Showing posts with label CCSS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CCSS. Show all posts
Sunday, November 29, 2015
SAMR Through the Lens of the Common Core
"As education leaders incorporate the CCSS into school systems, P21 urges them to do so in a way that honors the fusion of the 3R's (core academic content mastery) and 4C's (critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration, communication and creativity and innovation). It is imperative that the CCSS be considered the "floor" --not the "ceiling"-- when it comes to expectations for student performance in the 21st Century."
Weaving it All Together - In Simple Terms
- The Common Core defines what students should be able to do.
- Digital tools provide students with resources, flexible options and support to do it.
- The SAMR model provides teachers with a point of reference to reflect on what they are asking students to do and challenges them to embrace technology to design learning experiences that allow students to do what couldn't be done without the tech.
This digital toolkit is filled with resources for compacting that crowded plate and embracing technology as a tool to fuel deep learning. It can be used as a launching pad to shift instructional practices that target the CCSS through active student participation, providing them with opportunities to engage in the 4C's. Explore it and dive in, one step at a time.
Learn More
SAMR Through the Lens of Common Core Standards
Webinar: 12/3 @ 4:00 CST, sponsored by MyInfinitec.org
Are you looking for ways to leverage the power of technology to help students develop 21st Century Skills? Researchers have determined that technology integration typically moves through four specific levels: Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition (SAMR).The higher the level of an activity the greater the educational benefit. This webinar will demonstrate how to use the SAMR model of technology integration as a guide for planning and implementing classroom learning experiences that take student learning to higher levels.
Join me and Infinitec as we look at some traditional learning tasks, align them to the Common Core Standards, and walk them up the SAMR ladder to show how to transform your teaching and "Teach Above the Line."
Sign up
Registration is open to allSign up
REMIX: Adding Conversations to ThingLink
ThingLink has added a new feature to encourage collaboration and conversations about images. It's called REMIX.
What is REMIX?
-from the ThingLink Blog...In music a remix is a song that has been edited to sound different from the original version — it may include additional effects and elements, or the composition of the elements has been changed.
ThingLink’s Remix feature follows the same idea with images. A rich media image is always a composition of content that conveys a unique experience. Now you can take an image you see, click the Remix button, add elements to it, and republish a new version. By doing so, you’re enabling a new conversation on the same image.
How Does REMIX Work?
Enable REMIX
If you are already using ThingLink you will need to turn REMIX on. Look for the option when you click on My Channel. New users will find this feature to be automatically enabled.
If you are already using ThingLink you will need to turn REMIX on. Look for the option when you click on My Channel. New users will find this feature to be automatically enabled.
Try REMIX
You can REMIX someone else's image by going to ThingLink.com, selecting an image, and clicking on the REMIX icon to create your own version of the image in your account. Once the image is in your account you can add tags. The tags will appear on your REMIXed image, but they will only appear as Comments on the original image. The comments will have a link to your REMIXED version.
Here is an example of an image I REMIXED. Click the image to view the conversation.
A few Ways to Use REMIX with Students
You can REMIX someone else's image by going to ThingLink.com, selecting an image, and clicking on the REMIX icon to create your own version of the image in your account. Once the image is in your account you can add tags. The tags will appear on your REMIXed image, but they will only appear as Comments on the original image. The comments will have a link to your REMIXED version.
Here is an example of an image I REMIXED. Click the image to view the conversation.
A few Ways to Use REMIX with Students
- Teachers can post an image with discussion questions for students to REMIX and answer.
- Students can create an interactive image to demonstrate knowledge and ideas. As part of the sharing process, students can REMIX and add comments and responses to the ideas presented.
- An interactive image can be used to present a real world problem to students. They can REMIX the image with possible solutions to the problem.
Common Core Connections
Try REMIX to launch learning experiences that engage students in a range of collaborative discussions to build on the ideas of others and express their own ideas clearly. This is one of the skills identified by the Common Core.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Back to Mac
I'm fortunate to be a chameleon who can adapt easily to change and I believe this is one of the reasons I have been successful at using technology as a tool for learning. I'm happy to be able to have learned to work seamlessly between platforms to facilitate tech integration, but I'm really glad that my school district is going back to Mac!
Although I have always preferred Mac over PC, I do recognize some positive changes that resulted from our 3 year long switch to Windows 7. We were able to put cost efficient mobile carts of netbooks into our schools, greatly increasing our student to device ratio. We have had a sufficient supply of netbooks to be able to launch the implementation of Google Docs as an efficient and effective collaborative instructional tool for students and staff. Cost efficiency of the netbooks allowed us to increase the number of projectors in classrooms too. Although we had the best of intentions when we tried to save a few trees and encourage teachers to grade papers online through comments in Google Docs, the enormous and heavy Dell “laptops” teachers were given for their use were much heavier than a pile of papers, so that initiative has not worked so well up to this point.
