If I were a curriculum or edtech administrator, I would...

Recently, Teach Paperless had a blog post asking readers to finish the statement, "If I were an administrator, I would...". 


I replied with "encourage teacher collaboration, support teachers in every way possible, encourage projects and team work, visit classrooms and talk to students, work WITH the faculty, parents and students to make the school the best it could be."


I wanted to expand on this idea and list what I would do if I were in charge of curriculum or educational technology for my district.


1. Implement Project Based Learning throughout the curriculum and in every grade. I would also want it to be interdisciplinary. 


2. Change the curriculum to be more in depth, and less breadth of topics (complaint of colleges). I would still have to make sure students are prepped for standardized testing (unfortunately), but I would look at better ways of having students learn and be able to do well on a test without resorting to teaching to the test.


3. Make sure the curriculum applies what students are learning to the real world. They won't remember a lot of facts and details, but if things apply to real life, it can make them better consumers and better citizens (by being knowledgeable). 


4. The curriculum should emphasize discovery, inquiry, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem solving, not remembering tons of facts. 


5. Ala Carte Professional Development for teachers - let them pick and decide what they need and want for training and support them throughout the year. 


6. Research, find, implement, and support new technologies that can improve teaching and learning. Find free (or cheaper) resources to replace paid or more expensive resources. (Ex. Google Apps for Education and Open Office instead of Microsoft).


7. Provide year-round support to teachers who are using and implementing technology resources. Make sure that they have both technical support and integration support. Ask teachers what they need or want for resources and help them find it. 


This is my short list of what I would want to do as an administrator. What would you do if you were in charge of curriculum or educational technology for your district? (and if you are in charge, what you do?)

Flipped Classroom - what it is and my reservations of it

"Flipped Classroom" is a relatively new idea, where the teacher works with students on projects and what would be typically homework instead of a lecture and the students get the "lecture" at home, usually through a video (like from Kahn Academy). The proponents of this model say that it offers the teacher more time to work with students on projects and applying the knowledge, rather than spending time delivering that knowledge.

I have some issues with the "Flipped Classroom" model. The first is that this model leads to a lot of homework for students if they have to watch videos of lectures. This is not only asking a lot of the students to be able to do, but not anything really new or inventive. Students have other obligations and time commitments and watching video lectures is time consuming.

Students may not have access to a computer at home with high speed internet (needed to watch these videos). Many of my students do not have a computer at home, or have a dial up network. Many do not have anywhere quiet to work or listen to these video lectures.

While watching a video lecture, a student has no one to ask questions of. They would have to write down the question and then ask their teacher the next day. This may cause students to get confused early on and just shut off the video. It is very passive - there is no interaction and no discussion with others. This not how we want our students to learn.

I do share video sites with my students so that they can use them as a review or reference (or even different delivery style and explanation). But, it's not required of them. There are some great online videos available for students to use to learn material, but I don't think it should be the primary delivery method for them.

I use "lecture" of a sort in my Physics class. I use PowerPoint, Prezi, animations, demonstrations, and discussions to present material, ideas, content, and such with my students. They can ask questions of me. We can discuss the topic and it's applications. I also show them short videos in class and pause it at different points to answer questions or discuss what's going on with them. The "lectures" are short and give the basic information for a topic. The students then explore the topics in more depth using projects, labs, and virtual investigations and simulations. They get packets for each topic with a summary of the topic and problems (these packets are much better than the textbook). They start these problems in class and then finish them for homework. We go over the problems in class after they complete them. I have a class website and blogs for each class with links and other resources. For students that don't have computer access at home, I share different printed resources with them.

In my AP Physics class, I have to modify things a little. I present the content for each topic via a PowerPoint presentation and we discuss the topics. The students also have a textbook to read, problems to do, and they do projects and labs. These students typically have much more access to computers at home and are more independent learners. I cover the main points in class and they explore the rest on their own. There are some great online lecture videos for AP Physics that they can use for review or reinforcement, but again, they are not required.


The "Flipped Classroom" may work in some schools and with some students, but it is not a good fit for many students and should be used cautiously.

How I find the resources I share on this blog

Some of my readers and colleagues have asked me how I find the resources that I share on this blog, so I decided to tell you.


