Teachers as Technology Trailblazers

Building Better Learning Online

2012-01-28T11:30:00.000-05:00

Here's a digital copy of my Encienda Educon presentation, "Building Better Learning Environments." The presentation has 20 slides with 15 seconds on each side. Enjoy!

If you cannot see the embedded video below, click here to access the presentation.

Lessons Learned from Springfield

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

While I am extremely excited to embark on new learning journeys, I am certainly sad to leave the teams and challenges in Springfield. Here are the top 3 things I've learned during my time in Oreland...

1. Get the right stakeholders into the conversation. If you're trying to make a decision, include everyone with a vested interest. If you don't do this, you end up spinning your wheels. More heads are better than one.

2. Schedule time to achieve what's important. In education, you will always be busy. There will always be many demands competing for your attention. You must determine your priorities and schedule them throughout the year. I learned to schedule my team meetings over a year in advance with tentative agendas, creating a clear road map to the destination.

3. Learn about people. As I've worked in this job, I've met many people. I am proud to say that I know almost everyone's name and I know quite a bit about people with whom I work closely. These connections make the organization stronger, and they foster the trust needed to embrace real change.

Springfield, I'll miss you. Thank you for a great experience, and I value what I've learned during my tenure.

Messy Desks and Messy Instruction

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

As I prepare to leave Springfield to tackle instructional challenges in New York City's iZone schools, I've been reflecting upon how we (as adults) make meaning. Earlier this week, I was fervently cleaning out my files and my desk.

Now, I'm not exactly a hoarder, but I DO like to keep things. A lot of things.

As I moved through each section of my office, I realized that I needed to do a few things to make things clear for my successor:

1. Get rid of anything that was outdated or not important. When learning something new, it's critical to emphasize the most vital content. Eliminating unnecessary information reduces opportunities for confusion.

2. Reorganize files so that the most important information is on top. As my successor learns the job, he won't have time to decide what is most important. I must make it easy for him by prioritizing the information.

3. Build contact webs. Since I will only have a limited amount of time to work with my successor, it is imperative that I introduce him to members of the organization that will be able to assist him in the future. (Because I'm sure I'll forget SOMETHING.)

Think about the implications this has for our students as we plan curriculum. Here are a few things we need to do for our students to help them make meaning:

1. Get rid of anything in your curriculum that's outdated or not important. Just because you've "always done it" doesn't mean it's still worth doing!

2. Ensure that students get the most important, overarching information. What does it mean to be a competent individual? Focus on the skills strategies, and content that move students towards competency.

3. Build information relationships for students instead of delivering content. Understanding that you won't be able to teach students everything they need to know, showing them instead where they can find relevant content.

An organized desk and an organized curriculum both promote learning by design.

Photo Credit

Flipped Classroom Infographic

2012-01-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

In the past few weeks on this blog, I've been trying to reflect upon best practice and instruction. Part of my reflections have included an investigation into the Flipped Classroom Model. See the infographic from Knewton below to learn more!

Created by Knewton and Column Five Media

Teaching for Transfer: Stop Helping Already

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

I have a startling confession to make.

I'm a teacher. And I help students too much.

You might be musing, "Well Kristen, you're a teacher so you are SUPPOSED to help students, duh!" Well, of course I should be assisting students, but I also need to ensure that I create opportunities for students to transfer their learning to novel situations without my help.

I am preparing students for a world that does not exist yet. Therefore, if students cannot independently transfer the skills and competencies that I teach them, then I haven't done my job. It doesn't matter if I'm beloved, rated as satisfactory, or eligible for a pension. I simply haven't done my job.

Practically, this means that examples on my assessments should NOT match exact examples or texts that we've covered in class. I should stop over prompting students, especially in novel situations. I should help students monitor their self awareness and their autonomy as they complete tasks by using rubrics that address these skills.

This is going to be hard, but I know it's the best way to ensure students receive a relevant education. What do you think?

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58336765@N00/284985859/

Using Data to Break the Comfort Zone

2012-01-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Although I'm not a big "new year resolution" person, I always try to run and train more in January, February, and March to prepare for the Broad Street Run 10 Miler. However, I usually end up running the race at the same pace every year because it's COMFORTABLE. This year, I started tracking my heart rate and mileage on Run Keeper. Every day I look at a little graph that shows me how hard I worked and where my performance ranks relative to my overall goal. In essence, I'm using data to break out of my comfort zone.

I think many people (myself included) settle into comfortable routines despite best intentions. This can easily happen in the classroom. And while the "data-driven instruction" is touted in most schools across the country, we often don't integrate meaningful data into our everyday instructional routines to help us meet our goals.

I think it's important to start small and track progress closely. Just as I aim to increase my mileage by 1 mile each week, aim to increase your students' achievement (using whatever measure may be appropriate) by 1 increment each week.

Here's an example. Let's say that your goal is to increase your students' reading fluency. Each week, when you meet with students in their differentiated guided reading groups, you give them an opportunity to measure and track their reading fluency. The students set a goal to increase their fluency by 2 words per minute each week (this rate is based off of RtI research). After a month, you notice that some students are not getting any better. Well, what should you do? The same thing you've always done? NO. Perhaps you need to scrap some of the activities that you use (you know... that giant paper mache project that you do EVERY year...) and provide students with more time to practice via a Reader's Theatre activity.

I know. It's hard to change the classroom activities that make you comfortable. But changing in response to data will get you results. Our kids deserve results. Responsive instruction is in your control and within your reach. This month, break your comfort zone.

Authentic Problem Solving

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week, my ceiling had a suspicious leak. Since my ceiling is sectioned with large wooden beams, the problem could cause some costly damage. When I discovered the problem, the first thing I did was open up my laptop.

Huh?

Yes, my laptop. I did not call up a plumber or a roofer. I called up You Tube on my laptop. After some serious searching, I was able to determine that the leak was actually caused by lint build up in my dryer vent. In about an hour, I had fixed the problem, stopped the leak, and improved the performance of my dryer. (Full disclosure: My husband helped. A lot.)

Now, I never took a "linty dryer" course. I know virtually nothing about fixing household problems or maintaining appliances. However, I do know how to access crowd-sourced knowledge efficiently. As I celebrated my victory against my leaky ceiling, I pondered the implications of this experience for education.

When it comes to today's students, it is highly unlikely that we will be able to provide them with the exact content they will need as they move throughout the stages of their lives. However, we WILL be able to provide them with effective research skills that can be utilized in almost any location. We should be focusing on providing our students with opportunities to solve challenging problems in a variety of curricular areas.

It's also important to note that I employed a lot of background knowledge about condensation, gravity, and heat convection to solve my problem. Some basic content and background knowledge are necessary for effective reading, understanding, and searching. We should continue to provide our students with opportunities to master this content as a "starting off" point for many other, more diverse learning opportunities.

What do you think?

Photo Credit: Lumax Art

Instructional Coaching as a Verb

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

In the latest edition of Educational Leadership, the magazine seeks to find creative solutions to the funding problems that we are facing in schools today. One article about instructional coaching held particular significance to me. It explored the disappearance of instructional coaches in response to program cuts, and it also discussed how to move forward when coaches are absent.

Specifically, the article proposed a paradigm shift. Instead of defining the word "coach" as a noun, define it as a verb. You do not need a specific person to have an environment that supports job embedded professional development. Instead, consider all the ways that many members of your staff can "coach" each other while still being effective classroom teachers.

