Our mission for our 21st century chat is to create a positive 21st century learning environment for our students by sharing resources and ideas that has worked in our classrooms. Join us every Sunday from 8:00-9:00 PM (EST) on Twitter using the hashtag #21stedchat. All are welcome!
Welcome to #21stedchat with @Edu_Thompson and I. Tonight we are answering questions posed by new and preservice teachers. Please introduce yourselves. Don't forget to add the #21stedchat hashtag.
Hello! I'm Meghan from Pennsylvania, USA. I teach middle school Earth and space science and consider myself a fairly new educator. I'm here to learn. #21stedchat
@em51028 ELL teachers in my district have used Storyboard That and have given positive feedback--I believe it delivers content in the form of cartoons and even allows students to create their own storyboards. #21stedchat
I use my personal @Twitter account to tweet out stuff we are doing in class and mirror it on Facebook. I also cc our district Twitter. Sometime I go live w/ GHO's too. #21stedchat
In reply to
@mrspurdysped, @MsCastillosMath, @Twitter
I have 2 tech favorites: Peardeck (or Nearpod) and Google Drawing GD. I use GD for collaboration like vocabulary connections & Peardeck for informal assessment. #21stedchat
Check out @alicekeeler's resources--I use several of her tech tips and have participated in quite a few of her workshops--all very useful! #GoogleClassroom#21stedchat
Google Drawings is the best! I use it w/digital poster assignments. Often I will post a blank template in #GoogleClassroom and put one textbox w/the directions on the left side, and another blank textbox for a written explanation on the right side. #21stedchat
A1: Key thing using social media in the classroom make sure all Ss can be photographed. I have some that can't. I make sure I don't include them #21stedchat
Great use for it! A teacher I work with has also been playing around with Google Hangouts on Air while tutoring students--it is a regular hangout that also records the chat and saves it to Youtube. #21stedchat
a1 Peardeck interfaces with Google so at the end of our session, their responses end up in their mailboxes for edit, notes, reminders, or further collaboration. #21stedchat
I still want to use @PearDeck. Haven't made the jump yet. I used it at a recent @edcamp and really liked it. Great opportunity for instant feedback and data. #21stedchat
A1: Admittedly, I haven't done it much, but Skype conversations with those in industry who can answer student questions about the career really helps, be it for science or other disciplines. Many in industry greatly welcome it. #21stedchat
Q2: What do you think or did you think Edu courses and departments leave out about the "real world" of the classroom? Other than copier repair? :-) #21stedchat
Interesting. When I think of gamification, I think of introducing game features into a classroom to boost engagement (e.g. XP Points, badges, Levels, etc.) #21stedchat
a2 I think the power of inquiry-based learning & assigned roles is my biggest discovery (just this year). Why didn't we know about IBL for algebra?!? #21stedchat
Definitely! I usually create some sort of template and then post it to Google Classroom w/the "Make a Copy for Each Student" setting. I was just observing a class last week in which the T had Ss annotating political cartoons using Google Drawing, actually! #21stedchat
That distinction is important. Gamification is the structure you overlay on top of your content. Whereas, game based learning are more individual activities for learning content. #21stedchat
In reply to
@LaneWalker2, @mr_middle_2, @roy_m6, @cushman_nate
Ss are often amazed with the collab components in the beginning! I stick with Comment feature because I think it is documented. Do chats "save?" #21stedchat
I didn't tell my Ss they were all on one drawing the first time we used it. They thought it was a team-thing. Pretty funny, "Hey, who did that?" #21stedchat
A2 As the Tech Dir, I know all about copier repair! Find your IT folks and get them on speed dial. Make friends w/ admin assts. in the MO. They're the ones who really run the school! #21stedchat
Here comes the can of worms...
That Gardner's "Theory" of Multiple Intelligences has no actual scientific support backing it, and that cognitive psychologists and especially neuroscientists laugh at it.
https://t.co/amlEIJ53zC#21stedchat
I really wish there was more focus in classes on relevance. It's mentioned, and the information behind it is taught, but teaching on implementation is lacking. #21stedchat@MsCastillosMath
A2: Here comes the can of worms...
That Gardner's "Theory" of Multiple Intelligences has no actual scientific support backing it, and that cognitive psychologists and especially neuroscientists laugh at it.
https://t.co/amlEIJ53zC#21stedchat
A2cont: During my EDU classes, so many professors were into Gardner's "Theory", treating it like it was cutting edge. That was in the mid 2000's, and I had already read the Scientific American article debunking it 5 years prior.
