"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
Hey everyone! I'm Hannah. My major is Early Childhood Education and I'm a student of Cedarville University. I like Black Widow and Wonder Woman. #Edtechafterdark
Hi All: I'm Helen @TweetTeague and I am a PD consultant and recovering, newly minted EdD in Learning Technologies... My favorite superhero is TechNinjaMom- part Kitty Pryde and part Dr. Mom! Glad to be hear with you all!
#edtechafterdark
A1: providing choice in the “how” they demonstrate depth of knowledge provides some agency. Definitely and area to explore and improve for us. #edtechafterdark
A1: Students are only granted agency when teachers step aside. No matter the time or place, it takes a teacher to approach their topic with h humility to advance student agency #EdTechAfterDark
A2 Thats not easy dealt with it today, Ss went too far down the river in kayaks chasing sea grass meadows, love the excitement but have to have boundaries #edtechafterdark
A1: at PBSTeacherline where I facilitate online courses, we are encouraged to "sit on our hands" and let learners work through the specifics of how to complete assignments. It was difficult to do at first but so worth it! #edtechafterdark
A2 Framework and expectations- Make clear what is to be done.
If younger students need more direction to allow autonomy but be successful then provide that. #edtechafterdark
A2: I’m still learning how to do this, & I just read a great article on Standard-Based Grading & rubrics that I think could create boundaries w/o dictating learning. #edtechafterdark
Good point with accountability. I sometimes had trouble figuring out how much to value this-- how do you make it important enough for everyone to participate without becoming the entire focus of the assignment? #edtechafterdark
A2 It’s a give and take process...we release a little control while always providing support...trust on both sides should be respected...#edtechafterdark
Toilets ARE political. Access to toilets has been used to control individuals’ lives (through what Foucault calls biopower). Depriving humans from one of their foremost human rights, the right to relieve themselves, fulfil a bodily function that necessitates privacy and dignity!
A1: Ss should feel a sense of control in a system that provides boundaries for their success. That sense of control can bring the best out of them.
#EdTechAfterDark
A2: It is helpful for me to remember 1.) to avoid the cult of "One Right Answer" and 2.) Be Available and ready to listen and 3.) remember Invitational Ed. ideas from Purkey #edtechafterdark
A2 It's in the lesson design. Allow for creative expression and choice while providing a safe, walled-garden atmosphere for Ss to operate in. #edtechafterdark
a2: counter to the wording, boundaries give us the freedom to explore and channel our energy into what is possible with the tools we have. No boundaries = less productivity and more frustration. #EdTechAfterDark
A2: Through curiosity. If we begin and end with sincere inquiry, engagement is the natural byproduct. The more sincerity, the more buy-in. Give students the opportunity to dive in head first and intellectually engage the material. #EdTechAfterDark
A2: Give them control of the ship’s wheel w/a map of the 🌎 so they can explore the seas. Map is guide so they’ll know where landmarks are & to avoid shipwrecking #edtechafterdark
A3 Model it. Too often we buy into the belief that we have to have all the answers, or can't apologize because it makes us weak. Ts must show their humanity #edtechafterdark
A3: whoever said you only get 1 chance to do something right needs to take a step back! Ss need to be given chances to try fail and retry! #edtechafterdark
A3: my Ss get @ClassDojo points for participating—whether the answer is right or wrong. They begin to take risks because they receive praise for their effort. #edtechafterdark
A3b: it starts w be honest & sharing your failures & using them as fertilizer for the next area of growth if they aren’t the foundation we won’t learn from our mistakes but be shunned by them #edtechafterdark
a3- Both model and share examples of successful people/companies/ products that failed and embraced it by overcoming. Practice in class the idea that products can always be improved.
