#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 20, 2016
Good Evening, I am super excited about tonight's conversation. I've been looking forward to it for a week!
Welcome to my friends! Tonight we talk about innovations in preparing students for their future! https://t.co/mdNZCO2ZS1
This should be a fun one if all of our guests arrive!
I see one lurking already....:-)
If you want, I'll also be on to enhance tonight's . Log in and ask some questions!
Linda joining from Bainbridge NY -- that's nowhere near Manhattan.
Linda joining from Bainbridge NY -- that's nowhere near Manhattan.
Dual platforms! Check it out! https://t.co/Eyahf9GcZp
If you want, I'll also be on to enhance tonight's . Log in and ask some questions!
Stopping by in Shelburne Falls, MA to check in. Bill Ivey, teacher in a girls middle/high school.
Hello! Julie from Mi, student at Siena Heights, and my first !
Hello from ! Glad to join
What's up Derek from KS joining in
Good evening sir! Glad to see you've recovered from !
Welcome, Julie. So glad you are joining in tonight.
Hi from Wisconsin Thanks for joining us
Hey there my friend! Can't wait to hear what your students are up to this year!
Hi it's Amanda from Siena Heights University in MI and this is my π
Hello ! Julie here from Brandon, FL. Consulting Co
Hey Bill! You may be our first -ter simultaneously running?
As we get the introductions done, I wonder how everyone's year is starting off.
Hi Casey from Albany NY checking in
ON now if you want to join in!
Welcome to ! Any volleyball player is a friend of mine!
one of my current mantras is "just keep swimming". Trying to keep my head above H2O and at least prepa⦠https://t.co/VIPPSj45r4
As we get the introductions done, I wonder how everyone's year is starting off.
Great for the most part. Have my first major head cold of the year though! How is yours?
Yes! We've only 11 days and it feel like a month!
Henry Burroughs, consultant from Brandon, FL.
It's been a wild start at my school getting used to the new student information system and trying out new things.
Double dipping into periscope. Watching and Tweeting him.
Excited to join the tonight. Greetings from WI.
challenging the status quo and burning comfort boxes everyday. Been great!
Some growing pains but it's refreshing to work with a forward thinking company.
All the comments about less than 2 weeks of school feeling like months sound familiar.
So many new ideas and activities happening this year.
Hey Gary! Thanks for joining us. Was just following a bit of the conversation too :)
Q1: What does it mean to be Innovative in school?
Good. We need good ELA teachers. I work to teach teachers to teach nonfiction writing to teens adults.
Hi !! Erin from ME, 9-12 English!
A1: Usually think tech use with innovation, but doesn't have to be just that.
good! I'm still on the student end of education but I'm learning more about innovative lesson planning
A1) Innovative? The willingness to attempt new solutions to old problems.
A1. Having courage to put your students first!
Been drinking LOTS of orange juice! π All the more reason to !
A1 challenging the status quo! Not just thinking outside the box but getting rid of your box all together! Embracing failure!
A1 Innovative means that schools are engaging students in real world problem-seeking & solving
Q1: Combining student passion with something they want to change in the world, drive their own learning.
A1: For me innovation means approaching old things w/ new eyes & a fresh approach. But in our case, putting kids first.
A1: is doing some innovative stuff w/ in HS ELA
A1: Doing something differently than I did before. Pushing students to do more than they did last year.
A1: Innovation is all about finding new angles of approach for the same material.
But are we presenting the findings to real audiences?
I've done it before, actually. :-) Don't know if it was a first.
A1: that depends on who is answering. Sometimes it means just being different. But I don't think that's what we should mean.
A1 not just doing things differently but doing different things
I think we're on the same wavelength!
Being anthropologists and uncovering emerging human needs and new problems to hack
A1-cont: Many tech advancements I moved forward at my last schools were innovative side projects.
This!
https://t.co/4nEIfxKWpt
A1 Innovative means that schools are engaging students in real world problem-seeking & solving
Innovation is taking the ordinary and presenting a new and unique way to help students learn
It will be interesting to hear your perspectives as a superintendent!
Evening , new to the chat, teaching in Northwest IA, originally from NJ, though...
A1 Innovation is solving old problems in new ways by thinking about them differently.
