I'm a talker. Sometimes a writer. Forever a thinker. Always a laugher. Come on in and get to know me... I am currently a consultant in the Technology Component of Region 14 Education Service Center located in Abilene, TX. I have a passion for people, an enthusiasm for education, and I'm thrilled with technology. Join me on the adventure of 21st century instruction!
As of yet, I am completely inept at foretelling the future. However, I plan out my day, my work, my vacations, and even the grocery shopping with an almost absolute certainty. I am often well-prepared, calm, and equipped for the tasks before me. Except when I'm not... Because life happens, there are unforeseen variables, and people don't always operate on my schedule.
I'm faced with change... And my perception of change and the possibilities or opportunities that I choose to embrace as a result will have a great impact on what happens next.
And so... I want to "Be More Dog."
And as an educator... I want that for students, teachers, administrators and the system as a whole. Changes, though often scary, can reap benefits far beyond the obvious. And let's face it... we really are helping students develop skill sets for an unforeseeable future.
Our
spring COMPILE was filled with communication, creativity, collaboration and
critical thinking. From starting out on a Goose Chase for
random objects with an unknown team to random content and grade levels to
explore through making, all of our participants rose to the challenge and pushed each other
to envision a more innovative learning environment for our students.
Our
afternoon at ACU’s Maker Lab further challenged our critical thinking skills…
(Our 65 lbs. supported by one sheet of paper really was impressive… but those 4th
graders who could support 225 lbs. still have us beat!)
(For those of you new to the idea of COMPILE--Collaborative On Mentoring & Planning Innovative Learning Environments--it is merely an open-agenda professional development time for educators who WANT to be encouraged to try new things, innovate the learning process, go beyond the proficient, and get excited about education. Mostly made up of teachers from Pre-K through 12, technology directors, curriculum directors, instructional specialists, integration specialists, and principals all attend. Sometimes students come too... The group and content are both organic in nature and meet at least twice a year. Join us sometime!)
BREAKOUT EDU
As facilitator for the day, I set up two adjoining spaces for participants to experience the Time Warp game from Breakout EDU. For those of you unfamiliar, it's simple really -- a wooden box is locked with numerous and various, well, locks. The object is to locate and analyze various clues in the room containing the box and... you guessed it... OPEN THE BOX. Include the competitive nature spurred on by a timer, and you have a frenzy of educators who just want to win... What we all discovered in the powerful reflection that followed was... What exactly does "win" mean or look like? Opening the box prior to the end of the countdown? Finding and understanding all clues? Opening the box before another team? Reflection is indeed powerful and the greatest "take aways" prompted comparisons to the classroom when students who get all the "right answers" but don't know how they got them, when students who take longer time to complete some assignment but really understand the outcome are often under recognized, and when there is often some reward for being "first" regardless of comprehension. Conversations turned to differentiating the instruction with similar tools, differentiating the utilization of this tool, new game ideas for various age groups and content areas, the expectation of integrated technology and perhaps most importantly, the recognition of the proverbial "21st Century Skills" that our students will hone in this engaging way.
Angela, Inst. Tech, Clyde ISD: “LOVE this
idea!!!! This process creates a whole new heightened level of engagement for
learners!”
Six middle school teachers from Abilene ISD: “I
like the aspect of the breakout. I would like to see the lessons offered, though.” {tied to standards}
Shelly, Junior High Teacher, Wylie ISD:
“Breakout Edu was a fantastic new tool for my tool belt. Anything to get the
students working toward a goal through as many outlets as possible is a win
win.”
Stephanie, High School Teacher, Comanche ISD:
"I found this workshop to be very enlightening. My mind is now swimming
with ideas for implementing technology in my classroom that will facilitate a
higher level of learning."
Leanne, High School and College Credit Teacher,
Comanche ISD: "I thought the experience with Breakout EDU was very engaging... can't wait to learn more about it!"
Scott, High School Teacher, Snyder ISD: “The
group interaction during our breakout activity was insightful as a student, a
teacher, and a reflector from both perspectives. Our group was able to realize
post-op that we "worked through the process" even though we did not
"win". This too was a very worthwhile peak into multiple directions
that this approach can be utilized in PD with peers and possibly within our
respective classrooms.”
Misti, High School Teacher, Clyde ISD: “I
definitely want a box!!!! I see so many advantages to using it in my
classroom! I loved the conversations that
took place before, during and after trying to open the box.”
