Screenr Podcast

Molly and I created a flipped scenario podcast using screener. Enjoy!

Pixlr Picture

I enjoy fishing in dangerous waters ;)

The Importance of Visuals

The use of visuals are definitely important in instruction. Some learners absolutely need visuals, and then are are some who may not need it, but will still have added support from the presence of visual aids. It isn't merely enough to include visuals, the visuals must be purposeful and enhance and/or support the lesson.

The blog entry Instructional Design Training: Using Visuals to Support Learning and Performance outlines the different types of visuals that educators should consider when including them in instruction.   This blog was not only in alignment with my feelings on the use of visuals, but also gave me much more to think about in the selection and purpose of visuals in lessons.

Chris Lehmann, TEDxPhilly

I LOVED this! I want to go visit his school and see all of the things that are happening there! I think there are so many important points that were made by him that educators need to consider. His answer to why students need to learn physics was fabulous! If teachers talked to their students like that it would mean so much more than saying "you need it for college blah, blah, blah".


Pretesting kids to see what they are worst at, and then overloading them on that - while giving students materials and strategies to improve on areas they do not excel in does matter, focusing on strengths and areas of passion and creativity matters as much, if not more. 


So much of what I am seeing and hearing across the board is about the factory model of schools is outdated and that it is not working anymore. "We can do better," says Lehmann and so many others, why aren't we?!


Having kids sharing their work with the world seems so common sense! Letting them know the work they produce and the ideas that they have are important enough to be shared is wonderful. Taking sharing beyond standing up and presenting the work that is done to a more globalized method should take place. students can make an impact on the world, and they should be given the means and support to do so. Amazing things would happen!


Link to the speech: Chris Lehmann - Education is Broken

Reaction to Life in a 21st-Century English Class

Article: 
Life in a 21st-Century English Class, Tina Barseghian

I was really impressed by the learning that the author described taking place. She certainly gives great examples of how technology and PBL can be used to support inquiry based learning and enhance students' high levels of thinking. I was really amazed by how the students expressed a desire for the author to help them design a specific lesson unit based on how they wanted to explore the curriculum (using film to identify and analyze themes, writing, character development, film techniques, setting and plot development.) 


I understand that the instructor has writing woven into the work she is doing with her students, but where do the writing lessons actually come into play and how are the students learning about how to write, edit for publishing, organize ideas, etc.? While I am sure the author takes the time to implement these types of lessons I am very curious as to how she does it (especially since she does not lecture).


I would love further information on this, as it would help to get a more rounded picture of all the parts to the process she is describing. 


Overall I think it sounds like there is a lot of learning and fun happening in that classroom. The PBL activities are allowing the students to take the work they are doing and relate it to their current world - making it SO much more meaningful! I have definitely been inspired by the work of the author and hope to bring the same level of engagement, interest, and excitement into my class (when I have my own :) ).

Mobile Reach #35 – School Is Out, But The Learning Does Not End

In this podcast educators share and discuss some apps they suggest for students during the summer. The apps are all intended for cell phone and mobile technology sources. Some of them are ideal for summer vacation, and some can be extended into the classroom!

"9 Fun Ways to Stop Summer Brain Drain"- inspiration for the podcast show I listened to.

Kids Journal, from apple- daily blog of activities, insert picture on camera role, rate your mood for the day, arrange dates for calendar, blog short paragraphs about your day. Ideal for k-4th grade. Great for logging summer activities. allowed to have a number of journals- can create a classroom journal during the year with students.

Simbaloo (spelling?) app- a way to create a "web-mix", create shortcut pages to different websites. Like a visual Diigo.

Google Navigation and Maps - Using it during summer travel. Can create/setup "custom maps".

Order Up to Go - sequencing. Idea of the app is that you are a chef. Students think they are playing a game - it is about following directions, and creating systems (sequencing). Free in the games section.

Autobon Birds - app for traveling, a field guide to all North American birds. can take notes on the different birds seen. It is cool to be able to ID the different birds that you see.

Trip It - app available everywhere. First, search it, then make an account, then create/book your rentls. The app then creates your itinerary to others.

Tumbler - it can be used a a photoblog. Students create a running blog for their trips as they travel during the summer.

It is important to UPDATE your apps!

Tourists: Allows you to create tours from all of the world. can be done right from your phone. The app even provides direction in the picture taking.




The Eo time machine (SP?)  chose a year (starts as early at the 1800s, goes to the 1000. Kids picking their birthday year, then getting as close to the date as possible. Have kids research and explore what was happening on their birthday when they were born.

Can podcasts enhance/support your classroom instruction? What are the benefits and barriers?

Podcasts can definitely enhance/support classroom instruction. They provide a multi-media learning experience for students. Learners who are more apt to retain information visually receive support from the visuals provided (given that the podcast includes visual media) and students who learn best through listening are given information orally. It provides a different method of instruction where it is not necessarily the teacher standing and talking, even if it is the teachers voice, it is a change up in instruction. Even though the change may be minute, it can still be effective.


There are barriers. If the podcast does not provide any visuals you may lose the attention of students. If the audio is not interesting or engaging (monotone, droning, dull, just factafterfactafterfactafterfact...) all students will most likely tune right out. The podcasts need to be selected and used/created with the students in mind. 


