"Welcome to EdTechAfterDark! Our community was born out of discussions for a rich EdChat type gathering for those of us who are thinking about the digital edu-landscape long after the sun has gone down. For us night owls, when the clock strikes 10PM EST, you’ll find us on Twitter over at #edtechafterdark. All are welcome! Our discussions range from our philosophies about EdTech, digital best practices, and simply sharing our stories." --www.edtechafterdark.com
Welcome to #EdTechAfterDark! I'm Dan, your host for the evening! Tonight we'll be discussing how to better allow students to create their own meaning! Here are the Qs...
What's up everyone!!! Claudio, Instructional tech coordinator @DvilleTech The gym's been pretty empty so far compared to the first week in Jan #edtechafterdark
I’m Alex from Citrus, FL where I serve as an AP... one resolution I’ve witnessed someone breaking? I’ve seen @Wordnerdling make it a week before namecallong on Facebook. It was a valiant effort. #EdTechAfterDark
A1 I would like to see more collaboration & learning with and from peers ... HS tchrs are often lone rangers ... we do better when we work together #EdTechAfterDark
Major brownie points for you! I can’t wait to watch the video with sound! Please share my congrats with her - I’m sure she did the whole profession good! #EdTechAfterDark
A1: I’d eliminate egos, including my own. They tend to be the very adult things that get in the way of serving kids well. How I long for the day where who gets credit refuses to matter. #EdTechAfterDark
My name is Dagney, and I'm a sophomore in Industrial Engineering at ISU planning to pursue informal STEM education. This is my first Twitter chat! #Edtechafterdark
So true! I said something today in class & my Ss were like "did you get that from Mrs. T? Or did Mrs. T. get that from you?" #Collaborationworks#edtechafterdark
A1: Everyone would be content/glad to be there-the most depressing energy-sucking phenomenon is teachers who seem to not like teaching #EdTechAfterDark
A1 Realistically change? Nothing ... we have a good plan ... not a perfect plan but it has us moving in the right direction. Teachers are slowly but buying in #EdTechAfterDark
A1: the new teachers who refuse to ask for help, take suggestions or try new things. It’s a shame. I’d much rather talk to the older teachers willing to try things. #EdTechAfterDark
A2: Tools like @Flipgrid take video to another level than simply recording. It gives Ss opportunity to share thoughts & articulate ideas. Amplifying their thought process! #edtechafterdark
A2: I have a writing teacher who is having students use Clips to journal their writing process. Here’s the paragraph I’m most proud of, the one I struggled with, etc. they are making one for each genre and then sharing with parents! #EdTechAfterDark
Actually heard a story from teacher today ... in the hallway T to students “you have already ruined my day” it was like 8:05 ... that is not ok #edtechafterdark
Hi y'all. It's Leslie, logging in late from the ATL. I would love to transform expectations and vision for what is possible for students AND adults. #edtechafterdark
A2) I like to have students model their favorite problem. The speaking about their work (esp in math) is critical. They can video, annotate, and whatever else they desire! #EdTechAfterDark
That’s a great idea-would they have to eat school lunch though…That might be a deal breaker…I’ve loved days where I bring special meals for student groups or our school Thanksgiving #EdTechAfterDark
A2 I used #springboardpl@Turnitin Revision Assistant to show/teach sts HOW to revise ... asking to re-read ... look for other places to also ... game changer for many #EdTechAfterDark
A2: Having digital portfolios is something we're working towards. As a reflection, I and the student teams did podcasts, after a project. I then shared those out with the parents. #edtechafterdark
A1: I would change the pressure on the school to keep with the old model of what equates success in education. Kinda a lame answer but my job at the school is to freely disrupt the status quo. #edtechafterdark
A2: The process of publishing work (especially in ELA) has revolutionized the refrigerator door. Blog it. Post it. Share. And suddenly, the world is your audience. #EdTechAfterDark
A2: when iBooks Author became available it truly transformed writing for my students. Having an authentic audience other than the teacher made a huge difference. https://t.co/yWZ1osel64#EdTechAfterDark
Seriously there are other jobs out there. I don’t get it. If you’re not happy in your life, why keep going. The number of times I’ve heard ‘only 15 years till full pension’ from a desperately unhappy person is disheartening-especially when I & others enjoy it #EdTechAfterDark
A1: I would change the pressure on the school to keep with the old model of what equates success in education. Kinda a lame answer but my job at the school is to freely disrupt the status quo. #edtechafterdark
It may be difficult for a new teacher who isn’t sure of the site culture (safe to try and fail?) and don’t have enough in their arsenal to attempt something. A strong mentor relationship is vital to taking these risks, IMO. #EdTechAfterDark
True. But continually and consciously shutting out help is not ok. #edtechafterdark I’ve tried to build the relationships and continually get shown the door.
