tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61499824650371879242024-03-12T21:02:26.457-07:00Cutting Edge-ucationAn education forum examining teaching in an age of new pedagogies, high levels of accountability and the Common Core Standards... Highlighting teaching that is pushing the doors open to new techniques despite the many barriers faced by the modern educator...written by Scott Bedley an author and 25 year educator in Southern California.Scott Bedleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476408871827229925noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-62359911147049364182017-02-03T17:00:00.001-08:002017-02-04T07:38:11.487-08:00Play Needs a Rebrand... #GSPD<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Play is not frivolous or only to be given as a reward. It's vital.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> It's hard to believe we just celebrated three years of Global School Play Day. This small idea born from <a href="https://youtu.be/Bg-GEzM7iTk" target="_blank">Dr Peter Gray's Tedx</a> talk and from the frustration of hearing about d</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">istricts across the nation cancelling recess in the name of more test prep, h</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">as truly become a global movement. I remember Tim (my brother/a co-founder) and I talking about the hopes that in year one, GSPD's small leadership group (Eric, Oliver, Bethany, Misty, Tim and myself), could get the teachers of 10,000 students to agree with us that unstructured play was and is vital to a child's healthy development. It went beyond just asking them to support it, we were asking them to also back that belief with action that went against the current trend of hours of homework, test prep and the massive decline in the amount of unstructured play time for kids. Think about it...even play has become another scheduled event in a child's busy life, "play dates." </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEpeOlbk_JI-jsuwMYluyPAMf9HzH3zI1zoMtNYgTLuAlceUWbEFVczEkN8pwQIPNV1QwgQ3tskX5hAdyvUHkdx_k24dxSNhCKwg3CSmWvS7DdDX3lpjCBgO-_D1wfM5VqnK87iAob9jf/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEpeOlbk_JI-jsuwMYluyPAMf9HzH3zI1zoMtNYgTLuAlceUWbEFVczEkN8pwQIPNV1QwgQ3tskX5hAdyvUHkdx_k24dxSNhCKwg3CSmWvS7DdDX3lpjCBgO-_D1wfM5VqnK87iAob9jf/s320/image2.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEpeOlbk_JI-jsuwMYluyPAMf9HzH3zI1zoMtNYgTLuAlceUWbEFVczEkN8pwQIPNV1QwgQ3tskX5hAdyvUHkdx_k24dxSNhCKwg3CSmWvS7DdDX3lpjCBgO-_D1wfM5VqnK87iAob9jf/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> In 2015, we were blown away, that after a little more then one month of sharing on social media, teachers representing over 66,000 students had agreed to let their kids have unstructured play time on the first Wednesday in February. Even Brown University joined in that year.</span></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHnXXKu5DpMo90fTM7BHT7AznC9GW45itnuRgtv7z20qs4ER5nJY1xD9kGISMNU4i5Qha6qCnpyZ3iGLvM5WdJ10t0zv-91Methkt_XtVZVz1zXZaHhhoRmDQvwDKOOWy55uOdneoAeZ-/s1600/image1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHnXXKu5DpMo90fTM7BHT7AznC9GW45itnuRgtv7z20qs4ER5nJY1xD9kGISMNU4i5Qha6qCnpyZ3iGLvM5WdJ10t0zv-91Methkt_XtVZVz1zXZaHhhoRmDQvwDKOOWy55uOdneoAeZ-/s320/image1.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many tweets encouraging participation in #GSPD2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHnXXKu5DpMo90fTM7BHT7AznC9GW45itnuRgtv7z20qs4ER5nJY1xD9kGISMNU4i5Qha6qCnpyZ3iGLvM5WdJ10t0zv-91Methkt_XtVZVz1zXZaHhhoRmDQvwDKOOWy55uOdneoAeZ-/s1600/image1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Despite the success that a small team of dedicated educators saw in year one, we were unsure what 2016 would hold for Global School Play Day. By GSPD 2016, there were more than 177,000 students playing in just the second year. It was incredible!</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'll never forget checking twitter on what was the night before GSPD 2016 for my class. I saw that it had really kicked off in South Korea and New Zealand with some great pictures and video of the fun being posted. A tweet came across the hashtag (#GSPD2016) with a video of some students at a school in New Zealand who had set up a plastic "slip and slide" at their school. A line of kids waited for their turn. When I saw that, I got goose bumps realizing the impact this movement could have for kids around the world. Each part of the day, each hour, each minute, each second more of these amazing moments of joy-filled play were shared. When the day ended, we already had signups for the next GSPD.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Last summer, I found myself questioning if we could pull this off for a third straight year. I was exhausted and facing some heartbreaking family health issues as we lead up to GSPD 2017. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8L5wUT8ReUlRYjcaq-SR1oHq9h83JPDgsiG68S5Yhh14-7Gzh3cjIlx2zikC7rEPI3vPIX8F019L3KeQyYwy7q-OEK6esac-s1WbZ274Xr-139JxTfQlrhXZeBq8QAgD5_jZRj6YAlti/s1600/IMG_1820.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8L5wUT8ReUlRYjcaq-SR1oHq9h83JPDgsiG68S5Yhh14-7Gzh3cjIlx2zikC7rEPI3vPIX8F019L3KeQyYwy7q-OEK6esac-s1WbZ274Xr-139JxTfQlrhXZeBq8QAgD5_jZRj6YAlti/s320/IMG_1820.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twitter post from just a few days before #GSPD2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Well, #GSPD2017 just happened on February 1st. On that day, that beautiful day we call Global School Play Day 2017, over 280,000 kids from more than 50 nations, on 6 continents had been registered to play, and play they did. You can scroll through any of the hashtags from the last three years of GSPD to see tens of thousands of videos and images. In those images, you'll see is the true joy that this day allows for in each and every child who is given this gift from the caring educator who has made the decision to celebrate unstructured play. The amazing impact is not only for the kids, but you'll see it on the faces of the educators who took the risk giving up one day of traditional instruction and gave themselves the chance to see the power of play. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS13kH9KfGzxKd_ud_EVUaC_SJxQ-348xGVRpRQl5_NHrwPTUVDYZhi_MebIKzZt3lITpf_Lbm9e15zrkYNcGcnPlygTlK8RZChTB3j0n5IVQQvRnNZxjW1cwjWqRTCUVpegY8ZTB1wix-/s1600/IMG_1942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I've heard from many educators that this day has been a true revival for their spirit and passion and a renewal of the joy that their students can bring them. So many have said that the loss of play in the school day has been a gradual decline as the system has turned their vision of education towards testing, accountability and data all while shifting their focus away from joy of teaching, the love of learning and the passion for their positive impact. While I don't want to overstate the impact of Global School Play Day, I have to believe that if every educator were to experience it, they would become a believer again in unstructured play and shift what they do every day in class. They would shift the demands they place on kids outside of the school day. They would shift their vision back to their first passion of impacting children's lives rather than feeling pushed into the single focus of delivering content to score high on a single high-stakes assessment. I found myself caught up in that mindset, but because of questioning why we had moved so far away from the needs of children and because of the educators around me who are constantly challenging the "why?" , I find myself free. Free to make my classroom student centered not content centered; free to love my students where they are in their learning journey; free to empower them as learners; and free to let them discover life on their own. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS13kH9KfGzxKd_ud_EVUaC_SJxQ-348xGVRpRQl5_NHrwPTUVDYZhi_MebIKzZt3lITpf_Lbm9e15zrkYNcGcnPlygTlK8RZChTB3j0n5IVQQvRnNZxjW1cwjWqRTCUVpegY8ZTB1wix-/s1600/IMG_1942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS13kH9KfGzxKd_ud_EVUaC_SJxQ-348xGVRpRQl5_NHrwPTUVDYZhi_MebIKzZt3lITpf_Lbm9e15zrkYNcGcnPlygTlK8RZChTB3j0n5IVQQvRnNZxjW1cwjWqRTCUVpegY8ZTB1wix-/s320/IMG_1942.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit to Eric Saibel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I want to challenge you, if you've yet to test out unstructured play in your own classroom. Try it. In the 180 plus school days, what harm could one day of play do compared to the massive benefits you will open up for your students. As always, thank you for reading this post and I value your comments. I know it's been a while since my last post, but I was driven by my passion for this movement to share my thoughts through writing.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Global School Play Day Info</u></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-c3534085-064f-e618-0432-cb3e654e5bf5"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-c3534085-064f-e618-0432-cb3e654e5bf5"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What If the World Came Together Around Play? It did in February. M</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">ore than 275,000 children, from 51 Nations, on 6 continents were given the gift of unstructured play! How many will play in 2018?</span></span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-c3534085-064f-e618-0432-cb3e654e5bf5"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
<br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></span></span><br />
<ol style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c3534085-064f-e618-0432-cb3e654e5bf5"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Argentina, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Angola, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Australia, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Austria, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Bahamas, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kingdom of Bahrain, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Belarus, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Belgium, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brazil, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Canada, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cambodia, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Czech Republic, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dominican Republic, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Egypt, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">England(UK), </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ethiopia, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">France, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Georgia, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Germany, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ghana, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greece, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Guatemala, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">India,</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indonesia, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Iraq, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Japan, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lithuania, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luxembourg,</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Malaysia, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Montenegro, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New Zealand, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nigeria, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pakistan, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philippines, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poland, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Portugal, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">România, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Russia, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saudi Arabia, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scotland (UK), </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Singapore, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">South Africa, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">South Korea, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spain, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Switzerland, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thailand, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turkey, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">United Arab EmIrates, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ukraine, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">United States, </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Viet Nam</span></li>