Some ways to turn coaching into a verb this year or next year:

Have teachers observe each other and provide structured feedback.
Ask teachers to contribute to a professional development blog. Feature new writers and ideas each week so no single person is overburdened.
Run an edcamp or other "unconference" style form of learning session at your school so everyone can share their expertise

While I firmly believe that instructional coaches are an effective, authentic vehicle for providing "just in time" learning to teachers, their absence certainly does not prohibit a school from moving forward.

Photo Credit

Setting the Tone

2012-01-03T07:00:00.002-05:00

Over the winter break, I had the good fortune of traveling to Flagstaff, Arizona to visit my in-laws. In an effort to pinch a few pennies, my husband and I flew on Christmas day. If you've ever traveled on Christmas day, you know that the airports are crowded with families and small children and Santa hats. In short, it can be a pretty crazy day to travel with a lot of delays.

As we boarded our plane, we were greeted by one of the most entertaining, polite, friendly flight attendants that I have ever encountered. Her safety review was closer to stand up comedy, she sang holiday carols, and she pointed out scenic views throughout the trip. Although the flight was filled with crying babies and innumerable carry-on bags, it was a pretty enjoyable experience. Travelers actually clapped for the flight attendant at the end of the flight. (To the applause she offered a sharp-witted reply: "Thank you for your applause. I prefer cash.")

This experience made me consider not only my role as an instructional leader but also my role as a teacher. For some of our students and colleagues, arriving at school each day can be akin to boarding a six hour flight laden with discomfort. Our attitude can certainly make a difference in their day and their learning. Greeting others with a smile, a helping hand, or a trite joke can completely change the mood in the room.

As we move into the new year, consider the incredible power you hold as an educator and instructional leader. Each day, you have the ability to make someone's life better. So, smile more. Joke more. Enjoy more.

Photo Credit

Just for Fun: Happy Holidays!

2011-12-22T07:00:00.001-05:00

If you celebrate a holiday during the month of December, please enjoy it! Have some fun with one of my favorite people singing one of my favorite holiday songs! See you in 2012!

Great Collection of Educational Apps on Pinterest

2011-12-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Looking for a good app this holiday season? Well Dan Callahan has put together an amazing list of educational apps using Pinterest. Pinterest is a social pinboard that works very well for visual curation. His apps cover a variety of categories, and I found a few new ones on there that certainly enhanced my app collection!

The Teaching Channel

2011-12-13T07:00:00.002-05:00

The Teaching Channel is a fabulous website for "do it yourself" professional learning. The site is cleanly designed and incredibly inviting. It features a collection of short video clips and lesson plans that teachers can use to improve their practice. Specifically, Jim Knight, renowned instructional coach, has many Talking About Teaching videos that show effective coaching sessions with teachers. Watching this content has been incredibly useful to me. Seeing the ways in which he guides discussion has led me to the following conversation: good consultants/supervisors ask good QUESTIONS instead of giving good ANSWERS. One of my favorite videos is embedded below. Enjoy.

Common Core Web and Phone App

2011-12-08T07:00:00.001-05:00

Yes, the Common Core is coming. (If it hasn't already arrived in your school, it will very soon!) Well, now you can have the Common Core standards on your iPhone, iPad, Android device and website. Mastery Connect has recently released free apps that you can use to quickly search and reference the standards. I've embedded the app below. If you are currently exploring the Common Core, you could stick this on a teacher resource page in your district. Enjoy!

Don't Punish Everyone

2011-12-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Last week, I read a thoughtful post by George Couros entitled "Don't Punish Everyone." In the post, he warns educators to create policies for the majority of students, not the small minority of students who will operate outside of reasonable boundaries.

In all aspects of our lives, we create rules and regulations to "protect ourselves" from the irrational behavior of others. This applies to speed limits, competency tests, and other incredibly fun parts of life.

However, if we know that these rules and regulations only exist for a small segment of the population, do we really need them all? See the video below. What do you think?

Docs Teach: The National Archives Site for Teachers

2011-12-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to visit the National Archive Museum in Washington, D.C. While there, I learned about DocsTeach. DocsTeach is the National Archive website especially designed for teachers. Obviously the site has an amazing collection of primary sources to use with students, but my favorite part was the activities. There are both pre-made activities and activities that you can customize for your students. It is a highly interactive, smart board-friendly resource!

Staying Focused

2011-11-29T07:00:00.001-05:00

Recently, I read Mike Schmoker's Focus. In the text, Schmoker insists that educational leaders must be "laser-focused" on practices that really matter. He believes that leaders gravitate towards complexity, and this impedes implementation and progress.

For the past year in my department, I've focused on one primary goal: implementing an effective, data driven system for users when they need technical support. Stated simply, the goal has been to get teachers to "put in a tech ticket." I cannot tell you how many conversations, emails, and meetings have included that simple saying.

Today, I received a gift from my team: a broken record with the saying "Put in a Tech Ticket" on it.

I'm finally getting through, but this is only the beginning. Progress feels good.

Make Your Own Mobile Games

2011-11-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

During my experience at EdCamp Harrisburg, I attended a fantastic session on making your own mobile games. The site is called Aris Games, and you can create a geo-enabled game using a WSIWYG editor. Students can drop items and people all over actual locations. Then students go to the locations with their iPhones or iPads and learn, answer, or collect items. (If you don't want the students roaming all over town, you can use QR codes to play inside your classroom.) In less than an hour, I felt that I had seen enough to make one of these games myself. I plan to try it sometime after the November holiday. The site is completely free, and it seems really engaging. Check it out!

EdCamp Harrisburg Smackdown

2011-11-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

We had a great SMACKDOWN at EdCamp Harrisburg last weekend. I learned about several new tools, including Storify and Smyface. Check out the embedded widget below for a full list. Enjoy!

EdCamp Harrisburg Reflection

2011-11-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, November 12, 2011, I attended EdCamp Harrisburg. I took away a few tools. More importantly, I was reminded of a few key elements that must be in place for successful professional learning.

Top Ten Ingredients for Professional Learning
10. Quality Content
9. Time to Play
8. Venues for Open Discussion
7. References to the Research
6. Ways to share
5. Built in Reflection
4. Productive Conflict
3. Food
2. Follow up
1. Trust

Thank you EdCamp Harrisburg for providing me with an enriching space to learn!

Come to My Global Education Conference Presentation: Occupy PD

2011-11-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

Please join me, Marybeth Hertz, and Kevin Jarrett on Wednesday, November 16th at 7pm to talk about the future of professional development. We will be presenting a free online session at the Global Education Conference that is organized by Lucy Gray and Steve Hargadon.

The session will be called Occupy PD: Taking Control of Your Professional Development. We will be talking Edcamp, grassroots learning, and creating opportunities for learning connections. I hope to see you there!

Here is the link for the session:

https://sas.elluminate.com/d.jnlp?sid=2008350&password=GEC11Part197

EdCamp Recap by Kevin Jarrett

2011-11-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Listen to this fantastic description of Edcamp by Kevin Jarrett, one of my fellow Edcamp Philly Organizers. Go Kevin! Stay tuned for more exciting Edcamp news on Thursday!

Scoop It: Loving this Curation Tool

2011-11-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

As you know, I am a heavy Google Reader user. I read many different blogs and use the service to bookmark and tag helpful resources. However, my curation has primarily been an individual effort. However, I was just introduced to Scoop.it and I am really liking it. You "curate" resources from any source you like (Twitter, RSS feeds, searches, etc.) and you create a public page that people can access and contribute to. Also, the Scoop.it community seems very vibrant, and I've found several really great resource pages there. My first page is related to my dissertation: Asynchronous Learning Environments. Stay tuned as I begin to curate different types of content!