Could not agree more, more often than we’d like to admit we encourage risks with one hand and cut loose the T with poor data on the other. It takes time to refine risks into Gold #EdTechAfterDark
In reply to
@MayTheCourseBWU, @theipodteacher, @danvkoch
A3: Create a digital "Wonder-wall". Use @Flipgrid, @padlet, @GoogleForEdu Ss can post their wonderings that can lead to their own investigation. Possibly can become their Passion Project! #edtechafterdark
A2 Instructional video and the right means for facilitating it in a blended setting amplified the learning process through student directed pace for instruction and choice in the medium through which they engage in that content. #EdTechAfterDark
A3: @Flipgrid, @GoogleForEdu and a host of others allow for students to express their thought process, collaborate with each other, and promote the inquiry process. #Edtechafterdark
A3: Allow Ss to take on a question that they want answered, within the context of your focus. Ss love to be the Ts, allow them to create their own review game on keynote, google forms, kahoot, etc! #EdTechAfterDark
Absolutely. we no longer need to spend much time on trivium and information. We can focus on relationships and teaching kids the skills they need to be successful! #edtechafterdark
... there we go ... have #eduleaders go to lunch... without eating lunch ... and watch others eat lunch ... then go back w/ the student to class and login to your #GoogleClassroom#edtechafterdark
Leaders and teachers together can do so much to make saying these things out loud taboo. One of the reasons I love tech and esp Twitter is to spread positivity and cast a joyful vision that drowns out the Miserables. #joyfulleaders#edtechafterdark
A3)Not really a tech item, but establishing success criteria for a given learning target or objective can provide Ss the ability to keep each other accountable and have a clear understanding on what to do and why in class #edtechafterdark
I let teachers know about other options available to them (unhappy teacher who left to write a travel blog) or support (including from me) if they just feel overwhelmed. #EdTechAfterDark
Seeing lots about delivering information to students ... not so much about them creating their own questions. Questions come from inspiration ... tech can take them to the trough, but it can't make them eat. #edtechafterdark
A3 Aggregators, or even websites like @AllSidesNow which aim to show diverse viewpoints, can help Ss instantly see variety of perspectives which can lead to good Qs. #edtechafterdark
A3 May not be the type of Qs your prompt is looking for but I love giving choice in how Ss engage in discussions. Whether it’s recording the audio, back channel chats, or recorded Google HOs after school, student dialogue & questioning can happen anywhere. #edtechafterdark
A3. I worry that ADULTS need help creating their own Qs first! Resources like this from @TeachThought and Questionstorming process by @HalGregersen can help 👩🏽🏫👨🏽🏫develop skill to craft great Qs. #edtechafterdark
In reply to
@danvkoch, @TeachThought, @HalGregersen
A3)Not really a tech item, but establishing success criteria for a given learning target or objective can provide Ss the ability to keep each other accountable and have a clear understanding on what to do and why in class #edtechafterdark
I have, but I’ve taught them to create simple ones as well based on class work (vocabulary, math work for codes, etc.) Here’s a fun example one. #EdTechAfterDarkhttps://t.co/PHPZqHZ8pd
In reply to
@FelecityTreptow, @danvkoch, @GoogleForEdu
A3: Whatever app/technology I mention is going to be subpar compared to the apps and technologies our kids love to spend time on that I’ve probably never heard of. The important part is having the guts and audacity to leverage these unknowns #EdTechAfterDark
What if we're focusing too much on how tech streamlines learning ... makes things easier, but not how to make us think deeper ... that is where the questions lie. #edtechafterdark
A3. I worry that ADULTS need help creating their own Qs first! Resources like this from @TeachThought and Questionstorming process by @HalGregersen can help 👩🏽🏫👨🏽🏫develop skill to craft great Qs. #edtechafterdark
In reply to
@danvkoch, @TeachThought, @HalGregersen
What if we're focusing too much on how tech streamlines learning ... makes things easier, but not how to make us think deeper ... that is where the questions lie. #edtechafterdark
A4A: Came to not like that word...admin overused it & didn't define it well! Got to the point no crayons were allowed out! Rigor & art couldn't live in same building! #edtechafterdark
A4: Rigor is not doing more or more HW. But helping Ss delve deeper in their thinking & learning and asking them to find ways to demonstrate it. It may mean you have to scaffold the process in your class. #edtechafterdark
A4: Rigor-creating an environment in which each student is expected to learn at high levels, while being supported, encouraged and an opportunity to demonstrate that learning #EdTechAfterDark
Agree! We've been working w sch leaders on problem framing. I notice we think we understand problems way sooner than we do...leading to poorly designed solutions. #edtechafterdark
A4: I've come to hate this word, as it means get through as many sections of the book, do as many problems as possible.
