#DITCHbook was created by Ditch That Textbook author Matt Miller. The chat focuses on innovative teaching ideas and disrupting standard textbook education.
Happy Thursday #ditchbook ! Jen, a MS Science Purveyor of Knowledge from MO, here! Happy back to School week, y'all! :) (hope to channel my inner Ms. Frizzle...)
Heeeeeeey, #ditchbook!!! Evan Mosier, Technology Integrationist Lead Teacher and Language Arts from Davenport, IA excited to join you all this evening!!
A1: Learning experiences have a lasting impression and go beyond just learning curriculum. It can be interactions, conversations, outcomes. The end result it is makes that 'lasting impression.' #DitchBook
A1: An experience is something you are part of. It’s where students come in contact with new learning through participation. You’ll forget the content if you can’t remember the lesson. #ditchbook
A1. It’s about the #wholechild and what kind of experience we want the individual to have. There’s opportunity to engage and interact with others and content. Soft skills and content are considered. #Ditchbook
A1: To me, this means leading students in discovering meaning in a variety of ways. Make it like travel. When we travel, we experience places. #ditchbook
A1 Building a learning experience is creating a safe space where Ts and Ss feel comfortable - and vulnerable - enought to take risks and make mistakes #ditchbook
A1: A learning experience taps into things that help Ss connect your content with their own experiences and passions or likes. It brings the learning alive. It is the experience that they will talk about for years afterwards.#DitchBook
A1: Making a learning experience means engaging students in a way that makes them a part of the lesson while learning, even though they may not realize it. Additionally, Ss will want to return the following day! #ditchbook
A1: To me, this means leading students in discovering meaning in a variety of ways. Make it like travel. When we travel, we experience places. #ditchbook
A1: learning experiences are where Ss experience their learning through various approaches and engagement. It means we are changing up traditional learning and making it something Ss love and look forward to! #DitchBook
A1: Experiences require students and teachers to be fully involved and engaged. Everyone should have a chance to get their hands on or their minds around something that moves toward growth. Ts should work to facilitate that growth in the most interactive way possible. #ditchbook
A1: To me, this means to have real-life scenarios, hands-on inquiry based learning. These are all experiences where Ss can apply their learning and are SO engaged! #ditchbook
A1. A learning experience requires students take ownership of the material and the means by which they demonstrate mastery. We merely serve as facilitators. #DitchBook
A1: A learning experience occurs when the students are in charge of their learning and seek ways to extend their learning. They solve problems on their own or in groups, but only with the support of their teachers. #ditchbook
A1: Learning from an experience is multidimensional. It’s what we do outside if school naturally. I said yes to 1 cooking project. We went all over the place after that. It turned into a summer elective. To be cont’d. Bike mechanics may be next. Then we gift them. #ditchbook
A1: A lesson is something that you're TAUGHT.
An experience is something you, well ... EXPERIENCE.
It's a roller coaster ride of the senses. It surprises and excites you.
