Good morning, Connie Hamilton from Michigan - I'm the co-author of Hacking Homework, curriculum director, and educational consultant. Happy to be joining #HackLearning chat again this Sunday.
Hey everyone! My name’s Kristen, I’m an Instructional Coach in Liberal, KS. I’ve never done #PBL (if I could go back to the classroom, I would) but I love #HackLearning and I’m excited to learn more about it and bring ideas to teachers!
A1. Provided more opportunity for student choice, I ditched homework and started focusing on the time we spend together in class, I quit grading everything so I could opt for more feedback. I have embraced the power of gamification with @classcraftgame. #HackLearning
A1 - Empowered my students by introducing them to more efficient/effective learning strategies: retrieval practice, spaced practice, interleaving, dual coding, concrete examples...so much better than highlighting/rereading.
#HackLearning
A1. put @screencastify into the hands of my students. I let them begin making screencasts to promote their own learning in ways that works for them. #hacklearning
That's incredible! I love that you are already building your PLN. You will learn things here that aren't covered in a traditional pre-service classroom! Thanks for putting yourself out there! #HackLearning!
Our school doesn’t layer like that because in KY they have their standardized testing for Science in 7th Grade. We teach a mix of all three types of science, but in 7th it is a lot of physical science. #hacklearning
A1) I have supported my teachers creating PBLs and genius hour projects. When kids come to me w proposals I try to always support their ideas #HackLearning
A1 I have at-risk sts so I am empowering them by providing a writing structure that will help them find success - for some, the first time in a long time #HackLearning
A1: Empowering, when I allowed students to design their own learning about biotechnology, I was amazed at the creations, nothing I would have even assigned for them to do #hacklearning
I think empowering learners, both the students & adults, is about giving people voice & ownership over their learning. As a new superintendent, I’ve been doing a lot of listening because the voices of those around me are critical to our success! #HackLearning
A1 A1 Something I did in 2017 to empower learners...I’m going to have to say writing a book about how students can connect their learning to their own values. #HackLearninghttps://t.co/PjIKBLHhfW
A1 With grades not going away any time soon, I've been aiming to make process by which we arrive at them a collaboration *with* students, rather than one done *to* them. Prepositions matter.™ #hacklearning
.@bsquires416 shared w me ho how he uses @flipgrid for kids and parents to share w each other for conferences - virtual learning across families #hacklearning
In reply to
@Stella_Pollard, @Flipgrid, @bsquires416, @Flipgrid
A1: Karey Killian, K-5 Library Media Specialist, Pennsylvania. Using @Flipgrid & @nearpod -students share their honest voice/opinions about what they want to learn and how they would design their library. #HackLearning
A1) there are so many times that I am tempted to say yes or no. I have been intentional about staying quiet or saying “tell me more”. I’m trying to engage staff and students in intentional thinking (my way of defining engagement) #hacklearning
A1: I am empowering students by starting a Genius Bar that is student-led at my school. They enjoy helping others through their expertise. #hacklearning
A1 A1 Something I did in 2017 to empower learners...I’m going to have to say writing a book about how students can connect their learning to their own values. #HackLearninghttps://t.co/PjIKBLHhfW
A1: I give students more choice in their learning by allowing students to decide what it is they wish to study and the medium they would like to use to demonstrate their learning. This not only empowers students but also gives students ownership of their learning. #hacklearning
A1) Include them in the decision making process, ask them for their thoughts, in all areas but especially in using social media-they are more of experts in this area than Ps/Ts. #HackLearning
Awesome! Finding a greater purpose for learning is SO important for students at risk. Playing school isn't valuable, they need a greater driving force. What does this writing structure look like? #HackLearning
I love gamification! I make movie trailers to get the Ss interested in each quest! @classcraftgame has quests that Ts can build. Classcraft gives you the opportunity to assign XP, GP, AP, and HP to students. It’s the easiest platform I have found for gamification. #HackLearning
In reply to
@RossCoops31, @classcraftgame, @classcraftgame
A1: I am a huge advocate chamber music (2-8 musicians). Less people= more responsibility and definitely more freedom to make musical choices. #HackLearning
I empowerd my Ss I had wh while on my first teaching pracs through questioning and learning from each other's answers, questions promote learning! especially As driven ones. #hacklearning