A1 Sometimes, it just means doing what we know works well but few people, for various reasons, do (e.g. democratic classroom).
Correct! It's NOT about the tech... it's about learning how to think diff, & recogiz patterns, disruptions.
A1: Anything technology based, but also things that haven't been tried before. A lot of out of the box ideas.
A1: To be innovative, you must use and bring new, exciting, and advanced techniques into the classroom
A1 Being means looking for ways to try to make things new & better
Welcome! Glad you could join us for
A1 I also think a lot of innovation is iterative - hard to come up with something truly new.
if we aren't we are missing a big step
Innovative for one school may be old hat for another. It's about taking each step forward.
This is one of my biggest struggles- finding authentic audiences consistently.
Why is it VITAL we give time for in our school day? Like ?
Innovation requires explorationβ¦. following a rabbit trail and seeing what you create.
Makerspaces are great for creating small humanities projects by students.
no community is identical-and amazing how different philosophies can be just even one town away,
Oh we're listening multitaskers! Appreciate the Periscope angle to this conversation.
Um. I do not want my cat stepping outside the box! If you get my drift. ;-)
I'll be curious to know what our student teachers have to say about innovation in schools!
A1, 2: I think we all do this every day when a student says, "I don't get it," and you look for a new approach.
Because we want to encourage creativity and problem solving! https://t.co/F1Pmg6CWQ8
Why is it VITAL we give time for in our school day? Like ?
and engaging students to dream big. STEM/STEAM/Humanities are amazing ways to help students
Awesome⦠have any example!
Innovation gives our students a chance to showcase hidden talents, and/or connect real-life interests to academic work-
Vital to keep the passion of learning alive in our students.
Trying to! Putting a take-apart lab in the room this year; just decided today
I agree.. a chalkboard can be innovative, if you use it in a new way
New &(/or) better is relative to starting point. https://t.co/NrlyPMRzI7
Innovative for one school may be old hat for another. It's about taking each step forward.
A2 Kids need time to explore and follow their own ideas, and revise if needed, and try again. Lots of ways to do that.
and to , this is my first full year teaching, so i guess i kind of count for student teachers,
A2: Many of our rural Ss don't have resources at home. We need to support their growth.
I'll have to check out the periscope feed tomorrow. Fam is watching NCIS!
innovation and creativity is the future. If we don't prepare our Ss for this they will struggle in the⦠https://t.co/RJaVkmCAAb
Why is it VITAL we give time for in our school day? Like ?
Pt1: The problem in many cases is that our students are not used to "being innovative," but rather focused on compliance.
You are missing a grand time.
1 really cool project w/ Of Mice & Men- Ss design tiny house for character from novella.
student teachers are critical in helping innovate in the classroom
Q2 Not sure I think a daily time to innovate is essential. Who innovates from 2 to 2:30 every day? Lots of prep required first
A1: to keep school relevant for Ss
Getting Ss to think beyond the "assignment" is not always easy. We need dedicated space to help them explore on their own.
A2 our Ss future is innovation. If they don't have the opportunity to play with it in school they will struggle in life
And vets help us accomplish- so many times I had an idea, but wasnt sure how to frame it
A2: Students need to be exposed! Technology and new ideas are formed every day in the real world and students need to adapt.
A2 Other than government, schools are least innovative places on earth (only slight exaggeration)
Right. It's trained into them and they get uncomfortable when the reins are loosened. Diff skillset
Pt2: (AKA Q3) How do we shift the thinking from "being good" to failing forward? HS students esp struggle with this freedom
Can or will we dive into some ideas on how to achieve that? Like & Don's classes?
A2: Students need to be problem solvers! Like, NEED to, on a real, critical, sink-or-swim level.
this is something that concerns me. I'm afraid that our colleges are not preparing future Ts for this https://t.co/O5pLOXPJEb
I'll be curious to know what our student teachers have to say about innovation in schools!
A2: Innovation provides opportunity for critical thinking & problem solving. Important skills!
Augh! my hootsuite feed is not refreshing
A2: vital bc through innovation we have a greater chance of reaching as many children as possible & innovation
Start at the elementary level. Let them explore their creative thinking.
