Nothing better to do

Some people have nothing better to do than to take the advice of a person they've never met. Ok, maybe you've met me, but here, take my advice. Download Google Chrome. It's a great web browser.

Why? In a nutshell, it's fast - Really fast.  But it is also using some of the newest web standards like HTML 5 which make web pages more like desktop programs. Chrome is a must if you use gmail or Google Docs. Plus it has great extensions which add functions without slowing things down or forcing you to restart your browser every time you install or update an extension.

Go ahead. Take my advice and try out Chrome, even if you have something better to do. And thanks.

http://andygreenhaw.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/google-chrome-logo.jpg?w=211&h=163

Stephen Heppell - Reflection and notes

I had the good fortune today of listening to Stephen Heppell’s presentation at the St. Clair County RESA.   His message was positive and humorous.  The perspective was global.  I can’t help but get excited by the examples of change both large and small which Stephen shared with us.  There two main points which I took away today.

There is no One Size Fits All.
The most reckless gamble we can take is not to change

I’m grateful to be involved in a program in a district where this message is not lost.  A message in which we are the architects of our change.  

Caveat: My notes below are incomplete at best, but may be of value, especially to those who were in attendance.  

The Ingredients: 21st Century Schools are using:

• Search for: Consolarium


• Nintendo DS and gaming - Brain training
• bullying has virtually disappeared in these environments.
• Not clear why this is, just is.


• Search for:Learnorver


• Connecting students over skype
• Students in Sweden not being overly tested. Intrinsically aware of their own abillity.


• Search for:eduQuest


• Using video cameras to describe science experiments rather than formal writing.
• Singapore used this study to build dedicated science labs in every elemetary school.


• Search for: asms adelaide


• exposing young students to undergraduate college courses.


• Schools closing their staff rooms and reopening them as shared spaces.  Turned into cafe’s and chillout spaces.


• If everyone is a learner why have special rooms for the old learners (adults)?


• Schools going shoeless for the day


• has unexpected benefits
• changing furnishings is also integral
• adults - shoes off too
• don’t do slippers


• Search for: unlimited christchurch


• took one floor of a department store
• using empty spaces to embed education
• minimal use of furniture
• One cohort - no continual influx


• Using video deliver school-wide messages flexibly
• Search for Bilston Academy


• created an advertising campaign to PR the community
• promoting the positive aspects of learning


• Search for: home bases, mini schools


• no more than 125 students
• intimacy
• trust


• http://teachers.tv - Learner Voice


• students attend in-service, do lesson observations, interviewing staff
• Student asked “What is an itch”
• cannot be compulsary


• Search for Cayman futures


• One course at a time!
• immersion
• compare to dramatic productions (focussed and dedicated, project based)
• remove the corridor transition time


• Search for: praisepod


• adults had praise tokens
• you go to a video recorder which records to DVD
• A peer asks what did you do that was so good?
• Changing school culture
• Now they are using cellphone deliver to parents.
• Hero Award cards which students give to teachers for going above and beyond - students are only given 3 cards.  Teacher raffle at the end of the term.
• Praise points for behavioral (controllable activities, not grades)


• Search for: tk park
• Search for: hellerup school


• Using stariwells and corridors as lecture and work spaces
• move students less


• If you have a computer lab use mirrors on the walls.


• see their faces or see screens

Context:

• http://mapumental.com


• technology and information are pervasive
• data is changing how we make decisions


• We live in a world of no secrets and


• big surprises
• Google Translate transforming data into native language
• phones may have simultaneous translation with 16 months
• students are being presented with things they haven’t met before
• we are now preparing for the unexpected, we need to surprised students in their learning
• “We had expected the unexpected, but we weren't’ prepared for this!”

Tools:

• GPS track sticks
• 3d printers - Geometry lessons
• cellphones
• http://twitcam.com

Teaching very large classes

• 120 students ( 1 teacher leader, 1 teacher differentiating, 1 teacher doing remedial support)
• With just one teacher the support is serial
• With multiple teachers the support is parallel
• extended learning class periods

Learner Voice:

• asking students how we improve our learning
• http://teachers.tv
• student driven learning (vested)

Furnishings:

• non-traditional seating
• would not recommend projectors and would instead focus on flat panel tv
• tech day show and tell
• playfulness matters

School Design:

• made projectors that project both inside and outside
• chill out room in the Netherlands (set the scene based on famous plays)
• Add color
• outdoor amphitheaters
• three points of focus or more / make collaborative teaching easy
• curved furniture
• agile room design
• color coding of areas
• inflatable wall pods

Misc:

• Ask 3 then me
• Essay grading; put the essay’s in the middle of the room ask each student to take two, compare and rank which is better.
• Download free essays online, compare them, contrast them, critique them, improve them.
• School libraries should be shelved with student work

• How can we change learning?


• Theoretically via cognitive enhancement - using pharmaceuticals to enhance learning.  Putting chemicals in the water like fluoride. Yikes
• Parenting is far and away the greatest factor in student success.

My favorite Twitter Posts for the week of April 24th - 30th #tweeks #edtech #ff

Here are this week's Tweeks, a list of my Favorited Twitter posts.  Looks like the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia and its principal Chris Lehmann definitely grabbed my attention.  Feel free to share one of your Favorited Twitter posts in the comments below.

1. colonelb 
     
   Great 10-min. presentation by Chris Lehmann at 140 Conference on School 2.0 http://bit.ly/beTpfzabout 2 hours ago via TweetDeck
   • Reply
   • Retweet
2. coolcatteacher 
     
   Bill Gates speaking at Science Leadership Academy http://bit.ly/99xqRWabout 2 hours ago via diigo
3. joe_bower 
     
   Do you second guess the idea of grading?http://bit.ly/cjngXs <-- here's a great story that illustrates how distracting grading truly is1:28 PM Apr 28th via MobileRSS iPhone
4. gravesle 
     
   Joost created this awesome collection of web apps for educators for his #maet #cep817 project! http://bit.ly/bjtvhJ (our students ROCK!)12:37 PM Apr 27th via TweetDeck
5. mmossman 
     
   Chris Lehman on TEDxNYED -http://tinyurl.com/y2gcpv8 http://plurk.com/p/4wdl606:54 AM Apr 27th via API
6. mjgormans 
     
   New Post : Twelve #Free #Tools From #Microsoft... Many Are #New!: Enjoy/Share http://wp.me/pBrsB-fh #edchat#education8:37 AM Apr 25th via TweetDeck
7. courosa 
     
   Great example of a professional portfolio by my #ecmpstudent @blackimoto http://bit.ly/bSVIzb9:04 PM Apr 24th via TweetDeck
8. wfryer 
     
   This rocks! Top 10 Lego Stopmotion movie tributes on YouTube http://ow.ly/1qw1Aw via @mashable3:08 PM Apr 24th via HootSuite