Interesting Game Creation Site: Zondle

2011-11-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

I was checking out some links, and Zondle seems like an interesting place to create games for students to use. The game formats appear to be recall-based, but you can place a single game in many different types of formats. This would certainly keep students interested. It might be a helpful tool for your classroom. Enjoy.

Great TED Talk: Teaching Students to Understand Bias

2011-10-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, I caught up on some TED talks. TED stands for "technology, entertainment, and design." It is a fabulous repository of interesting talks that present interesting ideas and thoughts. The most recent talk (embedded bel0w) I watched discussed how medical companies use trial results in their publications. It is an interesting perspective on bias. I think it could be a great vehicle for introducing media and information literacy to students. Enjoy!

Puzzle Me Words: Great Game for Early Literacy

2011-10-25T07:00:00.001-04:00

Puzzle Me Words is a game designed for K and 1 students to practice early literacy and phonemic awareness skills. Students drag letters into a sequence to make the word featured on the screen. There are two levels, beginner and advanced. With the beginner level, students have less choices and with the advanced level students have the entire alphabet from which to choose. Enjoy!

Draw A Stickman: Just for Fun

2011-10-13T07:00:00.000-04:00

Want to have some fun with your students today? Try Draw a Stickman. It takes about 5 minutes, and I guarantee it will put a smile on your students' faces. The activity is very SMART board friendly. I used it at my last staff meeting to talk about overcoming INSURMOUNTABLE problems. Enjoy!

First Crack at a Lit Trip: Owl Moon

2011-10-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

In an effort to make use of all the new knowledge I gained at the Google Geo Institute, I created my very first Lit Trip! It's tailored to Owl Moon, Jane Yolen's Caldecott-winning book. While it only contains a few placemarks, paths, and photos, I think it's a great start. Please feel free to download the Lit Trip here. Comments and suggestions to improve it are welcome!

PS- If you've never used a Lit Trip before, you just download Google Earth and then you open the KMZ file. Then you double click on each item in the folder to walk through the Lit Trip. Enjoy!

EdCamp NYC Smackdown List

2011-10-06T07:00:00.000-04:00

Edcamp NYC was truly magical for me this year. Each session was incredibly engaging, and I left with about 10,000 new projects to try. I'm going to pick 1 or 2 to tackle first, but I am constantly overwhelmed by the high level of expertise in the educational community. Teachers, you truly are experts. You rock.

One of my favorite moments of this year's Edcamp NYC was at the end of a session I led with Kevin Jarrett and Kim Sivick. With about 10 minutes left to go, we spontaneously broke into a SMACKDOWN. Spontaneous SMACKDOWN?!?!? Yea, it was awesome. (One person in the room perked up and said, "Wait. What's happening right now?" We all laughed together and explained it. Then she shared a tool HERSELF.)

I've attached a list of the apps HERE that were shared by almost everyone in the room during those final minutes. Enjoy.

Open publication - Free publishing - More edcamp

How to Run Your Own Edcamp

2011-10-04T07:00:00.002-04:00

EdCamp NYC was fantastic this year. I learned SO MUCH. I really benefited from the valuable conversation and honest dialogue. The venue had a great vibe, and the absence of sponsors was, well, NICE. Thanks to everyone who worked on the event.

I ran a session with Kevin Jarret and Kim Sivick about "How to Run Your Own Edcamp." It was the end of the day, but the room was full. The discussion was honest and open. I was very impressed with the growing number of teacher leaders joining this movement. Check out a 3 minute video of the highlights of our session. Enjoy!

EdCamp NYC Is This Saturday! Learn. Unlearn. Relearn.

2011-09-29T07:00:00.002-04:00

EdCamp NYC is this Saturday! I'll be heading to NYC to learn and share with other educators in the area. Best of all, this learning will be free.

The event will be held at The School at Columbia University. It's a great, relaxed atmosphere to learn and create.

The schedule for the day follows an unconference format. This means that any person attending can be a presenter. I'm considering sharing a session and discussion on Google Earth. We'll see. ;-)

I encourage you to join me! Tickets are FREE! Let's learn, unlearn, and relearn together.

Google Geo Institute: Using Sketch Up and Google Earth

2011-09-27T07:00:00.001-04:00

Well, it was an amazing weekend! The Google Geo Institute was simply awesome. HERE is a link to all of the resources from the weekend. We spent most of our time discussing Sketch Up and Google Earth. Also, be sure to check out the hash tag #gti2011 on Twitter for more resources.

Here are some curricular integration ideas shared throughout the experience:

Create your own LIT TRIP for students to help them empathize with characters' situations and settings in a story.
Have students create 3D models in Google Sketch Up and submit them to the Google Earth 3D building layer.
Use Google Sketch Up to help students identify and create 3D shapes.
Use the ruler tool (part of labs) in Google Maps to have students answer real life questions about distances and trigonometry measurements.
Use the layers in Google Earth to share historical maps, real time earthquake data, tsunami visualizations and MORE.

The number one idea that I took away from the weekend was: MAPS TELL A STORY. If we are using maps to tell stories in our classroom, then it will be a richer learning environment for our students. Capture the story of maps and capture the magic.

Reflecting on the Google Geo Teacher Institute

2011-09-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

This past weekend was fantastic. I had the opportunity to attend the Google Geo Teacher Institute in Washington, DC. I was surrounded by 50 educators and a variety of experts willing to learn, share, and experience the world through maps. (Yes, that's my first attempt at 3D modeling above!)

Although the "content" of the weekend was geared towards Google Earth and Google Sketch Up, I took away much more.

Every person attending that institute had a passion. A passion that made their work simply a labor of love.

Our institute began with Juan Valdez who shared his life's connection to maps as he immigrated to America during the time of Castro's takeover. Valdez recently finished a stunning new map of Cuba for National Geographic.

It continued with individuals like Jerome Burg, the creator of Google Lit Trips, and Beryl Reid, a super moderler in Sketch Up. These people simply fell in love with creation. The built ideas and projects that touched the lives of many.

Finally, the fellow teachers in my midst exuded passion. They all shared their stories, triumphs, and experiences with technology. Conversations ranged from the practical to the theoretical, and "I love my class" was possibly one of the most popular phrases I heard throughout the weekend.

In short, the experience was an inspiration that recharged my batteries for the Fall season. Thank you to Tina Orduff and Allison McDuffy for their hard work. I was lucky to be there, and I am a stronger educator for it.

Thanks to all!

Check back tomorrow for resources and integration ideas from the sessions.

Heading Off to Google Geo Institute..Have ??

2011-09-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow I will have the unique opportunity to travel to Washington, DC for the Google Geo Teacher Institute. (Thank you to Google for selecting me!)

Here is how Google describes it:

This September, Google is hosting the second Google Geo Teachers Institute. This event is a FREE professional development experience designed to help educators get the most from Google's Geo products and technologies. The Geo Teachers Institute is an intensive, two-day event where participants get hands-on experience with Google's Geo products: Google Earth, Google SketchUp, and Google Maps, including Mars, Moon, and Sky in Google Earth. Attendees will learn about innovative instructional strategies and receive resources to share with colleagues. The Google Geo Education team hopes this event will empower educators to bring the world's geographic information to students in a compelling, fresh, and fun way.This is an event only for those who have applied and received notice that they have been accepted to attend.

I cannot wait to learn more about these fabulous tools. Do you have any questions? If so, leave a comment on the blog and I will try my best to find answers for you!

I Done This: Journaling Tool

2011-09-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

I stumbled across this site via a tweet from Daniel Pink. It is called I Done This and it helps you keep track of your accomplishments.