Students have become ingrained to pleasing teachers and doing work to get a grade... https://t.co/6QrvRodbzP
Getting Ss to think beyond the "assignment" is not always easy. We need dedicated space to help them explore on their own.
agree. This is something our Ss and Ps struggle with. "Just give me the answer"
I MUST know more about this. Sounds amazing!
Innovation in school is practice in identifying & tackling 'real world' problems https://t.co/4BWEzoZulw
A2: Innovation provides opportunity for critical thinking & problem solving. Important skills!
I'm seeing it in the student teachers we get from our local school.
can also intrigue students who may have been uninterested before in a certain subject (bc of the new techniques)
Lord yes. And itβs so frustrating
Very true! Need partnerships between libraries and schools!
You should hear what is saying about on periscope. Great to hear the thinking process of a moderator. :-)
I think one technique is to refuse to step in; have conversations to help them self-clarify.
Yes! Too afraid of doing it wrong. 1 Reason why makerspace is good. Learning is messy! & needs trial & error
Pretty dang proud of what my students have been doing w
Many of my C and D students actually thrive in my class.
and Ps don't understand b/c they feel they were schooled just fine under compliance
A3: perhaps "grade" the process, rather than the product
so essential to not throw them a rescue. Assist w/ uncomfortable space of figuring things out.
That's a fight we're facing at as we move to competency based learning.
A Glass of Ginger Ale to you, too! is glad you are here.
A3. We have to model for them. Show them that failure is good! We also must make sure we don't jump in and save them
Yes! This is where we need to start. More play, less direction!
It is imperative we educate Ps on the importance of in the classroom/during the school day. Create buy-in & support
Q4: I believe must start at the Elem level. What needs to be done to sustain this?
I'm going to try to jump on periscope to catch that feed, but I have trouble just following chat feed!
Storytelling & reading about innovation, failure & risk-taking is essential to building culture.
Some are - Univ. of Southern ME, Georgia Cllege a few examples. did this for me. Many more should
THIS!
https://t.co/MZLJU6suqN
It is imperative we educate Ps on the importance of in the classroom/during the school day. Create buy-in & support
Hey
& - how did that go today?
I'm always ready to talk about what we r doing in
Told my students today that Grades aren't end of the world- its the work you put into get grade that matters- shocked ss.
The question why is one of the best questions that need to be asked.
yes! If they didn't experience schools this way, they can be all, "Whaaaat?" Invite them in!
Feel free to toss out your experiences!
Ss will be more motivated & whole community will thrive more with P involvement/buy-in for practices
ELM has to break down the barrier of subjects being segregated. Give them opportunity to create.
Peer educators are the best examples of people helping people learn.
A4 Teachers and admin must get on board. Constant collaboration and communication. Vertical alignment. Buy in from all!
Getting Ss to understand that trying it again isn't failure. It's how we learn. Failure is giving up.
A4: promote inquiry learning and give positive feedback for innovation and effort!
A4 Starting them early and making sure we don't squelch their creativity is key my HS Ss have a very hard time with creativity
That's a big one, yes. "What next?" is also often helpful.
Allow students to choose from a variety of projects that cover the same material. Make it interactive! Creative!
FOLLOW THIS GUY! John is making it happen at the MS level! https://t.co/bJjeZcF34S
A4 Teachers and admin must get on board. Constant collaboration and communication. Vertical alignment. Buy in from all!
We must teach our students how to fail correctly. get away from the fear and learn how to bounce back and move forward
excellent! https://t.co/oDqryjAIfB
"What do you do with an idea" is an awesome book to share with Middle Yrs & elementary SS
A4 Full Circle School (where my son went) has multi-age "study groups" and indvidual "goal work" plus writing/reading wkshp.
Innovation can be challenging in small school communities if "but we've always done it this way" prevails. Soldier on.
we were lucky this year. Found some great and innovative first year Ts. Not sure that is always the case.
I've been wanting to get a copy of that!
Applying our knowledge instead of just storing our knowledge. Let's help our Ss see there is more than book learning.
A4 Each kid can in effect pursue a totally individual course of study, aided by older kid mentors (and teachers) (and parents).
