by Larry Ferlazzo
Do Students Think Learning About Bloom’s Taxonomy Is Useful?
“Over the past week, I’ve been sharing lessons we’ve been doing with students on Bloom’s Taxonomy, as well as studies and ideas on the general idea of helping students reflect on if what they are learning in school is relevant to their lives (see Why Is It Important For Students To Learn About Bloom’s Taxonomy? and “Relevance” & Student Learning).
Today, students began to post on our class blog short responses to the question:
“Is it important to to learn about Bloom’s Taxonomy?”
You can see the first twenty or so responses here, including a couple of Fotobabbles.
The vast majority there are positive, though there are one or two students who answered negatively.”
Read the full story and this insightful reflection by Larry. CLICK HERE
A former student, Katie Gibson, of mine and a colleague, Sally Yahnke, is doing her student teaching in Olathe. Below you will find information about a very cool project she is doing with her students. Make sure you watch the Animoto Video, it is very powerful.
A two-day project in the Family and Consumer Science (FACS) classroom at California Trail Middle School became a school-wide fundraiser to benefit victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami. Katie Gibson’s students are making and selling tote bags and iPod covers for their fellow Bulldogs, with proceeds benefiting the American Red Cross.
“As a teacher, I focus so much on the curriculum and math/reading skills that it is easy to overlook some of the other issues students need to learn – compassion and humility,” Gibson said. “I approached my class about using our sewing skills and time to help those in need. We worked together to think of agencies to contact, items to make, and how to encourage others to donate.”
Her FACS students learned about the devastation in Japan and wanted to use their sewing skills to help those in need. They brainstormed items that could be sewn quickly, not cost a lot, and appeal to many students. FACS instructor Cheryl Hackmann made the patterns.
“I think it’s really cool that we can practice our sewing skills and help people in need,” student Rachel Lewis said.
The tote bags and iPod/phone covers have the class’ Hope for Japan logo on them. Only $1 of each sale will be used to cover the cost of producing the items, and remaining funds after expenses will also be donated. Wal-Mart donated $100 worth of fabric.
“I hope people will purchase what we make not for what it is, but because it helps people who desperately need it,” student Mia Gama said.
Original article: http://www.olatheschools.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2183&Itemid=1
(Photo: California Trail students made these tote bags and iPod/phone covers to benefit victims of the Japan tsunami.)
Check out the video: http://animoto.com/play/fO07h7k8899haSWj6EgCzQ?utm_content=challenger
This morning as I was was checking email, of course, what else should a teacher be doing on a Saturday morning, I received notification that a blog, The Wired Educator had MOVED! So, I checked it out, one of the articles was First Impression of the iPad2 in the Classrooms. Good story! But, as I scrolled down the page I found Travis Allen and His High School Initiative.
This is a short video showing a solution to our current education problems in America. If you want to learn more about the iSchool Initiative, go to our website! “The iSchool Initiative was formed by Travis Allen in 2009 when he received an iPhone for Christmas. He began to use his iPhone in class as a learning tool and was told by his teachers that it was not an educational device. Travis believed there was tremendous potential in the device as a educational tool and formed a concept around mobile learning. Upon beginning Kennesaw State University, Travis discovered SIFE, a student organization that would help him grow his non-profit organization. Travis is currently a sophomore at Kennesaw State University and has a team 25 students dedicated to strengthening and spreading the iSchool Initiative.”
Website: http://www.ischoolinitiative.com
by Michael Gorman,
TL Adivisor Blog
Curriculum is going digital and I have some information you will want to consider and even pass on to others! In this series I will explore resources that will open up a world of digital curricula. I start this series with 10 points all educators need to consider before going digital. In later posts, I will introduce you to some pretty cool content that can be part of your new digital curriculum. And yes… I even have textbooks covered! . You can also follow me on twitter (mjgormans) and of course visit my 21centuryedtech Blog. Now, enjoy a visit designed to help you reflect and plan the very future of curriculum as it goes digital. Have a great week – Mike
Read the full story, CLICK HERE and learn about the 10 Points To Consider When Transforming Toward Digital Curriculum.
If your are trying to integrate technology into your curriculum more, this is a great article and soon to be series of articles. I would like to encourage you to read and bookmark and/or subscribe to read the full series.
