Schools that work for kids - How could you make some changes?

Day One, Term 3 School Holidays - This has traditionally been my "stay in my PJ's to lunchtime day" However, last year and this year, a change in jobs has meant I am not on holiday at this time.
However, I am thinking about education and learning as I prepare my presentation for ULearn15.
I came across this great TED talk by Eric Sheninger  from TEDxBurnsvilleED. I was able to hear him speak at Edutech15 in Brisbane this year and I am currently reading his book "Digital Leadership - changing paradigms for Changing Times"  One of his innovative practices is how he has used Twitter as a way to engage the community and to promote his school.

This video looks at how we can make changes to how schools operate to create better learni opportunities for our students.

Follow Eric on Twitter @E_Sheninger or read his blog, A Principal's Reflections

Engage Me!

I have been thinking about student agency and engagement. I came across this video which reflects these two aspects.

Dweck and Hattie -Teachers As Change Agents

I have been thinking a lot lately about how we as teachers can make a difference in our classes. Often it is not the whole class, but a small group of students who are not achieving. The classroom challenge that wakes me up at 4.00am! Am I the only one?... I came across these two videos recently, one of John Hattie and the other by Carol Dweck. Both Carol Dweck and John Hattie have looked at a large body of research into learning. Carol Dweck's research focus is on a Growth vs Fixed Mindset for students in our classes, where some students believe their ability is fixed and there can be no improvement. Students with a Growth Mindset believe that with a focus on the process, working to achieve success, even with some failure along the way, they will be grow as learners. Carol Dweck talks about the concept of "Not Yet", which means students haven't been successful "yet", but they
are working towards it. There are many videos of Carol Dweck explaining more about her work and also her book "Mindset - How you can reach your full potential" is very good. I have this on my iPad, I ordered it as an ebook and it was delivered in a micro-second - ah the power of the internet!
John Hattie is well-known for his work on Visible Learning and looking at the factors that make a difference to learning. If you want to learn more these two links John Hattie Part1 and
John Hattie Part2 are edited highlights of a 2011 lecture explaining his research. The video below talks about his own time as a learner and the relationship with his favourite teacher which comes in at spot 11 on the best influence on learning with an effect size of .72. Professional Development sits at
19 with an effect size of .62.  Two good ways to make a difference to the learners in our classes!

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Why Authentic Context Matters.

               

On Saturday, like many thousands of New Zealanders and Australians, I attended an ANZAC day memorial service. I went with my family to Cranmer Square in Christchurch for the Anzac Dawn Service. As we walked to the Square, there were hundreds of people also making their way to commemorate 100 years since the first landing of NZ troops at Gallipoli. ANZAC day continues to be an important and symbolic day in the history of our country. Every small town you drive through has a war memorial to the fallen. Young men who were prepared to go to war, "for King and Country" and for the 18,000 NZ soldiers who died in foreign lands, killed in action during WW1.
I have always taught WWI poetry at this time of the year to my classes, hoping to use ANZAC day as a way to given some authentic context to what we were learning. One year we even sent "Tweets from the Trenches" as young soldiers from the Papanui area. (See future blog post about this)
A phone call on Saturday from a cousin informed me that recent family research had revealed an unknown great uncle had died at Gallipoli.
Within a week of arriving with the Otago Infantry Battalion, 14th (South Otago) Company, he was killed, missing in action. For me, ANZAC day has become just that more personal.

  They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Thinking about 2015

It’s not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It’s because we dare not venture that they are difficult. – Seneca

I am looking forward to 2015. I have an exciting new job, a new grandson and I have made a start on all the boxes still sitting in my garage after moving back into my house after earthquake repairs. (Okay, a small start, but a start). There is the Cricket World Cup here in Christchurch at the new Hagley Oval, exciting buildings are going up in Christchurch, there is the Rugby World Cup, I am back riding my bike, there are lots of exciting things to find out in the elearning world, interesting people to follow on Twitter, fabulous family and friends to hang out with, fish to catch (husband's job), interesting people to follow on Twitter, CORE's ten trends for 2014 to reflect on, blogs and books to read, gardens to weed...

