHO Disease Outbreak News page
...among other ideas.
A timely topic, with endless teachable moments!
from Remote Access by Clarence Fisher
"My idea is simply this. How can we use an event like this, and all of the news sources that are available on a breaking, global story in our classrooms? How can we teach kids about which sources of information are valuable in the midst of swirling rumour? They must be able to evaluate the worthiness of primary information surces at a time like this. There are many different channels of information available. How can our understanding be collated and improved instead of swamped by information and rumour? This is a real test of information literacy skills."
Some of the resources he suggested using:
Google map - outbreaks
CDC Twitter
the flu wiki
WHO Disease Outbreak News page
...among other ideas.
A timely topic, with endless teachable moments!
Monday, May 4, 2009
This and That
In reading over the blogs I'm following, I've come up with some great finds! The first was an post on what to do with students after testing - some finish first, some rush, you get the picture. I printed out the article to give to my assistant principal, and he was thrilled. Trying something new, that is actually doable, is never a bad thing.
The second one was converting Flip videos - we purchased 2 this year and I am having the darndest time "making" the files do what I want.
Between my blog roll and youtube, I may never need another instruction manual again!
The second one was converting Flip videos - we purchased 2 this year and I am having the darndest time "making" the files do what I want.
Between my blog roll and youtube, I may never need another instruction manual again!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Notebook, please
Hmmm...I would love to have a smaller laptop, aren't they called notebooks? I went to a conference last week on Educating the 21st Century Learner, and the vendor had one. That and a drawing tablet that connects to the computer with a USB!
The book of giant stories
I love to read, and as a child this book was a favorite. In one of them, the giants are afraid of a little boy and go running off. Turns out he has the chicken pox! I remember thinking that the boy in the stories was a very brave kid!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
RSS and such
Okay, so maybe I need to go back and do this one again. I've saved sites in RSS, but when I try to add them to my blogger account, I can't. Plus, I'd like to add a space in my layout for "articles I like" but can't figure that either. Anyone?
Educating the 21st Century Learner
This is the title of the all-day conference I went to today, with keynote speaker Peter Reynolds, author, illustrator, animation software creator. His speech was about teaching in the 21st century, and the focus was basically that we should be creative, inspired, innovative, use project-based learning, and if your students have a vision - follow through! He has created a foundation called World Problem Solvers, which encourages students (and adults?) to develop and share videos and animations, which illustrate their way to make the world a better place.
Our next session was on Web 2.0 in the K-6 Classroom, specifically Skype and Voice Threads. Skye was used to connect an elementary school in a more urban area with a more rural one. We're talking kindergarten! Their first book was Town Mouse, Country Mouse, and are doing Flat Stanley next.
Voice Threads was also in a kindergarten classroom. Not sure how many of you know what that is, but it is basically a way to blog and communicate with voice, photos, video, etc. (It's a free download for educators, or you can also pay.) This class communicates with other students all over the world!
The second session I took was Internet and Cognitive Processing, which focused on the "Millenial Learner" born 1981-2000), their learning needs, and how schools need to respond to them and their parents.
Some of the characteristics of these learners? Confident, pressured, guided and secure, hopeful, goal and achievement oriented, civic minded, inclusive (31% are minority), patriotic, connected and open for business 24/7. They've grown up with technology, have a larger visual cortex, thrive on instant gratification, and multi-taskers....
All in all, an excellent conference, with lots of food for thought. There was so much more that I could share, but I'm still getting the hang of translating my thoughts to this blog. So, if you have specific questions, be sure to let me know!
Our next session was on Web 2.0 in the K-6 Classroom, specifically Skype and Voice Threads. Skye was used to connect an elementary school in a more urban area with a more rural one. We're talking kindergarten! Their first book was Town Mouse, Country Mouse, and are doing Flat Stanley next.
Voice Threads was also in a kindergarten classroom. Not sure how many of you know what that is, but it is basically a way to blog and communicate with voice, photos, video, etc. (It's a free download for educators, or you can also pay.) This class communicates with other students all over the world!
The second session I took was Internet and Cognitive Processing, which focused on the "Millenial Learner" born 1981-2000), their learning needs, and how schools need to respond to them and their parents.
Some of the characteristics of these learners? Confident, pressured, guided and secure, hopeful, goal and achievement oriented, civic minded, inclusive (31% are minority), patriotic, connected and open for business 24/7. They've grown up with technology, have a larger visual cortex, thrive on instant gratification, and multi-taskers....
All in all, an excellent conference, with lots of food for thought. There was so much more that I could share, but I'm still getting the hang of translating my thoughts to this blog. So, if you have specific questions, be sure to let me know!
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