Check out tech guru of free stuff on line, Richard Byrnes! He explains using Poll everywhere and Back channels or sites like Wall wisher to assess students for learning in the classroom... See what they know informally rather than judging by stares or quizzical looks!
Love, love, love this application of tech in a way to assess and improve learning!!!!
www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/01/a-teachers-guide-to-classroom.html?m=1
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
OERs
In my class we are learning about Open Educational Resources... A great concept which is all about taking resources and making them free and accessible on-line, thereby bringing resources and educational opportunities to the world. It's funny, I always thought I was somewhat "Tech-Savvy", now I know that I am definitely not!!
Here's the introduction to Open Educational Resources... the history (short version) and basic philosophy...
http://academicpub.sharedbook.com/serve/ac/tmmix/greenhouse/
Basic philosophy of OERs - GIVE EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN.
They are about collaborating and sharing....
BASIC PRINCIPLES...
Redistribute - People share copies with others
Remix- People combine resources to create new content
Revise - People translate or change the work; people can modify and adapt
Reuse - People are allowed to freely use all or part of the unaltered, verbatim work
OERs are about teaching, learning and researching - accessible to everyone.... Knowledge as a public good. Knowledge as a public good. Everyone has the right to be educated, yet not everyone has the access to school.
Here's a good introductory video, "Why Open Education Matters" created by Flat World Knowledge.
http://youtu.be/bLxJGx4ESWE
Here's a video that was a TED talk from 2006, with Richard Baraniuk on Open Source Learning which are closely linked to OERs...This new emergence of on-line sharing of free resources could really help our world. Of course there are barriers such as language, cultural contextual differences and cultural teaching styles... but it's a beginning. Most OERs if implemented well allow teachers to reuse or remix ideas, basically adapt to the needs of the culture or context.
http://youtu.be/RRymi-lFHpE
The job you have today may not exist in 5, 10, 20 years from now. So how will you prepare and adapt for this change? This is where the possibilities of OERs can really make a difference, not just from a global equity perspective, or to ease the cost of higher level learning, but for everyone who might be looking at changing positions or jobs in the future. How can we adapt and be able to afford to go to school continuously? Does it have to have a cost?
See the video below, "Education Without Limits: Why Open Education Matters" with Mitchell Levy, College Open Textbooks Co-Director... really reinforces this mindset or mindshift...
Other organizations that support the OER and Open Source Learning
http://20mm.org/
Twenty Million Minds Foundation - This organization founded by Dr. Gary Michelson was created to provide the use of comprehensive, digital, higher education textbook library to help reduce the costs of textbooks. His website has the following mission... (see info direct from their website below).
OERs - Is this the way of the future in Higher level education??
Are on-line classes the future of higher education? Dean Florez, the President and CEO of 20 Million Minds Foundation and former state senator explains.
See link: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/on-air/as-seen-on/188510251.html
Here's a blog on latest news from the Twenty Millions Minds Foundation... Check out the videos on the blog (many are TED talks... Really cool!)
http://www.20mm.org/News-Conference-Dean-Florez-of-20-Million-Minds-Foundation/News-58.html
Want to sign up for OERs? It's a fairly new OER site (it doesn't have many resources - yet)
Doug Belshaw on TED talks on Open Source Learning and Digital Literacy
"Why Open is Important" video on open educational resources at the University level. He explains how OERs can provide opportunities and mechanisms for students and faculty to embrace the concept because it can improve the world by sharing knowledge. If the cost to produce something is $0, then the price of it should be $0...( Still trying to get my head around the price of planning documents to be shared.)
Dr. Paul Courant, Dean of University of Michigan Libraries, discusses why the concept of Open is important within academia.
Visit open.umich.edu/about to learn more.
http://youtu.be/XtUsffmHH0o
OERs at U of MICHIGAN - "It's all about collaboration and sharing"
Collaboration worldwide - Student's perspective video
http://youtu.be/dVkZL8fYxr8
Check out OER sites...
Creative commons http://creativecommons.org/
http://www.20mm.org/News-Conference-Dean-Florez-of-20-Million-Minds-Foundation/News-58.html
Here's the introduction to Open Educational Resources... the history (short version) and basic philosophy...
Basic philosophy of OERs - GIVE EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN.
They are about collaborating and sharing....
BASIC PRINCIPLES...