As soon as I saw it, I thought it could be a great "closure activity" in class. Students could take turns logging what they've completed each day. At the end of the year, you could review different days to recognize the progress the class has made.

I also thought it might be a helpful tool for students who need a little extra "push" to get to the next level of learning.

Enjoy!

Uncovered Cover Art: Spice Up Guided Reading Responses

2011-09-15T07:00:00.001-04:00

Do you need to engage and inspire interesting student responses during guided reading?

If so, Uncovered Cover Art may be on help to you. This blog shares re-invented book covers for popular children's literature. The artwork is simply beautiful.

Some ideas how this site could be used during guided reading:

Before reading: What does this cover/artwork tell you about the book?
During reading: Why do you think the artist chose to put that scene/item on the cover?
After reading: Explain why the artist created the cover in that fashion. Use details from the text.
After reading: Have students create their own imaginative covers and submit them to the site OR post on your teacher website.

Enjoy!

Word Tamer: Great Writing Tool

2011-09-13T07:00:00.001-04:00

Do you begin the year with creative writing or personal narratives?

You will definitely want to check out Word Tamer. This interactive flash-based tool is great for the Smartboard. It helps students develop characters and construct plots. The graphics are incredible and many parts are narrated, making the site very UDL-friendly.

I think this site would provide students with a great "hook" to the creative writing process.

Have fun and engage your students this week! (Thanks to The Whiteboard Blog for sharing this resource.)

GWIGLE: A Game to Teach Search

2011-09-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

As you complete the final touches on your classroom and your lesson plans, don't forget to review boolean search tips with your students. For example, the word "and" glues together two terms. The word "or" provides search results that include both terms. You can practice these basic rules with students by using the game GWIGLE. It means "What am I Googling?"

Enjoy.

AAAS Science Assessment Compendium

2011-08-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

As part of Project 2061, the AAAS has created a compendium of science assessment items HERE.

Here is how the site describes itself:

Here you will find free access to more than 600 items. The items:

Are appropriate for middle and early high school students.
Test student understanding in the earth, life, physical sciences, and the nature of science.
Test for common misconceptions as well as correct ideas.

This website also includes:

Data on how well U.S. students are doing in science and where they are having difficulties, broken out by gender, English language learner status, and whether the students are in middle school or high school.
“My Item Bank,” a feature that allows you to select, save, and print items and answer keys.

The Struggle to Communicate

2011-08-25T07:00:00.001-04:00

As I prepare to teach my online M.Ed course for the Fall 2011 semester, I felt that I needed to reflect upon my successes and struggles in this endeavor. This is my fourth time teaching the course, and I've made some significant changes and improvements over time.

Here are the things upon which I have improved:

I have started to embed multimedia into the homepage of my course each week (Vokis, Wordles, videos, etc.) to ensure that students see something "fresh" when they log in. I'm hoping that draws in students.
I use Google Reader as an assignment. This encourages students to explore the fantastic information sources and educational blogs that far exceed the content in my course.
I use Google Docs instead of the grading tool inside the LMS. Then students can post quick reflections, questions, or thoughts right beside their rubrics. This format also allows me to encourage second-chance learning and constant revision.
I added Clay Shirky's book, Cognitive Surplus, as an additional text. I think it provides good perspective that can be applied to both education and the world at large.

Here are some areas that I still want to enhance:

I want to provide more opportunities for collaboration and peer work. I do use a lot of discussion forums, but I need to provide LOTS of opportunities for interaction.
I want to have students choose and attend an #edchat as a learning opportunity. I'm not quite sure about how to bridge this gap yet.

Any thoughts?

Show Me iPad App

2011-08-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I attended Padcamp. (You can read more about that here.) One of the apps that I learned about was ShowMe. This is a FREE app that allows you to create little videos of whatever you write/say on a whiteboard. I can't believe this app is free.

Here are a few of the applications I could see with this application:

Assessment: Have students explain their methods as they solve a math problem.
Assessment: Have students explain the relationship between two concepts as they draw a graphic organizer representing the relationship.
Instruction: Create short videos for your students to review as support.
Practice: Have students create their own instructional videos that can be used with peers or younger classmates.

We have a few iPads in our district that are specifically used with our special education population. I think this app could be very beneficial in these classrooms!

The Filter Bubble

2011-08-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I finished reading Eli Pariser's book, The Filter Bubble. Eli strives to inform the pubic about the value of their personal data in cyberspace. We dole out personal data each day when we click, search, and purchase on the web.

All of the "free" services that we use harvest personal information, making us targets for personalized advertisements and messages.

Further, the information that is delivered to us serves to reinforce our existing tastes, beliefs, and ideas. For example, the books recommended to me on Amazon typically echo the same topics and concepts I have already explored and liked.

If the Internet is controlling the content that is first and foremost in my stream of information, then the likelihood of accessing dissenting information/literature/books/blog posts is handicapped.

I need to be aware of my personal biases and seek out information in a non-biased way.

Our students are being raised in this environment. We need to teach them to search and surf beyond their "comfort zone." We need to help them identify reliable sources that represent different types of viewpoints.

Teaching students how to search and evaluate is critical. It should be a part of "how we do business" in our classrooms. Pop the filter bubble.

Padcamp Reflection

2011-08-16T07:00:00.002-04:00

Last Tuesday, I had the pleasure of attending #Padcamp, an unconference event about the implementation of iPads in schools. Given that my district only has a few iPads deployed to classrooms servicing our special education population, I did not have some of the mass sync/transfer problems that other schools shared. However, the conversation was extremely beneficial, and it helped me understand how to best guide any growth of the project within my district.

I also learned of several apps to support my teachers. ShowMe, Fotobabble, and Toontastic were my favorites.

Most importantly, I had the opportunity to connect and share with educators facing the same struggles as me.

One of the fabulous special education teachers who works in my district accompanied me, and she really enjoyed the unconference model.

Thanks to @kjarrett and the generosity of the entire Padcamp team for putting together a great free day of learning.

Study Jams

2011-08-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

Ever get a catchy jingle "stuck" in your head? Well, you can use this technique with your students this year to enhance content retention. Scholastic has released a new site called Study Jams that contains catchy jingles about common math and science concepts. It's a great resource for music to play during independent work time or during centers. Thanks to Richard Byrne for this resource. Enjoy!

TedxPhillyEd: Edcamp Rocks!

2011-08-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

Thinking about running an EdCamp? Trying to get others on board? Feel free to use my TedxPhillyEd talk as a resource. Go EdCamp!

Leadership Day 2011

2011-08-05T07:00:00.002-04:00

This blog post is part of the Leadership Day 2011 Blog Post Series. Enjoy!

Pablo Picasso once said

"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers."

Yes, inside our Macbooks, our Google Chromebooks, and our phones lie millions of answers. Facts about scientific properties, dates from famous battles, and mathematical algorithms are abundant.

So, what does this mean for education?

Teachers can no longer live in classrooms where they are the sole expert. Teachers must encourage students to look beyond mere "answers." Instead we need to strive for collaborative solutions where we invent new knowledge.

How does this fundamental change occur? Simple. Through the influence of powerful leaders.

Leaders do not need to be principals, administrators, or superintendents. Anyone can be a leader.

Share a new tool. Influence someone's paradigm. Be the change.

Do you "gotta share?"

2011-08-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

Qwiki - Multimedia Search Engine

2011-07-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

My last post mentioned the importance of building background knowledge for students before they begin a difficult text or topic of study. This helps students of all types, especially those who arrive in our classrooms without diverse vocabularies.

Qwiki is a search engine/encyclopedia that displays results as brief, narrated multimedia presentations. While the content is more general in nature, it is presented in such a way that students can easily build context.