A2: Challenged Ts at inservice to: own their PD, get connected online, offered time to explore, used student showcases and teacher spotlights to inspire. 👍🏻Check out DBC book: The Four O’Clock Faculty👍🏻 #hacklearning
A1: Learning is very personal. What is relevant to one student will not be relevant to the next student. By giving students choice in their learning, students can discover how the subject at hand is personally meaningful and relevant. #hacklearning
A1 My classes have been HW free for years, this year my goal was <20% teacher led instruction. This has amplified student voice in learning and assessment #hacklearning
My coaching is all about empowering the students to engage in the science and engineering practices . I. do that helping Teachers provide opps to engage in SEP #hacklearning
Nothing empowers Ss more than knowing they have the freedom to learn in an environment that works for them! I pulled out my old college bed-raisers and created standing tables with barstools! #HackLearning
Seesaw is a great tool for students to document their learning. It can also help them make cross curricular connections - avoid viewing their learning as silo's of subjects. #HackLearning
A1: I am empowering students by starting a Genius Bar that is student-led at my school. They enjoy helping others through their expertise. #hacklearning
I empowerd my Ss I had while on my first teaching pracs through questioning and learning from each other's answers, questions promote learning! especially Ss driven ones. #hacklearning
A1: First time teaching #math in 15 yrs & before I started a tough topic, I share the the #growthmindset staircase & asked Ss to share where they were. The buy-in was awesome & I loved the S who said "How do I do it?" It showed me what she needed to know! #HackLearning
A1: One of the best ways to empower student learning is to create a path for them to use their learning to take action for others #HackLearning#globaled
A2: I think a big obstacle for teachers is the fact that we do not know what we don’t know! Some students hear PBL and immediately feel overwhelmed about it without even fully understanding what it entails. #HackLearning
A2: There's a hack for that. The #HackingPBL book tackles 10 of the most common obstacles to implementing PBL and shows you how to overcome them. #HackLearning
CEMI — claim, evidence, means, importance ... like claim/evidence/commentary with sentence stems and purpose ... it’s clear and concise — got it from a colleague- he’s writing a book Justin Wilson-Gabor #HackLearning
A2) Fear is a dream killer. I think many Ts embrace PBL but are fearful of “failing” when things get messy. If we can empower admin to see risk taking and messy learning as real learning then we will have more Ts jumping in. #HackLearning#LastingLearning
A2) time for collaborative planning is always tough, especially w lack of subs. I make this a priority 4 Ts bc if we say it's important we have to hold time sacred 4 the work #hacklearning
A2) My biggest obstcal with PBL is not making the project one more thing. I like the concept of PBL where the project is part of the learning process not something that happens after learning. Just seems like when I have done projects it is one more thing. #hacklearning
I get student inquiry and #PBL but everything is a guided exploration ... i have specific standards and a specific time frame ... there is freedom, but that freedom has parameters. #HackLearning
How can we overcome it? By helping promote PBL and showing others that it and inquiry can be done in each and every subject area. Promoting a growth mindset. #hacklearning
A2: I think a big obstacle for teachers is the fact that we do not know what we don’t know! Some students hear PBL and immediately feel overwhelmed about it without even fully understanding what it entails. #HackLearning
One obstacle teachers might face is the lack of time to re-envision a unit in the PBL format as opposed to a more traditional structure. They can overcome this by collaborating w/ others & incorporating PBL in phases. #HackLearning
A2 “I don’t have time.” “I can’t get the materials.” “I’m just not tech savvy.” “I have to cover the material on the test.” “My colleagues won’t do it and will be annoyed if I do it myself.” “Parents won’t understand.” Thank your mind for these thoughts! #HackLearning
A2 big obstacle is how to shift kids from dependency & stifled curiosity to independent, curious learners - PBL quality doesn’t happen by chance - coaching, ?s, time, reflective metacognition by T and Learners #HackLearning
A2: The shift to PBL and student inquiry can often seem to be “disorganized” and “chaotic”. Teachers need to embrace the chaos. In my experience, PBL can often take lessons/units in a different direction than is prescribed on the lesson plan. Flexibility is key. #hacklearning
Like most new ‘things’ #PBL is scary as we break out of our comfort zone of ‘traditional’ teaching & learning. Start small...
As admin I must encourage, support, & celebrate with teachers & students. #HackLearning
A1 - Empowered my students by introducing them to more efficient/effective learning strategies: retrieval practice, spaced practice, interleaving, dual coding, concrete examples...so much better than highlighting/rereading.