Redistribute - People share copies with others
Remix- People combine resources to create new content
Revise - People translate or change the work; people can modify and adapt
Reuse - People are allowed to freely use all or part of the unaltered, verbatim work
OERs are about teaching, learning and researching - accessible to everyone.... Knowledge as a public good. Knowledge as a public good. Everyone has the right to be educated, yet not everyone has the access to school.
Here's a good introductory video, "Why Open Education Matters" created by Flat World Knowledge.
http://youtu.be/bLxJGx4ESWE
Here's a video that was a TED talk from 2006, with Richard Baraniuk on Open Source Learning which are closely linked to OERs...This new emergence of on-line sharing of free resources could really help our world. Of course there are barriers such as language, cultural contextual differences and cultural teaching styles... but it's a beginning. Most OERs if implemented well allow teachers to reuse or remix ideas, basically adapt to the needs of the culture or context.
http://youtu.be/RRymi-lFHpE
The job you have today may not exist in 5, 10, 20 years from now. So how will you prepare and adapt for this change? This is where the possibilities of OERs can really make a difference, not just from a global equity perspective, or to ease the cost of higher level learning, but for everyone who might be looking at changing positions or jobs in the future. How can we adapt and be able to afford to go to school continuously? Does it have to have a cost?
See the video below, "Education Without Limits: Why Open Education Matters" with Mitchell Levy, College Open Textbooks Co-Director... really reinforces this mindset or mindshift...
Video published on Jun 5, 2012 with Creative Commons (creativecommons.org)
Other organizations that support the OER and Open Source Learning
http://20mm.org/
Twenty Million Minds Foundation - This organization founded by Dr. Gary Michelson was created to provide the use of comprehensive, digital, higher education textbook library to help reduce the costs of textbooks. His website has the following mission... (see info direct from their website below).
OERs - Is this the way of the future in Higher level education??
Are on-line classes the future of higher education? Dean Florez, the President and CEO of 20 Million Minds Foundation and former state senator explains.
See link: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/on-air/as-seen-on/188510251.html
Here's a blog on latest news from the Twenty Millions Minds Foundation... Check out the videos on the blog (many are TED talks... Really cool!)
http://www.20mm.org/News-Conference-Dean-Florez-of-20-Million-Minds-Foundation/News-58.html
Want to sign up for OERs? It's a fairly new OER site (it doesn't have many resources - yet)
http://academicpub.sharedbook.com/serve/ac/tmmix/greenhouse/
"Why Open is Important" video on open educational resources at the University level. He explains how OERs can provide opportunities and mechanisms for students and faculty to embrace the concept because it can improve the world by sharing knowledge. If the cost to produce something is $0, then the price of it should be $0...( Still trying to get my head around the price of planning documents to be shared.)
Dr. Paul Courant, Dean of University of Michigan Libraries, discusses why the concept of Open is important within academia.
Visit open.umich.edu/about to learn more.
http://youtu.be/XtUsffmHH0o
OERs at U of MICHIGAN - "It's all about collaboration and sharing"
Collaboration worldwide - Student's perspective video
http://youtu.be/dVkZL8fYxr8
Check out OER sites...
Creative commons http://creativecommons.org/
http://www.20mm.org/News-Conference-Dean-Florez-of-20-Million-Minds-Foundation/News-58.html
Powerful TED talk
Ooooooh I LOVE TED Talks. So many interesting perspectives on true reality. Maybe TLC should pick up TED Talks rather than shows about pageant toddlers or housewives who-have-too-much-money-and-too-little-education-or-class....
Anyways the TED talk that captured my attention recently was the "Reimagining Learning" by Richard Culatta.
or check out his video on Games used for Education and his research.
On the Innovative Learning site it states...
Games are powerful platforms for learning. They provide a highly motivating environment with lots of opportunity for repetition and feedback. In addition they give learners opportunities to make choices and embrace failure as an opportunity to improve.
Innovative Learning - Research and sites for Games
http://www.innovativelearning.com/
Anyways the TED talk that captured my attention recently was the "Reimagining Learning" by Richard Culatta.
or check out his video on Games used for Education and his research.
On the Innovative Learning site it states...
Games are powerful platforms for learning. They provide a highly motivating environment with lots of opportunity for repetition and feedback. In addition they give learners opportunities to make choices and embrace failure as an opportunity to improve.
