Day of Learning #2

Today I participated in my second day of learning at Simple K12!  I find these sessions so inspiring and informative--I can hardly stand it!  I have come to know who the presenters are and am able to recognize their voices--as seen at the ITSC conference when I heard Catlin Tucker speak during one of my worksessions.  How weird is that to see someone you have heard speak from a distance for a couple months now?!?!


Anyway, today I attended six webinars:

1. 10 Ideas for Using Mobile Devices Offline to Motivate Learners
2. 3 Student-driven Projects: Using a Blended Learning Model
3. 10 Techie Tools for Teachers (FREE!)
4. Making a Difference for Our Most Struggling Readers
5. Web Tool Smackdown: February 2012
6. Reaching Out to Make Global Connections

Once again these seminars seem to mimic what I heard at the ITSC conference, reconfirming the idea that we are helping to lead this change in culture within our region.  I can see that the valley has been working on it for a couple years now, but for rural Oregon we really aren't that far behind.  And in many ways we are well ahead of our prediscessors.  I just wish I was in the classroom to try out all the neat stuff I am learning.  Perhaps the only problem is that there are so many different resources that do the same thing it is hard to choose which tool to use.  I love that I am not only learning about iPad apps that we can use, but matching web 2.0 tools as well.  Once I finally do get back in a classroom I will have a very rich resource for both tools depending on what I have a that point.  Either way, my children will move into the 21st century and I hope that they don't have to "power down" when they walk in my door!  


Interestingly enough this is drastically affecting not only how I approach technology in the classroom as a substitute, but also with my own kids.  First, I actually decided to try this out at school in a high school math class--rather than being a strict rule follower (this particular teacher isn't at all that I substituted for) I decided to explain to the students that as long as the phones were on their desk and they were using them responsibly--i.e. as a calculator, I wouldn't make a big deal of it.  But if they convert or participating in something other than mathematics I would ask them to put the phone away or I would take it away.  Interestingly enough right away a girl decided to test the waters by texting.  I asked her to put it away because she chose to use it inappropriately for this class.  She very politely put it away and went back to work without any issues for the remainder of class.  I have to admit that I actually didn't leave that day hating it!  IT was actually kind of fun working with these kids when the discipline issues and policing was not a factor.


Meanwhile at home I am consciously making observations of my own kids to see what learning will look like for them and how I will adjust my own classroom to meet their needs.  I am particularly intersted in my three year old since she is really starting to become a gamer and able to manipulate controls and keyboards very confidently.  Why just yesterday she was watching a movie, playing on her big brother's DS and talking to me.  I asked if I could turn off the movie and she said she was watching it.  I had a hard time understanding how she could do all three of these things at once but after questioning her...I realized she really was doing all three!  Wow!  Asking her to "power down" even at three is weird...she is almost boried.  Next thing I know she is playing make believe with her dolls and they are making cell phone calls and using a toy cell phone to be a photographer!  I find it interesting that she feels that she can be a professional photographer with her cell phone...when I was growing up we would have never thought to do this with a phone....  Boy, things are changing--can I keep up?


So, what did I learn today?   
Session 1:  In the first webinar we learned about several ways to use mobile devices offline.  Mainly taking advantage of the cameras, camcorders, production apps, and Cloud devices like Evernote.  This was the first webinar I have attended that didn't praise the merits of Dropbox!  Instead Evernote was the answer to everything.  Obvisously this educator uses ios devices (many apps described) so this seems to be her answer to storing, sharing, and moving content.  Also, many of the apps are ones WMS is currently using or ones I have heard of repeatedly, but here are a few new ones I thought I would post:

• Audio Boo--like Splice for digital storytelling
• DocWrite
• Mindblowing
• Posterous--free blogging site
• Be Funky
• PS Express

Usergenerationeducation.wordpress.com  check out this site to see other ideas from Shelly Terrell.

Session 2:  What I took away from this session is that she is basically using an increase student inquiry instruction approach in her classroom.  She starts out more teacher directed modeling how she wants students to ggain independence, then by the end of the year they are developing their own inquiry projects...and she is an HS English teacher.  I went to her blog and can't find the lessons she talked about (Elizabethan England, Environmental Sustainability, and Voting).  She said if we tweet her or email her she would be more than willing to share!    @CTuckerEnglish  Be sure to gather this info!

