#DITCHbook was created by Ditch That Textbook author Matt Miller. The chat focuses on innovative teaching ideas and disrupting standard textbook education.
Hi, all! I’m Kristin - new Tech TOSA from Southern California. And I’m super excited to start the school year - I will be out of the classroom as a TOSA for the first time in 8+ years! #ditchbook
Good evening, #ditchbook!!! Evan Mosier, Technology Integrationist Lead Teacher and Language Arts from Davenport, IA with you this evening. I'm actually pretty jazzed for the start of the school year this year!!!
A1 @jcorippo gives a great reason in #ditchsummit. We are carrying more knowledge on our phone than we could ever remember, but what can you DO with it? #ditchbook
A1: Creativity is necessary to be able to problem solve within constraints and is a skill valued by employers all over in every field. #DitchBook Plus it has value to others.
A1: Creativity needs to be values because it’s the risk-takers and rule-breakers that get stuff done. The great technology we have today was invented and created by creative geniuses who thought outside of the box. #ditchbook
A1 Creativity is VITAL. Its in every child just waiting to be released. I pray for educators not to squelch it. you never know where Ss creativity will take us #ditchbook
#ditchbook A1: Creativity should be valued because it's what future ready leaders need to have most...creative ways to solve today's problems (and prevent future ones!)
A1: Creativity needs to be values because it’s the risk-takers and rule-breakers that get stuff done. The great technology we have today was invented and created by creative geniuses who thought outside of the box. #ditchbook
Hey there #Ditchbook friends! Matt here, checking in from the Charlotte (NC) airport!
About to take off ... Bummed out that I'm going to miss this chat. But you're in good hands with @drmcclard!
A1: Allowing creativity in our classes allows for students to have a voice in the curriculum. They can feel like they have ownership of the material a little more. #DitchBook
A1: creativity gives Ss the opportunity to be original and express themselves outside of the box. It helps build important real life problem solving skills! #ditchbook
A1: Creativity is important because it allows students to express independence and solve problems in their own way. It is also a great way to get to know your students (interests, talents, passions, etc.) #DitchBook
A1: creativity should be encouraged as our society/jobs are becoming much more creative. Not always going with the traditional ways of doing things. #DitchBook
A1/ Because creativity is a huge asset to all businesses. Creation can lead to serious innovation which is a skill that can help our Ss be successful with their futures.
ALSO- our generation thinks if you cannot draw, then you are not creative. Change the mindset. #DitchBook
A1: Now more than ever, we need creative minds who can problem solve - people who are willing to innovate: break the norm and change the system. We need to help foster creative students AND creative teachers AND creative school policies. #edchat#DitchBook
I am excited for the new year, of course I do love the summer schedule and having time to learn and connect more with family and friends, but always welcome the new year #ditchbook
A1 Creativity is the off-roading adventure of our mind. How brain function continues to grow, creativity also grows if fostered. Creativity=growth of curiosity. #Ditchbook
A1 One of the best parts of creativity is that it is open to student choice and as educators, we learn more about our Ss based on what they create #ditchbook
A1: Because honoring the spark within builds SEL skills & growth mindset...AND adds value to what we are teaching and learning to the agents of tomorrow & the future. #DitchBook
A2 Makerspace, Genius hour, passion projects, PBL... really just allowing for Ss led process and products! Ss have the creativity we just have to allow them their time to shine! #ditchbook
A2: Creativity is encouraged by giving Ss ownership for ideas and projects in the building and classroom. Give them a basic framework and let them run with it! It’s amazing what they come up with #ditchbook
A2: I love hearing about and encouraging my students’ extra curricular activities. I find out so much about my Ss when they share their passions. I learned one of my Ss had their own YouTube channel and was making videos. She became our video creation guru. #DitchBook
A2: some kids seem to be the creative ones, but praising the ones who attempt to be more creative is something I need to do more often so they keep working on their creativity. #DitchBook
A2: Not only do we need to provide activities, learning experiences, and opportunities for Ss to exercise their creativity muscle, but we need to make it a priority that we build those in to our daily/weekly schedule. #DitchBook
A2: We encourage creativity by showing our students that creativity isn't a one-size fits all mindset. Give them examples of different styles and have them find their passion. #ditchbook
A2: Have a culture among all that values transparency and a willingness to fail. Admit mistakes but don't challenge those who take risks - breaking the norm requires putting yourself out there. #edchat#DitchBook
A2: Encouraging creativity allows for students to become more engaged in their learning. Moving towards a student-centered classroom is also a benefit! #DitchBook
A2: The best way to encourage creativity is to give Ss AND Ts TIME to be creative. If we feel like we’re always crunched for time, we will be less likely to experiment with different prototypes of an idea.