#21stEdChat
A2. I loved LOVED my formation program, but there are so many practical elements that are left out of teacher formation programs. Basic teacher routines/organization/management tools. Fast forward to today... PreTs need to know the beauty of being a Connected T! #21stedchat
Q2: What do you think or did you think Edu courses and departments leave out about the "real world" of the classroom? Other than copier repair? :-) #21stedchat
They also don't teach how to differentiate for 150 different Ss who may or may not even want to be at school or are just putting in the time. #21stedchat
Check out @KyleneBeers's work--she often discusses the distinction between what is relevant and what is interesting--and how to create literacy-based lessons that are relevant to students' lives. #21stedchat
In reply to
@mrspurdysped, @MsCastillosMath, @KyleneBeers
@dprindle The reason we should make our lessons relevant is taught. I'm currently in grad school and hear it all the time. But how to make some of the standards relevant (identifying rhyme scheme, for instance) is difficult. #21stedchat@MsCastillosMath
I've been toying around with introducing badging. I think that is all I can "handle." Probably not until next year. Don't want to bite off more than I can chew this year. #21stEdChat
In reply to
@andrewjjulian, @LaneWalker2, @roy_m6, @cushman_nate, @EdcampNJ
I'm not sure if you can control it from your end, but you can look at the edit history of a document at least and see who is doing the deleting. #21stedchat
Or how to write a grant to get more resources. There is tons of support if you integrate STEM. I got a whole classroom full of Chromebooks for integrating STEM w/algebra #21stedchat
Sometimes relevance may not be apparent to them until later in life. I have 2 classes of Ss on a forced march in a state required class to pass the test. I try to do my best but sometimes you just need to do. #21stedchat
In reply to
@jmarangell, @mrspurdysped, @MsCastillosMath, @KyleneBeers
A2cont: I don't mean 2 disrespect EDU courses. They have hard working professors who are doing their best at a challenging task (preparing us).
But teaching someone 2 be a teacher, to me, is the equivalent of reading a book as the sole way to learn how to ride a bike.
#21stEdChat
Or have greater concerns on their plate.
Tough to get them to see the value in your chemical equations worksheet and give it priority when they aren't sure how they'll be eating that day...or other home difficulties I need not mention.
#21stEdChat
Since the edits were coming & going so fast, I couldn't tell who was doing it. Seniors know how to hide their antics pretty well most of the time. #21stEdchat
It most definitely was not taken that way.
I was more saying that about myself. I have many complaints, but it's not about the professors, or even the courses. I think the courses do (usually) the best they can with preparing us. It's just a very challenging task.
#21stEdChat
@WillRojasT being a teacher who teaches non native English speakers, what online resources do you find to be the most useful to help students grow within the four domains of reading, writing, listening and speaking? #21stedchat
A3: How do you handle that one student who continues to be a disruption? You've had conversations, talked to parents, spent time getting to know the student - What works for you? #21stedchat
Theory is an important pre-req... I def refer to prior knowledge in my teaching and continued professional learning, but it's tough to apply to everyday teaching... #21stEdChat
They choose colors for their drawing tools & their group name is in the upper right corner, but I'm confused as to how I could know which group has someone deleting stuff. #21stedchat
It gets more difficult to find games to support specific content in HS math. I use An Hour of Code to explain functions & relations, but beyond that I struggle. #21stedchat
In reply to
@andrewjjulian, @mr_middle_2, @roy_m6, @cushman_nate, @EdcampNJ
How do you handle a class full of students who are guilty of micro disruptions? None of them are office-worthy, but they add up quickly. #21stedchat@mscastillosmath
Married to a behaviorist so going to say a behavioral contract. Clearly identify w/ the S what defines a "disruption" and find alternative behaviors you can both work on. Reinforce success. #21stedchat
I'd first not define it as a problem. It's a *behavior* that is causing problems.
Behaviors seek to fulfill a need.
To modify the behavior, you must first identify what the need is that this behavior, the student feels is satisfying.
#21stEdChat
Have a conversation w/ the student, but not a "you're in trouble" one. One that seeks to understand the student. Uncover (if you can) through that conversation what the need is.
In so many cases I've experienced, the student simply would like attention/interaction.
#21stEdChat
Giving said student a role in the class, a responsibility (Hey, can you help me with attendance each day?) can help.
1) It creates rapport w/ the student.
2) It shows you trust them w/ responsibility. That you respect them.
3) It satisfies much attention seeking.
#21stEdChat
I use a slate to write on the Smartboard so my back is never to my Ss. W/assigned roles, the taskmanager is responsible for group behavior. Ss who won't self-regulate lose their team for awhile. #21stedchat
In reply to
@dprindle, @mrspurdysped, @MsCastillosMath
This was my first Twitter chat, and its was a great experience! I got some good suggestions for issues I've had in my classroom. Thank you! #21stedchat@MsCastillosMath
A4: When chats like this happen, I spark ideas/answers, then realize, yep, there's places right now I could apply those ideas and strategies that I currently am not.
I can talk about helping cease disruptions...but I haven't implemented those w/ some students I could.
#21stedchat
Thanks for another great #21stedchat@Edu_Thompson and I can't do it without you. Join us next week for Design Thinking in the Classroom. 8 PM Sun ET US. Have a good week.
A4: So, after a chat like tonight, I need to reassess where I could take my own advice. Where I could and *should* do what I've recommended to others. Easy to see the mote in one situation, but not see the beam in your own.
#21stedchat