I had a college professor who had to travel a lot during one semester. She was a great instructor and I was always motivated by her teaching to work extremely hard and to really think about my artistry. When she had to travel she created audio podcasts for our class so that we would not be behind in instruction. It was just audio recording and it was terrible. Her teaching went far beyond merely her words....what really motivated her students was the way her entire being radiated what she talked about and how she constantly physically modeled what she expressed verbally. With just her voice, and no visual, the effect was not there. She didn't even sound like herself. It was as if she created the recording while sitting perfectly still and had lost all passion for what she  talking about to us. The entire class' energy was so low during those podcast classes, and we all felt that it was much less enjoyable and much more difficult to get through the class sessions. It was a relief when she returned and the class resumed its normal level of drive and excitement. I think this is a perfect example of how podcasts can be a barrier...and really make students even dread coming to class. 


If the podcasts are created with the students in mind (what drives them, what interests them, how do they learn best...) then they will provide enrichment and enhance learning experiences, for sure. If the students are not the main consideration when creating or selecting podcasts, they will probably be more likely to hinder the learning experience.

In Response to The Nuts & Bolts of 21st Century Teaching

The Blog post The Nuts & Bolts of 21st Century Teaching (http://plpnetwork.com/2011/03/22/the-nuts-bolts-of-21st-century-teaching/) was inspirational. Blogger Shelley Wright is on to something extraordinary with her teaching method of facilitating her students' learning about the Holocaust. It is common knowledge that the best way to learn information, is to teach it - since you are accountable for relaying information to others you are accountable for the information and will research and learn more.

Shelley facilitated this project wonderfully and led her students on a great journey of discovery. Their excitement and enthusiasm was contagious, so much so that even Shelley was infected with the excitement of her students and the project at hand.

I think what was really great (aside from the facilitated, inquiry-based learning) was that when Shelley felt a roadblock had been hit, she did not give up, or get frustrated, she turned to her colleagues through her blog post. The information she received was valuable to her and her students and helped them not only find a great way to move forward on the project, but to connect and understand each other better as students, learners, and educators.

I think it is important to create an atmosphere of discovery where inquiry-based learning can take place. I believe this atmosphere empowers students and enables wonderful learning opportunities to take place. It allows to students to converse, brainstorm, share ideas, get creative, and learn in a way that works for them as individual learners. Shelley's post has given me ideas and inspiration for future lessons and projects i would like to do in a classroom one day.

I would be willing to bet those 10th graders will always remember the work they did on that Holocaust unit, and that they probably learned more about the Holocaust through that project than they did in other classes that covered the same topics.

Digital Media* New Learners of the 21st Century

This PBS special was really cool and made some excellent points about technology and education. I personally value hands on, concrete learning experiences and believe that it is extremely important to “unplug”. However, what I did not consider, and what this special brought to my attention was that for future generations the use of digital media will be considered a concrete learning tool. There was a quote in the beginning of the video by, I believe Nichole Pinkard (I may be wrong on that) that raised the issue of what it means to be literate, how the definition of being literate has changed over time, and what it will mean to be literate in the future with regard to computers and technology. It kind of blew my mind to think that no longer would a person be considered fully literate if they could merely read and write, but that they would also have to be computer literate. It makes sense though.

The New York school where the children are using digital and multimedia to create games really opened my eyes. It was like a performing arts school, except instead of the performance aspect, the kids were using advanced technology to create games. They all seemed stimulated and interested in the work they were doing and in the learning that was taking place. Even the little boy who labeled himself a “daydreamer” pointed out that they often get cool assignments in school so that he is interested and pays attention.

I like the idea that these children are so stimulated and focused because of the technology, but I still think that there needs to be a creative focus on keeping them interested and stimulated through teaching without a screen. I am in no way saying it isn’t useful, I really like what I saw with the use of technology as a way to teach critical thinking and problem solving, and how other content areas were being used in the assignments, I just still believe it is important to have “unplugged” teaching.

I think some of the most important points made in this special was that in the past people were taught everything they needed to know for life. Now, people need to be taught in a way that will prepare them for jobs and industries that do not even exist yet, and that the most important thing is to teach students to embrace change. The world is changing so quickly, and as educators we need to teach in a way that will prepare learners for the world they are growing and living in.

I loved the program that was using digital media in Chicago for high school students. It was giving students a way to creatively express themselves, apply technology and use it in their interest as well as in a way that could prepare them for career fields that they were interested in pursuing. They even got involved in their communities through this program- AWESOME! The clip of the high school senior who now teachers her own class to younger kids about video editing was one of my favorite parts of the special, just because of the excitement in the students, the involvement, and the comments they were making. It was a really nice moment to see these

I really liked how the students at the museums and in the history class were using cell phones and media to create educational learning scavenger hunts and to learn about their communities. If the kids are going to have and use and be interested in cell phones, then why not show them how to use them beyond calling, texting, and mindless internet searching? The kids in the museum probably learned a whole lot more about the exhibits they were looking at through taking pictures and creating their scavenger hunts than they would have if they had merely been walked through the museum, or even had worksheets to fill out and answer. The older history students became interested and involved in their community, its history and it’s future.

Watching this special definitely gave me a new outlook on the pros and valuable uses of technology in education today. It has made me excited and inspired me to try and fine meaningful and creative ways to use it in my classroom one day!