</span></span></ol>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-c3534085-064f-e618-0432-cb3e654e5bf5"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Thanks to </span><a href="https://twitter.com/gregsedu?lang=en" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Greg Smith</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> for his thoughts on play and title of this blog. He shared this idea of play needed a rebrand at Edcamp LA a few years ago and it's stuck with me ever since. I think it was and still is, yet another brilliant insight from Greg.</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-34205197455610654042015-07-26T09:15:00.001-07:002015-07-26T09:15:14.994-07:00Solving the Grand Challenges in Education... My Annual Reading Assignment Focused on #EduIcons and ProgressWhat do you believe are the "Grand Challenges" in Education?<br />
<br />
The target moves, we shoot. It moves again. We shoot again. It feels like this continually moving target, that we all get caught up in trying to hit, and may likely never be hit. So let's stop shooting at others' targets and start defining our own. When you think of what you want your students to leave your class with, are there keys? Do we even know the right questions to define our targets?<br />
<br />
What questions do you believe we need to help set up our targets for success? I'll be adding three books to my reading list specifically focused on expanding my perspective over the next year in an effort to dive deep into thinking about the targets that will help the way I teach. One is <a href="http://amzn.to/1LLRooV" target="_blank">Alfie Kohn's School Beyond Measure</a>. I've always admired Alfie Kohn's contrarian look at things and agree with him on some (but not all) perspectives. Another book from one of the people I consider an "Education Icon" (#EduIcon) is <a href="http://amzn.to/1MuL9aH" target="_blank">John Seely Brown's The Power of Pull: How Small Moves, Smartly Made, Can Set Big Things in Motion</a>. I love the concept of "small moves" that can lead to bigger change. Next on my list of reading is another #EduIcon, Dr. Howard Gardner. His book <a href="http://amzn.to/1D3jTwT" target="_blank">The Unschooled Mind</a>, a book that's been out there for some time but seems to have slipped past me until now, is focused on merging cognitive science with the education agenda. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlsa2NkDSX_rqUO5VLZqvAi1szRovvJzRJOEuR7TA44SxPpgekGEsEON4x8xvVLoxm8bBCfbsKmkpW_lsqOdO_AS7Iq0vzBN3vpLZWgarA2IzgPtmurFBHY7J01tsk_hKTkfLqjDT2Vxj/s1600/2655969483_7ab8dc51d4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlsa2NkDSX_rqUO5VLZqvAi1szRovvJzRJOEuR7TA44SxPpgekGEsEON4x8xvVLoxm8bBCfbsKmkpW_lsqOdO_AS7Iq0vzBN3vpLZWgarA2IzgPtmurFBHY7J01tsk_hKTkfLqjDT2Vxj/s320/2655969483_7ab8dc51d4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm looking forward to continuing to challenge myself to rethink what type of education I'm providing for my students. I do this because I want every teacher my son has to do the same. Join me in reading. I'd love to hear your thoughts on any of these books.<br />
<br />
Thanks for visiting the blog and I hope you'll consider following me as I share more over this next year. You may also want to check out the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bedley-bros.-edchat/id683019404?mt=2" target="_blank">Bedley Brothers Edchat Podcast </a>where we highlight many of the leaders in the world of education.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Optional Reading: </b>I just finished Ron Clark's new book <a href="http://amzn.to/1CZhTpE" target="_blank">Move Your Bus</a> and was hoping the book would help me better define my targets or help to identify questions to improve education and learning. An interesting book (Please don't get mad Ron Clark followers), but I found it a bit disappointing for a title that says it is "An Extraordinary" insight at "Accelerating Success." Ok Amanda Ripley... I hope your book <a href="http://amzn.to/1D3pUJP" target="_blank">The Smartest Kids in the World </a>lives up to the hype because you're up next.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-39339716162120064502015-05-02T17:48:00.002-07:002015-05-02T19:32:55.404-07:005 Things We Have To Stop Pretending <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well it happened. I was challenged to give my list of 5 things we have to stop pretending in education by an amazing educator Jeanne Reed (@jeannereed1 on the Twitters). </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As I’ve read other posts on this blog post challenge topic, it’s been interesting to get an insight into the thinking of connected educators nationwide. I would love to see how this topic would turn out if it was posed at every staff meeting at the end of the school year and... at the beginning of the school year. The reason I’d like those contrasting times, is the emotions are far different. Getting the pulse of connected educators, at this time of the school year, while being entrenched in massively expensive (financial and work hours) standardized tests, open house events, and even closing out the year can be filled with higher levels of stress and anxiety. Here are the 5 I selected from my thoughts.</span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-7a2a26e0-164e-789e-c74d-b6f0e871f462" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 Things We Have to Stop Pretending:</span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that the “Keeping Up with the Joneses” mentality doesn’t happen in education.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that educational time spent on strengthening weakness is more important than time spent on identifying and enhancing strengths and talents (of children and educators).</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that there are not deep divides in the "education world" on the topic of “Best Ways to Educate Children.” </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that standardization is the way to improve education and that most educators like it. </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that we can close the “Achievement Gap” without closing the “Opportunity Gap” (AKA - poverty - Read my upcoming post on Closing the Opportunity Gap).</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note: I didn’t number these opinions because to me no one is more important than another. They each carry weight. I hope, we as a connected education community, can work to resolve these things but allow for a diversity of solutions without being overly critical of efforts to provide the best possible education we can imagine for our children. </span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’d like to invite about 100 people to join in this... but to follow the pattern I select <b>Genein Letford, Oliver Schinkten, Timothy Bedley, Jon Samuelson and Christina Luce </b>to share their thoughts. I have a tremendous amount of respect for each of these friends and educators because of the fact that they are action based.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Optional Reading…</b> My other opinions on this topic that we have to stop pretending: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That Standards Are Focusing on developing Critical Thinkers Vs Consumers; That We Aren’t Thinking to Highly of Tech Tools as Solutions; That Strategies and Pedagogy Are the Means to Improvement in In-Class Teaching (relationship is to me); That Kids Don’t Like Mindless Worksheets sometimes; That More Work/Assignments/Projects Get’s Better Learning Results; That Education’s Bottom Line is Student Learning and Not Money; That the Correct Policy or Set Of Standards Will Make Education Better; That Assigning Reading At Home (Reading Logs) Means All Kids Are Really Reading At Home; That Homework is Actually an Effective Means to Improve Student Performance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Share your thoughts on this topic even if I didn't challenge you... We need to keep the conversations going to progress as an education community!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-75360834442375264762015-04-19T13:56:00.000-07:002015-04-19T22:17:01.070-07:00Giving Back to Philadelphia at ISTE 2015 = #SliceOfISTE<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So many times I'm thankful for the learning that goes on at a conference. I enjoy seeing all the amazing people from my PLN and meeting new people to expand my PLN. I love the energy that surrounds learning and education conversations. Often, prior to a conference, we will share about sessions we may be considering, make dinner plans, talk about what we hope to get out of or add to the conference, but for ISTE the conversation shifted to "What is it that we feel we can give to the city and the people of Philadelphia?” </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-2d216169-d36f-fda6-4916-57cf23690d9b" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The idea of giving back is nothing original, but it is so extremely valuable. While listening to one of the best young educators Sara Boucher (@MsGeekyTeach) as she shared a story about how one restaurant in Philadelphia that was giving to the homeless, I caught her enthusiasm. She was hoping to get a group of us to visit that pizza place while at </span><a href="https://www.isteconference.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISTE</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Her excitement for the story spawned the start of something that we are hoping expands and catches fire among attendees and those #NotAtISTE alike.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGzp4la43SpJBe-hhp-s9DheEKYe8p2DNNBCP7A6nOUt9MlaRKh7Qda-FvymJRe9qBG1Pq2wd3jxm4_sf2cjqvlYBpHMpdgWnlWVrZ01z2HnaLp7nO1PR6SkgTF6ER2FcB5WCXQm5VtpH/s1600/3495871394_e9be6579f9_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGzp4la43SpJBe-hhp-s9DheEKYe8p2DNNBCP7A6nOUt9MlaRKh7Qda-FvymJRe9qBG1Pq2wd3jxm4_sf2cjqvlYBpHMpdgWnlWVrZ01z2HnaLp7nO1PR6SkgTF6ER2FcB5WCXQm5VtpH/s1600/3495871394_e9be6579f9_o.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.rosasfreshpizza.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rosa's Fresh Pizza</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in Philadelphia has had some recent</span><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/01/14/377033772/philadelphia-pizza-lovers-pay-it-forward-one-slice-at-a-time" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">press coverage</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> including being on the</span><a href="https://youtu.be/ymDlygdpddQ" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ellen Show</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for their efforts to give slices of pizza to the homeless of the local community. The hopes are to have ISTE attendees flood this local business with free slices of pizza which would be used to serve any homeless who may be in need of a meal. As the discussion continued, it blossomed beyond just a small group of friends headed over for a slice, into a planning session for ways we could help the community of Philadelphia in many ways, thanks to Tracy Clark.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So join this simple movement in giving back to the city we have the opportunity to travel to for education conferences. Buy a slice of pizza for a homeless person at Rosa's or find another way to</span><a href="http://greatnonprofits.org/city/philadelphia/PA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">contribute to the local community</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Join Tracy Clark, John Stevens, Karl Lindgren-Streicher, Victoria Olson, Sara and I by looking for ways to give as we all travel to Philadelphia. Please share about your plans for giving back by using #SliceOfISTE on Twitter or Instagram. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not going to ISTE? You can still give or plan similar type activities at the next conference you attend. Thanks for reading. Be sure to follow </span><a href="https://twitter.com/SliceOfISTE" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@SliceOfISTE</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for updates and info on opportunities to give back during ISTE 2015. Check out some of my other blog posts on education.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-29788169017222648632015-03-27T09:44:00.000-07:002015-03-27T17:34:09.582-07:00Profession Development Gluttony? Refine your Palate.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEI8Cxdreprn57dbAC8JfPiQdd5liAUE24WmcmP3D-0HyMz7jb3HU-E_cLWNELpcAdrteygXhUFwoUOyH5CGZ-BVEpLmTSKMUKzXyxWMSr4OYzT-QOCA55g5b7gSr8Rdavti5NUvBZda4/s1600/Japan+Trip+086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEI8Cxdreprn57dbAC8JfPiQdd5liAUE24WmcmP3D-0HyMz7jb3HU-E_cLWNELpcAdrteygXhUFwoUOyH5CGZ-BVEpLmTSKMUKzXyxWMSr4OYzT-QOCA55g5b7gSr8Rdavti5NUvBZda4/s1600/Japan+Trip+086.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>Are you a professional development glutton? Take the Quiz:<br />