Also, Ss need freedom to choose how and what to create. #DitchBook
A2 Start early by drawing out the students passions and allow them to speak their voice. I love the idea @gcouros shared in #InnovatorsMindset where the school had all the students share their passions. #DitchBook
A1 So important to give students opps to express their interests and show learning in their own unique and authentic way, more meaning = more learning #ditchbook
A2 Be vulnerable and share your ideas and failures. @CateTolnai shared a great idea on #ditchsummit about a mentor wall to connect students and build expertise #ditchbook
A1: Creativity is what allows us to come up with new solutions, alternative ways to demonstrate understanding, creation of works of art, share our individual strengths & personalities with the world #DitchBook
A2: I give them a creator's "toolbox" of tech tools. I encourage Ss to try new things, some just like to always stay in their comfort zones. #ditchbook
A2: The best way to encourage creativity is to give Ss AND Ts TIME to be creative. If we feel like we’re always crunched for time, we will be less likely to experiment with different prototypes of an idea.
Also, Ss need freedom to choose how and what to create. #DitchBook
#ditchbook agreed!!! Give students choice in either input or output for their learning! One of my fav ways to get Ss thinking?! #CaptionThis activities @SteinbrinkLaura !!
A2 By being open to student ideas on how to show learning, diff learning experiences that promote it, #pbl genius hour, makerspaces, and even just asking Ss for their ideas, let them decide . #ditchbook
A2- For me supporting and encouraging ts to add it to their lesson plan.
I think teachers just need to hear admin say it is okay to add creativity into the day! Some staff need that permission.
#DitchBook
A2. By ditching the book and homework, helping the Ss choose their goals and then say "take a shot at it however you want, dare to do your best" #DitchBook
A2: Take a risk by letting Ss make the choices...and they will follow in turn in creative, unabashed creative maneuvers & expressions of learning. #DitchBook
A2- In my weekly emails I highlight a t who has added the C's including creativity into their lesson plan. I provide all the resources so other ts can go to the t to ask for advice and they have the lesson idea right there to make it their own for their classroom.
#DitchBook
A2: Encourage & support creativity by providing time, resources, and opportunities to be creative. Make it a priority and show students that it is valued and important. It’s not an extra thing to do- it’s what we get TO BE! #DitchBook
A2. By ditching the book and homework, helping the Ss choose their goals and then say "take a shot at it however you want, dare to do your best" #DitchBook
A3: Ask the students how they think we should use it to drive their learning deeper. They're the learners here, give them some voice on owning their learning. #DitchBook
A3: Choices seem to encourage creativity. I’m attempting to give more options to display their knowledge- going away from pencil ✏️, paper 📝 tests. Let them have some say in their learning #DitchBook
A3 Lately I have been going with the Less Instruction, More Discovery mentality. I let the kids discover how to do something or what the solutions is. They all share what they are learning in a collaborative tool like a google doc or a padlet. #DitchBook
A2/2: Invite experts into the classroom to tell their story & inspire the Ss. There are experts everywhere dying to share their passion and special story! #DitchBook
A3: Start small. Ts think they need to go big to get results. Sometimes it’s the change in mindset that makes the biggest difference - especially with EdTech. I also promote choice making. Students choose how to demonstrate their learning at the end of a unit. #DitchBook
A3- Allow ss to have choice in the tool that they use to show their knowledge. Giving ss that freedom to explore and create! What they create will surprise you in a good way 9/10 times!!
#DitchBook
A3 Also have done a multi-level project, Ss on teams btw levels I through IV, and collab on same project using their respective content, use Google Slides or @padlet#ditchbook
#DitchBook A3: Google Forms aren't just for quizzes...I mashed up Maps and Forms to create an Amazing Race which recorded speed and accuracy of Ss groups! So fun!
A3 Getting hands on and really experiencing learning! 5th graders built little free library after researching impact of access to literature! We used tech for research, planning and protyoing, but then we got our hands messy! #ditchbook
A3: I'm using tech to flip my lessons this year! While Ss watch tutorials & practice, I'm using formative assessment tools to pull the Ss who need me most. #kidsdeserveit#ditchbook
A3: Providing Ss with an opportunity to share topics they were curious about, concerned with, passionate about & then finding related texts to those topics. The discussions we had were the most engaged & Ss felt empowered bc I showed them their voices had been heard #DitchBook
A3: Allowing students to choose a project or even which method they use to complete the same one is positive. I'm excited to try out choice boards this year! #DitchBook
A3: I’m always a fan of “teach another teacher” about a new tool or idea, that way you have both an S AND T who might utilize the tool and to hone implementation.