And yes, it IS possible to create! #DitchBook
A1: Have enthusiasm for what you’re doing. Make Ss feel like they aren’t in a classroom! Get Ss engaged and hands on. Tap into every resource, emotion, sense that you can. Get Ss out of their box! Challenge them! #DitchBook
A1: Learning from an experience is multidimensional. It’s what we do outside if school naturally. I said yes to 1 cooking project. We went all over the place after that. It turned into a summer elective. To be cont’d. Bike mechanics may be next. Then we gift them. #ditchbook
A1: A learning experience has total student involvement - it’s immersive and multi-sensory. It’s impactful and leaves students thinking and reflecting after it’s done. #DitchBook
A1: Have enthusiasm for what you’re doing. Make Ss feel like they aren’t in a classroom! Get Ss engaged and hands on. Tap into every resource, emotion, sense that you can. Get Ss out of their box! Challenge them! #DitchBook
A1: Different than a “plan”- not an “event”- it’s a way to be. Open ended, multiple entry points, opportunities for both success & failure. Productive struggle and growth. #ditchbook
A1: An experience is a learning opportunity that you are immersed in and many times becomes unforgettable. You are an active participant and your learning is magnified because of your level of engagement. #ditchbook
A1: Different than a “plan”- not an “event”- it’s a way to be. Open ended, multiple entry points, opportunities for both success & failure. Productive struggle and growth. #ditchbook
A2: Ss centered, Ss led. More collaborative with engagement and involvement. Less Ts talk. Majority is shifted to discovery and inquiry instead of the traditional. #DitchBook
A2: Learning experiences are student centered whereas lesson plans are teacher centered. Authentic discovery happens in learning experiences rather than rote memorization and regurgitation of factoids and procedures. #ditchbook
A2: Ditching the plans and creating the experience paves the way for learning to becoming authentic and personalized. Students need to realize their thoughts and actions can make an impact. #DitchBook
Plans are just that, a plan, not a committed path of action. Even @NASA knows that. Learning has more variables than outer space. Have a plan, then prioritize the experience, and memorable learning will take place. A2 #ditchbook
A2: Ditching the plans and creating the experience paves the way for learning to becoming authentic and personalized. Students need to realize their thoughts and actions can make an impact. #DitchBook
A2- You are able to change on the spot! Using formative feedback you can change how the lesson is going. Lesson plans you some times get stick with it even though the lesson sucks and ss are struggling to understand!
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#ditchbook A2 learning experiences result in self motivated continuation of the learning process. They are student centered. Lesson plans are opportunities to feed Ss what we've decided they should learn
A2: Life-long. Experiences are the birthplace of creativity and innovation. It’s more relatable and life like and applicable. Experiences leave room for failure and perseverance and for teachable moments. #DitchBook
#ditchbook A2: Students make connections - with their own knowledge and experiences, and to the knowledge and experiences of others. Exploring through different perspectives.
A2: By teaching this way we give Ss much more authentic learning where why can come across answers on their own... So much more student centered! #ditchbook
A2: A lesson plan is just that, something that you plan on teaching based on what Ss need to learn. When Ss have the opportunity to have learning experiences, Ts plan a lesson that will have Ss become active participants rather than relying on traditional methods #ditchbook
#ditchbook A2: LASTING learning comes from experiences; not the kind where you memorize for a test then forget. Experiences must be hands-on and relatable to your students; MS Ss glaze over at a Chem lecture, but get excited about Mentos & Diet Coke or learn how hair dye works
A2: The beautiful thing about an experience is that it can have a different take away for each person. Plans are more rigid, so they offer harder constraints and often have a narrow focus. Experiences can be diversified for each experiencer for many types of learning. #ditchbook
A2: Students exploring the world around them! Student-centered learning, student are choosing their paths to learning. It’s all about the students. #ditchbook
A2: Learning experiences differ from lessons or activities in that we can deepen the learning so that Ss will have a better chance of understanding a character, motivations, historical event, perspective, an issue. It can act as the glue that helps the learning stick. #DitchBook
A2.2: When we go out to dinner at a nice restaurant, do we want an experience or just a plain meal? We want (and pay) for the experience because it keeps the memory going. Just had this thought because the fam wants to go out for a nice dinner tonight. #DitchBook
A2: Some of the BEST learning *experiences* have an element of surprise.
Maybe we take an unexpected turn and follow it.
Maybe something gets sprung on us that we didn't anticipate.
When you get what you expected, it's not nearly as memorable. #DitchBook
A2: I see a different ‘intent’ on the part of Ss. Their focus is to produce not regurgitate (although they pick up on my obnoxious overemphasis on key vocabulary). “Teriyaki sauce is a 1:1 ratio...” #ditchbook
A 2: When we create authentic learning experiences Ss become more receptive and start taking on higher level thinking. Decided to #DitchThatTextBook + #TeachLikeAPirate in order to increase engagement and DEEPEN understanding. #DitchBook
We can learn much from watching young kids play outside. They engage in student led learning and problem solving in this manner. #ditchbook#cvtechtalk@kat_goyette
A2: Students exploring the world around them! Student-centered learning, student are choosing their paths to learning. It’s all about the students. #ditchbook
A2: Some of the BEST learning *experiences* have an element of surprise.