1. Google - I do Google searches for different things like "educational technology", "social networking", "web 2.0", "project based learning" and any other topic I'm looking for. 


2. My PLN - my Personal Learning Network is a great resource. These educators share their resources, ideas, and tips on Twitter and on their blogs. Here are some of the people in my PLN. 


3. Blogs - both by educators and technology and education companies. Check my PLN list for some of the blogs I follow and check out My "Great Edtech Blogs" Bundle on the right column of this blog. I use Google Reader to follow blogs, news sites, and more to keep up with the latest information, trends, and more. 


4. Discovery Education - the DE Network and many of their resources are great for using in school, but some of their resources share other resources with you and you can find a lot of great things on the DEN Blog Network. 


5. Journals - there are two free educational journals that I subscribe to that have a huge number of resources: Tech&Learning Magazine and THE Journal. Check them out!


6. Conferences (and unconferences) - I attend 3-6 educational conferences each year. Not only do I learn some great things there, but I make more connections to add to my PLN.




Where do you find your resources?

Google Launches GigaPan Time Machine - very cool

Google has launched a new site called GigaPan Time Machine. This site has high quality videos of a process over time. Each "time machine" allows you to zoom into the image and pan around as it travels forward or backward through time. There are even text annotations to explain what you are viewing. The high resolution allows some great viewing. You can even learn how to create your own Time Machine with help.

There are five Time Machines on the main page, including plant growth, and a CT Scan of a human female. Think old-school time lapse photography, but with much better visuals.

This is a great resource to use with students to explore different concepts and you can even create your own with your classes.

Edcamp comes to Connecticut - Aug 18th, 2011 - free unconference

Edcamp is a great series of free, unconferences for educators. Edcamp comes to CT this coming August 18th. It is a great method of professional development, being run by teachers, for teachers. The Edcamp model is unique in that attendees set the agenda the morning of the conference and the sessions are not led by one person, but are rather a collaboration of both the facilitator and attendees. 


This is a great opportunity to connect, share, teach, learn, and expand their personal learning network. It is schedule right before school starts, so it is a great way to get back into the "swing of things" and get some great ideas and resources for the coming school year. 


Here is a great article by Mary Beth Hertz on Edcamp and the unconference idea. 




Some more great conferences coming up:

Discovery Education Spring Virtual Conference Agenda/Session Descriptions

Upcoming Conferences for Educators - lots of great events - UPDATED with more

ntcamp - New Teacher Camp - educational conferences

Web 2.0: Cool Tools for Schools - great list of web 2.0 resources

Web 2.0: Cool Tools for Schools is a great site with a listing of hundreds of educational technology and web 2.0 tools that teachers and students can use in their classroom.

The resources are sorted by categories such as "presentation", "music", "collaborative", and "research". There are 18 categories, plus a "Teacher's Resources" page with lesson plans, books, games, and more.

I spent about an hour going through the site and found it to be a great place to go for resources. Definitely a site to bookmark and share with other educators. 

Advice to new graduates that will be entering the teaching profession

Welcome to the hardest job you'll ever love!

As I think about the fact that most colleges will be holding graduation next month, I thought about all those new graduates that will be joining the education profession next year and thought I'd share some advice and resources for them. I'll be speaking to some from a few different area programs and I hope you will share these with new graduates that you know. I also figured this would be a good time because many seniors are still doing student teaching now. 

• Your best resource as a new teacher is yourself. Use what you learned in school. Seek out more information from colleagues and the Internet. Use your creativity. Remember what it was like to be a student yourself.

• Ask for help. Don't be afraid to ask other teachers for help. Do not isolate yourself in your classroom. Make connections with other teachers, whether it is in person, by email, Facebook, Ning, Twitter, web sites, or blogs. Create a Personal Learning Network of people and resources that can help you.

• Don't reinvent the wheel. Use the resources that are available to you. Most textbooks now come with instructor resource CD-ROMs and companion web sites. Use the resources that they have and then modify them as needed. Search the Internet for lesson plan ideas, activities, classroom management tips, and other tips and tricks. Check out Discovery Education's free resources. 

• Stay organized. You need to stay organized. Make sure you have a lesson plan guide and calendar of some sort. You can use a paper based planner and lesson planner or use an electronic or web-based system. Smartphones are great for staying organized. You can also use online resources like Google, Evernote and others to keep your files, calendar, tasks, and lesson plans organized.

