#edchat Archive
#Edchat is a hashtag, a movement—it is a weekly organized Twitter discussion of educators and people interested in education that meet virtually from all over the world. #Edchat serves as a conversation thread on Twitter and is also used for organized weekly discussions.
Tuesday December 22, 2015
Staying up-to-date and informed through social media
Join Topic: If being relevant as an educator is an important element of teaching & learning, how do educators maintain relevance?
Being relevant varies with subject and grade. As a chem teacher I used a lot of food and consumer goods in demos.
. Entrepreneurs struggle with this as well: https://t.co/DXJ8xHITtc Recognizing the importance of adaptability helps!
By relevant do you mean making real-world connections?
makes sense... how'd that work for you? Your Ss?
Like most things in ed terms like relevant have multi-meanings and applications --> acad relevant, culturally relevant
A TEACHER whose teaching empowers students intellectually, socially, emotionally, and politically is (and will always be) relevant.
It was a rare lesson when I didn’t connect with real world. Had 100% passing on state exam most years & 33%+ over 90.
good to do… I like to have a statement of relevancy…how the lesson connects to real world
In process —> If being relevant as an educator is an important element of teaching & learning, how do educators maintain relevance?
I think relevant would also imply that you are going after students’ interests and passions.
Every lesson plan should state how it is relevant. Great idea.
fIndeed, grow from there...
TEACHERS, how do you stack up to this definition?
rel·e·vant (adjective) closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand.
In progress -> If being relevant as an educator is an important element of teaching & learning, how do educators maintain relevance?
. Absolutely! Students need to know that this is pertinent to them, right now, to really get motivated and invested.
Curious, what do we call a teacher WHO IS NOT RELEVANT?
RELEVANCY often gauged by teaching of knowledge, skills, and attitudes via links to current events, cultural practices, innovations
Are Cultural and Academic Relevancy mutually exclusive? I think not. What do you think?
Jumping into a few minutes late. Happy to be here today!
. We have to help students see the connections between what they think is culturally relevant and academic skills.
Bonus- also relevant to teacher. Tough to engage when disengaged. https://t.co/pCVtZENnBh
I think relevant would also imply that you are going after students’ interests and passions.
In think math may be the most difficult subject to make relevant. A lot of what I’ve seen seems forced.
Relevance can be difficult with much of the curriculum we teach. Plus relevance is determined by learner.
when possible,but what if there is not relevance to them?
Essential to stay up-to-date. Curriculum that is creation and not consumption. https://t.co/AngwrPMh8K
In process —> If being relevant as an educator is an important element of teaching & learning, how do educators maintain relevance?
I also think it is ok for some of the required learning to not be relevant. Not everything you learn needs to be a 'need to learn'
. But math helps us make sense of everything (Preaching to the choir, I know). Show https://t.co/K7TQXpxmqu to students
Relevance to me: being able to make current real world connections for Ss and staying on top of my game with best practices
Also, we need to differentiate between age levels. Lots of early skills can easily be shown as being relevant. (like reading)
I always frame this in terms of intellectual curiosity, which we need to develop.
How do sustain relevancy in the context above while avoiding burnout?
Relevant teachers do more than make their students ‘feel good’” they PAY ATTENTION TO STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC NEEDS. How to do this?
Thanks for the link. I love math but state test q’s that try for relevance typically involve math you would never do.
Relevance is subjective, so get rid of traditional practices and shape curriculum alongside the kid.
sure, and sometimes it is simply the old 'you need to learn this because they say so'. Painful but true.
Focus on student interests and also on helping them find interesting stuff.
How to bottle this up and spread it around teaching colleges? https://t.co/YSIPKCpaVL
A TEACHER whose teaching empowers students intellectually, socially, emotionally, and politically is (and will always be) relevant.
. When struggling, make cross-discipline connections. Like Scientific Notation --> Building skyscrapers
the thing is, when the student decides the relevance there needs to be some onus on them to find relevance IMO
When you bring in the real world it’s hard not to cross disciplinary boundaries.
WHAT does your classroom design say about the relevancy of your teaching? Does it matter?
. If something is not 'need to learn' then the skill should be stressed (communication, teamwork, precision, etc.)
wow...wouldn't that be wonderful....
talk with them. amazingly easy actually. set up meetings with each kid and ask "ok let's learn, whats next?" https://t.co/xmxM5ooTat
Relevant teachers do more than make their students ‘feel good’” they PAY ATTENTION TO STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC NEEDS. How to do this?