My favorite things about Qwiki thus far:

It's narrated for students who can't decode the text.
It uses a variety of photographs and maps as appropriate.
The presentations are short enough to use as "hooks" or introductory sets.
When you find a Qwiki, related topics are displayed at the bottom to assist context-building.

Enjoy!

The Importance of Background Knowledge

2011-07-26T07:00:00.001-04:00

A few days ago, I received a gift in the mail. Upon opening it, I had no idea what it was. It was a small glass dish. After considering a variety of options, I gave up, filled it with bobby pins, and put it in my powder room.

A few days later, a guest in my home asked "Why do you have bobby pins in a bottle coaster?"

"Huh?"

Apparently the gift was a bottle coaster. As my favorite beverage is filtered Brita water, I had never heard of such a thing. My guest politely showed me how the object was intended to be used.

After a good laugh about the whole situation, I realized that knowledge gaps can lead to some strange behavior.

Think about students who enter your classroom without the background knowledge to be successful. They might make strange choices or even make inferences that seem "odd." This is likely because they can't put the events in context.

So, sometimes, poor readers are students who haven't had the experiences to understand the stories underlying the words.

As teachers, the most important thing we can do is provide context and background students for teachers before reading. Tell stories, develop ideas, show LOTS of pictures.

Let's keep as many "bottle coasters" out of the powder room as we can this year!

Teach Like a Champion Videos

2011-07-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I finished Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov. Overall, I thought the book was a very helpful compendium about the best ways to "do business" in your classroom. It was packed with management tips and instructional routines that maximize time on task. I even picked up a few strategies that I hope to incorporate into my PD work with adults.

The book is packed with references to instructional clips where you can see the strategies in action. Since I bought my book on a kindle, I thought that I would miss out on the DVD-referenced clips. Nope! All of the videos are available RIGHT HERE.

These clips are highly motivating and showcase some great instructional techniques. Enjoy!

G+ -- The Idea of Circles

2011-07-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I joined Google +. A social network designed by Google, the portal is very similar to Facebook. However, this site has one significant difference when compared with Facebook. You sort people into "circles," similar to the way that you do in real life. For example, I have a circle of "friends," a circle of "work people," and a circle of "ed tech peeps." When I share something, I consider the audience. For example, my friends have absolutely no desire to check out the latest use for Wordle. However, they are just dying to see pictures from our latest dinner together. Being able to control who sees your content is a luxury that we have in real life, and now we have it in social media. Who know where Google + will be in a few months or a few years, but for right now-- I "+1" it.

File Stork: Collect Files to Your Dropbox

2011-07-14T07:00:00.001-04:00

Richard Byrne, author of Free Tech 4 Teachers, recently posted about File Stork. Essentially, File Stork allows you to put a link either in a public or private place. With the link, folks can upload files that end up in your Dropbox. A few weeks ago, I wrote about Jot Form as a solution for our photo crowdsourcing problem.

This solution looks even cleaner and easier than Jot Form.

Thanks Mr. Byrne!

PS- There are probably about 1,000 other uses for File Stork too!

Questions About Higher Ed and Dissertations

2011-07-12T07:00:00.001-04:00

Just a few days ago, I had my dissertation proposal defense. (This means that I'm about a year away from finishing my dissertation...almost there!)

While I found the entire experience productive and insightful, it left me with the following questions:

Why should we wait for scheduled intervals to get perspectives from our peers to make our work better? (Shame on me!)
Are formal research studies the best way to share your ideas with critical individuals who are serious about change?
How do our relationships with people affect the ways that we give and receive feedback?

Personally, higher education has been an inventive and creative outlet for me. However, I'm concerned that this art of learning is losing momentum. Should it be abandoned for less formal methods? (I do learn quite a bit from my PLN.) Should it be embraced and revisited because it forces you to ensure thoroughness and accuracy? What do you think?

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chnrdu/3899986476/sizes/m/in/photostream/

3x3 Links

2011-07-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

If you create pathfinders for your students, 3x3 may be a useful resource for you. This resource allows you to create a 3x3 box of links that are accessible via a single URL.

The reason that I really like this site is the fact that you can use your numeric keypad to navigate the links. This is a great universal design feature that allows students with limited mouse skills to use the computer efficiently.

3x3 has a clean interface, and it minimizes students' cognitive load. It may be a helpful resource if you're reorganizing your class links this summer!

Google Apps for Ed Presentations from ISTE 2011

2011-07-05T07:00:00.001-04:00

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that my district is just beginning to experiment with Google Apps. We did some initial training last week, and I'm very hopeful about the future of this initiative. I think it is going to change the way that teachers and students interact, and I also think it is going to help middle school students stay organized.

Here is the complete list of Google Apps for Ed presentations from ISTE 2011 last week.

COMPLETE LIST

Enjoy!

Gapminder: Data Visualization

2011-06-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

Well, ISTE has been AWESOME. It gave me a great opportunity to "recharge my batteries" and further investigate some initiatives we are currently exploring.

One thing that I was reminded by Heidi Hayes Jacobs was Gapminder. Gapminder is a data visualization tool that shows population, average lifespan, and average income over time. (You can also switch out the variables with things like "education," "environment," and "work.")

This is a fantastic tool to use with students to push critical thinking. How are variables related? How do they change over time?

Check it out. You won't be disappointed!

ISTE 2011: Yes, I am SPOILED

2011-06-29T10:40:00.004-04:00

As ISTE 2011 draws to a close this afternoon, I wanted to take a brief opportunity to reflect on one thing: I am extremely SPOILED.

My indulgent state has absolutely nothing to do with tools or shiny gadgets. I don't have an iPad or a Chromebook or even a 4G phone.

I am SPOILED because I have people, connections, and relationships that support me. These networks begin in my very own school district (Go, Springfield, GO!) and they extend out to the world.

Last week, I put together a Posterous account and called it ISTE2011. I invited my Springfield colleagues to join the group as a shared place for our reflections. To enter text, pictures, or ideas, all they had to do was email iste2011@posterous.com.

In a few short hours, the group was humming. My technician was posting info and pics about the new Dell laptop that we'll be deploying in September. My middle school teachers were finding all sorts of plug-ins, tips, and tricks for Google Apps. My help desk administrator (charged with Moodle next year) began posting all sorts of moodle administration best practices. Even an SDST board members that attended ISTE shared his thoughts from some of the sessions.

In short, the Posterous became a central place where we could connect despite the fact that it was hard to find each other amid the sea of people at the conference. The "positive vibes" floating from the online space were palpable.

In addition, my Twitter feed was exploding with resources, links, and thoughtful ideas. It certainly pushed my limits.

It's about the people, not the tools. People matter.

Yes, I was HACKED

2011-06-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

Well, it happened. I was HACKED. (On my wedding day nonetheless!) My dedication to the cloud led to an ultimate backfire.

My personal email account was hacked, SPAM messages were sent to everyone in my contacts (only some 8,000 people), and my contacts and messages were DELETED.

Sadly, I was not alone. A few other folks I know in the edtech world suffered the same fate as me last week.

So, why am I telling you this? Simply to help you protect yourself.

Go into your email account. (Yes, right NOW.) Make sure your passwords are secure. If you use Google, activate 2-step authentication. Be safe. Be secure.

A personal note...

2011-06-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

For all those out there who know I got married, feel free to check out my wedding posterous at:

http://swansonwedding.posterous.com/

Next week, stay tuned for more updates from the ISTE 2011 and TEDxPhillyED conferences!