<br />
Do you feel like there is nothing in teacher training sessions that you really enjoy?<br />
Do you look over the session schedule and are uninterested in most sessions being offered?<br />
Do you often wonder why so many sessions feel the same?<br />
Do your conversations fall back to "how can we do professional development different?"<br />
Do you feel like your wasting your time at conferences but you still attend?<br />
Have you been to 10 or more trainings in the last year?<br />
<br />
Did you answer yes to any or most of these questions?<br />
<br />
So are you fat? Not physically... but are you fat with knowledge? Are you part of the growing group of educators who are eating at the ever expanding table of educations professional development?<br />
<br />
For a while, it felt as though professional development, at least in California, had all but disappeared. Now it seems as though the opportunities are endless. I find myself feeling like I've been gorging at the PD table for the last few years. As creatures of habits, I continue to go back to the same style of restaurant all while expecting new flavors that I can't find on the menu. I search the menu of sessions hoping to see something that sounds tasty, but it's all starting to look the same. How many ways can you have "tech-calamari" or "pedagogy-pasta?" I've been doing my best to share all the food I've been enjoying, but more and more the flavors seem to lose their taste.<br />
<br />
Others I know, who are also feeling full as well, are turning like foodies, to try and discover the hole-in-the-wall restaurant that's yet undiscovered. Some who are searching are even becoming their own chiefs by offering PD in ways that may not have been offered. Others are even going as far as opening their own "restaurants" or by starting "PD franchises." And others are traveling great distances hoping to find different flavors to bring back home. Some have stuck close and are trying to demand more from the same restaurant we've been eating at for years. All these efforts don't seem to get to the heart of the matter. When you're full your full. Sometimes stepping away from the table is the best solution. I'm certainly not trying to imply that anyone should stop going to professional development, but I am challenging the notion that more professional development leads to better classroom learning for students. For me, I need to refine my palate. How do I plan on doing this in the next few years?<br />
<br />
My hopes are to put aside professional development and focus on personal development. I want to find ways to expand the person I am, develop new passions, and learn more about things outside of education than inside. To put into practice, in my own life, all I've learned that is great for my students. I'm going to do more making, playing, and less homework! I'm going to spend more time experiencing learning through projects, choice and inquiry. I'm going to get back to the roots of learning. My hopes are that I'll discover what else I can offer my students and their families. I hope this will refine my palate.<br />
<br />
Refining your palate and expanding your taste seems to be the way I will move forward as an educator. Does your palate need refining? How will you refine yours? Share with me and be sure to check out some of my past blog post, point out errors or just say hello.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-53672513591094044272015-01-19T15:57:00.003-08:002015-03-31T09:15:34.112-07:00If Learning was a Currency, What's Your Tax Bracket?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
EdCamp San Diego, Circa 2014<br />
<br />
<br />
Walking in I was greeted by excitement, enthusiasm, and a clear desire to learn. It’s the feeling I get at the beginning of each EdCamp I’ve attended. The session board fills and you select, which is powerful. Sometimes though it’s the conversation, with other passionate educators, in the hallways that inspires the most progress in my classroom. This time it happened to be in the lounge/lunch area.<br />
<br />
Wrapped closely around the circular lunch tables, I sat with Karl Lindgren-Streicher and Laura Spencer looking for a different conversation than any of the second session topics offered. Listening to two such passionate educators sent me a drift in thought. We discussed successful and unsuccessful teaching strategies through the sharing of experiences in our lives. In my head, I kept coming back to the question, how do we assign value to learning as educators? I started to share. Below are the questions that spun in my head from that conversation as well as a few of the ways I answered. I’d would have loved to have you there with us, since that time has past, join the conversation now, how would you answer these questions.<br />
<br />
<br />
If learning was a currency…<br />
<br />
We often avoid a public discussion on the topic of defining quality teaching or we spend a disproportionate amount of time criticizing poor teaching strategies without being able to truly pinpoint what makes a quality educator. The Gates Foundation has spent years and vast amounts of money trying to identify this very thing. Ultimately, the issue falls back to how do we identify what is success. I believe it is the relationships you create and the learning happening in a classroom. <br />
<br />
As teachers, I believe we would want to be judged on the relationships we build that lead to learning, but what if learning was a literal currency? Where would each of us find ourselves financially Rich? or Poor? or Middle Class? Would we strive to be part of the wealthy class, or be satisfied with being in the middle class? (Vacations once a year, enough to feel satisfied and that you have it better than most.) Does our current education system have too large of a "middle class?" Have we become comfortable in the amount of "learning currency" we're earning in our lessons and lectures or have we become so far in debt trying to avoid leaving any children behind that we are just trying to survive. Is the learning "wealthy class" expanding at a rapid rate or is it shrinking? Do we have so much learning "currency" we should start donating the extra to others who find themselves in a less fortunate situation? Would our investments in learning "currency" be getting double digit returns or less then 1% interest? Are we hoarding vast amounts of knowledge on investment strategies that lead to high returns in learning "currency?" Have we stopped taking the time to follow wise investment strategies? What is each of our "learning currency" tax bracket? <br />
<br />
There were so many questions that played out in my head with regards to imagining learning as a currency, questions that eventually ended up in the conversations we had at that table. It's a thought I couldn't leave behind at EdCampSD. I'll leave you with this thought to hopefully inspire your reflection in this area. Since learning isn't a limited resource, why can't we continue to expand the "wealthy class" and shrink the "middle class" down to nothing. I really believe reflecting on the learning that goes on in our classrooms, truly taking the time to ask the question "How much learning is really taking place in my classroom?" can only push us to strive to a part of the "wealthiest 1%" and add a few zero's to that 1%. Thanks for reading.<br />
<br />
Check out my other posts on such topics as Optional Homework, Un-Maker Space, and more.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-1486527472579159122014-09-24T14:20:00.000-07:002014-10-10T09:46:45.007-07:00Dissecting The Un-Makerspace: Recycled Learning<span id="docs-internal-guid-2dd051e2-a978-9bb5-64f5-f0e923036e45" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A 1980's cassette player, a broken computer mouse, an old monitor... all ready for the dumpster... drop it by my classroom! Why? For my "Un-Maker Space" inspired by my first journey to the </span><a href="http://youtu.be/GjG2WPzw1bg?list=PLc695sWmPGpwf7y-9rfc1Yv7xM09YTr9p" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bay Area Maker Faire</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> two years ago. This </span><a href="http://youtu.be/tYev8KyUlSs?list=PLc695sWmPGpwf7y-9rfc1Yv7xM09YTr9p" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Steampunk Mad-Scientists event</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with its many innovation, creative geniuses and 100,000’s of onlookers descending on the San </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mateo, California area with such a wide array of inventions, it would be hard not to be inspired!</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/uj08K1oI0lJIAQyfyoLEr3SVpX54on1ll4mwx4IYQM6Y1AjKDvJ2k1q_zrBGZRnOG9-G1HrLnAw1j--KNSv5QkB1nZXSvf1nVaBwM1OAL2-i1PTqDIyPmR1rqKBLvRcRqA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="IMG_2510.JPG" border="0" height="191px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/uj08K1oI0lJIAQyfyoLEr3SVpX54on1ll4mwx4IYQM6Y1AjKDvJ2k1q_zrBGZRnOG9-G1HrLnAw1j--KNSv5QkB1nZXSvf1nVaBwM1OAL2-i1PTqDIyPmR1rqKBLvRcRqA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none;" width="191px;" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let's step back for a moment. I love all the recent focus on Maker Spaces in schools. If you’re not familiar with what a Maker Space is </span><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/maker-movement-moving-into-classrooms-vicki-davis?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=blog-maker-movement-moving-into-classrooms-image" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">check out this blog by Vicki Davis</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Basically a Maker Space is a place for students to take raw materials and create “things” using their imagination. The creativity required and the "in-time" learning that a maker space provides is powerful. I saw an example of the power of "making" this last school year when I had students, who would normally struggle in a traditional class, create things such as a working catapult fashioned out of popsicle sticks, </span><a href="http://youtu.be/puKFWCyO0hk" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rubber-bands and cardboard</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/JLEeYfw0ItJgm3V7kPKyN0606aV7VGex7vU4oK9RMLnVi7qem8FbEx-Hq7Vt562tRb_maoa7bB-Bf4nEpJWAhZwEcpQlLTr8xdwSnZzkBmogJ7pDUgKmZXntlDxOVUt17w" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="IMG_3494.JPG" border="0" height="148" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/JLEeYfw0ItJgm3V7kPKyN0606aV7VGex7vU4oK9RMLnVi7qem8FbEx-Hq7Vt562tRb_maoa7bB-Bf4nEpJWAhZwEcpQlLTr8xdwSnZzkBmogJ7pDUgKmZXntlDxOVUt17w" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none;" width="200" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My journey into exploring the power of making continues for a 3rd year with two added goals. First,I plan to expand the depth of learning that goes with "making" by creating Maker Connection Logs where students write, take photos, and record short videos to show their thinking while making connections between curriculum areas and their creations. The goal of the “Maker Logs” is for students to be able to give me insight into their creative process, thinking and provide a way for reflecting with the hopes of improving the future process of "making."