#HackLearning
A2: Uncertainty from Ss who are used to more structure. I think modeling would be the best solution for this issue; how can we expect them to learn if they don’t know what it looks like from us? #HackLearning
A2: A huge obstacle => everyone doing the same project, and callingnot PBL. Variety and purpose can pose a challenge - how is it supported, assessed? #HackLearning
A2: For Math, making sure my students with learning differences are fully involved in the process and doing higher order activities. Keeping all students involved. #hacklearning
A2 Knowing the standards... if you don’t know the why and the how, the PBL can become just play dates ... in HS, we can use PBL if we know how to help students discover the necessary RDG, WRI, PSolving, reflection skills #HackLearning
Yes! @RossCoops31 and I developed a Progress Assessment Tool to battle this very issue! Ss & T decide on learning targets and collect evidence toward meeting the target. #HackLearning
Dropping in late from Milford, MI. We are completing a "remodel" of our STEM Lab which includes our 3D printer, Chromebooks, tables and chairs on wheels and green screen for video. We are making tech tools as much of a priority ad the learning space itself! #HackLearning
The balance lies within fitting the pieces together! We can have both! Standards + PBL! PBL/Inquiry makes learning the standards fun and helps to concrete that learning into the students long-term memory. #hacklearning
PBL is a new concept for me being a pre service teacher. I would collaborate with other teachers and read to gain more insight on overcoming obstacles. #hacklearning
A2: A lot of Ts think #PBL requires extravagant resources but really we just need to be more creative with the resources we already have. One of those resources is Ss! Ps can offer a lot of support with donations from their work places. #HackLearning
Another obstacle might an overemphasis on the “project” part of PBL. This could be overcome by focusing on the inquiry instead; that’s where a lot of the learning happens. #hacklearning
Agreed. I took 3 elements of PBL - driving question, voice & choice, & real world connection & asked teachers to focus on these w their BEST units first. Just tweek something u already feel confident w #hacklearning
The best source for all of these learning strategies is @AceThatTest. Their blog discusses research and implementation of these learning strategies in the classroom written by teachers/professors. #HackLearning
Also, I discuss how I apply them in my classroom on my blog.
Here is a project I tried Doing this year. I allowed them to choose which one they wanted to do but it felt like busy work for them and not sure how much it really added in the learning process. #hacklearninghttps://t.co/wmqIGe1Ata
Going to bring this out today "Show me what you know Bingo" unit assessment idea. Students will need help with some of the tech but hoping the power of choice will inspire them. Thank you @karlymoura for idea #iteachmath#MTBoS#teach180
A2 fear of letting go of control, moving from cookie cutter T-determined project focus to S-determined interests, demands a shift from surface to deep learning - every day ask “what can I stop doing to create time for PBL?” #HackLearning
@RossCoops31 and I developed a Progress Assessment Tool - Learning Targets (derived from standards) facilitate reflection and the document collects student evidence toward meeting/exceeding the target. Helps with parent/admin buy in! #HackLearning
A1: One small step I took is to incorporate @CAST_UDL by providing multiple means of expression; i.e.: 4th-5th gr. students could use @GoogleForEdu Drawings 2 add a visual component to their poems.
Morning, everyone :) Monika from sunny South Florida, here. I'm a fifth grade teacher at a public school in Hollywood. More PBL in my classroom is my New Year's resolution :) #HackLearning
A2: A fear of not being the center of attention in the classroom. It’s true! Teachers hear noise and automatically think “chaos”.