To me, as a mathematician, rigor is about being careful, thoughtful, and going deep. Learning should be a journey! #edtechafterdark
Sweet. We used to live in Queen Creek. I taught in Florence and was an Ed Tech Specialist there right before we moved. I miss AZ. Nice to meet you and have you in my PLN. #edtechafterdark
A4: Semantic Satiation- a psychological phenomenon in which repetition causes a word or phrase to temporarily lose meaning for the listener, who then perceives the speech as repeated meaningless sounds. That is where I’m at with “rigor” right now. #EdTechAfterDark
A3: Create a digital "Wonder-wall". Use @Flipgrid, @padlet, @GoogleForEdu Ss can post their wonderings that can lead to their own investigation. Possibly can become their Passion Project! #edtechafterdark
A4 Rigor is = parts creativity, innovation/risk, & demo depth of content knowledge—>application mastery. Sure u could model the process, but it might be easiest to say, look in the mirror. Are u pushing yr own creative limits, taking risks, & growing in content #edtechafterdark
A4: Rigor...Mortis? 🤔 Seriously folks. Could we not have came up with a better work for challenging and potentially exciting moments of learning? #edtechafterdark
A5: Create assignments that allows them to express their voice. For example, instead of them writing an essay, let them choose how to share their understanding. Record a short film, illustrate, create their own memes, draw a comic book, perform a rap, sing #edtechafterdark
A4: I'm for anything that can make a student "learn" something in an authentic way. "Rigor" is nothing more than a hot word one can use during an interview. #edtechafterdark
A5: I love digital storytelling since it allows students to tell their stories in the way thats most meaningful for them. #EdTechAfterDarkhttps://t.co/finowyb9xl
A5. you build relationships- you explain what "future ready" and "real world value" mean - you provide opportunities to both succeed and fail, and talk them through the importance of both - you invite curiosity and unlock creativity #edtechafterdark
A5: By creating a safe, learning environment where Ss feel they can express their voice and learning through offering a variety of alternative assessments and tasks. #edtechafterdark
A5: Creating assignments that don’t necessarily require a grade. Many of my classroom blog assignments are not graded. I just want them to use their creativity to write something great! #EdTechAfterDark
A5: With Tech, you literally open the world for your Ss! Find their Jam, and help them tell their story! Podcasting, comic books, blogging, vidcast, etc, etc! #EdTechAfterDark
A5: I think this is one of the reasons classes need to be multi-media. So students can choose how to express themselves. I've tried to get them to reflect on how certain media hinder or help them express ideas a little this year. #edtechafterdark
A5: It goes back to Q1: MIndset. we need to realize that it's ok to be uncomfortable about assigning students an outcome where they must complete the task in ways we might not think are traditional. Authentic, personal, and meaningful. #edtechafterdark
Five whys is an oldie but goodie. It really pushes to get to the heart, but requires candor and psychological safety to surface the real underlying issues. Esp when they involve adults contributing to probs. #edtechafterdark
A6: My persuasion tip is tech can save you time! Give an assessment via tech that can grade it for you. Give students option to illustrate on tablets can save you clean up time. Using tech for discussion & collaboration can let you see the learning in progress. #edtechafterdark
Tech can give us space for the deeper thinking that comes from ourselves. It answers the Google-able questions so we can ponder the deep ones. #EdTechAfterDark
What if we're focusing too much on how tech streamlines learning ... makes things easier, but not how to make us think deeper ... that is where the questions lie. #edtechafterdark
S's should be involved w/ all facets of edu. Let Math classes come see how P.O.'s are paid, let debate classes come with Supt. to business meetings with companies. #edtechafterdark
A6: Ownership. Forced to do it? Not going to care. Negotiated toward doing it, subpar results and nobody got what they wanted. Shown the value and convinced of it? That's a whole different ballgame. #edtechafterdark
A3. I worry that ADULTS need help creating their own Qs first! Resources like this from @TeachThought and Questionstorming process by @HalGregersen can help 👩🏽🏫👨🏽🏫develop skill to craft great Qs. #edtechafterdark
In reply to
@danvkoch, @TeachThought, @HalGregersen
A6: Ask them to try 1 tool &see how it goes. If grading is an issue, try @GRADECAM Don't like carrying stacks of papers w/ you to grade, try @Schoology. Find out what the needs of the T is and how to help them. Meet them where they are & go from there #edtechafterdark
A6:the question isn’t so much why-if you’re doing it, you know why-it’s more a question of how, without appearing showy. When students’ creations/experiences speak for themselves. Takes the pressure off of Ts. We blend into the background...where we belong #EdTechAfterDark
Control stifles innovation, every best practice we use today was a risk at some point. No matter the vehicle we have to allow all stakeholders the chance to reengineer the lesson To their own learning #edtechafterdark
A6: Make your life/work easier & more fun. Assess automagically, engage students more, and give your struggling students access to learning that others take for granted #edtechafterdark
A6 To give students the opportunity to explore and discover their passions! #makerspaces are so important!!! Inspired me to be an engineer :) #Edtechafterdark
A6 If we don't show them how they can do meaningful things, make a difference, contribute to the world with tech, then they will continue mindlessly clicking games/apps which in many cases could entertain animals. 😳 #EdTechAfterDark
A6. I hesitate to overtly try to persuade. I prefer frog in hot water strategy - leaders can model using tech to devolve "control" and engage teachers in decisionmaking. Let Ts experience first. Has huge potential for culture shift to broad power sharing. #edtechafterdark
Thanks for another riveting discussion tonight, #EdTechAfterDark fam! If you're going to #fetc this year, we'll be there! Let's connect! Thanks to my bros @alexstubenbort & @MrLeonard8 for co-hosting tonight!
