#RuralEdChat Archive
#RuralEdChat is a chat that focuses on the needs of the rural educator. This chat has been revised by Tammy Neil (@MathNeil), John Martin (@edventures) and Natalee Stotz (@nataleestotz).
Tuesday September 6, 2016
Good evening, How are you doing tonight?
Due to school starting here in NH, I've missed our last few sessions. So happy to be home again!
Hey, so glad you are here tonight.
Hi ! Hope everyone is having a good Tuesday.
. Today was great. Still trying to find my back to school groove.
Hi John! Happy you are here!
Hi Valerie! Thanks so much for joining us. Love the GIF
HI everyone, I just started 2nd yr in HS library in Blue Ridge of VA, nr Cville
Hi Melissa! Happy you are here with us tonight for
Lost power for almost 24 hrs but otherwise we were fine.
Melissa, I think you can remove the almost. Glad you are back.
Thx! glad to be here. Sorry you lost power, I'm remembering the Houston yrs.
It wasn't too bad for me. There are still some here in FL without power.
Right. I think it's been a remarkable way for creatively funding projects, but attention to needs overall is key.
So, what's on tap for tonight friends?
Don't know about you all but this year is THE year for change at . New SIS, 650 new Chromebooks and new leadership.
Tonight we are talking about What's new? What's new with you?
I'm finishing up a teacher kit for , fun global event 9/14.
As we share tonight, don't forget to add so we can all share your brilliance.
. Ok, new to me - what is ?
I'm in new position! HS Instructional Coach..Loving it!❤️
Tonight is more of a conversation than a chat. Feel free to jump in and share.
1200+ museum curators fr 50+ countries answer questions. happens every Sept, thx to
Our 3 big questions tonight are What's new with you? with your school? with your students? We'll get to each of them in turn.
We'll hv walkup stations, signs,ideas, and anyone too shy to tweet can write a question for others to type
. I need to share it with my art history teacher at !
Hi from SC. I teach kindergarten.
Is there a link we can share with our teachers?
What's new with me? 5 distinct preps this year. Taking time to find my groove.
This sounds like a very unique experience. The art history buff in me loves it!
Hi! Thanks for joining us. How is your school year going so far?
Yikes! How do YOU manage that many different preps?
Do you have a specialty? Reading, Math, history?
I really need to prep classes in late spring, then remind them in Sept. This is our 2nd yr
agree - it includes many different museums
Thankfully each class is at a different level. Beginner to AP Computer Science Principles. But still a lot of prep.
I can't imagine it would be easy, good luck!
pretty good so far. 21 great kindergarten students!
That's tough, Tammy. Definitely takes some time to find a sustainable pace!
Once I get truly organized, it will be fine. Until then, I'm a little scattered. (Honestly).
Our biggest "new" is our change to the student information system as part of our shift to competency based learning.
this is almost scary looking - wow
Wow! Busy and energetic? What an important year it is for young learners!
Yeah, that pic in the bottom right is the mess I inherited. The top is what it looks like a year later!
I'm grateful for each prep. Last year all the levels were in the same class. It will be better for my students.
What's knew for your school this year?
Next shift @ is getting rid of points/averages & trying to really get at what an S knows, understands & can do.
does the change include portfolios? I want to learn more - some places portfolios are truly resumes and short...
I owe all the credit to my awesome DoIT team! W/O them it would never have happened. People make the difference!
yes! all different levels too but that makes it fun as well as challenging!
agree - amazing organizing!
NH has required portfolios for many yrs but they are quite varied in application. Working toward better feedback.
Nooo! Have you tried Tweetdeck?
I think it's a huge topic. I wonder if we'll see "domain of one's own" start to happen in HS, not just college
When you say "feedback" do you mean feedback re: the students' work?
did this require a lot of informing of parents, addressing their fears?
We are using GAFE to collaborate with each other this year! Every teacher has an active account. I'm so excited.
Are you seeing more of this move to personal domains in VA at all, Melissa?
It's quite possible - IMO we need more hands on & demo/proof of learning, not less. Love
no, not at all, but I think it was pioneered at Univ of Mary Washington here in VA
Yes - as an admin, T, parent & former sch brd mbr, I believe proper feedback is the best learning exp.