My reply.. Have you ever been in the teachers lounge at lunch? Noise is happening but we are reflecting! That’s how we are programed. #hacklearning
A2: Teachers and students may be afraid to fail. We encourage our students to have a “growth mindset”. Teachers need to model this themselves by embracing challenges and celebrating failure. If a lesson doesn’t go as planned, learn from this experience. #HackLearning
A2 fear of letting go of control, moving from cookie cutter T-determined project focus to S-determined interests, demands a shift from surface to deep learning - every day ask “what can I stop doing to create time for PBL?” #HackLearning
I completely empathize with this. There are a lot of things we can do to make time during our class periods, but finding time to collaborate with other Ts can be tricky. It needs to be valued by the district. #HackLearning
A2 In praise of small steps. I like Connie's idea because change is hard & taking big steps all the time can freak people out, including ourselves. There's unexpected power in increments. #hacklearning
Another obstacle is teachers feel it isn't good enough and won't start till they have a perfect project. You have to do the project to see where it fails before we can completely judge. #hacklearning
You are preaching to the choir ... i am also not living in a fantasy land ... i have 122 standards and many of them play nice with #PBL, but time is a factor. #HackLearning
Another obstacle might an overemphasis on the “project” part of PBL. This could be overcome by focusing on the inquiry instead; that’s where a lot of the learning happens. #hacklearning
A1: In #math provide various questions & highlight tough ones, so Ss who want the challenge can go for it & those who want to grow incrementally can too! #hacklearning
A2 fear of letting go of control, moving from cookie cutter T-determined project focus to S-determined interests, demands a shift from surface to deep learning - every day ask “what can I stop doing to create time for PBL?” #HackLearning
Another obstacle is giving up ‘control’ & students wanting to continue to be spoon fed information rather than investigate and inquire. Shifting the roles of all in the class takes time and patience #HackLearning
Go back to Teacher Effectiveness rubric to reflect w hesitant To. DISTINGUISHED always ties back to Student ownership of learning and behavior. #hacklearning
A2: Ts can help promote PBL and support Ss and other Ts by sharing and communicating - learning. Is messy, PBL values process over product #HackLearning
Sometimes just starting yourself leads others to want to join in. Once they start, it can be contagious, then admin will find the time to help t's collaborate. #HackLearning
I agree. If this is an expectation, Ss can document their progress toward learning targets/standards/goals and that documentation can be the basis of T conversation. It could be a compromise. #HackLearning
I have come up against this often, Ts who don't want to invest time in new methods because they don't see the benefits or just would rather use the old worksheets, shifting mindsets is tough work #hacklearning
Also making sure that the focus remains on the student thinking and behaviors that result from PBL and not simply to tout the fact that we are doing PBL. #HackLearning
Go back to Teacher Effectiveness rubric to reflect w hesitant To. DISTINGUISHED always ties back to Student ownership of learning and behavior. #hacklearning
A2: The shift to inquiry is a shift in practice and in thinking. How do we fit it all in? How do we allocate time for learning? As a bldg principal, I know there are so many obstacles. We have to dig in and make time, higlight good practice and set goals!! #HackLearning
Thank you for this! As usual, #Twitterchats, #Hacklearning & an awesome PLC helps me grow. I can't wait to take the time to explore your area of expertise & dive into your blog & @AceThatTest
The best source for all of these learning strategies is @AceThatTest. Their blog discusses research and implementation of these learning strategies in the classroom written by teachers/professors. #HackLearning
Also, I discuss how I apply them in my classroom on my blog.
That’s a great point Katie! Student generated questions (even part of the essential question development) at the front end of a learning experience can be transformational. #HackLearning
A1- I gave my ss freedom to choose to explore what interests them and present it using their preferred modes/tools (while still standard aligned etc.) Such a simple concept yet so empowering. #HackLearning
A2 fear of letting go of control, moving from cookie cutter T-determined project focus to S-determined interests, demands a shift from surface to deep learning - every day ask “what can I stop doing to create time for PBL?” #HackLearning
A3 To further students' passions in learning spaces, explicitly invite those passions into those spaces. Or bake choice into class processes, so students can discover new in-school passions that ideally spill beyond those walls. #hacklearning
Empowered learning assumes the kids want to be in the drivers seat ... many kids don't ... they just want to get through school ... get their honor roll certificate ... keep their parents off their back. Task - manipulating that to your favor. #hacklearning
Go back to Teacher Effectiveness rubric to reflect w hesitant To. DISTINGUISHED always ties back to Student ownership of learning and behavior. #hacklearning
I am lucky enough to be the admin who has to juggle time so I am in! I also have had Ts find creative ways to plan amazing units w/o my help 2 bc they believe in it so much. #hacklearning