But, like the title says, it sure looks like we are going back to Mac! We have provided each school with a mobile lab of MacBook Airs for use in the classroom. Teachers will have iPads and Apple TVs in classrooms this week and we are hoping to kickoff a 1:1 iPad rollout starting this fall. Teachers will get MacBook Airs and students will gradually get iPads and ownership of their own devices. Ah, this is going to be an exciting and fun challenge!
Resources for students and staff to introduce our mobile labs of MacBook Airs.
And what a great time for this! iPads have been successfully rolled out in many forward thinking districts and the process is now streamlined and efficient. Districts who have had successful experiences are eager to share their guidance and expertise with us. We recognize the need to collaborate and appreciate the opportunity to be connected .
In house, we finally have a team of instructional technology coaches in place to help teachers find their comfort zones, set goals, and have fun as they personally move through the stages of tech adoption and begin to shift instruction. It will be exciting to be able to help teachers facilitate Common Core aligned learning experiences with the help of interactivity, digital supports and multimedia.
So, I must say that I am ecstatic to be back to Mac and excited about a new journey that will ultimately lead to a lot of learning for myself and others. I am looking forward to the near future when our teachers and students will leave school at the end of the day with a lighter load and some powerful portable personal digital tools for teaching and learning to use whenever needed. This initiative will definitely help extend the walls of our classrooms.
What I will miss about Windows 7
I made the switch back to Mac a few weeks ago. Right away I noticed how comfortable the Mac feels with it's lighted keyboard and intuitive interface. But, I'd like to note a few things I do miss about Windows 7 as I put this chapter to rest.
- The snipping tool I take a lot of snapshots. I know how to do it on a Mac of course, but the process is not nearly as slick as the handy snipping tool on Windows 7.
- Snap WindowsI appreciate the ability to work between two active open windows side by side and snapped into place on Windows 7, a feature I used every day.
10 Terrific Tools in My Toolkit
 |
| Flexible Learning Paths |
Explore this interactive image to take a closer look at my collection of resources for use with these 10 terrific tools. Try them yourself and remember to start with something simple.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
The Ultimate Word Wall with ThingLink & Padlet
I also love Word Walls and have been using them for as long as I can remember. While I was once frustrated by trying to keep taped images up on a physical wall, I now find the process to be streamlined and slick with the help of one of my favorite tools, Padlet
Benefits of Padlet at a Glance
- Padlet is a free, flexible and user friendly tool that is available online, 24/7
- Users can create account and design Padlets for a variety of purposes for teaching and learning.
- Students can contribute to Padlets without an email address, just tap to add an image.
- Padlet works well on a computer and also from the web browser on an iPad.
- There's no tape or physical space limitations with these types of word walls.
- Padlet is capable is displaying text, images and video.
- Padlet can be embedded into a blog, wiki or website.
- Padlet supports ThingLink interactive images!
Using Padlet to Create The Ultimate Word Wall of Interactive Images
As the interactive images for the challenge started rolling in, I had the idea to build a Word Wall of vocabulary activities. The word wall is embedded below, but to get a better view you might want to visit the full wall on the Padlet site.
Click on any image to preview and explore any interactive vocabulary image created by teachers from all over the world. If you want to explore the full version of an image, click the Share icon on the ThingLink image to grab the link. If you want to embed the image into your own space, grab the embed code.
Be sure to check back as many more images are submitted. This wall will grow throughout the summer.
Be sure to check back as many more images are submitted. This wall will grow throughout the summer.
For a better viewing experience go to Padlet to view this wall.
Join Us for the ThingLink Teacher Challenge
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Instructional Shifts to Support the Common Core
The CCSS identify a spiraling set of skills necessary to prepare students for success. The standards are designed to teach students how to think. They call for increased comprehension, synthesis of information and the ability to clearly express learning. To facilitate the deep learning experiences supported by the CCSS, a shift in instructional practices is necessary.
The seamless integration of technology into the Common Core aligned curriculum supports learning through active participation and increases opportunities for all students to have access to the resources and information they need for success. With increasing numbers of Internet connected portable learning devices in our schools, access to information is readily available in a variety of formats and often in the palm of our students’ hands. While it’s safe to say that many schools are wired, it’s time to combine digital tools with innovative instructional practices to get our students plugged in.
Help students uncover knowledge
Instead of teaching scripted curriculum defined by a textbook, consider putting your teaching skills and expertise to good use during the instructional planning phase by using essential questions to fuel the learning. Essential questions require students to construct knowledge and when combined with a flexible lesson design this type of learning can allow students to express learning in original ways. There is no room for answers that simply require copying and pasting, and worksheets become obsolete.