Also, giving Ss the opportunity to “pitch” a project or assignment always yields interesting results. #DitchBook
A3: Start small. Ts think they need to go big to get results. Sometimes it’s the change in mindset that makes the biggest difference - especially with EdTech. I also promote choice making. Students choose how to demonstrate their learning at the end of a unit. #DitchBook
A3: More Ss choice and flexibility. There are so many tools that Ss can use to show mastery of a lesson... let them decide how to show off their awesomeness💙 #DitchBook
A3: Connect with other classrooms- In your school or by Skype around the state, Country or World. It brings the dynamic of learning to a whole new level. Another fave- scavenger hunts. They’re magic! #DitchBook
A3- When I was in school every s in my class completed the same project. Now you walk into ts room and you have 28 different projects some digital some not. This is the way learning should be!!! Ss showing their own personalities and preference in their work! #DitchBook
A3: Well, for starters, I worked with @jmattmiller on #CaptionThisEDU where Ss use creativity and deepen their thinking on your content. Didn't think of it as a creativity activity until I started using it. Boy is it! #DitchBook
Yes we have done something like that before. The students can “take the mic” at anytime they have something to share or demonstrate on the topic. The kids love the ownership #DitchBook
A3: Adding more #studentchoice into the learning and assessment. Ss can choose which strategies they want to use for upcoming lessons. Not just in what they create at the end, but how they learn and how they practice. #ditchbook
#DitchBook A3: Google Forms aren't just for quizzes...I mashed up Maps and Forms to create an Amazing Race which recorded speed and accuracy of Ss groups! So fun!
A4: I model creativity for my Ss. I tell them "So... we're going to try something new today. It may work, it may not, but we will go on this learning journey together." #ditchbook
A4: I started sketchnoting this past year. I ended up teaching my students some and doing a ten day challenge during testing. They loved it - and it provided a much needed break from the test! #ditchbook
A4- I love collaborating with my ts. I feel like when I am in a small group my idea really blossom because I have their feedback and support. They make my ideas sound and look better!
#DitchBook
A4: Create a sketch or plan, collaborate with others to bounce ideas off one another, come back & reflect as well as make adjustments along the way. Ask Ts AND Ss for input #DitchBook
A4: Starting with just a couple new things. Ease in slowly and follow the same model to teach each new creative idea so Ss (and Ts) aren’t overwhelmed! #DitchBook
A4 Always working to learn and create things myself! Doodling, drawing, building, challenging myself to learn new things like coding, robotics, Flipgrid... creating projects with and alongside Ss! #ditchbook
A4: I enjoy designing things, whether it's simole or complex, I like doing it. So, the more I get the opportunity to, I feel I'm honing my skills. #DitchBook
A4 Sometimes I just wing it, or ask the students for ideas and then mesh it with mine and come up with something different, used choice boards last year, also giving a lot of options . #ditchbook
I read and reread "Teach Like A Pirate" by @burgessdave . Also reading the NOW! Classrooms books with lots if great ideas; but honestly have built in time for by #ditchbook PLN ... You all are #inspirational and help me become more fearless to try new things in my classroom!
A4: By taking time to build in activites that allow Ss to have to think about problems in different ways, find new uses for existing things, allowing Ss to explore their passions, & by modeling the exercising of that creative muscle. #DitchBook
A4: Connect with others in my school, on twitter, through @masscue. I look at the ordinary and think outside the box on how to make it extraordinary in low tech and high tech ways. I incorporate music, movement and humor whenever possible and talk about mistakes. #ditchbook
A4: I get outside of my comfort zone and sketch, blog, etc. I'm an extrovert so Twitter is a hobby for me and when I can use it to learn something new-- it's a win win! #DitchBook
A4: I try to model myself being creative as much as possible. I sketch on the chalkboard and in a sketchbook, workshop my writing, create soundtracks, etc. to show Ss what works for me. Then they take it from there.
Ss have flexibility as long as they communicate. #DitchBook
A4 I like the single-point rubric from @cultofpedagogy , which makes it easy to assess lots of different types of work with one easy rubric. This frees me to be creative with assignments. https://t.co/kZeJDatTYX#DitchBook
#DitchBook A4 Social media has become a tool for me to practice creativity. Daily posts on Instagram to search for the thing that would appeal/help my Instagram audience. Almost daily on Facebook where the audience is kids' parents which adds a spin....PLN on twitter, etc.