Maybe we take an unexpected turn and follow it.
Maybe something gets sprung on us that we didn't anticipate.
When you get what you expected, it's not nearly as memorable. #DitchBook
A3 My favorite learning experience in school was working with ss that were in the MD unit. I had a hand on experience to my JOB!! I hated school because it was not hands on and a lot of direct instruction.
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#ditchbook A2 We did a cultural conversation last year with a class in Monterrey Mexico 🇲🇽 over current event issues. Great opportunity for our students to learn views of others and express their views. Learned to agree to disagree. Valuable learning experience!
A3: My 5th grade T: Mr. Aquaviva. He had a student we invested in from Bolivia. We took donations, sent them to the organization (World Vision I think), and he used this as a teachable moment to care about others outside our bubble. #DitchBook
A3: All of the experiences that were hands-on, relatable to everyday life, and engaging. Having the opportunity to study food labels while eating the candy was a ton of fun!! Probably couldn't do that anymore, though! #ditchbook
A3: I can still remember having to dress up in 2nd grade sometime around Thanksgiving. We had to perform a play which we had written based on what we learned about the “first Thanksgiving.” #Ditchbook
Q3: The best learning experiences I had when I was in school was from teachers that truly showed that they cared about us as students and us as people. This connection drove me to WANT to learn. #ditchbook
A3: In HS when we participated in debates for discussion in my adv English class, we demonstrated comprehension based on our ability to defend a point of view from the text. No one wanted to leave the class when the bell rang, we asked to continue the “lesson” #ditchbook
A2: A lesson plan is guideline to what might happen. A learning experience is where kids actively engage the spirit of the plan and take to a higher DOK Level. #DitchBook
A3: The learning that was engaging and where I new the teacher cared. Those lessons where you were like, "Oh my teacher definitely took time to plan this!" The lessons where the teacher was having fun also! I want my students to see this in my lessons as well! #ditchbook
#ditchbook Q3) experiences when I was in school was the class field trips to Washington DC, using the TRS 80 computer for the first time by writing code to scroll my name, make learning memorable !
The @boyscouts offered me more growth and learning experiences than school. For this reason I am working on a proficiency based curriculum with a level of 'gamification' by including ranks for utilizing our shop space and advancing our CAD skills. A3 #ditchbook
A3: My memorable high school experiences involved interacting with my community and celebrating our unique culture. I am fortunate enough to teach in a place (and to have grown up in a place) with tremendous natural beauty and resources to amplify learning. #ditchbook
A3: Yearbook and newspaper were an EXPERIENCE for me! Going to events. Interviewing classmates.
Mainly, telling STORIES. Some of the best learning experiences follow the arc of a story to make class memorable. #DitchBook
A3: The ones that stand out for me are the ones where we, the students, were creating. Any time I got to create anything, I learned, loved, and remembered. #DitchBook
A3: Anything that has me up and moving and hands on! A lot of my memorable experiences were when I was outside and working with my hands. Also, anything that was creative. I try to teach my Ss in a similar way while also trying to play to their strengths + give choice. #DitchBook
A3: I wasn't a fan of the sit down/shut up work. When I got a chance to communicate with peers, I found my voice mattered and I didn't need to stay silent. #DitchBook
#ditchbook A3: My 6th grade Ts created lessons from immersive experiences...we learned math by picking a football team and calculting stats, used tissue grid paper to find fat content in fave foods, etc. Use the real world around to make the learning tangible & meaningful
A3: My favorite memory was when my 2nd grade T created hand-drawn pictures from the required spelling tests we had to do each week. It truly showed she was trying to make something very boring really fun. We all looked forward to Fri to see what the pic was going to be #ditchbook
A3: The ones where I had a choice in how to showcase my learning. I’ll never forget making an awesome board game about a biome to show my knowledge... WAYYY better than a test! #ditchbook
Q3 My favorite learning experiences growing up happened when my Ts discussed real life issues and tied them into whatever subject was being taught. #ditchbook
A3: The ones where I had a choice in how to showcase my learning. I’ll never forget making an awesome board game about a biome to show my knowledge... WAYYY better than a test! #ditchbook
I was the managing editor of my HS newspaper, and time spent creating with peers and my advisor @MrsFaraWiles are some of my most unforgettable HS memories #ditchbook
#ditchbook A3 I had a chem teacher that we were never quite sure was sane or not. He told stories, did what we considered dangerous things and muttered to himself lol I (sci T) am known for story telling, dancing spontaneously and commenting on the world around us unasked
A4: To introduce book clubs at the end of the year, I have a Book Club Draft similar to the NFL Draft. I have a podium and make an announcement for each “pick.” Then we took our photos with our “jerseys” aka their books. It was awesome! #ditchbook
A4: The closest I ever got to a ticket lesson was probably #MysterySkype. Students that weren't in my class would end up there just to experience it!