Session 3:  New tools include:

• wix.com--flash based website creator
• weebly.com--website creator; also an educator version
• bibme--use for making bibliographies
• flubaroo--another quizzing site
• googleartproject.com--virtual musuem tours
• fotobabble--make mouth on a picture talk
• voki--talking avatars; check out lesson plan area

Session 4:  This was a powerful webinar...although directed at struggling reading students...it makes sense for all students.  Check out the resources on this Scoopit!  Although a ton of new resources (not all free) the ones I took away the most were that all search engines like Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox offer settings that can limit the amount of distractions around articles when viewing...like in Safari in the web address bar you just hit "Reader" and all the distractions disappear--all you have is the article.  Also, using things like Dragon Dictation and Ginger will provide poor writers a means to communicate their thoughts as well as help them develop their writing.  This is something I want to recommend to our special ed teacher since there is one student in particular that can't spell or organize his thoughts at all and since in high school is in need of a tool that can help him be successful in the real world.  I wonder if this would help him in English...it seems like it would allow him to worry more about his thoughts and organization rather than struggling to spell or correct every other word (literally--it is painful for him and his teachers).  Why wouldn't we give him this tool?  Are we doing him a disservice?  Can we empower him to feel confident and build his self-worth throw the application of a single tool?  Free tool to boot?  Seems foolish to continue to build walls that he has to tear down only to find that we have built another one for him to chizzle his way through.

After reading this another thought has struck me...wouldn't it be interesting to write a book about my experiences through this process and how it will affect my teaching in the future.  I like my other book I have started but "stories from the outside" is looking promising.  It is such a great opportunity to be able to walk into classrooms and work with students and make observations as an outsider...sure is a different perspective.  Just a thought.  Sorry about the tangent!

Another digital story telling tool I thought would be interesting to explore is Zooburst--allows you to create 3D popup books.  Also, Aurasma--allow you to turn pictures into QR codes...so you scan a picture rather than the barcode!  Interesting twist on book reports or such.

Session 5:  SMACK DOWN--a lot of the same tools as I hear all over the place...new ones:

• educreations--tutorial creation website
• blabberize.com--simplier version of Voki
• typingweb.com--awesome tools for teaching and monitoring keyboarding...can create a class.  I will be doing this for my own children!  We all need to work on it.
• thatquiz.org and classmarker.com--another quizing site; can create question and assessment data base to 
• use forever
• wifitti--allows students to text answers to what?  Don't know...need to investigate

Session 6:  Much like Silivia's presentation at ITSC.  They both ended up praising the ability of twitter to build a network and reach out to others through email accounts.  Then following up with global classroom communications and authors through Skype!  They just can't talk it up enough!  I really need to investigate this more and see if I can help Gail develop some of this.  Also, be sure to check out the education resources through education.skype.com.  Check Langwitches for more information.  

Alright...that's it for today.  I need to finish one calendar page before bed.  Not sure I will make it.  We shall see!  Have a great weekend.

Lesson ideas for technology--ITSC 2012

ITSC 2012

Wow, what a whirl wind of workshops!  I wish I would have blogged about this during the workshop, but perhaps a day or two to stew on the events of the last three days is a good thing.  Although I went to this conference hoping to gain insight into how to implement BYOD (bring your own device), I failed to come out with any concrete "how to" instructions.  However, what I did hear was encouraging and consistent (a huge plus).  Everyone seems to be using the same language which is nice!  The biggest downfall...no time to meet with my team (WMS or PR).  Yet again this seems to be the hardest hurdle to overcome :(

Here are my take aways:

1. Today's education with technology really isn't that different from yesterday's.  (It just looks different.)
1. BYOD--how is this any different than requiring students to bring a graphing calculator to school.  I remember when I had to purchase a TI 34 for math class...that darn thing was $150 or more at the time.  Now of course this is a throw away calculator (costing only $10)...why is it so extreme to ask today's students to bring an electronic device?  The funny thing is not all students were able to bring one in and the schools were always able to provide something for these students.  Why is our discussion today any different?
2. Digital media and inappropriate content--once again I was reminded that when our students access inappropriate content using their digital media this is a behavior issue just like when students would bring playboys to school!  Duh...this is a behavioral issue--not something new due to digital resources.  Why couldn't I see that before this conference?  As one teacher commented in a small group discussion, " we have always had these issues and always knew how to deal with them...it is the same here!"  So my question then becomes...how are we dealing with this issue?  What are the consequences?  And is it fair, even necessary to take the technology away like we would a playboy magazine?  Doesn't this the teacher/students since productivity/learning is affected in the classroom?  Do we really expect our teachers to always have a back up source--well yes--especially if technology is down for the day.  If we take technology away...do we always need a paper and pencil version as a back up?  
2. If we are going to move our schools into the 21st century we will have to change the culture of our school.  
• This was probably the most profound piece I got from this experience.  I realized most of this already, but the importance of it in regards to both incorporating technology in the classroom, BYOD, and 21st century teaching/learning was very evident throughout the whole conference.  When listening to the first keynote speaker (Diana Laufenberg), and workshop presenters, it became painfully evident that collaboration among our peers and administration is huge.  It seems like these amazing educators all have one thing in common--a team of like minded colleagues to invest the time (supported by administration) to meet on a regular basis (in most cases a half day once a week).  They know what each other are teaching at any given time and modify their own lessons to build off each other's lessons.  This makes education much more relevant for the students and more fun for the teachers to teach.  I posed this question to Diana Laufenberg and she couldn't answer it because she communicates with her colleagues so seamlessly that she doesn't even realize how much they modify their own lessons to create a real-world experience for their students.   I think this is what I miss the most from working at WMS.  I really felt like when I was there I had a finger on the pulse of what was happening in other teachers' classrooms.  Gail and I used to work together a lot...although I had a lot more to learn from her and cut it up short.  I don't think I had truly integrated her content into mine...but she was able to do that much better with mine.  In addition, the term where Glover came in the last twenty minutes of my science class was awesome...we were doing physics and I loved when she would take over the math explanation of the formulas and tie different content we were studying into math class.  Furthermore, thanks to this conference and the many history teachers presenting I can see so many connections between language arts and history that it actually excites me to get into an environment where I can teach history (did I mention I dislike history--it seems so boring to me) or at least work with the history teacher to build units rich in real world applications!  (See post on Lesson ideas for technology--ITSC 2012)  I will say the largest disconnect for me at this conference was the lack of science presentations (ok, there was one that I know of) and content presented.  Perhaps in the future I can contribute to this and make the conference more holistic!
• Part of changing culture is changing the culture in our own classrooms.  I love the idea that trust and respect are the cores to this amazing climate.  I have always asked myself why some teachers are able to put a basket by the door and students are willing to put their phones in it and leave it there until the end of class.  I think this is the answer--respect and trust.  I guess I thought I was building this in my classrooms in the past...but not sure.  I think my elementary classroom was built on these things...everyone was accepted and had I had those kids as middle school kids they probably would have put all their phones in the basket.  However, when I actually taught middle school I don't think there is a single class that I could have asked to do this--all of them would have fought me.  So, what was the difference and how do I create this now in a different environment?  My elementary classroom was a classroom based on learning together--I didn't dictate...I shared the power with all my students.  We used "discovery" to learn science and looping with my kids from 4th to 5th grade was completely rewarding and beneficial!  There was a special connection between each of us and as a result hurt feelings when one of us left the group, but utter joy in each others successes!  There is something to be said for knocking yourself off a pedestal and adopting a teaching/learning approach such as inquiry or project based learning.  Once again this is a characteristic I see in amazing teachers!  Someday I hope others are able to include me in that pool--AMAZING TEACHERS!
• Bud Hunt--can we say amazing and FUN!  This was the best session I attended...he was FUN! He is all about building a classroom climate (or workplace) that is FUN to learn in.  Here is his list of principles (he called them six principles of play):  trust, spontaneity, accepting offers, storytelling, celebrate failure, and communication.  And if you couldn't tell...he was an English teacher...hence all the incorporation of poetry and literature in the classroom
3. If we are going to incorporate this technology in the classroom we must be sure to include lessons on proper use of this technology.  Topics like netiquette, cyber bullying, safe communication, etc...must be regularly included in our curriculum.
4. Finally, we must "amplify" our classrooms.  We just go beyond our classrooms and reach out to other classrooms, other schools, other states, other countries, peers, experts in their fields, other teachers, etc....  This was a huge idea presented by Silvia (see notes from the conference:   https://docs.google.com/a/athwestsd.org/document/d/1UkJiR7SXHM1q_MV-lBT73OwRaBYhh-fd2vUsX7VhCVc/edit).  This idea of global classrooms has been showing up in my edmodo groups, collaborize classroom groups, blogs, twitter, Simple K12 webinars and now this conference!  Seems to be a theme!  Be sure to look at my posts about connecting with authors and Building a Network post as well!