In today’s dynamic classrooms, the teaching and learning process is becoming more nuanced, more seamless, and it flows back and forth from students to teachers. Here’s a look at current trends in teaching and learning, their implications, and changes to watch for.
Read the full story about the The Three Key Trends
What these trends mean
Given the growing momentum of these trends, what does it mean for students, teachers, schools, and the education community at large?
- Teachers’ and students’ relationships are changing, as they learn from each other.
- Teachers roles are shifting from owners of information to facilitators and guides to learning.
- Educators are finding different ways of using class time.
- Introverted students are finding ways to participate in class discussions online.
- Different approaches to teaching are being used in the same class.
- Students are getting a global perspective.
RELATED
A tweet by 3rd grade teach Noreen Dooley, led me to a wiki and website by 3rd grade teacher Karen Rose. She showcases some absolutely amazing projects by her 3rd graders. She has tons of great resources and is using a wide variety of Web 2.0 tools. Check it out
- Mrs Roses’ Class (wiki): http://msrosesclass.pbworks.com/w/page/21892631/FrontPage
- Podcast page: http://msrosesclass.pbworks.com/w/page/29734448/podcast-page
- Blossom in Mrs Rose’s Room: http://krose.edu.glogster.com/aboutrose/
- The making of a Teachers, her website: http://themakingofateacher.weebly.com/
And Noreen Dooley has quite an impressive 3rd grade class website too. http://fc.bryanisd.org/~ndooley/
I work with pre-service teachers and am always looking for good examples to show them, just found tow today all because of Twitter.
Last month, Larry Ferlazzo interviewed two authors of the amazing book, Teaching 2030:What We Must Do for Our Students and Our Public Schools–Now and in the Future.
Yesterday Larry learned from one of the book’s other authors, Renee Moore, that an animated summary of the book is now available, it is embedded it below. It’s worth watching both for the content and for the visuals. The high quality content is no surprise, since the teachers who wrote the book are all top-notch educators. The website mentioned in the video is : http://www.teachingquality.org/
Brad Flickinger of School Technology Solutions has a great post about how he changed his teaching this week. It is really worth reading. Lots of resources shared and great reflection.
I teach in the college of education and we are working hard to teach our education majors to be reflective practictioners/teachers. This is a wonderful example. I’ll be showing it to them for sure.
“Every week I try to improve as a teacher — so what happened this week?
On Monday I was cruising through my Personal Learning Network (PLN) on Tweetdeck when I noticed a tweet about a new book that I have been interested in for months called The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande. The tweet was about how the ideas presented in this book could be used in education. How could using checklists improve education?”
Read the full story, CLICK HERE
I am doing a series presentations in 3 sections of an Elementary Methods class about Glogster. I decided I would put all the related resources I found about using and learning to use in the classroom on my blog for public consumption.
The projects these pre-sevice teachers are doing is a book/author study, kind of a PR/advertising piece relating to a series of multicultural books purchased through a grant written by Dr. Laurie Curtis. This is our third try with coming up a a suitable “tool” for the task. We began with Photobooth & QuicktimePro, then moved to Voicethread and we have now decided that Glogster may just be the right solution for accomplishing what we need for the grant website.
I mention the other things we have tried because in working with pre-service teachers, they also need to see that every teacher reflects on the teaching & learning process and are always attempting to find a better way. Sometimes it means jumping ship from what you did last time and trying something totally different. I applaud Laurie for her willingness to try new things and if they don’t pan out, to try something else. So far, from the first projects that have come in this semester, it appears that Glogster, just might be the answer we were seeking.
I have posted the process here for the students in the three classes, maybe you will find it useful too.
GLOGSTER: Poster Yourself
First, as an educator, be sure you are using Glogster EDU. ( http://edu.glogster.com/) There is a Glogster.com, but sometimes some of the “posters” in the gallery on the home page are not appropriate for education. So stick with the EDU side. It works exactly the same way and has all the same features.