I co-facilitate a week long workshop over the summer for PBL. Then we have worked small sessions into our half day PD schedule, such as brainstorming for collaboration or entry documents.#hacklearning
In reply to
@MurphysMusings5, @Dr_LMR, @conniehamilton
A2: Time can be an obstacle when moving to inquiry. Make sure you have the right mini lessons of support to scaffold learning in the most beneficial ways to keep progress moving. Also, remember that not all students need the same lessons as they move forward. #HackLearning
Could you chunk some of the standards together to promote the PBL? I do this a lot! It’s so challenging when you feel the crunch of time bc of standardized testing. #hacklearning
I have found that having students look to solve a problem helps with this barrier. Rather than "do a project on ecology," "Let's walk around the garden and see if we can find a problem to solve." #HackLearning
A3: As admin, we must support teachers as they try new approaches to student learning. Remember new things take time and are not always successful in the first shot. Support - don't judge. How do we overcome these thoughts: #HackLearning
A3: As a music educator I like to use the phrase “One thing that Mr. Hallman is practicing right now is...” and relate it back to their music. I try to get them to see that music is a lifelong experience that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. #HackLearning
Don’t fear straying from the written curriculum in support of inquiry - authentic learning opportunities increase student engagement: leverage their questions and interests #HackLearning
A3: Figure out their passions! Get to know the Ss and recognize them as more than just a face or a data point. Allow for team building, class building, and student voice/choice to uncover this. #HackLearning
A3 We’re writing articles about transforming our struggles into opportunities to help others. As a model, we’re using an article one of my former students wrote! https://t.co/XkeSrdaXXw#HackLearning
I am 8th grade Social Studies ... i also do a mixed grade level Tech/TV class. #HackLearning ... we're rolling in the #PBL, but then that is how I have always taught ... integrated curriculum projects, which became the "revolutionary" #STEAM
Could you chunk some of the standards together to promote the PBL? I do this a lot! It’s so challenging when you feel the crunch of time bc of standardized testing. #hacklearning
you will love @Seesaw, students can document their progress, in picture, video, text, post to class and parents. Everyone can provide feedback - even parents #hacklearning
Just my opinions but if we don’t take worksheets, drill and kill test practice, decontextualized literacy and math out at least most of the time, project work remains parallel and a perceived frill compared to the “real” work of sch - #hacklearning
Shifting mindsets is tough work & part of the problem is just talking about mindsets as this entity that could be easily changed with a workshop or TEDTalk. I don’t think it really works like that. #HackLearning
A2: I think it's hard for some teachers to understand how to track & assess the learning. How do you keep Ss on track? It can be overwhelming and often there is a whole realm of technology they are trying to incorporate into district controlled tech environments. #HackLearning
A2: My challenge in doing more PBL is my other goals. I flipped my instruction, and we spend a lot of time talking about empathy and community service. #hacklearning
That’s a great point Katie! Student generated questions (even part of the essential question development) at the front end of a learning experience can be transformational. #HackLearning
A3: we designed learning spaces that students owned. Teachers had a room where they had their desks. There were no teacher desks in the learning spaces because it was owned by all. #hacklearning
A1 Continue 2 get 2 know your ss. Listen to them. Provide them with 21st century tools & skills to express their interests and passions. Create a classroom environment where ss feel comfortable sharing and collaborating. Model it by sharing your own passions w/them. #HackLearning
Kids come to us w all the curiosity a body can hold - why, where, how, what, what if, who .. in very little time they begin to learn the maxim “seen but not heard” #hacklearning
Join #HackLearning chat Jan 7 at 8:30-9:00am EDT when Kristin Ziemke @KristinZiemke will be guest moderator leading chat on the "hacky" topic of Teachers as Learners.
Shifting mindsets is tough work & part of the problem is just talking about mindsets as this entity that could be easily changed with a workshop or TEDTalk. I don’t think it really works like that. #HackLearning
IMHO, I think we need to revamp all of the standards in every subject to be similar to NGSS. I know they’re overwhelming at first but the hands on engineering, the crosscutting concepts.. We need more of that. We have to promote #STREAM! (Soap box here). #hacklearning
A3: Ts have so many resources, tools and peers available. Get on Twitter and start dvlpg a PLN, ideas are all around you!! Be open to suggestions, look for opportunities to engage with those already implementing. If you don't have those models, be the one!! #HackLearning
We didn't take a day off in 2017 and we're ending it with a chat led by two of our fantastic authors, @MurphysMusings5 and @RossCoops31. Join us in 20 minutes for #HackLearning.
I agree ... we have much to do ... I have discovered that the more standards-based learning & grading I have more flexibility in my curriculum #HackLearning