So, there you have it!  Take it for what it is worth!  Can't wait until next year's ITSC conference!  There is still so much to learn and so many new friends to meet!  Can't wait!

7 educational youtube channels post!

7 Educational YouTube Channels

WRITTEN BY MASON 17 FEBRUARY 2012 3 COMMENTS

YouTube is packed full of great content for educators and students.  A few great things about online videos...

1. there are a lot of them out there.
2. they cover a wide range of subjects.
3. they are free!

Here are, in my opinion, some of the best YouTube channels where teachers can find good quality, relevant information to engage their students in the classroom.

National Geographic- National Geographic's YouTube Channel is one of the best places to find videos for your science classes. All of their videos are well-made, high quality pieces that are sure to grab the attention of your students. With nearly 3000 uploads, National Geographic definitely has something you can use.

Discovery Channel- If you're looking for some entertaining yet educational clips, Discovery's YouTube channel will not let you down. Discovery Channel uploads clips from their most popular shows that your students will love watching. Be sure to check out episodes from their show How Stuff Works (very interesting!).

Smithsonian Videos- From history to art & design, you can find many great videos on the Simthsonian's YouTube channel. Playlists on their channel are well organized so you can find what you are looking for quickly and easily. Also, If you've never taken the virtual tour of the Smithsonian, take a look at my other blog post on virtual field trips.

American Museum of Natural History- All you science, biology and geography teachers must check out this channel. At AMNH's YouTube channel you can learn about anything from the human brain to Space. Be sure to stop by and see their "Dinosaurs" playlist to get a look behind the scene of the museum's massive fossil collection.

Khan Academy- From biology to calculus, you can find instructional videos on just about any subject at Khan Academy's YouTube channel. Even if you don't have enough time to show your students this channel in class, I strongly encourage you to tell them about it so then can browse through it on their own. The channel can be indispensable as they work their way through high school and even college.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology- Need I say more? Here you can get free access from some of the top educators in the country any time you wish. With an extensive library of nearly 1900 videos, they not only have the quality lectures that you're looking for but enough of them to keep you busy for a while.

Reel Nasa- If you're looking to take your students beyond the textbook when learning about Space, Reel Nasa is the place for you. Get a first hand looks at the inside of the International Space Station and see out the windows to the incredible view of the Earth.

SimpleK12- If you haven't come upon our YouTube channel before, be sure to take a look. On our channel you can find content on some of the most popular topic for educators today, like: Keeping your students safe online, online publishing, Google and much more!

What other great YouTube channels should teachers know about? Share your favorites in the comments section below.

-Mason

Motivate Readers and get connected: Reaching out to authors on the web

I love these "Days of Learning" from Simple K12!  I am learning so much...again I can't wait to make some extra money so I can get a membership!  (Just a mental reminder note to myself!)  So today I have attended a couple sessions but my favorite is this one on connecting students to authors.  Here are the highlights from what I learned today.

• Many authors are using webtools to connect with students; tools such as blogs, twitter, facebook and skype
• World Read Aloud Day is March 7th and Kate Messner has a list of authors that are willing to participate and skype on this day.  It isn't too late to make contact and try this out in the classroom.
• Her blog is amazing...she is very down to Earth and shows students that she is a real person.  Not only does she answer questions and share daily experiences, but also talks about what inspires her stories and tips on writing.  She does facebook, twitter, and has email links from her blog.
• Another author who has a very interactive blog is Grace Lin.  On Monday's she shares what is on her desk (sometimes a book, student letter, toy, drawing, etc...).  Tuesdays she shares a book she likes and Sunday her mom teaches you a word in Chinese.  
• Some authors post links here when they update their blogs. Others only use Facebook to interact with readers and don’t have a blog. Others post entirely different information on Facebook. This is almost never available at school but if there is something cool? Take a screen shot and share it with your class the next day!
• Many authors will answer questions via Twitter because they know it will be relatively easy to respond ... 140 characters. Before posting a question be sure to be respectful and check their websites first ... getting the same question over and over is not kind.

By the way...I have to get the powerpoint slides from this presentation; there are lists of the authors (at all levels) that interact well with students from their blogs, facebook pages, twitter feeds, etc.... I will include what I got (although they go to fast for me to get them all).

