#122edchat is a weekly conversation designed to help inspire educators across the globe to reach their greatest potential in service of others. Megan Hacholski (@megan_hacholski) and Michael Abramczyk (@_on11), along with guest moderators, lead each week with a different focus tied to their strengths and areas of expertise.
Welcome to the most relevant #122edchat ever! Ray Steinmetz (@blended_math) and Denis Sheeran (@MathDenisNJ), co-hosts of the Instant Relevance Podcast, are your co-moderators this week. Please introduce yourself. Where are you from and what is your role in education? #122edchat
Hi all, Vanessa Heller here from Southern CA:#inquiry#pbl and #GiftedEd trainer, middle school humanities teacher, ELA Dept. Chair, Tech Innovator, Peer CoachâŚ. general busy bee and currently getting my hair âdidâ! #122edchat
I'm traveling tonight, about halfway from New Jersey to Boston where I'm speaking tomorrow. Looking forward to the insights and ideas everybody's ready to share in tonight's #122edchat
A1- Relevant instruction should be planned with the future in mind. What skills, traits, and content knowledge will students need to be successful as adults? #122edchat
A1: relevant to their needs, and to their lives. It is instruction that connects. It is instruction that causes deep learning and critical thinking. #122edchat
Relevant means not just preparing kids for an unpredictable future, but recognizing that kids are living their lives now and giving them tools for today as well as tomorrow #122edchat
A1 Relevant instruction carries over to life outside of & beyond school. Relevancy & authenticity are why I'm a proponent of #inquiry#pbl. As I say, âDonât make a project; make an impactâ. What skills & concepts will you need throughout your life? Letâs teach those! #122edchat
A1: Relevant instruction to me means it is tied to real-world applications and is current to the crazy, ever changing times we live/work/learn in.
#122edchat
A1: I can tell you what relevant is not: It's not the same form of broken instruction that we received when growing up. Relevance is more than an outcome connected to a worksheet or PowerPoint presentation. It's a complete shift of mindset toward instruction. #122edchat
#122edchat - A1 - Relevant instruction means not only making teaching important to students in the short term, but ultimately, giving students relevant learning opportunities that give them the long term skills to be successful as well. #MakeItReal#edChatRI
A1: Relevant instruction explains why students need to know the information (BEFORE they have a chance to ask!). It involves incorporating real world situations & student experiences! It helps engage the learners! #122edchat
A1: Relevant instruction to me is making connections to events and âthingsâ Ss can relate to which then make it enjoyable to learn about. #122edchat
A1: Relevant Instruction means teaching in a way that matters to the Ss. Trying to present the curriculum in a way that makes sense with the world that we live in. #122edchat
A1 - It means instruction that students feel a level of passion for. Also, it should be something that is understood on a personal level. Relevant instruction helps students to see the value in their learning. #122edchat
#122edchat A1: Relevant instruction means my students can take what they are learning and use it outside of the classroom. It also means that they are able to start asking and answering the questions for why do I need to know this and when will I use it.
A1: Relevant instruction for me means tapping into S passions, interests, my interests, and current events and oddities to hook & engage learners on my content. #122edchat
A1.2: Relevance is connecting the seeds of instruction with the fertilizer provided daily by the outside world. There is a never ending stream of connections that can be made to what we need to teach and what currently exists. #122edchat
A1: Making the learning relate to the studentsâ daily reality, helping them see the connections and implementing authentic learning opportunities. #122edchat
A1. Relevant instruction means that you are going to be able to take away something you've learned from the topic being taught! There should be Aha moments that stick with you! #122edchat
#FutureDriven ideas...
đĄThe world doesnât care what you know. It cares what you can do with what you know.
đĄThe most interesting classrooms are pursuing great questions, not chasing right answers.
đĄLearning for life and fulfillment is different than learning for a test.
