This Five-Minute Film Festival article couldn't have come at a better time for me! I am meeting again tomorrow with some of my fellow blended classroom teachers to develop our classes for next year. This article provided lots of links and videos for me to share with them about some of the tools we can use! It is also great for me as school improvement co-chair; we have a technology goal, and this article will help our whole staff!
I didn't check out all of the videos, as I am familiar with many of the tools mentioned. However, for a definite laugh, check out the parody videos about Photoshop; these aren't exactly school-appropriate, though, so if you're not at home, be careful about viewing them! Another great video in my opinion was the video on Voicethread. As I am trying to finish up my digital storytelling assignment for this class, this came at a perfect time!
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Sunday, June 17, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Gifted Students
The article, Intervention for Gifted Students, caught my eye for a few reasons. First of all, I was myself a "gifted student" when in K-12 school. I have taught numerous gifted students in my ten years of professional life, and I am a counselor to a number of these kids. I have often felt that so much of our counseling time is spent on the "low achievers"...with little time left for those at the other end of the spectrum, the "gifted students."
In reading the article, I was surprised by what it was truly about. It was about a subject perhaps even "closer" to me than what I originally thought; it was about whether or not we should pass kids who can pass all of the standardized and outcome exams...even if they never attend school and regularly get under their teachers' skin. We have a new attendance policy at the school I work at next year: if a student can maintain a 76% class average and pass the final exam, they will earn credit in the class, regardless of attendance. Some of us like it; some of us hate it. However, our school board seems to have adopted the policy, based at least in part on the same feelings as the author of this article: perhaps attendance matters too much in public education.
The author does offer some suggestions that are more "middle of the road," suggestions that both teachers and school board members can probably live with! Better lesson plans and thinking of ways to engage gifted students will often alleviate problems before they start. It is difficult, however, to know what to do with kids like "Kevin" from this article. What do teachers do with gifted students who are chronically absent, defiant, and challenge authority? The author says not to back them in a corner, but when teachers have 35 other students to worry about at the same time, it is easy to instead send the Kevins of the world to the office!
In reading the article, I was surprised by what it was truly about. It was about a subject perhaps even "closer" to me than what I originally thought; it was about whether or not we should pass kids who can pass all of the standardized and outcome exams...even if they never attend school and regularly get under their teachers' skin. We have a new attendance policy at the school I work at next year: if a student can maintain a 76% class average and pass the final exam, they will earn credit in the class, regardless of attendance. Some of us like it; some of us hate it. However, our school board seems to have adopted the policy, based at least in part on the same feelings as the author of this article: perhaps attendance matters too much in public education.
The author does offer some suggestions that are more "middle of the road," suggestions that both teachers and school board members can probably live with! Better lesson plans and thinking of ways to engage gifted students will often alleviate problems before they start. It is difficult, however, to know what to do with kids like "Kevin" from this article. What do teachers do with gifted students who are chronically absent, defiant, and challenge authority? The author says not to back them in a corner, but when teachers have 35 other students to worry about at the same time, it is easy to instead send the Kevins of the world to the office!
iCivics
I read the article about iCivics and also visited their website, and I must admit that this could be a fun way to learn about government! I can envision using this in a social studies classroom when kids are "done" with a test or other work; it is an interesting way to keep them engaged. I also learned a bit myself about government, and the games were kind of fun if not too challenging.
This is a great resource for social studies teachers who are looking to integrate some technology into their plans!
This is a great resource for social studies teachers who are looking to integrate some technology into their plans!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Digital Writing
In the article, Why Digital Writing Matters, a teacher of writing addresses some issues with which I have lately had a lot of concern! He provided a couple of cool links to sites such as Crocodoc and Eli, and he seems to have written an article to convince other educators why writing digitally matters.
English teachers around the country are probably frustrated with their colleagues in other disciplines; it seems as if the reading and writing scores of most schools are often placed on the shoulders of the language arts teachers. This article argues that while teaching writing IS important and SHOULD be done, we must realize that our kids don't even realize how important their texting, facebooking, blogging, and other "digital writing" is. Employers and universities want people who are good writers, and in today's society, one must be able to write both digitally and conventionally.
I would be interested in reading more about digital literacy and how to incorporate it into secondary school!
English teachers around the country are probably frustrated with their colleagues in other disciplines; it seems as if the reading and writing scores of most schools are often placed on the shoulders of the language arts teachers. This article argues that while teaching writing IS important and SHOULD be done, we must realize that our kids don't even realize how important their texting, facebooking, blogging, and other "digital writing" is. Employers and universities want people who are good writers, and in today's society, one must be able to write both digitally and conventionally.
I would be interested in reading more about digital literacy and how to incorporate it into secondary school!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
More PBL!!!
In the article, "PBL: What Does It Take for a Project to be 'Authentic'?", the author describes what makes a project authentic or not. The author seems to side with many teachers (myself included) in that sometimes it is unrealistic to make your WHOLE learning environment "authentic." In these cases, simulating real-world experiences (for example, having students "pretend" to be a Presidential advisor) may be the best a teacher can do.
I liked some of the project ideas offered in the article. For example, having students create a website about books they like could be used at any grade level! I hope to incorporate something like this in my English 10 class next year. I also agree with the author that truly authentic projects are usually the most successful, but in lieu of being able to do one, a simulation of sorts is a good second choice!
I liked some of the project ideas offered in the article. For example, having students create a website about books they like could be used at any grade level! I hope to incorporate something like this in my English 10 class next year. I also agree with the author that truly authentic projects are usually the most successful, but in lieu of being able to do one, a simulation of sorts is a good second choice!
Project Based Learning
This article on project-based learning in a small Texas high school was interesting to read. I really would like to learn more about the types of projects, etc. that the school does. Their graduation rate (98%) is exceptional, and I was also impressed by the fact that not one child has dropped out in the five years the school has been open! I'd be interested in learning how many students they have per class, though. I was also impressed by the fact that many of these students go on to college and are the first in their families to do so. In this day of testing, I have been reading more and more articles about the value of PBL! I wonder if this is the way of the future to raise test scores? Or is it another bandwagon on which to jump? (I don't actually believe it is just the latest fad, but many of my colleagues do!)
Google World Wonders
This is a GREAT idea for history and geography teachers of all ages; I absolutely love so many of the things that Google has developed for education!! The Google World Wonders Project is definitely something I'm going to be using next year with my history students. I think it will be neat, and I loved exploring it myself!
As the article states, "When you explore a site, you get Google’s street view of the site, information about the site, YouTube videos related to the site and Getty images of the site." This can make different places "come alive" for students, and you can basically take a virtual field trip just about anywhere in the world. (You can even go to places that no longer exist!) Google even has ideas and things for teachers to download and use in their classrooms. Go Google!
As the article states, "When you explore a site, you get Google’s street view of the site, information about the site, YouTube videos related to the site and Getty images of the site." This can make different places "come alive" for students, and you can basically take a virtual field trip just about anywhere in the world. (You can even go to places that no longer exist!) Google even has ideas and things for teachers to download and use in their classrooms. Go Google!
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