Great Author's blog sites:

• Lower Elementary Authors: 
• MoWillems  -- doodles on blogger blog site:  mowillemsdoodles.blogspot.com [Posts fan mail (great student project); dining room chalkboard drawings; Eric Carle for dinner!  Contest to participate in a live webinar from his studio]
• GraceLin - Where the Mountain Meets the Moon [Booktalk Tuesday posts - her review of books; On my Desk Monday - daily life info; Chinese word for the week;  peak into her daily life...personal connections for the students]
• JarrettKrosoczka - will post student work, can be very motivating for student readers.
• JonKlassen
• DanSantat - picture books and graphic novels, even from his children (makes authors real people)
• AdamRex - poetry books, illustrated, book trailers (many other author blogs have book trailers) step by step mural
• ChrisBarton
• Karma  Wilson
• DonTate
• Upper Elementary Authors
• Tom Angleberger- Origami Yoda; Darth Paper
• RickRiordan - upcoming book covers, his report card from youth, humanizing (folk singer video posted)
• KateMessner - talking about how nervous she was preparing to write a new book
• Deborah Wiles
• ShannonHale [be sure to check out the post from Feb. 3 ladies!]
• PatrickCarman - patrickcaraman.com middle grade/young adult multimedia writer, Dark Eden, talks about his family, geekiness with comic books  [I love this author by the way...isn't he from Walla Walla?]  [he also have a link in the post from Jan. 24 in which he talks about Chris Hardwick--Meltdown Comics...just learned about his today as well!  Also there are apps for the iPad for some of these books--3:15 and Dark Eden HD--they are free right now...will update what they are in a separate blog post]
• TonyDiTerlizzi  [he is going to be in WallaWalla April 16-17!]  Great interview on site talking about the book "Search for Wondla"  inspired by Wizard of OZ.  Sequel soon to be released.  Link to homepage very informative.
• Linda Sue Park [The Single Shard--one of my favorite books]
• YA - Middle School Authors
• John Green -   Vlogbrothers - video blog: nerds unite
• Holly Black
• Meg Cabot
• Cassandra Clare
• Sarah Dessen
• Cynthia Leitich Smith (her webpage offers an EXTENSIVE list of info about authors on the web!)   Interviews she has done, general and specific links for webpages and blogs.
• Laurie Halse Anderson
• Maureen Johnson (actually Tweets more often than blogs but both are hilarious)
• Lindsey Leavitt
• Darren Shan 
• Jeanette Rallison
• If the Authors don't have a big web presence, try the Publishers:
• RandomHouse Children's Books
• WaldenPond Press  -- has Facebook pages
• Scholastic
• ThePage Turn
• SchoolLibrary Journal

Facebook fan pages:

• Scaredy Squirrel has a FB fan club
• Patrick Carman does a lot of interacting on FB
• Richard Newsome
• Gallagher Girls
• Rachel Vail
• James Dashner

 Picturebook/Middle Grade Authors Who Tweet

• The Pigeon
• Audrey Vernick
• Camp Half Blood
• Origami Yoda
• Kate Messner
• Eric Wight 
• Kathi Appelt
• Erica Perl
• Raina Telegmeier

 YA Authors

• Neil Gaiman
• Carrie Ryan
• Kiersten White
• Laini taylor
• Lindsey Leavitt
• Bree Despain
• Ally Condie
• Rachel Caine
• Maureen 

Guidelines: 

Prepare -  read books, prepare questions ahead of time (have plenty); prepare connection, check with district

Go to Author website, etc

YouTube posts of author stories, interviews, etc...

• SkippyJon Jones
• Amy Krause Rosenthal
• Penguin Young Readers
• Harper Kids or Harper Teen
• Little Brown Books

Goodreads - class account for reviews of books being read

Questions for Angie: www.msoreadsbooks.com 

Free Resources!

I am in love with Simplek12!  I hope to get an extra sub day so I can get a membership!  What an incredible resource.  There are supposed to be some webinars on dropbox but since I don't have a membership I don't have access to them.  Soon hopefully.

Here are two resources I find very informative:  101Tech Tools and Hidden Webtools 2011.  All you have to do is put in an email address and away you go!  The ebooks will be sent to you via email and you can save them as a PDF file for all times!

Enjoy!