</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/d_rU6LQQOODQcIKh0meNbwM6JYMXi2l6Gipg2erqVcPZPORpwHjBOQmFBjJ-gvzMoavwk8l2vM73elj_P5qQE6eFwAn7wKI7GKXSFKUWo1HlEO1zm1_ZTuO2WYS_WzDndQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="IMG_3496.JPG" border="0" height="150" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/d_rU6LQQOODQcIKh0meNbwM6JYMXi2l6Gipg2erqVcPZPORpwHjBOQmFBjJ-gvzMoavwk8l2vM73elj_P5qQE6eFwAn7wKI7GKXSFKUWo1HlEO1zm1_ZTuO2WYS_WzDndQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none;" width="200" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My second goal, which I recently accomplished, is to create an "Un-Maker Space." Simply put, a space where kids can take things apart. So many of the creative geniuses I met at the Bay Area Maker Faire two years ago spoke of taking things apart when they were kids. Watching my 3 year old son recently take apart his toy vacuum really solidified this idea for me. We all have this inner drive to create an understanding of the world around us. This is founded in the desire to answer all the "why" and "how" questions in our thoughts. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why did that little wheel spin when I pushed the play button on that cassette player? How did the electricity get from the cord into the monitor and then create a picture? How can I take this apart?</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> So my students will have a space to dissect all the discarded and unwanted items and to ask those questions. In this un-maker space they’ll have the chance to explore the possible answers. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/hp236KZZLvyqZW81Ax_6sNU1R8lCXwnSl4vKjk-PN4vIHSCK4IqgnwHYWrcjOVr8tbQ7qTy8Cq-MiEc6cWMtxdUaasFT-STpE8q9RmPdvhKrupjiI41R0zHbhs4Q6SVo0w" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="IMG_3557.JPG" border="0" height="150" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/hp236KZZLvyqZW81Ax_6sNU1R8lCXwnSl4vKjk-PN4vIHSCK4IqgnwHYWrcjOVr8tbQ7qTy8Cq-MiEc6cWMtxdUaasFT-STpE8q9RmPdvhKrupjiI41R0zHbhs4Q6SVo0w" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none;" width="200" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How will I do this? Garage sales! Tool donations, safety gear... And a means for them to log their dissections through writing, photos and video as we explore the scientific way to take things apart. I see many opportunities for learning including opportunities in math, writing, critical thinking, fine motor skills, and a chance to help develop a greater level of executive functioning skills (to name just a few). I work hard to foster an atmosphere where student questions drive their desire to learn and this fits right in with it. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beyond all the learning taking place in the dissection process, it will provide opportunities for students to try and rebuild or use the parts to create something new.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/aCCSPOwKwRaqBg6_gPoILuDd3ML5xaGfGmPHsHsrDgbuCtAyzC3li0BUU3cx_iOWuyWfaG5A7fbu2LwHXb9qfIXsLBjAaWgF6AEqb6pcPOuWbZSxKEUMpXu-_vQjFN9Knw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="IMG_3576.JPG" border="0" height="127px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/aCCSPOwKwRaqBg6_gPoILuDd3ML5xaGfGmPHsHsrDgbuCtAyzC3li0BUU3cx_iOWuyWfaG5A7fbu2LwHXb9qfIXsLBjAaWgF6AEqb6pcPOuWbZSxKEUMpXu-_vQjFN9Knw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none;" width="169px;" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So join me and grab those broken cassette tape players before they get tossed into the dumpster. Smile when you see a keyboard that isn't working, and celebrate that old laptop with the broken screen that is out of warranty. It's all how we look at things, our mindset, that can lead us to finding "new" in the old, new questions to answer, new places to explore and new learning to gain. As for those broken "unusables," they get a second life by becoming another learning opportunity for our students! When will you have an UnMaker event in your classroom or at your site? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'd love to hear your thoughts. I would also be happy to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">share the guiding document I created to use with my "Un-Maker" teams. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-46284638280988812042014-07-07T14:21:00.001-07:002014-07-19T18:55:56.382-07:00Assigning Optional Homework?<b>So... Should homework be required or eliminated?</b><br />
<br />
A few years back, my district went through an exercise of looking at homework and our policies surrounding it. Meetings were had, discussions and debates occurred, and in the end... nothing much seemed to have changed. I understand why... this is a tough issue! Homework, after all, is truly a pillar of education. So as the debate over homework seems to continue on like Pink Floyd's song "Comfortably Numb" ...looped..., some arguing for it and others against it, all with no solution... I'd like to propose an optional new policy... <i>The Optional Homework Policy.</i> The optional homework policy states this... "Students, if you or your parents would like you to complete homework, then here are your options." Yes, giving the decision making power, to have or not have homework, over to the students and their families. Crazy!? Will Not Work! Kids' Scores Will Drop! Before you judge, please think growth mindset... and know that I've actually been testing this out over the past school year with positive results for all parties involved with the homework debate.<br />
<br />
There are three basic explanations/reasons why I reconsidered required or no homework:<br />
<br />
<strong>Grades, Grades, Grades...</strong><br />
<br />
As teachers we have the choice to calculate homework into a grade or not. Most teachers I know have homework as a small percentage of a student's overall performance, yet many of the report card conversations between teachers, parents and students, from my experience and as shared with by many other teachers, revolve around the topic of missing or late homework. Now I don't believe that something should be changed to avoid a conversation, but these conversations can often become distractors or points of contention between parent and student, student and teacher, and teacher and parent, thus creating problems in partnerships that are vital to real learning. These homework conversations are another draw away from the important conversation about learning, true student needs, and areas of growth.<br />
<br />
The important question to ask oneself about homework grades is why is it being given? The typical answer would be work completion, practice of concepts or responsibility at primary levels, and preparation at the higher levels. Most don't say that the primary or important factor in homework is as a diagnostic tool to report to parents on a students ability or performance. There's too many variables that impact homework to use it as a diagnostic for student learning or as a tool to help guide future lessons and instruction. When homework becomes optional though, the feedback, and not the grade, become more important to the learner. Feedback is how we learn. I've seen the focus shift and become about the quality rather than the completion. So rather than giving grades based on completion of work, grades can continue to move towards being about reporting levels of learning growth.<br />
<br />
<strong>Help or lack of it</strong><br />
<br />
It's a "Goldie Locks" deal... some get too much, some not enough and others just the right amount. While parents and teachers are often on one side or the other in this debate, the optional homework policy pleases all. Ideally the parents who may offer too much help to a child, thus taking away their chance to feel the success that builds confidence, find that their help (which is at times aimed at grades) becomes obsolete and the focus shifts to supporting a child's learning. Fewer conflicts occur between child and parent and student and teacher. On the other hand, the student that always struggles with homework, and comes to our learning environments already with a feeling of failure, now is far more open to learning.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Real Impact?</strong><br />
<br />
On a study my teaching partners and I did in 2007, surrounding homework's true impact, we found that through a comparison based in data, the students who received less homework (in the subject area of math for our study) had three key factors surface. First, parents reported better relationships with these children. Next, students positive attitudes and feelings towards learning and school showed a measurable increase as well as in-class focus and participation based on surveys and observable evidence by two outside teachers watching the three groups in class for engagement and effort. Finally, the group who received the least amount of homework, actually showed the highest percentage of gains from pre-assessment to post assessment on the math concepts. Again, with the number of variables, I can't say beyond doubt that homework or lack of it, was the factor that truly made the difference, but it did play a key factor.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Still not convinced... Me either</b><br />
<br />
My main hope is to "get you up on the fence" about this topic so you can look down on both sides and clearly evaluate homework requirement practices and why they are in place. One quote that sticks with me came from some of the additional video content from the movie<i> Race to Nowhere</i>.<br />
<br />
"<a href="http://youtu.be/ZONH4B-qCAs" target="_blank">Homework may be the greatest single extinguisher of children's curiosity that we have yet invented...</a>"<br />
<br />
So, where do our fears as educators and in education lie with letting go of homework? Are we giving homework because it's always been done or because it makes a positive impact? If you believe it makes a positive impact, what real concrete proof do you have that it's the homework providing this improvement? <br />
<br />
<b>I write this blog only to encourage you to question things that have always been... I hope you'll question some norms... maybe even check out my previous post titled "Subversive Education Unconference Style"</b><br />
<br />
<b>My Steps and Results</b><br />
<br />
So what did I do to make homework optional? Well... when I change things I don't only consider the implementation I will make, but I consider "will others be able to do this too?" Confession... This isn't for everyone. Baiscally I took the assignments I would normally assign and said... "This is optional..." after all, I have no foundational research to show homework was actually beneficial, so how could I justify continuing a required practice that no one could prove even worked after decades and decades of research and debate. So rather than stop giving it, or continuing to require it... I made it optional leaving the decision to the parents and students.<br />
<br />