A4 bring the fun back into learning! Make it relative to each student
I ask a question: Explain your thinking or reasoning to me
A4 Need more time to PLAY!
Yes we must all go away from what we used to do and move ahead in our goals to change education. Often hard for veteran Ts
A4: This will be especially hard in a school with trad. low SES and limited budget. Not enough $ or hours in the day.
Q5: What role to do you the student playing in the future of ed?
A4: , workshop all allow for Ts need chance to learn & room to implement at all levels
Admin definitely have a role here in paving the way.
Relevance requires really getting to know your Ss, or giving them an opportunity to open up. How well do we do that?
Application of learning is the most important part of learning
A4 It begins at any grade, but collaboration between teachers is key! Administrators need to see the importance or it'll fade.
Reading all of the wisdom here tonight!
mainly lurking tonight, but great conversation- new to rural schools, so learning more so than speaking...
A4. Early Ed Ts must understand that foundational skills can be taught through innovation and discovery. Makerspace plays role
Just like Ts value Ss can benefit from https://t.co/zHHNeNvK1W
A4 bring the fun back into learning! Make it relative to each student
not necessarily Erin. A big thing in teaching innovation is being innovative with what we have.
A3 (?) Honestly, all extrinsic motivation will get in the way. Standards-based (self and teacher) assessment can help..
I ask students to write a :give me two facts about your self"
Can't keep up!! Then hubby brought me a bowl of ice cream. Response rate slowing way down!
it was good. It is hard when the adults are passionate it though
A5: Giving Ss opportunity to step into Entrepreneural opportunities where they may not have access otherwise.
Be inviting/welcoming to Ps! Relationships, relationships, relationships! β¦ https://t.co/tcYRjf00yp
yes! If they didn't experience schools this way, they can be all, "Whaaaat?" Invite them in!
Students are the life blood of creative thought. They develop ideas that become reality
A5 Ideally, pushing for the right to pursue individual paths to their personal goals - perhaps w/assistance setting the path.
with the excellent swatting of the political trolls while simultaneously
We have to do a lot more than give opportunity, we need seed money for start ups
Aaaaah! Only three miles done. I have to get back outside!!!
A4. School culture plays a big role also. If Ts r allowed and encouraged to fail it will transfer to Ss. I encourage Ts to fail
uh-oh! I'm on my phone right now while putting my son to bed. Not sure about 2 chats on the phone. If Tweetdeck yes
A5: Accepting of Ss ideas and pov's! Sometimes hard to do but so important to build trust in classroom.
Q6: What examples have you seen from students being ?
Innovation requires planning &implementation & evaluation that is creative and thought provoking
How can people on the outside get involved and support the classroom?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. More time to do the work of children, i.e. PLAY.
The whole community needs to move in direction of https://t.co/x6Qe8KFbWO
A4 It begins at any grade, but collaboration between teachers is key! Administrators need to see the importance or it'll fade.
When Ss are given more creative freedom innovation exists!π
Totally lost at . Didn't see questions 3, 4, or 5.
A6. Elm students creating "Publishing" companies and marketing their own books.
yes!
Check out and the work is doing. Amazing stuff!
I challenge large tech Execs to specifically fund innovation start-up dollars for rural Ss
A5: Student ideas will be future of economy in country!
A6 actually seen with my own eyes: 0 examples of entrepreneurial students
I'd love to see my school pursue something like & 's Godium project - real, relevant.
I totally thought I'd make it to some of tonight since I have a minute, but I think I missed it all. π’
Don't worry about catching everything... I can't either. It's hopping tonight! Just jump on what you can!
is working with rural NY districts to help schools. True North Collaborative
Yes please! https://t.co/djllaHyM8W
I challenge large tech Execs to specifically fund innovation start-up dollars for rural Ss
We'll have archives up in a bit, Derek. Thanks for swinging by
A6 trading lunches in the cafeteria
A6: Elementary students playing, taking control, and delegating imaginary tasks.
A6 my entp. class designed 3 products last year & this year we are off 2 a fantastic start Ss designing & bldg.
We're still going! Jump in!
I have to put Grant to bed peeps.. .if you would like to see more about what we do, pls get w/ me later!
I have to put Grant to bed peeps.. .if you would like to see more about what we do, pls get w/ me later!