Hi! I'll be a little in and out; sorry!
New for us: eight student Heads of Curriculum, Athletics, Service, etc.
yes! putting Ss in productive roles, including documentation, etc
It is going to take all of this school year to open a dialogue & address those concerns. is deeper than points.
A portfolio can end up being a "dusty file folder" otherwise!
Hi Bill! Wow! Love the shift to empowering students this way. Sounds really exciting!
wow, fascinating - Ss are in on curriculum, etc?
Precisely! If a portfolio & the exp isn't a living, breathing entity, it is not worth doing.
I almost used the "living breathing" phase, too! always here jinxing away on
There, and the work of is where I first heard of it.
I think parental fears are deep-seated and they deserve lots of info. World really is changing
I'm learning so much just lurking tonight.
. And the only paradigm they know is the one they grew up in. New stories need to be shared & owned.
Also, I'm launching a project re Ss licensing and sharing images, learning about freelance culture, more.... (copyright, etc)
yes. Do you think in some ways Ps fear is behind some of the all-STEM-all-the time push?
What's new with your students?
It's possible. I think there is an outside force pushing that agenda also. Not that it's wrong but may be unbalanced.
So far I've been the GAFE trainer for my school. But, I will check it out. Thanks!
A little invasive but has potential for the tech-nervous in our buildings.
Would love to bring some GAFE training to our school! Teachers need support.
Looking forward to having you join us for more in the future. Great things are happening.
Hi - my wife called. Will touch base when I can. Be well, everyone!
Would love to travel down your way but I think may be a bit closer! :)
We should talk soon. Let's see what we can do together. (Thinking possible Sat. sessions...)
as in FL allowing coding classes to sub for foreign lang requirement
I see you're in New England too! Whereabouts? I'm in NH.
Training is key!Once people see it streamlines things,it really helps.Anyone using in our community?
Welcome! We support lurking!
Inded! While proper coding can be a language unto itself, I'd argue for a math/logic alignment instead.
Thankfully that was changed at the last minute. Now it works for some Science credits.
I'm in MA. I hear lots about the good work you're all doing up in NH with competency-bsaed learning!
Say what? How's that work?
Happy to share our experiences with you!
I'm thinking Competency Based Learning might be a focus of a future ?? https://t.co/BwAbhRjUr3
Happy to share our experiences with you!
agree - I wonder if some HSs offer logic? It seems like a great idea.
Computer Science standards were added to the Science curriculum. I know. But it is better than For. Lang.
SO glad to hear!! We need more language learning!!
I'm definitely game! That was the basis of my summer training when not doing my tech job.
Ah, gotcha. With some of the revised NextGen Sci standards I can see some alignment.
this is new for me - I want to read up on it. Makes sense and aligns w some real world stuff...
Looking forward to visiting Science classes tomorrow w/ Science Coach. Need to get to know standards.
As we wrap up our last 10 minutes, let's look into the future. What are you most excited about this year?
Re-engineering what school is. I'm excited to see where our vision & leadership takes us at .
Really looking forward to next week's . was so helpful to me last year for staying connected. https://t.co/NKWjVuEbQ7
This has been a fun chat with my friends both old and new! So glad to be home again!
I'm most excited about increased opportunities for Ss to share authentic learning, and shape change in our school
Talking with you all Nov. 1 on how you're achieving broadband and tech access in your rural communities. :- )
I may have some info on what NH is doing in that regard after an NHDOE webinar at the end of this month.
I already shared the material w/ my T for her new Art History class! Thank you!
I'm looking forward to seeing my students grow this year. We are all stretching our thought processes this year.
Thanks for letting me take part! I'll brush up on my Tweetdeck for next time! 😬
Oh, I should add my goal for the year: CETL certification!
If you need any help, just let us know!
Don't forget to follow those that inspired you tonight. Grow your PLN.
tell her to email me and I'll share ready-to-go materials, printables etc :) mtechman@k12albemarle.org
Looking forward to hearing about it, !
Absolutely! I will do that!
I'm a Tweetdeck failure! don't worry :)
Looking forward to that! Consider checking out 's twitter posts from today re: access.
Not a failure...just not a success YET.