#edtechafterdark
A3 Love the idea of building “risk” into project rubrics along w other similar criteria to shift the focus from product to process. That & more reflection/revision #EdTechAfterDark
A3 It starts with supporting teachers in taking risks and making mistakes, trying again and celebrating their successes. When teachers are confident to fail and succeed the will model it for their students! #edtechafterdark
A3: Take time to build relationshipswithSs that struggle. Show them@thatbit is ok to fail and learn and try again. Struggling Ss need opportunity to build confidence. #edtechafterdark
A3: Via learning paths... present learning as a journey and assume that a certain percentage will “fail”. Where does that failure naturally take them? Build that into your lesson progression. Encourage Ss to see failing as part of the process, not its opposite #EdTechAfterDark
A3: Starts w/ leadership changing mindset that mistakes are part of learning. I think for so many years we've taught Ss to not make mistakes #edtechafterdark
A3 It’s also cool to ask Ss to do smaller tasks multiple times w variety in the conditions provided to break the mindset that there’s only one way to do something #EdTechAfterDark
a3- Edison, had he failed 1000 times only to then quit and miss out on making the lightbulb, would be a never-was. Failing is a learning tool. Failure should be accepted, but never as an end-game. Always steer failure to learning and success. #edtechafterdark
We're trying to deal with high achievers in high school who are failing to see this failure process as normal... they want to be right all the time or have the answers spoon fed to them. Have you had any successes with those types of students? #edtechafterdark
A3.1 Some Ss need mentoring literally not only at school, but in life...what is the point of educating someone when they have a failure to believe in themselves... #edtechafterdark
Student work changing a single variable to monitor outcomes... against a control? Love this concept for teaching the mindset change. It should help students perceive that there are many ways to do things! #edtechafterdark
Only by allowing them the safety net of not knowing without the threat of low grades. Simply because there is an unknown does not mean there has to be a missed point. When we start deducting based off of their inquiry and wonder, we lose them. #EdTechAfterDark
Absolutely! I thought that would make a huge difference, but it really is a learned behavior for some of our hs students. Needs to be taught much earlier to be successful. #edtechafterdark
A4 Too often we look at standards mastery as check boxes or portfolio worksheets, true learning is when standards are applied to problems and projects #edtechafterdark
Q4 (bc I’m just jumping right in) understanding that not all Ss learn the same way and being confident in supporting choice and hearing Ss voice is crucial for it to even be an option! #edtechafterdark
A3: Great question. We have to try and try again while staying positive. If the horse is no longer moving, get off of it and try another. #edtechafterdark
A4: even if you are told what, you are given autonomy on how which can translate to allowing the Ss some choice in how they learn it! Give them options in the outcome #edtechafterdark
A4 My concern has shifted from HOW to give voice & choice to HOW do we help them learn about & revise their own process, thinking, & ideal learning conditions #edtechafterdark
A4: it’s time for Ts and Ss to redefine the “standards” by challenging and overcoming the norms. We preach change so let’s teach it. Nothing is impossible. #EdTechAfterDark
A4 Don't confuse standards with content, or content with interest. Start by identifying student interest and you will be able to shape a lesson that has authentic content that covers the standards but still engages the students. #edtechafterdark
Create labs where the product is the learning tool, where there has to be some failure. FYI our kinder class does a 3 Little pigs lab. Some Ss make houses of bricks, others of sticks, and others of hay. The reflections are pretty awesome. Adapt to your age. #EdTechAfterDark
We're trying to deal with high achievers in high school who are failing to see this failure process as normal... they want to be right all the time or have the answers spoon fed to them. Have you had any successes with those types of students? #edtechafterdark
A4: Up to us to decide how much the "standard" dictates how we teach. If we go by the verb definition, it's literally the bare minimum. Challenge your Ss for more. #EdTechAfterDark
Absolutely. Have to clarify expectations more I think as well. My 5 year old prefers bricks, btw. The 2.5 year old prefers to be the smashing wolf. #edtechafterdark
A4: We need to draw the line and redefine what "standards" and "what Ss really need to know.". There is an overlap between the two but there are MAJOR differences in the two. #edtechafterdark
A5 Use the curriculum and standards to make an impact on the real world. From pen pals over seas, to working with university researchers to share data, experiences, and problems solving #edtechafterdark
A4: We must acknowledge and embrace that, although we teach to the standards, the vast majority of knowledge gained in our classrooms is extemporaneous. We are less the dictators of content and more the facilitators of learning. #EdTechAfterDark
A5 Big question, but one ex: we're doing a district wide lip-dub this year. Ss organized, choreograph, film, edit, etc. Admins and Ts changed schedules to support. Will have a great S led project with their impact on school culture! #edtechafterdark
A4: Great example from one of our Collegiate Academy Ts, he switched from Schoology to Google Classroom because Ss expressed interest in using it. Listen to Ss! #edtechafterdark
A5: Schools can offer more projects that effect more then just their classroom. More global opportunities such as Mystery Skype, community gardens, murals, etc. Don't forget to incorporate #finearts#edtechafterdark
Awesome! Great opportunities for students to lead and incorporate #finearts into their school culture. Student choice = student voice. #edtechafterdark
Yes! Can't wait for the final product to be done so I can share and show it off... they're really invested in it and doing a great job! #edtechafterdark
A5: Search, propose, provide opps for Ss to partner w/older students Ex: "Integrated Circuits" in our ISD partnered my H.S. tech Ss w/elementary students to share cartoon tech & drawing. In HigherEd, univ Ss partner w/older adults in community problem solving #edtechafterdark
A6 Talk it out. From data chats about the growth they've made so far this year to how that growth will impact them in the future. Its an ongoing conversation about self improvement, mind, body, and soul #edtechafterdark
A6: proactive Ts support that thrives in allowing Ss to have choices of the product of their learning & the process. Not cookie cutter #edtechafterdark
A5: Let students track their own progress. Let Ss choose their own projects. Let Ss make decisions that impact traditions/school culture. #edtechafterdark
What an amazing chat! Thanks @danvkoch for putting together great Qs and the awesome GIF style of delivery! @alexstubenbort and I had a late night at work, but #edtechafterdark is the perfect way to end the day!
Fantastic chat everyone. Love the serious #sarcasm that keeps us laughing but productive. Thanks @danvkoch for moderating! Remember to follow people whose ideas interest or challenge you! #edtechafterdark
Thanks for another amazing #EdTechAfterDark chat! This #PLN is nothing short of, well, super. Glad to have you all on my team! Thanks 2 @MrLeonard8 & @alexstubenbort for co-moderating w/me!