Google Voice Search Coming to Chrome Browser

2011-06-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

If you have an android powered phone, you already know the powers of Google Voice Search. Well, voice search is coming to the Chrome browser. You can say things like: "How do I make a sunny side up egg?" and the result will appear. It's like Google has baked universal design right into their webpage.

Think about the implications this could have when teaching younger students. No typing skills? No problem!

Watch the video below to learn more:

The Year in Rap: Springfield Style

2011-06-21T07:00:00.002-04:00

This year, Jason Pane, (see his fantastic student blog here) created a Year in Rap review with his students as a gift to the graduating 8th grade class in his middle school. Modeled off of the "Week in Rap Series" this video is a true testament to the amazing things that can happen when teachers and students meet on the same level and work together. Great job Jason and students!

Jot Form: An Alternative to Google Forms

2011-06-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

I LOVE Google Forms, but sometimes I need fancy formatting in my form. (Try to say that 3 times fast!) If that is the case, you should try Jot Form. The site lets you create highly specialized forms. There is also DropBox synchronization for uploading and submitting docs via form (This feature could potentially solve our photo crowdsourcing problem at school!). With a free account, you can have up to 100 submission a month per form. It's a nice alternative when you need something fancier than a Google Form. Enjoy!

End of the Year Fun: Flip Text

2011-06-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

ʇxǝʇ dılɟ

Feeling a little "uʍop ǝpısdn" at the end of the year? Well, get your students in on the fun and "flip your text!" You can write anything at all, enter it HERE, and it will flip your text. Simple and fun!

Drinking the Google Kool Aid!

2011-06-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

In a few short days, my amazing middle school staff will "GO GOOGLE." We are beginning a Google Apps for Education pilot, and our kickoff is on June 20th and June 21st. As I prepare to get teachers "hooked" on this collaborative technology, what tips and tricks should I be CERTAIN to include? (For me, it's the fact that you can put attachments on calendar events.) What "googley" item helps you every day? Let me know in the comments and I'll include it!

Scoop It!

2011-06-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

This is another tool that was shared by Selena Ward during the EdCamp Philly Smackdown! It is called Scoop It and it is a "pretty" way to put together web content. I could see this being an easy portal for teachers to create topic-specific sites to assist students with research or building background knowledge. Selena had a nice selection of "scoops" that she made. Rock on!

Keep Kids Glued To Your Blog All Summer Long

2011-06-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

During the heat of summer, kids will have no interest in visiting your blog, right? Wrong! If you use multimedia, games, and videos, students will be flocking to your online classroom weekly or daily. Thanks to Jason Pane for sharing this great gadget compilation: aBowman. It is filled with a series of embeddable oddities that kids love. Add a new one each week and watch the pageviews climb! Check out this example below:

Daily Lit: Summer Reading Delivered to Your Device

2011-05-31T08:37:00.003-04:00

As the summer approaches, it's time to give our students ways to read, reflect, and synthesize EVERY DAY whether they are coming to school or not. I recently stumbled upon Daily Lit, a site that delivers a short chunk of literature to your phone, ipod, Google Reader, or computer each day. (You choose the time it arrives.) Each installment takes about 5 minutes to read, but you can order more installments on demand if you get "hooked." It sounds like a perfect way to keep summer readers on track. There are many free titles, but some of them cost money. I am going to try this for a few weeks with a free title. It seems like a great way to keep my summer reading on track!

Boom Writer: Crowdsourced Writing for Kids

2011-05-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

The "Father of Edcamp," also known as Dan Callahan, shared this resource at EdCamp Philly 2011. It is called Boom Writer, and I LOVE IT. A teacher puts in the first chapter or story starter. Then students write the following chapter individually. After all the submissions are in, students vote on the best chapter. The graphics are very kid friendly, and it could be a really engaging summer literacy activity! Enjoy.

EdCamp Philly 2011: A Reflection

2011-05-24T07:00:00.001-04:00

The second annual (Can you believe it?) EdCamp Philly was on Saturday, May 21st. I had a fantastic time seeing old friends, learning new tools, and debating some great educational topics.

For me, the biggest takeaway came in the form of a question: Have I saturated my taste for new tools? While I'm always looking for more engaging ways to reach students and teachers, I think I'm more interested in refining my pedagogical philosophies than adding to my "tool box."

In an effort to sharpen my focus on quality instruction, I am going to reduce the feeds in my Google Reader, reread a few of my favorite Marzano titles, and research for my dissertation.

While I'll never fully lose the curiosity and desire to learn about new tools, a focus on instruction will drive my summer.

Thanks, EdCamp Philly. I needed that.

Choose Students Randomly

2011-05-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I finished reading Mike Schmoker's book Focus. While I find some of his comments a bit flip regarding the use of educational technology, he offers a path to clarity in a crowded educational world. One thing he notes is the necessity for choosing students randomly during class discussions and interactive lectures. To help you with this task, try RANDOM. This site offers a variety of services, including the ability to randomly select items from a list of names you provide. Enjoy!

Spy Pig: See Who's Reading Your Gmail

2011-05-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

As my district prepares to move to Google Apps for Education, several people have asked if Google offers the ability to see if your email has been opened or "read." While I know that most people may open or "see" an email on their phones or computers without reading them, some people rely on this in the workplace for accountability purposes. Well, Spypig is a free plug-in that allows you to add this functionality to your Google account. Enjoy!

Quiet Write

2011-05-12T07:00:00.003-04:00

Using the computer to write can be incredibly efficient. Or not. Sometimes it is very easy to be distracted by the many tabs, tweets, and media streams that permeate our modern writing machines. A great solution for this problem is Quiet Write. When you use Quiet Write, everything else stops. (You can't even SEE other programs or options if you put your browser into full screen mode.) I've been using it as I complete sections of my dissertation each evening, and it has helped my productivity immensely. I also think it's a wonderful tool for universal design. Enjoy!

Who Am I: History Mystery

2011-05-10T07:00:00.001-04:00

Who Am I? is an activity developed by the Smithsonian Museum to help students learn about US History. It features 6 prominent historical figures in US history, and students have to use clues to uncover the identity of the individual. I really like this site because it encourages problem solving and synthesis. Plus, the visuals are engaging to students. Thanks to Richard Byrne for sharing this resource.

My New Website for Work: Any Ideas to Improve It?

2011-05-05T07:00:00.001-04:00

Every month, I write a newsletter for my district to share tips, tricks, staff development opportunities, and exciting tech events. Previously, I've done my newsletter in a wiki. This did not give my much flexibility with formatting. So, I've redesigned the newsletter in Google Sites. It is below. Please offer comments and suggestions. I want this to be the best possible newsletter for the teachers and staff!

It's May. That Means It's EdCamp Philly Month!

2011-05-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

There is less than a month to go until this year's edcamp Philly! (Are you registered yet?) As the time draws near and things get a BIT crazy, I thought I would share a few heartfelt comments about my fellow organizers. (insert "ahhh" here)

Our edcamp Philly team is by far the most collaborative, energizing, supportive team on which I have ever served. No one on the team is receiving a single penny for their service, but everyone is always willing to help out. I SMILE when I see edcamp emails piling up in my inbox. There are no egos, dramas, or haters on our team. After working and learning with these folks for over a year, I consider them to be true friends.

This just reinforces the concept that doing work about which you are passionate transforms your life. What drives you?

Khan Academy: Paperless Summer Packets

2011-04-28T07:00:00.001-04:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More khan academy

In my former days as a third grade teacher, I always used to provide my incoming students with a "Summer Practice Packet." It was a huge packet of papers that students could try before our time together. If they completed the packet, they could earn a reward in September. Unfortunately, this practice was ineffective. It did not provide any support or instruction, and it provided me moderate feedback at best.