Essential Questions
To get started with essential questions, first take a look at the content you will be covering. Use Bloom’s as a guide to develop complex questions that require students to use higher order thinking skills to answer. Take a look at the Common Core Standards and identify several standards that can be woven into the learning process. Design a grading rubric for use as a guide to define expectations for students as they create a final original project to demonstrate learning. This will ensure that the student driven learning experience hits the targeted instruction and includes those Common Core Standards. Remember to make sure to dedicate an adequate amount of instructional time for students to answer complex Essential QuestionsExplore my toolkit of resources for helping students uncover knowledge and create something original.
Final thoughts
Technology is a powerful tool for learning that can be used effectively to help students develop the skills necessary to succeed in school and beyond. Students can develop transferrable knowledge and skills as they engage in learning experiences that require them to construct knowledge.
The Common Core presents new challenges and new opportunities to help us focus on deep learning. This requires shifts in instructional practices. We have the opportunity to redesign learning, let's embrace it!
Instructional Shifts to Support the CCSS
11/19/2013 at 4:00 PM EST
Sign up and learn more
Registration is open to Simple K12 members
The Common Core presents new challenges and new opportunities to help us focus on deep learning. This requires shifts in instructional practices. We have the opportunity to redesign learning, let's embrace it!
Learn more
I'm hosting a webinar onTuesday, 11/19 at 4:00 PM EST to explore Instructional Shifts to Support the Common Core. If you are a Simple K-12 member, I hope you will join us for a closer look at the ideas presented here.
11/19/2013 at 4:00 PM EST
Sign up and learn more
Registration is open to Simple K12 members
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Next Webinar: Improve Writing Skills with Google Docs
Please join me and Simple K12 for a webinar to explore the integrated writing and research tools available in Google Docs to help students improve writing skills.
Friday, November 13, 2015
ICE Cold Mini Conference
I had a wondrful time at the ICE COLD Spring Mini-Conference this morning despite the April snow and downright blustery day. The event was packed, the information was interesting and relevant, and there was a lot of excitement everywhere.
Kudos to the organizers of this well organized and fun annual event!. $5.00 was quite a bargain!
Here are a couple of resources from this fun-filled morning of learning:
Unpacking the Common Core: Digital Tools to Support the Academic Vocabulary Shift
This is the session I presented:
Literacy and the Common Core Standards
You will find the LiveBinder created by Dawn Sayer to be a very useful resource. I really enjoyed listening to Dawn's innovative teaching ideas and learning the ways she uses some of the same tools in efficient and effective ways. Good stuff here!
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Mystery Photos
A few years ago I used Mystery Photos to kickoff some collaborative discussions among students participating in an online learning project I had the pleasure of facilitating, Regions of the United States. The ideas here are supported by the Common Core and worth revisiting. (CCSS SL-5, CCSS W-7)
Mystery Photos
Do some research. Engage in an online discussion. Create your own mystery photo.
Create your own Playlist on MentorMob!
Friday, November 6, 2015
Snow Similies
Here is another interactive graphic to explore Figurative Language.
CCSS L5: Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings
Simile
A simile uses the words “like” or “as”
to compare one object or idea with another to suggest they are alike.
You might also like this
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Embrace Change This Summer with Professional Development
I am fortunate and excited to be able to offer a variety of professional development experiences this summer to help teachers embrace change and adjust to the instructional shifts that will ultimately help our students develop the 21st Century Skills necessary for success.
My Professional Development Goals
Help educators
- Use free and user friendly digital tools to transform learning.
- Explore, connect with others, and learn together through constructive play as you build a personal learning network.
- Align learning experiences to the Common Core .
- Shift instructional practices to focus on student centered collaborative learning that engages students in the 4 C's.
- Maximize instructional time.
- Model digital citizenship.
- Effectively differentiate and manage the student-centered classroom.
Explore My Interactive Calendar
Learn more and sign up for professional development in June. I hope to make some new connections this summer and look forward to collaborating with some familiar and talented friends.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Create a Figurative Language Poster
Figurative language spirals through the Common Core (CCSS) along with the seemless integration of research and technology. Why not combine the three to create figurative language posters?
ArtSkills.com is a free tool to create attractive posters . I used this tool to create my posters this time for a change of pace and appreciated the options available to ensure success.
- Sign up for a free account at ArtSkills.com.
- Use the tools to design an awesome poster.
- Upload the poster to ThingLink.
- Start tagging.
Figurative Language Poster
This interactive poster introduces two research tools:- The Research Tool in Google Docs
- InstaGrok
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Explore - Wagon Wheel Project Toolkit
I have been weaving together digital tools with the Common Core to design flexible student driven learning experiences that start out Above the Line, as defined by SAMR.
Good news! My digital toolkit is filled with great resources to tackle these design challenges. Do you have a digitalt toolkit of resources? Take a look at mine.
Essential Tools Used to Organize and Share this Project
Wagon Wheel Project Toolkit
Please explore this interactive image to learn more about each tool.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)