There's something MAGICAL about making real face-to-face connections across the world. #DitchBook
A4: I LOVE doing our green screen biographies. Ss record their biography and choose backdrops to speak in front of them record each other in front of the green screen. We need a movie deal😉 #ditchbook
Q3 My favorite learning experiences growing up happened when my Ts discussed real life issues and tied them into whatever subject was being taught. #ditchbook
A4: As simple of an assignment as it is, the day in my class when students create a Google Classroom banner. It's amazing to see the engagement and the creativity that students come up with! #ditchbook
A4: To introduce book clubs at the end of the year, I have a Book Club Draft similar to the NFL Draft. I have a podium and make an announcement for each “pick.” Then we took our photos with our “jerseys” aka their books. It was awesome! #ditchbook
A3: Yearbook and newspaper were an EXPERIENCE for me! Going to events. Interviewing classmates.
Mainly, telling STORIES. Some of the best learning experiences follow the arc of a story to make class memorable. #DitchBook
A4b: The WWII Playtime videos reenacting the events of the Pacific Theater could have sold some tickets. Kids got to use their phones, army men, toy planes and tanks and more. #DitchBook
A4: My Lord of the Flies Island Crash day could sell out, the Power of Masks Paint Your Face Day, The Masque of the Red Death Dance, & maybe more...this year...more. :) #DitchBook
A4: The-a-tre! I was a total drama nerd in high school (and college, and let’s-be-honest to this very moment) and am ARDENT that to understand a play, you have to perform it, even to the smallest degree. Kids have fun, I have fun. Who wouldn’t pay to be in on the fun?! #ditchbook
#ditchbook A4 the experience I could sell tix to would be the final presentation of my Meteorlogy unit. after 7 weeks of learning everything about the weather, nothing is more exciting than those "weather reports"
A4 - Activity that shows Ss the impact of semantic encoding vs. simple auditory encoding...Ss who semantically encode 'pass' the assessment, those who only use auditory encoding 'fail'. Every time.
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A4: Every year my students take a trip up Mt. Everest while we read Peak by @RolandCSmith. It's a blast. The kids set up camps, design flags for their camps, and then enjoy hot tea while they read the book. https://t.co/e62qtlG3BL#ditchbook
A4: My Lord of the Flies Island Crash day could sell out, the Power of Masks Paint Your Face Day, The Masque of the Red Death Dance, & maybe more...this year...more. :) #DitchBook
#DitchBook A4 Also had Brad Long, Buddy from the movie Hoosiers, Philo Barnhart, creator of Ariel from The Little Mermaid and Kyle Cook of Matchbox 20 visit with our students live and share their stories.
A5: This one is a bit hard to answer, I did have a group of kids who after a year of struggling with Socratic Seminar finally got it. A wonderful moment. #DitchBook
A1: something students will be talking about at home, on the playground and the next day. It's what will keep them coming back asking "What's next?" #DitchBook
#ditchbook A4: My 6th gr Ss made ice cream to show matter phase changes in the different substances involved. You know it was a good experience when you then have their younger siblings years later and they ask if they can bring sprinkles!