• Write things down and make sure you have your classroom materials organized and labeled.

• Take advantage of professional development opportunities. Your district and school will run professional development sessions, but don't limit yourself to those. Look for free online sessions, webcasts, conferences, and sessions run by your local educational resource agency. Create your own, on-demand professional development using Twitter. 

• Join a professional society in your area. As a physics teacher, I have joined the National Science Teacher's Association (NSTA) and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). Find out what organizations are in your area and join them. You will find resources and contacts through these organizations.

• Read journals. Subscribe to and read educational journals. Most are free, so you don't have to worry about the money. There are journals on general education, educational technology, pedagogy, assessment, and just about every other area of education. Here is a great, free journal: Tech and Learning Magazine - great magazine with educational and technology information and resources. Free subscription for teachers.

• Be creative with your lessons. Think outside the box. Come up with new, fun ways to teach the students. Use projects and project-based-learning as a way to engage and teach your students. You can find a huge number of resources and ideas for projects on the web.

• Read some books on education. My personal favorites to start with are "First Days of School", by Harry Wong, and "Your First Year as a High School Teacher", by Lynne Rominger, et al.

• Don't pay for things if you can get them for free. There are tons of free resources, from software to web sites, that can help you in your classroom. Here are some tips for finding free resources.

• Make connections with the secretaries and custodians in your building. They will be some of your best resources for supplies, ideas, and help.

• Make connections with local businesses, especially those that are related to your subject area. They can be a huge resource for guests, supplies and equipment, and funding. Many local businesses, such as Staples, have Teacher Appreciation Days with discounts and free gifts. Find out about these. Remind businesses that instead of throwing out things, they can donate usable items to your school as a tax write-off.

• Get to know the publisher's representative for your class's textbook. They can get you a lot of resources.

• Be flexible. Remember Murphy's law. Have plans for when your lessons run short or long, to deal with interruptions and fire drills, assemblies, and days when much of your class is absent because of a field trip. 

• Have back up plans for everything and especially have backup plans in case of technology issues.

• Know your local and State curriculum. Know what is expected of you. Know what is expected of the students.

• Track your personal expenses and save receipts. There is a tax deduction for educators.

• Copyright issues - be careful and make sure you know about Educational Copyright issues

• Keep up on your certification requirements.

• Spend this summer relaxing and getting ready for your new career. Once you get hired by a school, get a copy of the curriculum and review it over the summer. Think about the kind of teacher you want to be. Get yourself organized. 

• If you are still looking for a job, don't worry. Teachers retire, move to different school systems. There will be openings. If you can't find a job by August, keep trying. Sign up to be a substitute teacher in the towns nearby. That is a foot-in-the-door for a permanent job when one opens. Don't despair, you will find a job. 

• Ask for help, and look for help. Again, don't be afraid to ask for help.

Good luck and welcome to the profession!

Some more resources for new teachers:

New Teacher Advice - some good advice for new teachers (and old ones too!)

Discovery Education New Teacher Survival Central - a great resource for all teachers (and free).

List of Discovery Education Resources for Educators - very good, inclusive list of Discovery Educations resources.

Top 10 Free Resources for Teachers

Google Alerts - get email updates with Google results based on your search topic

Google Alerts is a service from Google that sends email updates to you based on the latest Google results (web, news, etc.) from your choice of query or topic.

You can use Google Alerts to monitor developing news stories, keep tabs on sports teams, or get alerts on topics that you are teaching in your classroom.

I have a Google Alert set up for "physics", "educational technology" and then I add new one's for specific topics I'm looking for.

You enter your search terms, select type (everything, news, blogs, video, realtime, discussions), select how often you want alerts sent to you, volume of results (best or all), and then the email address you want the alert sent to. You can even get a preview of your results before you subscribe.

This is a great way to keep up on trending topics or specific topics for your classes and students can use it for their research.

Great Earth Day Resources for Educators

Earth Day, April 22nd, is a great time to talk to your students about the environment. Many schools, including most in Connecticut, will be on break during that time, but you can always talk about it after break.


Earth Day was started in 1962 as a way to bring attention to environmental issues. As polution increases, and the environment is continually affected by humans, it is a great time to get our students thinking about environmental issues. 