Classroom Benefits: Benefits Glogster EDU provides to teachers and students:
- A fun learning experience
- A new way to express creativity
- Private, secure, safe virtual classroom monitored by teachers
- Drives new interest levels around subjects that may have been seen as “boring” before
- Adds needed audiovisual aspects to traditionally text-oriented subjects
- Fosters teamwork and collaboration with classmates
- Increases drive to be independently creative
- Unlimited shelf life
- Improves student-teacher relationships by allowing both to explore Web 2.0 & learning concepts together
- Keeps teachers and students up to date with modern technology
Click on Categories for great examples: the category- Libary has some that are similar to what you are doing for you Multicultural Book Assignment. And the Technology Category gives you some great how-tods, like how to use the Paper from digital scrap-booking sites.
Steps & Things to remember when creating & sharing your GLOG:
- Make your Glog Public. When you Publish, be sure to check the PUBLIC box. Remember, Dr. Curtis and I will be adding all your Glogs to the website for this grant project. In other words they will be used by many, students and teachers around the state.
- When you make things like a Google docs or Voicethread a part of your Glog, they need to be shared as Public before you add to the Glog.
Voicethread: click on Publishing Options button at the bottom and check the box that says Allow Anyone to View before grabbing the EMBED code.
Google Docs: Click on the Share button in the upper right and choose share PUBLIC, anyone on the web - YouTube: Make sure you uncheck the Include Related Content box when you grab the code from a YouTube video. Sometimes that additional content is not appropriate.
- A Glogster (Poster) is kinda like a puzzle. Things need to fit together.
- Be careful your background does not distract from the actual content. Good places to find more backgrounds are digital scrapbooking sites, the papers work pretty well.
- Make sure your text is readable. Remember you audience will be children.
- At the bottom of the Glog, in small, but readable font, include, your first & last name, class section, Spring 2011 (e.g. Cyndi Danner-Kuhn, Section R, Spring 2011)
- Save & Publish, when you save it will ask you to name it, please use the Book title.
- Add your Glog information for this project to Dr. Curtis Google Form.
RESOURCES to help you learn to Use Glogster: HOW-tos and tutorials
- Glogster YouTube Chanel: 14 videos showing you how to use in the classroom as well as HOW-to use Glogster.
- Great Step-by-step Glogster Tutorial: https://docs.google.com/View?docid=dgqwv5cr_127g7nqc8fm by Traci Blazosky www.glogstergirl.com
- Detailed Tutorial on Glogster EDU – Online teaching and learning tool: this is an excellent totuorial, very details, and then look on the right and you will find a slew of tutorials about Glogster.
- Glogster Tutorial on Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/Andreatej/glogster-tutorial-2916913
- Using Glogster in the Classroom: http://cnx.org/content/m32202/latest/ this one even shows how to set up you students to use Glogster.
- A series of 5 HOW-TO videos are located at the bottom of this post. They are worth watching.
- Using Technology in the Classroom: Creating Glogs, by Neil Finny, a classroom teacher
Other Resources to help you in creating a COOL Glog
Recording your voice:
On a Mac, Use GarageBand, share as mp3
On a Windows, I suggest Audacity. Audacity: The Free, Cross-Platform Sound Editor. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/. This will require you to download and install the program, but it is FREE and EXCELLENT. By the way it works on a Mac too. The cool part is under the Effects menu. Let’s say you are reading a book out loud, You can cange your voice and make each character in the book sound different. Very FUN!
Adding Movies you make to your Glog:
On a Mac I would suggest using QuickTime, Photobooth, GarageBand or iMovie.
On a PC, Windows MovieMaker.
Need resources, like sound files, images, etc, take a look at my Technology Keys wiki, Tons and tons of resources organized by category, all free.
Responses feature emphasis on interactive whiteboards and free digital media
Interactive whiteboards are the classroom technology that teachers say they most value, and though tablet-style eReader devices such as Apple’s iPad haven’t been around for long, they’re already considered the second most useful mobile classroom technology behind laptops, according to a national survey of teachers’ digital media use.
Educators are incorporating more internet-dependent technologies into their instruction, the survey also reveals—but shrinking school budgets are prompting many educators to look for free resources.