So what do you have planned in 2015. I am sure that every teacher has spent some time thinking about their plans for 2015 during the holidays. As a last blog post to the staff at previous school, I wrote a letter with these "twelve days of eChristmas" suggestions. 

Hello All

Below are twelve tips,tools or links that might be useful as you move forward on your

“e” journeys in 2015. They are in no particular order of importance and not all my own ideas.

As always, there are many, many people smarter than me, which is why I have borrowed their ideas.

1) Join Twitter - greatest free PD there is.

2) If you did join Twitter then try joining or following  these types of  weekly or fortnightly twitter chats

    #pechat (UK) #edchat( US) #edchatnz  #aussiechat  #scichatnz  #pechatnz #UKEdChat

and of course there are amazing educators to follow. Here’s one @teachertoolkit - Ross Morrison McGill is the most followed teacher on Twitter in the UK ( he’s the guy with the 5 minute lesson plan shared by Warren)

3)  http://www.freetech4teachers.com/

   brilliant resources all free

4) http://www.educatorstechnology.com/  Another brilliant resource blog - has lots of useful infographics

5) Three blogs to read

Derek Wenmoth’s blog - One of the ICT thought leaders in NZ

Edna Sackson's blog (one of the Grannies in the cloud)

teacher toolkit blog  If you don’t want to follow him on Twitter(see No 2) then read his blog

6) Digital Citizenship - Mike Ribble

• Netsafe

7)  Are you using the LMS (eg MOODLE ) at your school. A great place for your Digital Textbook
and combine this with Google Docs (your student's digital exercise book).

8)QR codes and Aurasma app (virtual reality) Find out about these.

9) TED talks and Ed talks

10)3D printing - Does your school have a 3D printer? How could you use this in class?

11)Read one of those INTERFACE Magazines that some annoying person on keeps putting in your pigeon hole

12) Sir Ken Robinson TED talk on creativity / TED -ed /

Good eLuck for 2015!

What do you think will be the trends for 2015?

Why we "do speeches" in English.

And that, Ladies and Gentleman is why we do speeches in English!

Today is my son Alex's 22nd birthday. I posted this on another blog after his 21st birthday last year and on re-reading decided to re-post it. As we all wind down for the holidays, English teachers take a well-deserved pat-on-the-back for your efforts in teaching, facilitating, cajoling, encouraging and supporting all those students in your classes who have to "do" speeches. It's worth it!

“Good evening Ladies and Gentleman. For those who don’t know me, my name is Ben and I have known Alex since we both started school aged 5. I even have my name written down in case I was to forget it after taking advantage of the free alcohol, Thanks Bill.”  

And so began the best 21st speech I have ever heard from a young man speaking about his best friend. In our family we have all had opportunities to speak in public  from Captain’s speeches after a rugby match, 21st’s, weddings, funerals, family functions, assemblies, staff meetings etc.In fact, my husband Bill is seen as someone you don’t want to follow if you are speaking at a family occasion. However, last night this young man stole the show.

From this cliched start he proceeded to discuss George Washington’s revolutionist ideas with a quick reference to Napoleon and Che Guevara, a passing comment on Barack Obama’s charisma and finally a picture of Richie (McCaw of course). The speech detailed some of our son’s adventures and escapades, without the embarrassing tales that can occur on these occasions. He was witty, perceptive and absolutely genuine in his friendship with our  son. At the end he mentioned All Black Captain Richie McCaw and listed his qualities of leadership, modesty, intelligence, being trustworthy and dependable and referenced our son. However, all present were able to recognise the same qualities in the speaker. 

This morning as we all gathered for a clean-up and de-brief about the evening, we were all still amazed and delighted at this fabulous speech. We were all in awe of Ben’s wit and intelligence, something that is not always applauded in our sporting culture. Ben, you made your friends, your parents and I am sure your teachers proud last night.

Stepping up and delivering an unforgettable speech at your best mate’s 21st – Legend!!

This was originally posted on my other blog.

Constantly Learning - Another opportunity for educators

I came across this via Twitter (Thanks @BridgetCasse) I thought it looked interesting so I have signed up. I attended a workshop by Julie Lindsay @Julielindsay earlier this year at the GAFE
Summit in Christchurch so I knew one of the keynote speakers.  Looks interesting.

Here is the link to the Global Education Conference 2014