How has my experiment gone? First, please know I wouldn't have tested this without the data from the study we did in 2007 and a great deal of research... but it's been great! <b>One of the most positive outcomes I've seen is that it's pushed me as an educator to continue create in-class assignments that drive kids to want to continue their learning on their own at home, intrinsically, by choice.</b> It's so rewarding to have my students have the desire to learn more about a subject I'm teaching, because it's one of the main reasons I went into teaching... to inspire my students to learn. In addition, many students who have wilted under "required homework" policies have started to blossom and come to life as learners in my subject areas. I can't say beyond a doubt that <i>The Optional Homework Policy</i> has alone created the success and desire to learn I've seen, as I'm always trying new ways to inspire my students to learn, but I do feel confident it's been a key contributing factor to success for both my students and myself. <br />
<br />
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the issue.<br />
<br />
Are you going to try <i>The Optional Homework Policy</i>? Tweet at me or comment to let me know. My next action step... student choice self-assigned homework. I'll let you know how it goes...<br />
<br />
Additional reading on the homework debate that's gone on since the early 1900's <a href="http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/108071/chapters/The-Cult(ure)-of-Homework.aspx" target="_blank">ACSD's look at Homework through the 20th and 21st Centuries</a><br />
<br />
Thanks so much for reading! With my best hopes for you and your students!<br />
<br />
Subscribe and check out my next blog post on Creating E-Magazines with your students or read my recent post on <a href="http://cuttingedge-ucation.blogspot.com/2014_03_01_archive.html" target="_blank">Live Broadcasting: Creating Your Own Student Press Conferences!</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTs0BbdPPW6BrQBekOCsZDnfL1Fw5C_VKQzyRIFleWgt013ROjkR9ICepmoJLGjavrSRnQ_na89XzfUrIIyyRqWLJCGF_rnyXdmfreTQV1gtUa_ZVtwYHxmi0IwSQrqvA20KA9kmuwnmeO/s1600/IMG_1178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTs0BbdPPW6BrQBekOCsZDnfL1Fw5C_VKQzyRIFleWgt013ROjkR9ICepmoJLGjavrSRnQ_na89XzfUrIIyyRqWLJCGF_rnyXdmfreTQV1gtUa_ZVtwYHxmi0IwSQrqvA20KA9kmuwnmeO/s1600/IMG_1178.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-63333702310075409762014-04-11T17:07:00.000-07:002015-03-31T09:16:57.084-07:00Subversive Education Un-Conference Style!<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">It takes distance for me to really get a full perspective. I think of the many drives I’ve taken into Yosemite Valley, stopping at </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tunnel View or standing at Glacier Point, looking back on the tree filled valley, river winding, rock formations surrounding it like the hand of God holding this amazing location in it’s palm. It’s that perspective, that can be found in those lookout spots in life. Likewise while standing at the base of El Capitan </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">and looking up at the largest monolith of granite in the world or being drenched on the Mist Trail by two massive waterfalls towering over in Vernal and Nevada Falls, you can feel so small and in your surroundings. Surfing gives me this same perspective as I'm sure </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">something in your world gives you. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">For me, both the near and far have moments that provide perspective. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVOCAXVTHpdCwZNeSlP7L-9tRjORphNfJJeEAoK4A-m_YdSjBR6GmFcWT5lqyBMZGZc0aZOvJuPL7ZjbeaVtZ5sPZvxCrAKPrdTntFuZ-Ono1sjXmyq6Meu_cihOBuMjQBjHVRuyNgC9R/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVOCAXVTHpdCwZNeSlP7L-9tRjORphNfJJeEAoK4A-m_YdSjBR6GmFcWT5lqyBMZGZc0aZOvJuPL7ZjbeaVtZ5sPZvxCrAKPrdTntFuZ-Ono1sjXmyq6Meu_cihOBuMjQBjHVRuyNgC9R/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast Pre-Edcamp LA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJRdZWkp1SmPZOdCNZRvgD-AgRJ3JX4A_bay61nIPcD1UXXN4WRX970gIDq2NDDna3BMHYeiNBY5VPgzYhWZb-zvhLmnPuU1gKt1kvZl1fVFXeeEwq2WuFqYFjo-dqb8nyABhpsvFVF1p/s1600/photo+3+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJRdZWkp1SmPZOdCNZRvgD-AgRJ3JX4A_bay61nIPcD1UXXN4WRX970gIDq2NDDna3BMHYeiNBY5VPgzYhWZb-zvhLmnPuU1gKt1kvZl1fVFXeeEwq2WuFqYFjo-dqb8nyABhpsvFVF1p/s1600/photo+3+(1).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edcamp LA Photo Walk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Please know, I loved my experience at EdCamp LA, but it does not compare to the inspiration that Yosemite holds for me personally. Yosemite is simply my way to show a clear distinction of perspective. EdCamp LA in every way was an awesome experience for me as an educator. This blog post though is my "Tunnel View" or "Glacier Point Perspective" and not my valley experience on EdCamp LA. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My valley experience would be filled with my conversations with the dedicated educators I spoke with throughout the day starting at breakfast with Sean, Chris, Elizabeth, Senna, Greg and David leading into the jokes and smiles with amazing educators like Bill, JR, Elana, Jo-Ann and others. It would have the details of how to take Minecraft use in my classroom to the next level, or the meandering photowalk from the depths of the parking garage to the highest point of the four story school building rooftop playground. Some of those details are now difficult to see as my memory fails me regularly, others are only valuable when emerged in the experience itself. What remains are those big ideas, those "Half Dome" landmarks that impact my view on the classroom and my instructions. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking back two things still standout to me and come to mind regularly... </span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First: Courage and Connection</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; line-height: 1.15; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfHsY2x0NsGTvYcolIAiToeC66r9_1n6Mw6YrgCSsvB75R2L4DsPvT9BzrN8cPLb84bjwHtA7v_jOVFhjmVRY1gYg6CDU9MBpsjpWYWFmbS3ihPALdUWemdfT5fkO0X_B3OVGzyq0fb-j/s1600/photo+(1)+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfHsY2x0NsGTvYcolIAiToeC66r9_1n6Mw6YrgCSsvB75R2L4DsPvT9BzrN8cPLb84bjwHtA7v_jOVFhjmVRY1gYg6CDU9MBpsjpWYWFmbS3ihPALdUWemdfT5fkO0X_B3OVGzyq0fb-j/s1600/photo+(1)+2.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtyard Connection</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 1.15;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> During the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">session I had put on the board titled Subversive Education (I'll tell about that coming up) </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, backed away from the circle of seats I had adjusted, sat a lone lady. I spoke encouraging words for her and others to join the circle for the session. Most did... she did not. As we got to the heart of the session many of the group were agreeing on one specific topic but not that one unlikely vocal teacher who sat outside the discussion. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">She got major pushback from the group as a whole but t</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">his teacher</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> had the courage to speak against what most in the session were sharing about and brought up some very valid points. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I admired that despite the pushback, she still spoke. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For me, her subversive perspective on one of the topics in the session was beautiful! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As I ate lunch in the courtyard outside, I saw that same teacher, again off on her own, eating lunch. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I wanted to learn more about her and the courage I felt she demonstrated. I approached her and started up a conversation. I'm an introvert and connect better one on one and feel a bit awkward in large social setting even though I push myself to participate in them (& why I picked the title of an upcoming blog of mine <i>On Being</i></span><i style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Social Media Awkward</i><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">). As I did, one of the educators I respect the most, Genein Letford, came out and I invited her into our conversation. As Genein and I learned more about this special education teacher, I could see the courage she had and knew this was how she taught. With courage. As much as I feel Genein and I may have shared with her about things, I was incredibly inspired by her story and courage. Although there is so much more to the story and the conversation, I will leave those details on the "valley floor." Those in the session may remember her for taking a not so popular stance. I'll </span><span style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">remember our conversation and that</span><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> she spoke up with courage and that was truly why I posted the Subversive Education session at EdCamp LA. </span><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was the model of disruption and looking from a distant vantage point the details fade, but the monument of courage and connection stands.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Second: Subversion/Disruption </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
</span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I whole heartedly believe in the concept of disruption. I see the value that disruption creates. I see the beauty that comes from subversion. My quick definition of subversive education/disruption is a teacher, a group of educators or an organization going against the norms (norms like pacing guides, standards, and the enforced requirements) all in the effort to create a more powerful learning opportunity for their students. It's not about opposing things, but about providing innovation that leads to deep learning and potentially systemic changes. After all... if all we do is follow the same path set out before us, innovation would not occur. So I taped up (on the outside of the session boxes encouraged by Sean and Vicki) on the EdCamp LA board "Subversive Education: What cool things are you doing that don't fit the standards or Common Core?" Selfishly I wanted to have this session to confirm what I suspected, that I wasn't the only one experimenting with new strategies and pedagogy in this transition time between standards. I wanted to know what other efforts where happening to innovate and positively impact kids lives and educational experience... but happening "somewhat underground." </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBrJHg4R96HmgPvGMeLSlJTxrLC3RE_qTXP_3fsIsPZOih9sDE8iwsXIMIq8Y-eg0hk4RslcPpcZB9BbvHXZHkySdgiKrLvl4Ci3yV1ulbMVc7e552yVkcXpyXDxi6abqwsrLmss9LiiR/s1600/photo+1+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBrJHg4R96HmgPvGMeLSlJTxrLC3RE_qTXP_3fsIsPZOih9sDE8iwsXIMIq8Y-eg0hk4RslcPpcZB9BbvHXZHkySdgiKrLvl4Ci3yV1ulbMVc7e552yVkcXpyXDxi6abqwsrLmss9LiiR/s1600/photo+1+%25282%2529.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The session started with me sharing about a non-education speaker I had listen to a few weeks prior at the 2014 OC Business Outlook (I </span><span style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">believe</span><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I was the only k-12 teacher </span><span style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">among</span><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> thousands at that event). He had told stories about small start-up companies disrupting the way things worked for the big corporations and how the big corporations could "deal" with these small disruptors. I was so inspired, but I'm not sure it was how the speaker intended. I didn't hear his message from the big business view, I heard it from the view of the disruptor. I figured that if we, as small "classroom start-ups,"could innovate and disrupt, then the education world would have to shift from the same old thing and change just like the shift small start-ups named Google, Apple, YouTube and others did to the world of information and technology. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="line-height: 1.15;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To lead the sharing of risks in the Subversive Education session, I told my personal stories of having a class pet that wasn't allowed. No big deal. I was hoping to start small and lead up to a climax of education changing discussions and idea generation. I spoke of trying to podcast with my students several years before and having our district place a sticker on my personal Apple computer that I brought in to use to produce the student "Stories in History" podcasts. The sticker simply said along the lines of "This is Not An Approved Electronic Device and Must be Removed Immediately!" along with some other district rules for power use. I know n</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">either of these I shared </span><span style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">were</span><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> massive disruptions, but both had the intent of providing a positive experience for my students. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 1.15;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The session was off and running with many of the other amazing teachers sharing stories of subversion, some big and some small. The discussion went in many directions all with the continued hope of sharing about educational lessons that didn't follow the norms or standards, but that these dedicated educators knew were good for their students. It was empowering to know this was happening all over. I hope if you read this, you too will share your story of disruption and subversion with others. I also hope to see Subversive Education sessions cards pop-up (on the outside of session boxes </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">course)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">on session boards </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">at other EdCamps! After all... it is the Un-Conference and perfectly disruptive itself!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.15;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWAs6xVCvk4jIyCosFgQgcB6lHoaZPa7b4aB2XBtUcPwNQQ0Jp6JYvIwLzeFwDZJ5unkYuXhww7zUdRRKzeeHIZRDqHahep9jZ4bLoLQ3GxatLgjjFpaLJO3cJ4L9N0eLsKY430ARnV8V/s1600/edcamplalogoheader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWAs6xVCvk4jIyCosFgQgcB6lHoaZPa7b4aB2XBtUcPwNQQ0Jp6JYvIwLzeFwDZJ5unkYuXhww7zUdRRKzeeHIZRDqHahep9jZ4bLoLQ3GxatLgjjFpaLJO3cJ4L9N0eLsKY430ARnV8V/s1600/edcamplalogoheader.jpg" height="121" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> * I'm thankful for the time I spent at EdCamp LA. It was a valuable investment that has paid off over the last two month in my classroom and my teaching spirit. I'm so thankful to the educators and contributors who took their time to organize such an awesome event. If you haven't attended an EdCamp I hope you'll consider it soon. Most importantly, I hope you'll become a disruptor of the norm, working to innovate the educational experience we provide for our most valuable resource... our kids!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Info or Support in Starting Your Own Subversive Education Session at Edcamp, Please Contact Me @TASFair or @ScottBedley on The Twitters.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look for the upcoming blogpost on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>CUE14</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and a disruptive topic </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Optional Homework... Seriously?</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Thanks again for reading and pardon any errors and formatting issues!</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.15;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-49784416398109445822014-03-01T12:06:00.000-08:002014-03-01T13:27:21.325-08:00Live Broadcasts: Creating Your Own Student Press Conferences<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each year it becomes a fun challenge to figure out ways to engage my students and connect them with authentic audiences. Along with different uses a technology based activities such as Mystery Skypes, virtual field trips, BYOD and others, I started to broadcast my students in events via Google Hangouts. One such event I’ve held with my students for the past six years called “The Dead Explorers' Press Conference.” </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-2d96d4f5-7f3f-f8c4-b1dd-d17ee0845523" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This Common Core-based project is built on a foundation of research, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity (I add a fifth “C” in competition) with students taking on differentiated roles. One of the most powerful aspects has been adding the use of Google Hangouts. Through this addition, our students have the chance to share with a global audience all they've learned about explorers in a "typical press conference" style activity with press in the audience and explorers up front. I decided to broadcasted the event live so I could provide an authentic audience by inviting other classrooms to watch and learn. Several classrooms have joined us to observe from locally here in Southern California to across the country in North Carolina and other places in-between. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let me paint a more detailed picture. Eight to ten students (of my 35) take on the rolls of being explorers. They work to keep their "explorer identity" secret from the other students. Those not taking on the role of explorer take on the role of reporters and team up to start their investigation. Their job, as reporters, is to first research and understand all the key explorers and their information that we are focused on and gather. They organize the information to create questions. I take time to teach my student reporters about the different types questions that fall into bloom’s taxonomy ranging from simple to complex. (Confession - Many tend to still use yes or no questions when the press conference begins, but it’s all a process of learning) As the students research background information to become reporters and build their bank of questions. Meanwhile the other students are researching in depth to “become” one individual explorer. Reporters... Explores... it sounds a bit crazy but it's incredibly motivating and exciting for the kids. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After four one hour sessions of research, information gathering, and preparation, the students are ready for their press conference. The goal for the reporters is to use their research and questions to solve who the Mystery Explorers are part of the press conference. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Student reporters choose news outlets to represent from such as Yahoo News, NY Times, and even local TV news channels. The broadcast begins. Reports shout out to try and be recognized and ask their question. The kids love this... Their teacher requiring them to shout out... Awesome! Being broadcast increases the energy, desire to succeed, and overall performance of the students. The kids know other students are watching and this creation of an authentic audience adds excitement, accountability as well as motivation for students to produce high quality end products and accurate information. The results of learning are demonstrated in the writing project that comes after the event. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After a series of questions, reports must write an article identifying who they believe each of the 8-10 “Mystery Explorers” to be by providing evidence from their research that matched the answers given by each explorer to the questions in the press conference. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While reporters write their articles via Google docs, my student “explorers” write an in-depth reflection piece on their individual explorer along with a comparison to the other European Explorers. They tell why their explorer deserved their acknowledgement they have received in history. Although my press conference is focused on the Age of Exploration, it’s a lesson frame that is easily adaptable to all types of content.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To start broadcasting your class you can take the same steps I took or find an even faster way. First, and most importantly, be sure your students have waivers/parent permission to take part in such an online event. I had also already previously created my YouTube Channel, Gmail and Google Plus Accounts, all important. You’ll need a webcam and external mic to best capture the content. Using Google Hangouts, I started my broadcast, but we were not live broadcasting yet. Starting the hangout gave me my link to share. Once I had a link for my Hangout On-Air I shared that link via our class website, Twitter and Edmodo. Then just click “broadcast” and you’re live! Just imagine the positive impact your class can have on the world!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's been impressive to see the students during their press conference. They not only step up to the challenge, but they exceed my expectations. Although I’ve only touched on a few aspects, the depth of learning this project provides is far beyond any lecture or history book unit and the addition of an authentic audience through live broadcasting the event only increases the quality of work. Check out this years conference!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7Gn4MijcqM&feature=share" target="_blank">Dead Explorers' Press Conference</a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-76784098150213180782014-02-07T22:15:00.001-08:002015-03-31T09:17:44.235-07:00Punk Rock 2.0 - Education's New SongCirca' 1984 - In the town next to mine, in a drainage ditch my friends and I had discovered we could use for skateboarding, we settled in for a day of grinding our Independent Trucks on an liberated parking block. Our then cheap Emerson tape player (that wouldn't even qualify as a true 80's ghetto blaster) played cassettes from bands like Youth Brigade, the Toy Dolls, 7 Seconds, T.S.O.L., Minor Threat, and others (who never made official albums only cassette tapes) urged us to not only express ourselves, but to create, have humor and challenge what was accepted about society, without waiting and without limitation.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The music itself wasn't created by brilliantly trained musicians, nor would it ever really gain mainstream acceptance like many pop-punk bands of the late 80's and 90's that you hear playing in the background of Target and hotel lobbies. The music did allow for freedom of thought and raw creativity and was created by brilliant minds. It's voice came mainly from suburban middle class kids who'd been forgotten, rejected because of not fitting societal norms, who couldn't live up to the standards set for them by the boomers, or maybe who were even bored and unchallenged mentally with the norm. These punk rock kids, like me, were not willing to compromise to fit in, but instead lived with strength.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKSB7jzse48HQbTi2cFPFjPOVeB7Z_Oh2c-BKNGmy6vyI2xGpZN6tJ28_0v9JFvJKZCbdLrvBdyTvQscISLjpffZ_QY9CdaPRGYvvCSTvkFbaNWg6SjsMCtTCXm1maIGOCIFODCa74idH/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKSB7jzse48HQbTi2cFPFjPOVeB7Z_Oh2c-BKNGmy6vyI2xGpZN6tJ28_0v9JFvJKZCbdLrvBdyTvQscISLjpffZ_QY9CdaPRGYvvCSTvkFbaNWg6SjsMCtTCXm1maIGOCIFODCa74idH/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" height="112" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Theriault </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6FXWAaUoV4SUTQWmegZbDVwsGJNHZkoU1C0kE4gRRbQsTjTO-tmLSecO83EroocyAlzHof_zAxfUv6t8JhpmcE7_rfVGYCZsSQQkhEcYzB1Be_hBASAxup6BLeHXPHqgDue1mshRm02P/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6FXWAaUoV4SUTQWmegZbDVwsGJNHZkoU1C0kE4gRRbQsTjTO-tmLSecO83EroocyAlzHof_zAxfUv6t8JhpmcE7_rfVGYCZsSQQkhEcYzB1Be_hBASAxup6BLeHXPHqgDue1mshRm02P/s1600/images-2.jpeg" height="112" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver Schinkten</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This same strong clear voice is starting to be heard, not in garages, community centers, or abandoned homes with empty pools, but in classrooms, free professional development gatherings and via social media throughout the world. Dare I say there is an Education Revolution (#edurev for my tweeps). There is a generation of educators using this current transition time, as we move from the knowledge straining, creativity choking standards to the next effort to reform education referred to as the "Common Core," to create a raw experience of learning like never before. In the classroom "garages" people like Oliver Schinkten, Catlin Tucker and David Theriault are creating their own learning punk rock and they are not looking to follow any sheet music. These strong voices are coming from teachers like Ramsey Musallam, administrators like Joe Sanfelippo along with educators of all ages who are tired of the norms of the educational society and desperate to write a new song on their own, focused on creation and all willing to challenge the norm. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgvL2es-w_WKg54XTuWWwCWb1tHJ3mFr8fu9Z2EPjKUOuzBSRchWrmjoZL-qqZpUOuJ8Qdap5z1Tljl4drMziHI-5rbVblL5EjJB09VpPjq6kT4nbRS7TMBSp8ggrG8_nFzVYZU-9bERa/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgvL2es-w_WKg54XTuWWwCWb1tHJ3mFr8fu9Z2EPjKUOuzBSRchWrmjoZL-qqZpUOuJ8Qdap5z1Tljl4drMziHI-5rbVblL5EjJB09VpPjq6kT4nbRS7TMBSp8ggrG8_nFzVYZU-9bERa/s1600/images-1.jpeg" height="149" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catlin Tucker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmr0c8EGF-P-uZmSVuRwEvwClX0o_dZAlsY0hzf9zyCS6RBEstjc2SWdDDKJWRxUOiESJLVm0KDKnvHOtvNe7ot1JghRxjMuehIC0sVuxocHm9mWwUFLwEXRmpKPgLQhE-V43UKmiIf2PV/s1600/bilde.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmr0c8EGF-P-uZmSVuRwEvwClX0o_dZAlsY0hzf9zyCS6RBEstjc2SWdDDKJWRxUOiESJLVm0KDKnvHOtvNe7ot1JghRxjMuehIC0sVuxocHm9mWwUFLwEXRmpKPgLQhE-V43UKmiIf2PV/s1600/bilde.jpeg" height="155" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe Sanfelippo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLYYCCX1SBBCk1zlA_xGb4EpYm79LoSD2joA2MO8bQ0-1CkZJZ1igNAXpxdWh_vgTYdiXdDUptSXsfwT6aVLDkKntkAWO-zK0sxk8YYs7CT9FY3TInhMNX84SZT8sXSUqXlLgSRiIZtF2/s1600/Ramsey.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLYYCCX1SBBCk1zlA_xGb4EpYm79LoSD2joA2MO8bQ0-1CkZJZ1igNAXpxdWh_vgTYdiXdDUptSXsfwT6aVLDkKntkAWO-zK0sxk8YYs7CT9FY3TInhMNX84SZT8sXSUqXlLgSRiIZtF2/s1600/Ramsey.jpeg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ramsey Musallam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Their song plays out with passion just like those punk bands of the early and mid 1980's. It's one of a deep desire for change. It's testing the limits of how education is defined. It's one that can sometimes feel intolerant of the old "school of education" thought, because of the desire to create the new, just like the punk music that inspired me as a youth. And like that punk music, it's messy, off-key and for many "educational elites" sounds and looks like noise. How could there be free professional development like EdCamps or the remixed version EdCampHome that actual draws teachers on their own time to grow and learn from each other not a $5000 1 hour keynote? These new un-conference #edupunk keynotes are paid (like all those who attending) in free swag that may value $12 from the many education tech startups wanting to connect with the movement and keynoting is available to any teacher or administrator with an innovative idea who is willing to share.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJiTtU18shU5baG2UyEL29a_qrLbH4NYOEly1dSNYU2dy1KuSA3xWA9eCcW4ezVbn0_t2hhmu0UOOAHzGvtRaoVh_X7QI50hTjL4eWFLvlaRjSqmSMRcg6WFZeKjm33hVYqxNSxdpCsXq/s1600/IMG_1364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJiTtU18shU5baG2UyEL29a_qrLbH4NYOEly1dSNYU2dy1KuSA3xWA9eCcW4ezVbn0_t2hhmu0UOOAHzGvtRaoVh_X7QI50hTjL4eWFLvlaRjSqmSMRcg6WFZeKjm33hVYqxNSxdpCsXq/s1600/IMG_1364.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>How does this punk song play out in the classroom? This new music is noisy with the sounds of students actually communicating with one another along with the teacher and challenging each other to learn more. It's song is of students choosing to learn instead of being "taught at." Its sounds are of collaboration and critical things, of computers and tablets. It reverberates the passion of the hearts of the learners, and avoids the restrictions of any structures, scripts or pacing guides. It's the sound of learning and the volume is being turned up by those puck rock educators.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
My caution to you, fellow agitators, innovators and creators, my fellow #edupunks, please know those of you pressing the norms, the push back is coming. Your efforts though will empower a generation to think and create, to question and flight for what they believe in, to grasp at learning and not grades. I don't write this post with a light heart. I take risks everyday and fail, but I'm not playing my #edupunk rock to change the minds or views of the educational traditionalists or elites, I will never be a part of them, those who see teaching as a means to control learning and knowledge. I'm playing my songs to empower a generation of students who will face greater obstacles, who are creative and brilliant, and who despite many believe need to pay their dues by suffering through a traditional controlling education, will flourish when given the chance to play their own music and to have their passion for learning allowed to continue to burn bright rather than extinguished by the very system that's meant to add logs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
So pickup your guitar and drumstick with me. Turn up your Amp. Learn and Create. Play loud and fast. Question the norms with that passion for impacting your students my fellow punk rock teachers. Promote your concerts using the tools of today. Make free demo tapes for anyone willing to listen. If we don't take the lead as we transition to the new "Common Core", if we don't play loud, we'll find ourselves listening to that same old song and so will our students.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzR0OMJsMznBDu-mYk6MvTb_AeMpUQRPBcMbthbk35SQ0JisxtGmDLDjFkGEMJBInMvwZ-OV29GWQTP0XaJc_k-1BWzQeSa69GpPSH3pcIvZt_A0er2IODjbaeyBddfE31tRUoUn2DDUT9/s1600/myp8ne-b781242361z-1.120131231173508000ge11hm73b.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzR0OMJsMznBDu-mYk6MvTb_AeMpUQRPBcMbthbk35SQ0JisxtGmDLDjFkGEMJBInMvwZ-OV29GWQTP0XaJc_k-1BWzQeSa69GpPSH3pcIvZt_A0er2IODjbaeyBddfE31tRUoUn2DDUT9/s1600/myp8ne-b781242361z-1.120131231173508000ge11hm73b.3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-38300206555972806462013-01-09T07:07:00.000-08:002013-01-09T07:07:20.800-08:00Tech Fair = TAS FairAlthough I've haven't posted in a while, I've been working hard to make my "Tech Fair"(see my last post from July) a reality. I created something called TAS Fair which stands for Technology Applied Science. I loved the concept and wording of applied science. It's how I run my classroom. I do my best to create learning experiences that apply to the real world in some way. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The support for the event has been amazing. From Google, to Honda, Broadcom and Blizzard, we seen solid backing. The Vasur foundation sponsored t-shirts for nearly 100 participants in the optional event for 3rd - 8th grade students. I hope you will check out our web site <a href="http://www.tasfair.com/" target="_blank">www.tasfair.com</a> and see what I've been up to. Also, the OC Register covered the event and you can get some additional insight by reading our <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/news/students-382244-science-bedley.html" target="_blank">TAS Fair Article</a> and see some pictures as well. So if you have yet to start your own Tech Fair... Well... I have a perfectly tested model for you now! Contact me tasfair@gmail.com to start your own competition.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-73095086409471005562012-07-05T12:06:00.000-07:002012-07-05T12:13:26.562-07:00Science Fair... How about a Tech Fair?As usual, I like to start with a question and present a possible answer for educators, students and parents. For years districts nation wide have held "Science Fairs" where children explore some area of science by creating an experiment to demonstrate their ability to go through the scientific process. It's a great way to learn about a specific area of science and to truly live out science.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now I'm a great believer in this process, in fact I still remember my 6th grade science fair project. Do you? I focused on fermentation... yes turning yeast into... well alcohol. While I never used this process again (especially after tasting it under adult supervision, just the smell would turn anyones stomach...) I did use my knowledge for future science endeavors. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So I was thinking... we should look to expand the Science Fair and include or have an additional Tech Fair. Computers, after all, are a science and a constantly developing field of which children will need to be skilled at in the future. So my challenge to you is to start a Tech Fair in your class, grade level, school site or even district. Follow the same method of the science fair and have kids compete while looking at how technology impacts life all around us. Have categories, or just have a general fair, but please join me this upcoming year and hold your own. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We can report back together after we've experimented and share the successes.</div>
<div>
<br />
Written by Scott Bedley</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-17538271547381789652012-06-27T06:07:00.000-07:002012-06-27T06:07:00.137-07:00Stop the PressHave you walked your students' through the full writing process? I'm sure you have and if you are like me you may have spent a great deal of time having them type their final work into the computer to print up. There is another option. Popping up all over the net you can find free, web based, e-publishers like <a href="http://epubbud.com/" target="_blank">epubbud.com</a> . What's great about this is that students get to utilize a tool that their parents, relatives and friends can all access. It truly builds in a real life purpose for considering your audience when writing. Keeping that audience at the forefront of their minds drives them to want to reduce errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar. It also delivers that internal push to put there best effort into the content. The kids also like the ability to make their ebooks multimedia style presentations by adding video content, music and photo's which are not possible when you are using the traditional hand written or word processed versions of a final draft writing. I hope you will join me in flooding the market with are amazing young authors works. What could be more empowering for a child than to start having their stories downloaded by others?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-30432549875336755282012-05-28T06:57:00.001-07:002012-05-28T06:57:39.698-07:00Video Games in My Classroom?I didn't think I would give in... But I have... Now before you judge me think about this... If you look back through history, many children's toys have been miniature versions of tools children would later use in life. I remember taking my class, when I was teaching 3rd grade, on a field trip to a place called Kelloge House, in California. This Victorian style mansion had been almost fully restored and was meant to give our kids a look into the past... It was there that the docent explained that many of the children's toys used by kids at the turn of the 1900's were items such as little sewing machines, miniature working tools and others such as these tools. This seemed true of today as well... My son already has his own play BBQ that he grills some tasty plastic burgers for mom and dad! I couldn't help but make the connection. Aren't video games employing some of the same skills and problem solving kids may need to use when adults?