Read the full story, CLICK HERE
How–and why–to teach innovation in our schools
It’s wonderful to hear President Obama call for a nationwide emphasis on innovation, but it raises an interesting challenge: Where will all those innovators come from? Currently, we are chasing testable competency in academic core… [ Read More ]
Alice Mercer, Reflections on Teaching, a computer lab teacher at an elementary school in Sacramento, CA. just posted the Twenty-First Edition of the ESL/EFL/ELD Blog Carnival, and it’s full of amazing resources for ESL/EFL/ELD teachers.
It contains contributions from many great educators, as well as reflective commentary about each by Alice Mercer. Very, very nice. And according to Larry Ferlazzo, there is more to come in April, May and Sept.
“David Deubelbeiss at EFL Classroom 2.0 will be hosting the April 1st edition. Posts should be related to teaching or learning English, including examples of student work, are welcome. You can contribute a post to it by using this easy submission form.
There will be a special May 1st edition focusing on Young Learners and hosted by Shelly Terrell. The following edition will be published by Eva Buyuksimkesyan on September 1st.
You can see all the previous editions of the ESL/EFL/ELL Blog Carnival here.”
A nice base of lessons and resources for you to deploy in your classroom…
The Best Sites For Collaborative Storytelling | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…
Teaching Vocabulary-links, books, ideas | A Journey in TEFL
Animating Your Lessons with Some Drama: 20+ Resources | Teacher Reboot Camp
Using no opt-out and its limitations with ELLs (and others) | Reflections on Teaching
Speaking tips for teaching English with TED | Kalinago English
English Raven: The ‘live reading’ approach explained (in honour of Australia Day)
Picture Boards « Sandy Millin
ESL Stories
a cLiL to cLiMB, Chiew’s CLIL EFL ESL ELL blog: Online Games & Activities: Idioms Part 5 (Animals – Elephant – Flea) Interactive Game
Some research and policy because the big picture is important
Wasting Money On New Tests For English Language Learners | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…
Tongue Tied: Bilingual Education, in Policy and Practice
ELL Researchers Weigh In on ESEA Reauthorization – Learning the Language – Education Week
The Spelling Blog: Learned or learnt? Spelled or spelt? – A Google Ngram analysis
Finally, reflection is good, and these posts have it…
2011 Challenge: Become a Beginner (again) – Teaching Village
Using technology in the classroom can be quite hard « My Integrating Technology journey
Dinner and a Lesson? « lexigraph
Homework – Moving from “Alfie Kohn” to “Robyn R. Jackson” | Visualising Ideas
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District Technology Director Kathy Schrock offers her thoughts in this interview about the technology making positive changes in today’s classroom. The emergence of digital textbooks still is on the horizon, while Web 2.0 technology has made unexpected progress in improving the way students and teachers collaborate, Schrock says. She also predicts that within five years “students will have an age-appropriate personal information/creation/consumption device with them 24/7.”
“If you have found your way to this site looking for technology tools for teaching that are quick and easy to download, learn, and start using in your classroom, you have come to the right place. If you came hoping they would be free, then this is your lucky day! In the site, you will find a variety of review games, classroom management software, and other miscellaneous tools for educators. This site would not be possible without the support and feedback of our users. If something works well, please let us know. If it doesn’t let us know what can be fixed. And if you have ideas, please share! Have fun!”
- Classroom Jeopardy
- Speed Math Quiz Maker
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
- Board Game
- Seating Chart
- Group Maker
- Random Name Generator
- Split Flap Counter
- USA Population Counter
- Global Head Count
- Hang Man
- Flash Lottery
- Random Fact Desk
- Classroom Update
- Live Visitor Meeter
Don Knezek, the CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), compares education without technology to the medical profession without technology.
“If in 1970 you had knee surgery, you got a huge scar,” he says. “Now, if you have knee surgery you have two little dots.”
Technology is helping teachers to expand beyond linear, text-based learning and to engage students who learn best in other ways. Its role in schools has evolved from a contained “computer class” into a versatile learning tool that could change how we demonstrate concepts, assign projects and assess progress.
Despite these opportunities, adoption of technology by schools is still anything but ubiquitous. Knezek says that U.S. schools are still asking if they should incorporate more technology, while other countries are asking how. But in the following eight areas, technology has shown its potential for improving education.
Read ab out the 8 Ways, CLICK HERE
http://www.historyteachersattic.com/
Jeff Mummert‘s “blog is intended for educators in general, but with special attention given to history and social studies teachers.