Well, Khan Academy could really kick this practice into high gear. While I think that Khan Academy has strengths and weaknesses, it certainly would replace my old summer packet in a much more meaningful way.

Khan Academy is a FREE repository of basic skills practice for arithmetic concepts complete with instructional videos. Recently, it has received a lot of positive press. It has even been the subject of a TED talk.

See the one page instructional I created above to get your students started with Khan Academy. Enjoy!

Renting a Laptop?

2011-04-26T07:00:00.001-04:00

Truth be told, I love my Netflix subscription. I can get the movies I'm interested in without going to a store at a minimal cost. However, Mashable revealed that Google may be offering their new Chrome Netbooks for rent. (Read more here.)

This begs the question: Would you rent a laptop? A piece of hardware? I use my personal laptop and it is customized with all the applications and products that help me learn and share. Can I get this from a netbook that is essentially a "suped up" web browser? Maybe.

Maybe I'll love rented laptops as much as I love my Netflix subscription. We'll see.

For now, I'm viewing these Chrome netbooks as a possible solution to the CFF replacement cycle. 10 dollars a month with full replacement seems really reasonable... THOUGHTS?

Photo Credit: http://i.ehow.co.uk/images/a04/bn/a9/apple-laptop-rentals-4.1-800X800.jpg

Voicethread Embraces Univeral Design

2011-04-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

Voicethread recently launched an offshoot of their site that can be read by screen readers. This is a great enhancement. More importantly, it shows that the web 2.0 community is cognizant of the diverse needs that all individuals harbor. While there are still a few improvements needed to make the new offshoot truly universally accessible, it is a huge step in the right direction. Thanks to Richard Byrne for sharing this resource.

New VIEW Feature for Blogger Blogs

2011-04-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I use a "blogger" platform. I like this platform because it is readily integrated with all of my other Google services and it is very easy to use. My format is pretty simplistic, and I haven't changed the template since I started. (Creature of habit, eh?)

However, I just found out today that Blogger offers a variety of new views. To enable these views, go to the "settings" tab in your blog editor and click the "yes" box next to "enable views." Then, type in the name of the blogger blog followed by /view. (i.e. www.kristenswanson.org/view)

You can view the blog in a variety of clean, interesting formats, including "snapshot," "timeslide," and "sidebar." For me, this makes the platform even more flexible. Collecting student projects or reflections on a single blog? Display them in the "snapshot" view and you can see a page that seems like a yearbook of your class. Very cool.

Think Quarterly: Google's Magazine as an Exercise in Media Literacy

2011-04-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

Have you seen Google's new magazine, Think Quarterly? It is certainly laid out in an interesting format that is worthy of discussion with your students. Look at the site. The top features a typical "pdf-style" magazine that is consistent publications of old. However, the bottom features a clean blog of the articles as well. Why would Google provide both formats? Which audiences are they trying to reach with each segment? Happy Reading!

Fry's Word List Practice Site: Formative Assessment Powerhouse

2011-04-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

Do you use Fry's word lists in your classroom? If you do, this site will prove to be invaluable to you. The site allows students to take a brief formative assessment on a segment of Fry's Word Lists. The site scores the assessment for you. It is an easy, fantastic way to collect data on sight words without much hassle. Enjoy!

Crowdsourcing Questions: EdCamp Philly Name Tags

2011-03-31T07:00:00.001-04:00

On March 18, 2011, Richard Byrne shared a great site for name tags: Ice Breaker Tags. As I usually put together the name tags for EdCamp Philly, (You're going, right?) I was inspired! I want every name tag to have a unique question on it this year when you sign in. BUT... I need YOUR help! Give me your thought provoking questions about teaching, learning, and collaborating. Here's what I have so far:

What's your favorite way to collaborate?
How do you keep students motivated?
How do we teach media literacy?
What is authentic creation?
What skills are essential given the demands of today's workplace?
So, really, what are we preparing kids FOR?
How can we change the structure of school to better support learning?
Would "tiger blood" fix our schools?

Please leave your questions in the comments. Oh, and please share this post so that I can get to 300 questions! Thanks for your help, PLN!

EdCamp Philly: Dates, Times, Locations

2011-03-29T07:00:00.001-04:00

EdCamp Philly is BAAAACCCKKK!!!! Come join us at Wharton for an incredible day of learning, connecting, and exploring. Since our inaugural event last May, EdCamps have swept the nation. Be a part of our second annual event and keep the momentum alive for "grass roots" professional development. Who: YOU What: An amazing opportunity to connect, learn, and grow When: May 21, 2011 Where: John M. Huntsman Hall, Wharton Campus, 3730 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA Why: Well, quite frankly, EdCamp is a game changer How: Get your FREE tickets by visiting www.edcampphilly.org Spread the word. Please blog, tweet, and share this information with your colleagues. We want to pack the house this year.

Great Resource Collection from Richard Byrne

2011-03-24T07:00:00.001-04:00

Richard Byrne, the amazing author of FreeTech4Teachers has created a comprehensive collection of digital tools for teachers HERE. It offers digital photo collections, digital storytelling resources, alternatives to traditional book reports, and MORE. Enjoy and share his work!

Flubaroo: Great Free Grading for Google Docs

2011-03-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

My school district will be piloting Google Apps for Ed this summer. While we prepare for that event, I've been researching many things that will hopefully win over teachers and students. I think that Flubaroo is one thing that will really entice teachers to try Google Forms for formative assessment. This is a free script that was developed by a Googler during his 20% time, and it helps teachers grade assessments quickly and easily. While the types of assessments that it grades are typically not the authentic, multifaceted ones, it certainly has a place in the buffet of assessment. It was really easy to use, and I hope to use it in the future to help evaluate information that I receive from my Google Forms. Enjoy!

Minus: Simple File Sharing

2011-03-10T07:00:00.002-05:00

Sometimes you need to share files without clogging up your email account. Try Minus. Minus does not require an account to be created, and you simply "drag and drop" your files to share them. It could be a simple way to facilitate sharing files between work, home, or any other place! Thanks to Richard Byrne for sharing this resource!

Professional Generosity

2011-03-08T07:00:00.001-05:00

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend TEDxNYED at the New York Academy of Science. (The venue was absolutely gorgeous.) Lucy Gray gave a compelling speech about the imminent need for global education. Within her talk, she advocated for "professional generosity."

We must be generous with our ideas and our professional work. As the landscape of our world changes, information has become ubiquitous. Ideas are more valuable when shared freely. Keeping ideas and information protected prunes and eliminates connections and conversations.

In today's world, relationships are more valuable than information. The relationships that one is able to build by sharing information and ideas can prove to be much more fruitful than the original ideas themselves.

The goal is to create meaningful learning experiences for children. The path to that goal relies upon professional collaboration.

Ookaboo: Great Site for Images

2011-03-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you need a collection of images for a presentation or project. Ookaboo may prove helpful. It is a sizable collection of images that are available for use under a creative commons license. The site definitely has room to grow, but it has much to offer. Thanks for Larry Ferlazzo for sharing this resource.

Troubleshooting Problems

2011-03-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Last week, Springfield Township High School was lucky enough to be visited by the ISTE board as they prepared for the ISTE conference in Philly this June. Anyway, while I was so proud of the students and teachers, there were a few elements that didn't work out exactly the way we planned. (All in a day's work!) It brought this great site to the forefront of my mind: http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com/ You can see if something is not working for just YOU or for everyone. Enjoy! Photo credit: http://tech4lesscincinnati.com/images/broken_computer_3e4v.jpg

AlarmTube: A Digital Reward

2011-02-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

I've worked with many students who enjoyed watching their favorite videos as a reward. Well, I just found this great site called AlarmTube. AlarmTube allows you to schedule a YouTube video to play at a specific time. This is fantastic for student behavior plans. Does your student get a video reward after five minutes of work? Just set it and forget it!