Isn't about placing the right problems or potential challenges before our Ss and then empowering them to engage?
yeah, I usually do that. Kind of a 2 for 1 thing :)
Agree that students need to work on finding relevance, but we need to tell them that directly.
Sleepwalking Into Irrelevance: It is Not A Skills Gap That Will Hurt The UK But A Creativity Gap https://t.co/nZqVW73xb2
what? They don't intrinsically know that? ;)
. Reading (early) and reading well (middle) and creating information for others to read (older) stays relevant!
How do you determine the "right" problems?
and the best way to do this is with open lines of discussion. https://t.co/mG0wDDWI7n
Focus on student interests and also on helping them find interesting stuff.
It’s in each student’s self-interest to work to find relevance. Let them know that.
I agree! Knowing who your students are - as people and as learners - goes a long way! Just engage and talk with them!
WHEN uncertain about how to be relevant LISTEN TO YOUR STUDENTS…they understand relevancy.
If you're looking to re-organize your classroom this break, here are some classroom storage tips: https://t.co/AeVoC63Fcu
. Absolutely! Sometimes its not about the current skill being taught - its being hungry for new knowledge!
I suspect that many students do intrinsically know that they need to search for relevance.
so true! and they will respect you more for doing it.
. Its about finding ways to get kids excited - their excitement = motivation, inspiration, and energy!
Absolutely. And there are so many opportunities to do: mini conferences, chatting during arrival/dismissal, lunch groups
Gotta know the kids and pique interest...then know where to begin. https://t.co/FrRAPJvm2u
How do you determine the "right" problems?
. Carefully tracking abilities - exit tickets, checks for understanding. Showing students their own progress.
RELEVANCY is relative. What’s relevant to students a center of public education may not be relevant to students at the margins.
Kelly from Ks. A T who focuses on relevant instruction draws the direct connection to the real world
I think most students want to do enough to get by when they don't care about the curriculum
Right Problems (good ones) would be open ended with no right answer when possible.
If learning how to learn better is a real school goal, kids need more ability to pick the content.
. "State tests are just opportunities to prove how smart you are to EVERYONE" = getting students' pumped to show off!
Agreed.That's why it's so important to match Ss relevancy with relevant, current best practice matching their needs.
Nice is that part of your product?
. Or, state tests are like logic puzzles that someone created to see if they could trick you. All about the messaging .
I start units with broad question and huge net. Challenge Ss to seek right net or tackle to find fish
WANT TO BE RELEVANT TEACHER? Check your cultural knowledge, prior experiences, frames of reference, and performance measures
How can you prove how smart you are if you don’t get the score for months and it’s not a %?
yes... and some times close ended..
Welcome PBL- empowering Ss to care
The truth is, if the curriculum is relevant teachers don't need to work so hard to use 'best practices'.
State tests are designed to sort and still they claim they are not norm referenced.
That's where can help drive passion! Connection to experience helps unlock interest
That thing where 'best practices' are really ways to force accountability for learning stuff they don't want to learn.
. "Onus" or maybe motivation - "Can YOU prove to the class why this is relevant?" = group or enrichment project.
I don't think it necessarily "hard" but should always be on a Ts mind. Knowing Ss well HELPS best practice stick
Have you ever been around someone passionate about something you aren't. Did it always inspire you?
I think students are often annoyed by passion when it isn't something they share.
. Completely agree! Cross discipline shows everything is connected and isn't isolated.
Best practices are ones that enliven Ss and cause them to seek new problems. What test does this? https://t.co/cod7YTLBBx
That thing where 'best practices' are really ways to force accountability for learning stuff they don't want to learn.
Passion is contagious, if we help Ss find and cultivate their passion.
if they were motivated, I don't think they wouldn't need to find relevance. (or they would find it anyway.)
. If the classroom design doesn't reflect learning space for students, they won't think the teaching is relevant
Cheng et al.'s 75 cutting-edge ways to befriend shirtless jungle cats by using gaming studies! https://t.co/PaNj31MwqK
Challenge- Can you capture a Ss passion on topics they aren't passionate about?
Most innovation happens at disciplinary boundaries.