Learn Like a PIRATE
Before lunch, participants had the pleasure of a quick Skype call with author Paul Solarz of Learn Like a PIRATE. Educators in the state of Texas know a new teacher evaluation tool known as the T-TESS has dimensions specifically focused on student-centered classrooms. This book could be a guide tool for many teachers struggling with the implementation of the concept.
Sketchnote by Melody Collier, Hawley ISD
The afternoon brought in 26 kids from Hawley ISD's theater arts class. These students performed examples of #learnLAP elements for us, demonstrating Active Learning, Peer Collaboration, etc. through, among other things, flying themselves as a jet pack.
Students then sat with educators and discussed the things they wished their teachers knew and did... like "get to know me" and establish a relationship... Give me choice and multiple ways to learn...
Merkel High School located just under 20 miles west of Abilene, TX is undergoing a Culture Shift... Community members, parents, students, teachers and administrators are consciously taking steps to bring more non-traditional approaches to learning into the classrooms...
In a more "flattened" educational environment, students are encouraged to gain depth of learning outside of the four walls, textbooks, and teachers that have historically been the basis of knowledge acquisition.
In her first efforts at modeling how we learn from experts outside of the classroom, Animation teacher Ashlei Adams (@MHStechteach) sought the connection with someone in the animation industry... An email, a Google search, a Tweet, and a text later (ok...maybe not that exact order, but close enough) and Ms. Adams' students had booked a Skype call with former Pixar assistant editor David Condolora (@davidcondolora).
Students devised questions, and the teacher handled logistics. How fun for me that I was invited to watch, learn, and listen!
And learn I did! About animation...yes... but even more! I was validated in my belief that... "real world" expertise can bring laughter, smiles, enthusiasm, and a level of engagement completely unattainable by traditional instruction.
Some of the students, via their teacher, emailed me quotes they would want shared with the world... Pretty cool!
Alee- "He helped me have a better insight into how
creating an animated film really works!"
Alexis- "It was cool to get a chance to talk to an
actual professional from the industry."
John- "It was interesting to hear what software
programs are used in the animated film industry."
Brittany M.- "I appreciated the advice he gave us on
how to pursue animation after graduating High School."
Angel- "It was more interesting than regular
classwork!"
It seems their expert enjoyed the experience too!
How are you, as educators, flattening your classroom?
I had such a great time on Oct. 30 after being invited into a Google Hangout between classes at two of my districts (Clyde ISD and Merkel ISD in Texas) about 35 miles apart. (Merkel would also have a classroom that did Monster Match with a class in Highland ISD.)
Fifth grade students had a blast creating monsters and then using their English/Language Arts TEKS for process writing through the sharing of a Google Doc. It didn't hurt that this Halloween-themed option was just plain fun!
Listening and speaking skills were also covered as the students revealed their monster challenge of recreating another class's monster through Google Hangouts.
Below is a Google Slides presentation of the lesson plan and process... Here is a link to the scrolling presentation as well... http://goo.gl/kxPRr6
NOTE: Merkel fifth graders enjoyed the fact that their monsters and stories were part of a Haunted Hallway for Pre-K and K students on Halloween. Monsters were accompanied by ooey-gooey items of spaghetti, grapes and gelatin.
Last week, I received an email invitation to spend an upcoming day exploring a student created museum approach to the 1960s. That's the kind of email I will clear my calendar for!
Yesterday, I ventured out to Wylie ISD and found myself on the Junior High campus. Within minutes, three 7th graders eagerly showed up to escort me down to their 1960's walkthrough museum. I was checked to be sure I had a QR code scanner on my "smart" phone and a set of earbuds...
Let the learning for this former history teacher begin!
Oh... Did I mention this was an ELA class? Yes! The TEKS to be covered and learned by the students were centered around research papers, citations, primary sources, and writing... It took me at least ten questions before the students articulated that bit of information... They were more interested in explaining the "fun" they had in learning and show off their knowledge of the 1960s.
The teacher, Mrs. Ann Hurst, approached her content by allowing her students to utilize their own voice and choice in exploring the research process. In fact, this started out to be a project over the Titanic, but after the students brainstormed things that interested them and voted, the 1960s emerged as a time period the students clamored to know more about.
What was difficult? According to Alex, Anna Claire, and Reid, that would be "CITATIONS!!!" and "figuring out how to validate our resources on the internet!"