My Response to the Teacher Blog Controversy

2011-02-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

Want to see how my thoughts and actions compare to the rest of Montgomery County on social media for teachers? Check out this article published in the Montgomery News. All I can say is that I work with amazing teachers who are acutely aware of social media and digital citizenship. Rock on Springfield!

Simulation for Teaching Genetics

2011-02-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Do you teach genetics? You may want to check out THIS great game from the Science Museum. Students create different "things" in "thingdom" in this simulation to learn about traits and genetics. It is a lot of fun and there is a lesson plan to accompany it. Enjoy!

Great Example of a Teacher Experimenting....

2011-02-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

Jason Pane, an 8th grade teacher at Springfield Township Middle School, just finished up his mid term projects. For the projects, students had many different options, including videos and websites. I had the privilege of watching some of the student sharing that happened, and Jason had a classroom set up that exemplified universal design. Here was the set up:

One student was sharing information
The class was taking notes
2 students in the back were taking collaborative notes on a google doc
After the presentation, the google doc was projected and students refined the google doc using their notes
The google doc was made available to all students

I thought the set up for the activity really gave every student a chance to succeed. It also emphasized collaboration and the necessity of gathering pertinent information. Check out Jason's mid term projects here. Do you see anything that I am missing?

Is my PLN shrinking? Or is my learning getting larger?

2011-02-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

Although Educon happened almost 2 weeks ago, I am still learning from the resources, links, and notes that I have amassed.

Serendipitously, the next issue of Educational Leadership ended up in my mailbox. (Yes, I still get the paper version as a part of my ASCD membership...) The issue was called "Teaching Screenagers" and the focus was educational technology.

Oddly, reading the article was compelling yet strange. As I read each page, I realized that I engaged with most of these people on a daily or weekly basis via my Professional Learning Network (PLN). Ideas and comments from individuals like Will Richardson, Shannon Miller, and Eric Sheninger littered the pages. I read blog posts, Twitter updates, and discussion boards that feature these individuals and others each day.

While I still benefited from reading the issue, it made me realize that I no longer need associations or professional journals to be the "knowledge broker" in my professional learning. I am in the driver's seat, and my new network provides anytime access to what is happening in my colleagues' classrooms and research settings.

How does this relate to students? Well, students no longer need teachers or textbooks to be the "knowledge broker" in their learning. They can get the information they need from their networks. However, they need adults to teach them how to access those networks and synthesize their ideas. Essentially, they need "knowledge mentors" to help them shape their future. What a great role for today's teacher.

Photo Credit: http://www.canadianmortgagetrends.com/canadian_mortgage_trends/WindowsLiveWriter/mortgage-broker-fees.jpg

DropEvent: Create Photo Collections Without Log Ins

2011-02-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

I have run into many different instances where I wanted to crowdsource a group of pictures, but many of the contributers were not familiar with Flickr. Well, DropEvent might be a helpful, free resource in this department. DropEvent allows you to create an event and it provides a unique email address. Anyone can email photos to the address and it instantly creates a collection. The subject line of the email becomes the caption of the photo. I'm hoping to use it for my wedding and several school projects that are coming up. Do you have a use for this? Share it!

Voki Remains Ad Free

2011-02-03T07:00:00.001-05:00

Great news! Voki for Education will continue to be free from advertisements for the foreseeable future. They have just relaunched the site with new services for teachers. The new site will operate on a “freemium” model, but ad-free Vokis will still be free. As always, the site does not require a sign-in, so it is friendly for elementary classrooms.

Here are some of my favorite ways to use Voki:

Have students create a character from a story they are reading. They should write a speech that embodies the main traits of the character
Engage students when you are sick. Create a Voki of yourself giving a quick lesson, instructions, or homework. Students will be reminded that you will be back tomorrow!
Have students customize their own avatar. They can create a test review by including the most essential information from a recent unit. Then you can embed the class’ Vokis on a single page so that students can study for the test by playing different Vokis.

Educon 2.3 Reflection

2011-02-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Educon is a conference centered around meaningful conversations. This year, my attendance at Educon was even more meaningful and relevant. Instead of taking away a laundry list of tools, I took away philosophical shifts about the role of a student. Hearing how others have navigated the instructional landscape of research, creation, and accountability has given me the opportunity to refine my beliefs about curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

First of all, the curriculum must be flexible enough to embrace student passions. In my first session, Tony Baldassario defined passion as “when you keep doing something even when it’s not fun.” Getting our students opportunities to express their passions can help kids find the relevance of school. Students have to “own” the curriculum.

In addition, students must be held accountable without being held captive. Student progress should be documented for the purposes of noting growth. Students should not be “ranked, ordered, and sorted.” Identifying “winners” and “losers” impairs the system for everyone. Students should be given multiple opportunities to show mastery, and students should be in control of their progress. Students have to “own” the artifacts that are used to evaluate their progress.

Finally, students must evaluate information instead of simply collecting it. In today’s society, sources of information abound. Educators must teach students how to access the “firehose” of available information to determine what is valid and relevant. Every piece of writing (fiction or nonfiction) has a bias. Students must “own” the information that they discover and utilize.

In essence, it’s really all about student ownership. Students need to be in control of the curriculum, the instruction, and the assessment. When students take an active role in their education, motivation increases. It also gives them the skills that they will need to be successful in life (because life is MORE than college!).

Check out the Chronicle Online

2011-01-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

In the district I work for, there are MANY awesome students and teachers. This year, some of those fantastic high school students decided to take their high school newspaper online. Using a simple wordpress design, the students created a clean news site that is constantly updated with new information. They'd be honored if you would stop by THE CHRONICLE for a visit!

Edcamp Philly is BACK!!!

2011-01-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

If you read this blog regularly, you know that I am an organizer for Edcamp Philly, the annual, free unconference for educators in Pennsylvania. Well, we had our first planning meeting on Friday, and we are EXCITED. We will be back this May with more opportunities to collaborate, learn, grow, and share. Stay tuned for more details regarding a date, time, and location. In the meantime, share your 3 word summary of Edcamp Philly here. (PS- This activity is free and a great way to work on character traits in your literacy classroom.)

Blog Booker: A Great Way to Archive Student Work

2011-01-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

If you have a class blog or individual student blogs, Blog Booker may be a helpful service for you. Simply put in the URL of a blog and Blog Booker will create a printable PDF of every entry and comment. This could be a great way to archive student work for upcoming parent teacher conferences. Blog Booker works with Blogger, WordPress, and Live Journal. Enjoy!

Boomerang: An Inbox Manager for Gmail

2011-01-18T07:00:00.001-05:00

Since I've started my new job, my email has spiraled out of control. Sometimes I get over 200 messages in a single day and it can be difficult to keep track of everything. For my personal and social media email, I use Gmail. However, sometimes it is difficult to keep track of emails that I want to follow up on and emails that I've sent. I just found Boomerang for Gmail, and it's awesome. You can install it as an extension in either Firefox or Chrome and it is great. You can schedule messages to be sent at a later time AND you can have messages pop back into your inbox if you don't get a response. Also, you can have messages that are important be resent to you at an optimal time. For someone who is trying to make sense of many dates, meetings, and projects, this can really help. It's free and helpful.