Fast forward to two months ago... A good friend working for the video game company Valve(maker of a gaming "iTunes" like site called Steam) called and put me in contact with their small but motivated education development team. I was given a beta, or test version, of a one of their top selling games that had been modified to allow students to manipulate and create their own dynamic levels. Using this game, students would need to employ a number of creative and problem solving skills along with math and science. Once done they could play their level on the game called Portal. While I'm still in the "beta teaching version" on using video games in my classroom, this has absolutely opeed my eyes and pushed me off my stance of "video games being the enemy of thinking, reading, and homework." So the question I had to ask myself now and that i pose to you is... What is it that you could turn around to use in your classroom that would push you out of your comfort zone and make kids more excited about learning?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-62160759525409616862012-04-03T06:37:00.000-07:002012-04-03T06:37:17.132-07:00Getting to The GiftedRecently I received an amazing gift from my wife. She had noticed that with each new advertisement, I became more and more interested in the Kindle Fire. I would often deny I wanted one when she would ask, giving all sorts of reasons why I could live without one. Now before I lose focus and turn this into a review for the Kindle Fire let me make the connection. Although I had missed the signs that I wanted this gift, her sensitive observation had seen my desire (although maybe it was my more obvious signs, for example I would stop forwarding the DVR through the commercials when I notice that a Fire advertisement was on...) In reality, it was that sensitive observation by my wife on the gift that I wanted that helped me to realize it was something that was drawing my interest.<br />
<br />
Reflecting on this made me wonder about the gifted students I teach on a daily basis. Were my gifted students frustrated many times because they were focused on the gifts of others and overlooked their own gifts? Would I be able to identify the gifts my students had? And what could I, as an educator, do to help develop the discovery and acceptance of those gifts, not just the management of gifted students? I wanted to continue to find was to be a teacher with precision focused lessons.<br />
<br />
If you are anything like me, I'm sure that you can easily picture this scenario too; a students chasing after the gifts they see in others and missing their very own talents. This didn't just seem to apply to my students identified as gifted. What was I doing and what was the education world doing to help students identify their gifts? This sent me on my quest. I found an amazing document titled the <a href="http://www.cde.state.co.us/gt/download/pdf/gt12TraitsGiftedness.pdf">12 Traits</a> of Giftedness. Hopefully you've seen it... but if not, check it out and see if you can find ways to help all students open and understand their gifts and the challenges that may come with that gift. It's empowering for kids, parents and educators alike.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-38587429486189078832012-01-21T10:15:00.000-08:002012-01-21T10:15:00.615-08:00Is Project Based Assessment the Next Logical Returning Wave in Education?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Each summer, I feel blessed to live close to the ocean. Sitting on the waters edge is such an amazing way to reflect on ones-self and look for ways to improve. On a recent trip to our local spot (where my wife and I happen to give our nuptials) there were high waves followed by a tremendous backwash. A backwash is when the waves of the invading tide surge back off the shore towards the incoming wave colliding and launching tremendous sprays of salted, kelp filled water into the sky sometimes 10 feet or more. Public education has been faced with this same impending tide, but like the ocean, there is a backwash pushing against those crashing waves. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It was not that long ago that assessing students meant far more then having them chose between four possible answers. Being in education for the last 17 years, I’ve seen the “politcalization” of education possibly more then any other generation since the growth of public education in the early 1900’s. As educators, we are driven by the accountability standards created by legislators, yet the assessments used to hold us accountability is one of the lowest forms of evaluation or knowledge demonstration. Not only that, but the detailed information gained from these assessments is protected and leaves the classroom educator with little or no data to actual use to improve their own teaching or the education process for the students. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Now, with the move to federalizing standards, the level of competitive growth that can drive innovative schools and districts will only wane even further. While standards are meant to guarantee equity, they can also stifle innovation. State standardized curriculum and testing has lead public schools marching down the path of continued mediocrity. Imagine a sports league that standardized whatever coach could teach their team or plays they could call. This might lead to parody, but not to the best possible players or teams. It is competition that has driven innovation throughout history. Yet legislators can’t seem to find a way to legislate competition within the public education school system accept through financial means. So, government standardizes the practice to assure equity. With standards, what could have been a floor for public education quickly became the ceiling, but there seems to be many backwash waves forming, one of which is called “Project Based Learning.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Project Based Learning, or PBL is not something that was just created in the past few years, but has been around for decades if not longer. PBL is based on the notion that students/people learn best when put into real world situations by integrating multiple layers of education with multiple modalities being required to succeed. Sounds a lot like the world outside of current education right? PBL seems to be currently having a slow moving resurgence that is quickly gaining speed in the backwash to the multiple-choice accountability we’ve been stuck with over the past decades. This resurgence can be somewhat credited to the book Understanding by Design </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">authored by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe. Modern PBL focuses on creating projects that help students’ initial learning. Understanding by Design is an excellent source for a “backwards style” planning where an educator looks at the final learning outcome desired and works backwards from there to the actual lesson/project that will allow learners to find their way to the desire learning outcomes. I like taking this concept one step further to what seems to be the logical next step. I first asked myself what happens in the business world? Though many discussions with family, friends, literature and a few people I didn't have an immediate relationship with I gained a greater insight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In parts of business world, employees are trained and then expected to implement their training in on the job experiences. They may be trained in several different manners depending on the job of course. The employee is trained for one core set of duties. Education though must train all students for all potential learning opportunities/jobs/duties they may have. The ratio for teachers is not a one set of skills of knowledge to one type of training that is often seen in industry and business when the focus is on the content/information. If education shifted it’s focus from being content driven to being skills and problem solving driven and used the content as the means to acquire higher level thinking skills, creativity, and problem solving techniques. Simple put, if a person has a need to write, they will learn that skill. If they have a need for math, they will seek out a means for gaining that skill. This is part of our core, survival instincts and can be accessed to motivate learning.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In my upcoming book, I look at how to shift from a PBL focus, one step further to Project Based Assessments</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. In this new book, I look at examples educators can implement such as why taking a group of 5<sup>th</sup> grade students to the local Target store for an afternoon is far better then 3 weeks of classroom direct instruction. When students get “real world” opportunities to use math to figure out things such as sales tax, average price per item, discount percent taken off, rage of prices and space needed to stack items, and other key areas to assess gives a teacher and the students ways to demonstrate knowledge, problem solving ability, be creative and critical thinking skills. The most important key is it gives the motivating, driving force, needed to learn the skills necessary to succeed in math. By putting students in a real world situation that can be recreated in any town at the most minimal of costs and the motivation is powerful. I not only provides basic direction of developing your own assessment, but also provide numerous math, writing, reading, social studies and science Project Based Assessments that can be easily adapted to a variety of grade levels and content areas. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149982465037187924.post-18502970818800979042011-06-07T06:57:00.000-07:002011-06-07T06:57:06.903-07:00Welcome to Cutting Edge-ucationWhat's out there in the "World of Education" that truly is cutting edge and realistically implmentable? In this new blog I hope to highlight some of the top ideas being used, tested and impacting students lives that out there in the education world. I hope the information will inspire you to stay out in front... leading the new era of education.<br />
<br />
ScottUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0