Innovative Learning - Research and sites for Games
http://www.innovativelearning.com/
Big Ideas and Understanding by Design
Maybe you have heard of Grant Wiggins? Maybe not?? He is an advocate and creator of the "Backward Planning" model. Hmmmm... Sound familiar now??
If not, well he is the one who created the "Understanding by Design" framework. Here is a bit about it straight from his blog, just so I don't need to summarize it!
You will note that there is stuff to sell on the site, but I think that these books seem pretty worthwhile. Anyways... off to purchase a book or two, or find out if our library has them... ;-)
Understanding by Design® (UbD™) is a framework for improving student achievement. Emphasizing the teacher's critical role as a designer of student learning, UbD™ works within the standards-driven curriculum to help teachers clarify learning goals, devise revealing assessments of student understanding, and craft effective and engaging learning activities.
Be sure to also check out his Big Idea posts...
Big Ideas Blog Posts by Grant Wiggins...
http://www.authenticeducation.org/ae_bigideas/index.lasso
If not, well he is the one who created the "Understanding by Design" framework. Here is a bit about it straight from his blog, just so I don't need to summarize it!
You will note that there is stuff to sell on the site, but I think that these books seem pretty worthwhile. Anyways... off to purchase a book or two, or find out if our library has them... ;-)
Understanding by Design® (UbD™) is a framework for improving student achievement. Emphasizing the teacher's critical role as a designer of student learning, UbD™ works within the standards-driven curriculum to help teachers clarify learning goals, devise revealing assessments of student understanding, and craft effective and engaging learning activities.
- A primary goal of education should be the development and deepening of student understanding.
- Students reveal their understanding most effectively when they are provided with complex, authentic opportunities to explain, interpret, apply, shift perspective, empathize, and self-assess. When applied to complex tasks, these "six facets" provide a conceptual lens through which teachers can better assess student understanding.
- Effective curriculum development reflects a three-stage design process called "backward design" that delays the planning of classroom activities until goals have been clarified and assessments designed. This process helps to avoid the twin problems of "textbook coverage" and "activity-oriented" teaching, in which no clear priorities and purposes are apparent.
- Student and school performance gains are achieved through regular reviews of results (achievement data and student work) followed by targeted adjustments to curriculum and instruction. Teachers become most effective when they seek feedback from students and their peers and use that feedback to adjust approaches to design and teaching.
- Teachers, schools, and districts benefit by "working smarter" through the collaborative design, sharing, and peer review of units of study.
Be sure to also check out his Big Idea posts...
Big Ideas Blog Posts by Grant Wiggins...
http://www.authenticeducation.org/ae_bigideas/index.lasso
Explore +4
My husband recently showed me a new math classroom organization strategy and it's known as the "Explore +4". After viewing the video I was blown away... So much in fact, I want to try this format asap! The video highlights a first year teacher, Aaron Warner, who implemented the strategy with some of his own twists, namely the integration of technology. Although I see that it would take considerable effort to organize, once the structures are in place - it would run itself... Well, with lots of teacher planning!
One other thing, as you watch video, take a look at the long range plans for math planning, how the front white board is organized, bulletin board "I can..." affirmation statements. Pretty cool!
Here's the video, brought to you by my husband and his team of consultants...http://rpsconnected.rbe.sk.ca/
Take the time to watch it... I'm sooo impressed with the work that has been done here, as well as a little jealous! ;-)
Grant Wiggins - Big Ideas... Listen to his podcast...
http://www.authenticeducation.org/ae_bigideas/article.lasso?artId=133
One other thing, as you watch video, take a look at the long range plans for math planning, how the front white board is organized, bulletin board "I can..." affirmation statements. Pretty cool!
Here's the video, brought to you by my husband and his team of consultants...http://rpsconnected.rbe.sk.ca/
Take the time to watch it... I'm sooo impressed with the work that has been done here, as well as a little jealous! ;-)
Grant Wiggins - Big Ideas... Listen to his podcast...
http://www.authenticeducation.org/ae_bigideas/article.lasso?artId=133
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Schooling the world
I recently got this link via Classroom 2.0 to a very thought-provoking video, "Schooling
the World" produced by Carol Black. The video is free until February 12th... See the password.
