Every. Teacher. Must. Watch. This.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Apple Showcase Event
Today our district hosted 2 sites visits for visitors from all over Illinois and Indiana. I cannot tell you how invigorating it is to hear what others have to say about our district and all of the amazing teaching and learning going on.
Some feedback from the evaluation form:
"Hands on learning. Variety of lessons and activities. Teachers were focused on learning but the students controlled their learning. Very collaborative!"
"Great examples and models of collaboration, and creative engagement by both students and teachers.
Student demonstrated an understanding of their responsibility. It was good to hear them articulate their understanding."
"I was very impressed with the level of student engagement and teacher support."
"Loved seeing all the students actively involved in learning and all conversation between the students were focused on the lesson. Students all looked happy and engaged!"
Some feedback from the evaluation form:
"Hands on learning. Variety of lessons and activities. Teachers were focused on learning but the students controlled their learning. Very collaborative!"
"Great examples and models of collaboration, and creative engagement by both students and teachers.
Student demonstrated an understanding of their responsibility. It was good to hear them articulate their understanding."
"I was very impressed with the level of student engagement and teacher support."
"Loved seeing all the students actively involved in learning and all conversation between the students were focused on the lesson. Students all looked happy and engaged!"
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Students Use 21st Century Tools to Communicate Ideas
Tonight was Freedom Middle School's Honors Night/Open House. I had the pleasure of seeing the 7th graders I have been working with show off their projects this evening. Even more exciting was seeing how proud their teacher was of their work.
You can see their projects here: 7B Tell Their Story Edcanvas
The 7th grade social studies teacher and I worked together to create a creative and meaningful way for students to share their understanding of slavery in America. Students were challenged to portray what it was like to be a slave using a 21st century tool. After building their background knowledge through readings, videos, and webquests, students took on the role of a slave and created either a Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram page that communicated what it was like to be a slave.
Students were extremely creative and worked to provide details and personal touches to their projects. They worked together and helped one another very well. At honors night students dressed up as their slave and came to show off of their projects. A parent approached me and shared how much her student enjoyed this project and how engaged he was. She thought it was "really cool" that his teachers were so creative and willing to help them find ways they like to learn. SUCCESS!
*New idea! Students use QR codes to cite their sources. It was quite simple - they created a Google Doc of their sources, made the document viewable to anyone with the link, created a QR code from that link, and added the QR code to their project. This was a great way to cite their sources without it taking over their entire project.
*Going Green! For a week long project, only 1 piece of paper was needed for each students (this was the directions and the rubric). Student work was published online and never printed. In retrospect, the teacher and I would have given the directions to the students digitally instead, which would have made this an entirely paperless project!
You can see their projects here: 7B Tell Their Story Edcanvas
The 7th grade social studies teacher and I worked together to create a creative and meaningful way for students to share their understanding of slavery in America. Students were challenged to portray what it was like to be a slave using a 21st century tool. After building their background knowledge through readings, videos, and webquests, students took on the role of a slave and created either a Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram page that communicated what it was like to be a slave.
Students were extremely creative and worked to provide details and personal touches to their projects. They worked together and helped one another very well. At honors night students dressed up as their slave and came to show off of their projects. A parent approached me and shared how much her student enjoyed this project and how engaged he was. She thought it was "really cool" that his teachers were so creative and willing to help them find ways they like to learn. SUCCESS!
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| Student explaining her project to her family |
*Going Green! For a week long project, only 1 piece of paper was needed for each students (this was the directions and the rubric). Student work was published online and never printed. In retrospect, the teacher and I would have given the directions to the students digitally instead, which would have made this an entirely paperless project!
Today was an exciting event! I hosted a site visit for some school districts interested in 1:1 and eChalk. Participating in the visit were our eChalk sales executive, our client manager, and the CEO of eChalk. I truly enjoyed sharing our story with both the visitors and with our special guests. eChalk has played such an important role in facilitating our 1:1 environment and it was wonderful for them to see it first hand.
The day was filled with great conversation about student engagement, 1:1 learning, curriculum, common core standards, and the future of education.
The day was filled with great conversation about student engagement, 1:1 learning, curriculum, common core standards, and the future of education.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Food for thought
Great article! http://tomwhitby.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/a-digital-worksheet-is-still-a-worksheet/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Discovery Education TechBook
Excited to start to work some 3rd grade teachers to figure out how to use this great resource!
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/administrators/curricular-resources/science-techbook/
http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=3880
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/administrators/curricular-resources/science-techbook/
http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=3880
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