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Instructional Tidbits: One of my first posts this year contained an old blog post from Carl Hooker titled 36 Weeks of Innovation for your Classroom. Several of you read it and made a goal to tackle one or more of the items on the list. This final week of our first semester (where did the time go?) I encourage you to look back at the list and celebrate all that you have done with and for your students! Then take a look toward the future and decide what you could continue to do, and what you want to try next. READ THIS I'm happy to discuss ideas as you design your next semester of learning for your students. Sign up on my Google calendar. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and New Year!! See you when we get back in January!
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Updates:
Instructional Tidbits: I'm often asked and also reminded about why technology is so important in schools. It seems everyone has a different answer to that question. I'm wondering, though, if we are asking the right people. I wonder what our kids will say to that question. They've lived with nothing but a technology filled world since the day they were born and their picture was posted to Facebook or Instagram or Twitter. They are using technology outside of school to learn, communicate, play, and entertain. They will continue to use technology throughout their school careers and into their real world careers, in jobs that don't even exist in 2015. Last week I attended the Schlechty Coaching for Design II conference. It really made me focus on the Who in our teaching. Not just who they are in hobbies and interests, but what motives, beliefs, knowledge, and skills they bring to the table. It made me wonder if our students are bringing more to the table with technology than we acknowledge or appreciate. This week, I want you to think about your Who. Whether they are wide-eyed kinders or "grown up" fourth graders, what do they come to school with when they are ready to learn? After taking that into account, think about what you allow for in your class that leverages their motives, beliefs, knowledge, and skills. This week's Tech Tuesday prize: Tweet @brooksteacher with the answer to this question: Why is technology important in schools? Come up with your own answer, and then ask a few students. I wonder if their answers are the same as ours. Updates:
Remember to sign up for your Jan. 19th courses. Tomorrow is the deadline. See details: https://www.smore.com/kfac1-educator-for-the-future-pd-day?ref=email-content#w-0229423278 Join us for a district-wide Hangout on Air tonight at 8:00 pm! Link to Hangout: https://goo.gl/2yJHa7 --Make sure you are logged in with your HPISD account or you won’t be able to join the hangout. There won’t be anything to really “see” until around 7:50ish when the broadcast goes live. https://todaysmeet.com/hp4pl -- If you have any problems getting to the Hangout, need help, or to ask questions during the broadcast, use this link. Also, this is one of the ways you will “prove” your attendance. Instructional Tidbits: The Hour of Code is coming Dec. 7-13th! We have celebrated the Hour of Code for the last few years. I have signed our campus up again this year, and would love to see EVERY Armstrong class participate. I will provide you with all necessary information, but first, let's talk about why you want to do this. 1. The kids love coding. It's fun and engaging. 2. Coding provides the opportunity for kids to take risks and persist. They don't always get it right the first time, but they keep trying. 3. Coding promotes problem solving. Sometimes it is really hard, and that is a good thing. 4. Coding is useful in so many future careers. We could have the next Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg sitting in our class. 5. Why not try something new? How to get started: This is one of those areas where you may not know a lot about the topic, or anything at all. That's okay! The people at Code.org have set up many fun videos and games/puzzles that help students (and teachers) code. It's so fun, you may not even know you are doing it. As a teacher, I would click on one of these below and try it! You'll see how easy and fun it is very quickly. In fact, you may look up and find that one hour is already up! Tech Tuesday Prize: Tweet out your commitment to participate in the Hour of Code using @brooksteacher and using the hashtag #hourofcode! Teams with 100% participation will receive a prize! Tutorials: Course 1: Grades K-1 Course 2: Grades 2-5 Course 3: Grades 4-5 Course 4: Grades 4-8 Other options including Frozen, Star Wars, and Minecraft: https://code.org/learn iPad Apps to try: The Foos Coding Lightbot Hopscotch |
AuthorI am an elementary Campus Instructional Technologist in Highland Park ISD Archives
May 2017
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