The film is at https://vimeo.com/32012579 (password is STW2013), and looks at the often-devastating impacts of Western-style schooling in the developing world, particularly in Northern India.
In "Occupy Your Brain," Carol states, "[a]s our climate heats up, as mountaintops are removed from Orissa to West Virginia, as the oceans fill with plastic and soils become too contaminated to grow food, as the economy crumbles and children go hungry and the 0.001% grows so concentrated, so powerful, so wealthy that democracy becomes impossible, it’s time to ask ourselves; who’s educating us? To what end?"
the World" produced by Carol Black. The video is free until February 12th... See the password.
The film is at https://vimeo.com/32012579 (password is STW2013), and looks at the often-devastating impacts of Western-style schooling in the developing world, particularly in Northern India.
In "Occupy Your Brain," Carol states, "[a]s our climate heats up, as mountaintops are removed from Orissa to West Virginia, as the oceans fill with plastic and soils become too contaminated to grow food, as the economy crumbles and children go hungry and the 0.001% grows so concentrated, so powerful, so wealthy that democracy becomes impossible, it’s time to ask ourselves; who’s educating us? To what end?"
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
ETMOOC
Want to take a free on-line class and learn more about how to integrate technology in the classroom... or move beyond Digital Literacy to Digital Fluency??
Visit the ETMOOC session http://etmooc.org/, register... it's FREE!
For s "lite version" follow the posts shared on Twitter by participants...
#etmooc
Visit the ETMOOC session http://etmooc.org/, register... it's FREE!
For s "lite version" follow the posts shared on Twitter by participants...
#etmooc
Friday, January 18, 2013
Blended learning infograph
Blended learning infograph
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=510125
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=510125
MOOCS
So what's a MOOC? How about a learning opportunity for everyone!!! It stands for Massive Open Online Community.
http://suewaters.com/2013/01/18/learning-through-blogging-as-part-of-a-connectivist-mooc/
http://suewaters.com/2013/01/18/learning-through-blogging-as-part-of-a-connectivist-mooc/
Digital portfolios
What to create digital portfolios with students via the iPad!?
http://edudemic.com/2013/01/create-digital-portfolios/
http://edudemic.com/2013/01/create-digital-portfolios/
Getting smart blog
Now this blog is a definite go to for "techie focused" topics .... I will definitely check out regularly!!! Just a 2 minute scan and there were 4 articles I wanted to read! If you are aware of what's coming our way in digital learning, check this out!!
http://gettingsmart.com/cms/
http://gettingsmart.com/cms/
Flipping the staff mtg
Need more input for PD's? Want to try flipping the weekly staff mtg to try more resource sharing, more professional collaboration?? See the following link to a blog on how to flip your staff meeting.
I love this idea, especially because teachers are always so short on time. Check it out!!
http://www.teachthought.com/trends/flipped-classroom-trends/7-steps-to-flipped-professional-development/
I love this idea, especially because teachers are always so short on time. Check it out!!
http://www.teachthought.com/trends/flipped-classroom-trends/7-steps-to-flipped-professional-development/
Thursday, January 17, 2013
iPads and engagement
iPads vs textbooks - which improves engagement?? http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/technology-enhancement-tools-undergraduate-biology-course
Monday, January 14, 2013
On the road to online learning
The 1 mile Roadmap to Online Learning - Infographic http://elearningindustry.com/subjects/general/item/441-the-1-mile-roadmap-to-online-learning-infographic
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Educate the heart
Education is more than academic studies... Video from Sir Ken...
http://vimeo.com/channels/staffpicks/54303086
http://vimeo.com/channels/staffpicks/54303086
Monday, December 17, 2012
For all you nerds out there
Need girl
http://justnerdgirlproblems.tumblr.com/tagged/justnerdgirlproblems/page/10
http://justnerdgirlproblems.tumblr.com/tagged/justnerdgirlproblems/page/10
Friday, December 14, 2012
Tragedy
I can't even describe how I feel after hearing the news today. The tragedy in Connecticut is shocking, and quite frankly makes me feel sick. I can't imagine what those parents and community members are going through. I don't have any words, I just have prayers for those families.
My heart just hurts.
My heart just hurts.
More teacher podcasts...
http://podcast.teachercast.net/teachercast-podcast-54-ipads-iphones-and-apple-tvs-in-the-classroom/
How to implement BYOD...
How to implement BYOD...
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