Here are some resources you can use with your students:





National Environmental Education Week - This week (April 10-16) is Environmental Education Week. This site has an entire section with resources for educators that includes curricula, quizzes, professional development and more. 





Earth Day Network - this is another great resource for teaching about the environment and Earth Day. The educator resource page has lesson plans, Green your School guide, grant programs and more to help educators. 

Science Museum Climate Science Info Zone - information and resources on climate change, carbon footprint, and more. 

  
Think Green from Discovery Education - Think Green is another great free resource from Discovery Education that contains lesson plans, videos, and activities for teachers to use in their classroom. The resources are sorted by grade level and are interactive and educational. 


You can also go to the Think Green Resource Page to search for more resources by grade, topic, or resource. 

Discovery Education, Siemens STEM Academy (another great resource from Discovery) is hosting a webinar entitled Earth Day: The Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill One Year Later with Jeff Corwin on Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 1pm ET. Teachers can register for free and share it with their students. 

You and your students are invited to join biologist, environmentalist, author and Emmy winner Jeff Corwin to take an in-depth look at the impact of the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill as we approach the one-year anniversary.  Jeff, who hosts Animal Planet’s The Jeff Corwin Experience, will examine the intricate and wide-spread ecological effects of the spill on life in the surrounding ecosystem and beyond.  As a defining moment in environmental history, the oil spill will forever change societal awareness of the relationship between humans and the environment. You and your students will walk away with a better understanding of the role we play in protecting the aquatic habitat of the gulf and the positive impact we can make on the environment every day

Every classroom can, and should, talk about Earth Day and the environment. We all need to help make sure that the Earth will be a healthy, viable, place for generations to come.


English classes could write about the environment, including persuasive essays and letters on different topics. 


History classes could look at the history of Earth Day and the Environmentalist movement, along with the history of different environment events. 


Science classes can delve into the science of the environment, energy resources, energy production and more. 




What do you do for Earth Day in your classroom?




Some More Environmental Resources

Discovery Education Dawn Junior Wildlife Champions-free lesson plans about oil spills and wildlife

The Road Ahead - resources on electricity generation from Discovery Education

Discovery Education Turfmutt - environmental science lessons

Top 10 Resources from Discovery Education - all free

Discovery News - science news

Disney Planet Challenge - project based environmental contest with resources

Google updates image search, goo.gl, and gmail with new features

Google has been busy this week with updates and new features to many of it's products and services. They updated Google Calendar's favicon to display the actual date instead of just "31", A Google A Day puzzle, and Google Docs received pagination and native printing. Now, there are three more updates from Google. These updates will be rolling out over the next few days. 


1. Google Recent Image Search - Google's image search has increased the speed of indexing of images and highlights recent results by showing a small label below the image with the date the image was posted online. This can help when searching for a timely or newsworthy topic and wanting to see the newest images. 




2. Goo.gl URL shortener gets new features - goo.gl is Google's URL shortening service. It has a lot of great features, described here, and just got some improvements. When you create a new short URL on the goo.gl site, the new URL text will be automatically highlighted to make it easier to copy to the clipboard. 

One of the cool features of goo.gl is the dashboard where you can see past url's you've shortened and how many times someone has clicked on that shortened url.  You can now remove items from the dashboard to only keep the ones you really want to track visible.

You can also now report goo.gl URLs that are for spam sites using goo.gl/spam-report. 




3. “Don’t forget Bob” and “Got the wrong Bob?” are two Gmail Labs features that help prevent you from forgetting to include someone on an email, and sending a message to the wrong person with a similar name to the person you meant to email — like emailing Bob (your boss) instead of Bob (your friend). 

As you type in your recipients, Gmail will automatically make suggestions based on the groups of people you email most often. When you see a suggestion to add a person you’ve forgotten, all you have to do is click on their name to add them.



Similarly, if you click on a suggestion to replace a mistakenly added recipient, the proverbial “wrong Bob” will be replaced by the right one.

All of these updates should make users of Google's products feel comfortable and reassured that Google will continue to support and improve the products that they've come to depend on. 




Reference: Official Google Blog (and images are from here also)


(I've written a lot about Google's apps. I do not get paid or compensated by Google for this. I have found their apps to be well designed and easy to use.)