I’ve had an interesting 15 year social studies teaching career. I’m not boasting (in fact I think it’s indicative of some problems in our profession), but I’ve taught the following courses/subjects over the years, in this order:
All of American History in one year
- World Geography for students who failed it previously (in a few cases twice)
- Civics
- American History 1877 to present
- Civics
- American History 1945 to present
- American History 1900 to present
- American History from 1877 to present (college level since 2001)
- American History from “beginnings” to 1877 (college level since 2001)
- American History 1492 to present
- European History from Ancient Greece to Napoleon
- American History from 1877 to present
- AP Human Geography
- A wide mix of NEH Teacher Workshops and technology professional development workshops along the way
I have heard far, far, worse. However, I’m a bit bothered by the fact that I’ve spent so much time creating activities for these subjects, and they just sit around gathering dust.
So, the objective of The History Teacher’s Attic is to get this dusty stuff off of my hands, all the while adding new content and resources for the history or social studies teacher. I’ll do my best to reach across the breadth of the content areas, specifically focused on middle school, high school, and undergrad.
I’ve also got a useful bunch of things in my real attic that I’ve researched over the years and have used in the classroom. I’ll be sure to include some in digital form with resources from time to time.
I plan to offer resources in three categories; “high tech”, “low tech,” and “no tech.” I’m an intensely tech-oriented person, and realize that many educators are just not impressed. So, I hope to help as many educators as possible across the technology spectrum.”
Backed by high-quality teaching, technology can breathe life into abstract concepts
“In Audrey Cucci’s math classes in Frankfort, N.Y., it’s not unusual to see students moving around the room, engrossed in conversation, sometimes even laughing—and generally having a good time.
No, her students aren’t slacking off; they’re actually deeply involved in their learning. Armed with collaborative handheld technology and an approach that incorporates problem solving within real-world scenarios, Cucci has managed to take a subject that students typically think of as dull and make it highly engaging and interactive. And the results speak for themselves: The number of Cucci’s students who are passing algebra has increased by nearly 20 percent.
“What was more important to me were the comments of my students—it’s not often that a kid walks into a math classroom and says, ‘This is cool,’” she said.
Cucci, who teaches at Frankfort-Schuyler Central High School, isn’t alone in her approach. Across the country, a movement is afoot to make math class more interactive, replacing problems on the chalkboard with tools and strategies that will capture students’ interest and make math come alive. Cucci uses the TI-Nspire Navigator system from Texas Instruments, which wirelessly connects students’ graphing calculators to each other and to a teacher’s computer, making it possible to have shared learning experiences.
Read the full story, CLICK HERE
For more on NCTM’s support of interactive technology that can boost student engagement and achievement, see the sidebar “An essential tool for teaching.”
Related Resources
Dan Meyer: Math class needs a makeover
Today’s math curriculum is teaching students to expect — and excel at — paint-by-numbers classwork, robbing kids of a skill more important than solving problems: formulating them. At TEDxNYED, Dan Meyer shows classroom-tested math exercises that prompt students to stop and think.
Mr. Robb’s Math – Hundreds of Math Videos
Collection of FREE math Posters
Interactivate – Interactive Math Assessments
Teaching kids real math with computers: Conrad Wolfram on TED.com
Integrating 21st-century skills into teacher prep will help students compete globally, new paper says
The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) are calling on teacher education programs to update their curricula to better prepare future teachers to integrate 21st-century skills into their instruction.
The groups released a paper on Sept. 23 seeking to establish a shared vision for infusing digital-age knowledge and skills into teacher preparation programs and spark a meaningful discussion among higher-education leaders about how to implement this vision.
“New teacher candidates must be equipped with 21st-century knowledge and skills and learn how to integrate them into their classroom practice for our nation to realize its goal of successfully meeting the challenges of this century,” said Sharon P. Robinson, AACTE president, and Ken Kay, P21 president, in the paper’s introduction.
The document seeks to create an ongoing dialog about how to update teacher preparation for a new era in which students are digitally connected and are accustomed to learning in new ways—and employers are looking for candidates who can use digital tools to communicate effectively, collaborate on projects, solve problems, think critically, and innovate.
To read the full story, CLICK HERE