So what do we do to motivate? Pitching to their interests and reality can help.
umm, they are already learning what they want. They already have background knowledge (or they will get it)
Often passion and motivation are a by-product of good design, prior knowledge, etc.....
I agree. However most curriculums don't support it. We Ts can work to bridge their passions and state expectations.
that is where trust and relationships matter most IMO
Find ways to engage Ss, open their eyes, expose them and let their passions ignite
not innovation, iteration ;)
Yep. There is a need for learning for learning's sake. How do we promote that? Think-aloud is one way.
We must all keep common themes or concepts in front of Ss. Help them find passion within that space
IN SEEKING TO REMAIN A RELEVANT TEACHEES, how to you handle out-of-date and unrepresentative textbooks and materials?
too often we try to motivate through reward/punishment :(
I would err on the side of student passion rather than state expectations.
Pick and choose, and supplement with UTD materials
When sincerity in the interest matches the importance placed, then I want to learn more. Proof of importance is key.
Extrinsic motivations don’t really work in the long run. Many school are too concerned with punishing.
nothing wrong with best practices, they just work better when kids want to learn content.
at a minimum I mention other classes at least twice daily to bring connection
Create your own texts, pull in primary docs that support curriculum and are relevant
yeah, and honesty with the students about their learning helps too :)
That's like how get treated in🇺🇸: forced to work menial, blue collar jobs not commensurate w/Education. 😬
honest conversations with students, don't lie to them when the learning isn't necessary or really relevant.
Lets hope evals are less tied to st tests in future. Each state is on its own. R U in a cool state?
I defnitely hope so! And within private schools, too
Create engaging lessons and let the state tests take care of themselves. It’s what best for kids.
Science today could mostly be taught from newspapers and ts knowledge.
Do you have a system to track what other classes are doing?
How can new teacher harness classroom management in their class, midyear?
my 10th and 11th grade children:)
I think there are way better science resources online than newspapers. Papers probably better for SS.
IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE to be a ‘good teacher' and not be a ‘relevant teacher’? I think not. You?
I completely agree. But not every admin,school, district, etc allows Ts to use their best judgement on this. https://t.co/T9bnAwfEDN
Create engaging lessons and let the state tests take care of themselves. It’s what best for kids.
not the point. Better than irrelevant out of date texts. Also accessible.
Yes. But f/younger learners w/limited perspectives it is imp’t we help try share/show relevance https://t.co/wgkRXMVPxG
Relevance can be difficult with much of the curriculum we teach. Plus relevance is determined by learner.
If teachers post assignments & resources it'd be easy to see what they’re doing
The day of the textbook should be over. Hope you aren’t still buying them.
I use them for art projects!! 😊😊
To be culturally relevant ts must look at resources beyond printed texts. is a great exp of free diverse resources
What fun. Ha... love it! Be sure to post a picture of some of the projects.
It's finally official!! I got my Principal's License!!! Thank you !!
yep... no silver bullet/ panacea...
What are the Best Ways for a Teacher to Engage their Classroom in a Global Conversation? via : https://t.co/FzVjidfrWm
A good question on a state test sorts well rather than revealing what students know and can do.
Relevancy is a WAY TO GROW…
This year's countdown is movies featuring schools and teachers:
#4. Taree Zameen Par (2007)
Teachers need to focus on criterion rather than sorting. If they don’t know how, use some PD
West Virginia University needs an Instructor in the Intensive English Program. Details here: https://t.co/zUssvlQSix
State tests most reviewed because someone is getting paid by the hour. :)
I would also post students’ best work on the classroom blog to show learning.
Testing oneself on content promotes learning better than additional study.
There is a trend towards getting rid of grades. I’m all for that.
THANK YOU for participating in YOU make it a collegial, informative, and fun respite from daily grind. Join us tonight at 700 PM EST
Student portfolios can demonstrate learning. Also badges for courses mastered
"A teacher affects eternity: he can never tell where his influence stops." - Henry Adams
Kindergarten is the new 1st grade. Let them play more & nap if they need it
Let your kinders tell you what they learned. I do K shows. Best audience
Be sure to put student stories on your classroom blog.
Thought provoking article.
": IS TECHNOLOGY helping or hindering your teaching?
Read this: https://t.co/6WkcBI4rST ”
Thanks for the amazing today. Special thanks to my co-mod for leading the way.
w/new preschool demands you might have 1st graders walking in the door