It has been an E-ticket ride tonight on !
Thanks, for Moderating tonight.
But the other moderators are still going strong!
How can we help make this happen? How do we get seed money?
THanks for a GREAT chat Loved the insights!
A5 It's important for Ss to try tasks b/c real life work is always better than worksheets!
A5. I believe all skills and knowledge can be learned and developed through an entrepreneurial lesson. Real world application
Constant convo in my school is about time, short days, overscheduling, no big blocks, more content than days, Sisyphian task.
I'd love to hear from the teacher behind 's Godium about how his Ss responded to the challenge.
right. It's hard when convos can't stretch into ideas about innovation due to daily challenges.
Plus, how many of our Ss, rural or urban, will have to create their own job in future? Having skills is key!
Same! Want to change but not sure how. Want time to delve deep.
Thanks for the great chat tonight! Especially for moderating!
A6. created the and stool is working on a tiny house, mobile makerspace, Fruler, innovation is our life blood
Exploring and Venturing and Scouting Merit Badges can help #
amen / and I'm in three now/
Don't live in a vacuum. Teachers go to start up meetings, 1MillionCups, new business openings, etc.
is definitely hopping tonight! Great stuff people! So glad I made it π
A6 I haven't seen as many b/c I've only been working w/ rural areas since Aug 1, but I love watching kids crafts to sell.
Please keep the conversation going. We can be here all night if you want.
I worked with a rural boarding school and we had some great corp. support.
Thank you! Enjoyed the stimulating questions. Have a great evening!
We always had a Mountain Man Rendezvous at my urban school & Ss would make the most amazing things! So cool to see .
Thank you for the great job moderating ! https://t.co/kL0FGlnULW
Thanks for the great chat tonight! Especially for moderating!
schools have to be open to outside voices. Outside voices can't take NO for an answer
Not describing overlydramaticweakinexperienceduntalented when I say some+ of our staff are neartears/burnout.
There will be a teacher in there somewhere looking for the outside link.
A6 My classic example: last year's middle schoolers designing, proposing, and getting approval for a new arts elective system.
How can we get support to public rural schools as well?
absolutely. it's at epidemic levels.
The Mountain Men of US history were the ones who often led settlers West as guides. They'd meet to trade supplies.
You go, girl! That's AWESOME! Congratz & thanks for the testimonial.
It's so cool to see the interests & skills students have outside of academics. Should be honored more.
Good, because I have three miles yet to go!
Definitely fun to see their personalities shine through with open-ended assignments.
Giving Ss the room to decide HOW to complete an assignment is 1 small step we can take to changing mindsets toward Innovation.
Yes, yes, 1000 times yes! Every educator needs to have this hanging on their walls! https://t.co/snJdkUaHJf
When Ss are given more creative freedom innovation exists!π
Independence and innovation are key. One of my Ss in a rural community was selling solar in 2002!
I have ideas, and ways. I need to get a great rural public ed. client.
I love idea of Envision Schools & PBL that gives Ss freedom to combine passions & interests with required learning.
We have Ss research & write stories & books & then we publish them in our so they can be checked out.
Love that spirit! Rural schools & entrepreneurism really can go hand in hand. The kids are hungry!
State laws need to change to allow students to take independent studies instead of mandates
Goodnight for now, . Thank you for the great conversation. Keep it rolling! I'll see you next week.
NH is taking one approach to that through Extended Learning Opportunities or ELOs.
This is so cool! Talk about authentic audience!
https://t.co/mEsZ5RwpkR
We have Ss research & write stories & books & then we publish them in our so they can be checked out.
I love that Robin is still so passionate about and continuing to fight even with a new role. So much m⦠https://t.co/aq7LmUbjal
Goodnight for now, . Thank you for the great conversation. Keep it rolling! I'll see you next week.
We gotta get seed money for a competition for innovation!
Oh yeah! The Ss LOVE it! We have a bunch of great student created books.
States switching to proficiency diplomas open up opportunity for multiple pathways & can give Ss that freedom.
Let's find out who we could tap for that!
Thank you all for an amazing . Continue the convo this week as you find more examples of student innovation & entrepreneurism!
Great chat tonight. Thanks for letting me join
