Teach 42 shared a video the Networked Student in Plain English. I think this is also an excellent example of the networked teacher. This illustrates very well how I work within my learning network and how we can continue to be life long learners in any area that we have interest. I believe teachers need to be similarly network to enhance their learning and to learn how to effectively use these tools to support student learning. I will be sharing…
The following is just a brain dump as I try to develop some workshop material on Digital Citizenship and communicating. Just thought I would share. Back in the day when I started teaching I used a ditto machine, occasionally a copy machine, phone and the US Postal service. There were no mobile phones, texting, email, discussion boards, internet, among others. Somehow we managed. Now there is a large number of ways we can communicate and connect, to some this is…
Sometimes I just get overwhelmed. I have been feeling this way for a while. Looming, serious budget cuts at schools and across the state, too many committees to belong to, too many teachers not willing to step out of their comfort zone, a very busy family. I just feel tired. How to get out of the funk? Take stock of the good things going on. I just began teaching a new grad class – seems like a great group a…
Rule #9: Stimulate more of the senses. We are sensory driven creatures. We gather all information through a variety of senses. The more senses we involve the mores information we gather, the better our integration and understanding of this information. When information is presented multisensory (seeing and hearing) it is retained better then when presented using a single sense. In some experiments the improvement to recall was 50-75 %. IF you involve more then 2 senses learning improves even more….
My son started this year as a 6th grader in a charter middle school in my area, the same school my daughter attended. He came home from school the very first day saying “school was cool” a day later school “was awesome”. After an experiment in the parking lot shooting corks he exclaimed “science was awesomely wicked cool”. I asked why it was so terrific, “because we DO stuff mom!” said with a certain middle school attitude. He placed heavy…
Rule #6: Remember to Repeat As an educator I am concerned with student learning. In my opinion that means aiding a learner to reach their full potential in a variety of areas; the core academic subjects, the arts, critical thinking, etc. This a long term view, for learning never really ends. But in this day and age much of our focus is student success on mandated test which is a short term goal with the underlying assumption that all students…
I find I am frequently talking to parents about teens and the web. Their questions go beyond saftey issues they seem more about management concerns and why and how kids connect. When I talk to parents I go through the usual; keep the computer in the public room, refer them to a variety of internet safety sites, and how our family has an AUP. But they want more. How do you check who your kids are chatting with? How much…