The breakdown of the process:
Students chose their own groups and topics, as well as made sure each student in the group had job responsibilities (true PBL fashion). The research and writing began, then the students chose a way to "present" their papers. Most groups selected the creation of a ShowMe or an Animoto. Utilizing four iPads brought into the classroom, the student groups rotated, shared, collaborated, and presented their papers... Campus Instructional Technology Specialist Coach Luke Hurst assisted with any technical questions the students had.
Then the museum construction began. Administration allowed the students to decorate an empty room with 60's flair. Students posted pics and QR codes by year around the room. All visitors walk through with a "smart" device and scan QR codes posted near pictures and descriptions of poignant people and events from the 1960s. The reward is a ShowMe or Animoto with student selected or drawn representations coinciding with student read research papers. An old turn table softly plays 60's music in the background and visitors are taken back in time to the Vietnam War, Alcatraz Prison, and the first Super Bowl to name a few.
A job well done, 7th grade Bulldogs!
The museum is open for the remainder of the month.
Google Apps for Education has recently come
Under Fire in the courts (Education Week… http://goo.gl/53UZgK)
and is perhaps inadvertently causing a maelstrom of activity as educators
struggle through the dilemma of adequately identifying and defining “data-mining”
and its impact on student privacy. Has a line been crossed? Are our students at
some type of identifiable risk? And is it all Google’s fault?
Really?!?
Data-Mining per se has, is, and will
continue to occur in varied forms or fashions simply because our world is
CONNECTED, SOCIAL, and CONVENIENT – BY AN OVERWHELMING DEMAND… As such, we, as
consumers, actually DESIRE data-mining – if not, we lose that which we have
grown to expect, especially from our world of technology. By slapping the hands
of Google, Dropbox, Apple, broadcast communication commercials in general, even
school yearbook ads, we are in essence “biting the hands that feed us.”
As a small child pushed in the cart at the
grocery store, I refused to try the fruit-flavored snacks the kind employee was
passing out as store samples. My mom sheepishly explained that I didn’t like
fruit… The “Samples Lady” never offered me fruit again and/or tried to sell my
mother on such a product (not the same response when it came to chocolate)…
Data was “mined”… Permission wasn’t
given to keep records on me, but it was stored in someone’s memory and for the
express purpose of not wasting time and knowing when a profitable sale would be
made. Was that the end of my privacy???
I remember
being a high school student and enjoying the TV we received in class by being a
Channel One school… We watched about 15 minutes of news each day that included teen
targeted ads like Doritos and Nike… Channel One has fabulously evolved into a
current events curriculum-supported concept that encourages and engages student
participation through quizzes, social media, etc. But picking apart the concept
of data-mining reveals that they too use information from our students… (http://www.channelone.com/privacy-policy/)
One of the
first storage concepts I fell in love with as an educator was Dropbox… Good
bye, flashdrives!!!! Many of our schools have encouraged students to utilize
this service personally for years. But what about protecting their privacy?!? (https://www.dropbox.com/privacy)
Then there
is our ever-popular iPad/Apple movement in education… Really? No data-mining?
Hmmmm… (http://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/)
And I once again want to point out that for the most part, we WANT them to
figure out some things for us based on our usage, what web sites we go to, our
needs for updates, etc.
Referring back
to Google and the lawsuits they are facing, the conflict seems to surround
commercial gain from educational purpose. I contend the benefits to our students,
schools, and staff and ultimately our new and improved COMMERCIAL products
stemming from the data mining far outweighs any semblance of privacy violation…
"I don't think there's another product on
the market that provides the same level of power to its users, regardless of
price," said Henry C. Thiele, the assistant superintendent for technology
and learning for the 6,800-student Maine Township High School District 207 in
Illinois.
(later in the article)
Of course, the problem extends far beyond Google,
Mr. Evans said (Cameron Evans, Microsoft's chief technology officer for education). A growing number of companies rely on "freemium"
business models in which they provide technology services to schools in
exchange for access to an increasingly comprehensive body of information about
students-including "ambient" data about where they are located, what
devices they are using, with whom they are interacting, and more.
I don’t work
for Google (but I love my GAFE and personal Gmail though), I am a huge Microsoft fan
(have a PC and a Surface Pro with a Live account tied to my Google), can’t live without my iPad,
iPad mini, Mac Air or iPhone… And am ever thankful that I can post to Instagram
or Twitter about my recent rug purchase on Overstock and receive ads helping me
cost effectively furnish my new home!