A1: That's a good question. I always tell my Ss the "Why we are learning this". I make every lesson relevant. Relevant means it is something they need to know to either make them smarter or a better individual for society. #122edchat
A1: it means fostering an environment where deep engagement is your focus. Do you look at each of your students everyday and think "how can I #makeitreal for them today?" #122edchat
A1: When what we teach matches the skills and knowledge necessary and applicable to ss daily lives. process skills like problem solving, concepts like setting up and solving an algebraic expression (I did it today to convert a ss test score) or soft skills like grit. #122edchat
TLA checking in for #122edchat! A1: Relevant instruction is something that grounds itself in students. It respects them as directors of their learning and makes it easy for students to find the pieces that resonate with them and inspire to dig deeper.
A1
Instruction with a purpose. Preplanned who will understand and how youâre going to challenge them and take the learning deeper. Predicting obstacles for other students and what scaffolds/strategies we will be putting in place for them.
#122edchat
if any of you have read Instant Relevance, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how you make learning relevant for your students! https://t.co/yE7rVybB9I#122edchat
A1) Make learning connect for students outside of the walls of the school. Where will their knowledge apply later on, thatâs was relevant learning is to me #122edchat
A2: Why not? It's the best way for them to learn. They are inundated with media that is geared towards them - what reason do we have NOT to gear their learning towards them as well? #122edchat
A2- If we are teaching students the same information we were teaching them 15 years ago, we are not preparing them for their futures. Instruction should be relevant to what THEY will need someday. #122edchat
A2 1st of all, why be bored? Relevant instruction makes a âneed to knowâ a âwant to knowâ as I say. Kids always ask âWhy do I have to know about ____? Well, making curriculum relevant: current events, #SDGs, etc, helps kids connect & apply in school to out of school #122edchat
A1: I think it is also bringing the world to them when needed. Local professionals can show them a lot. "This is why it is important to learn this." We as teachers have to be as engaged as the Ss are. #122edchat
A2: Students are more willing to learn when they see the relevance in what they're learning. It's all about making connections -- to their current and future environments, to their interests, to what inspires them -- that can help lead them down the path to engagement. #122edchat
A2: Relevant instruction is seen as meaningful learning to students, they can connect to it and therefore understand the purpose behind learning it #122edchat
A2: As students we always asked the question, "When will I ever use this?" and the response was "Just do it." I remembered long enough to pass the test. We need to connect our students with the world beyond our classroom to allow the learning to have a lasting impact. #122edchat
A2: Relevant instruction provides a need for the learning and engages the Ss in the work. Currently, we are calculating tax, tip, & discount. The Ss love comparing it to shopping for video games, going out to eat at their favorite restaurant, etc. Makes it super REAL! #122edchat
A2: Relevant instruction is important for the Ss we teach so their ability to retain information can improve. Relevant can include engagement and to me, engagement=enjoyment=learning. #122edchat
A1 Relevant educational experiences should be applicable to personal interests or experiences of students The lessons should be connected in some way to real-world problems, issues, or events.
#122edchat
A2: Because it creates engagement and ownership. When Ss see that their voice not only matters but has impact -then they move from extrinsically motivated to intrinsically motivated. When that happens, the sky is the limit. #122edchat
A1: Relevant instruction for me means tapping into S passions, interests, my interests, and current events and oddities to hook & engage learners on my content. #122edchat
A2: Because they are the learners. They are the target audience. Our goal is to get them to connect with the instruction and hopefully think about things we havenât even discovered. #122edchat
A2. Relevant instruction helps in producing engaged learners! When we have the active learning strategies taking place in the classrooms creating the aha moments with the takeaways which help Ss remember learning better because they are engaged! #122edchat
#122edchat A2: The more relevant the topic that is being taught is, the more engaged the student becomes. Coming up with ways to teach the topic geared towards student interests and needs often yields greater results than just teaching the curriculum.
A2b - The question is why wouldnât instruction be relevant? If we want students to develop a love of learning, instruction must stoke their desire to seek greater knowledge. #122edchat
2) Relevance simply implies a purpose. When was the last time, as an adult, you decided to learn about anything that didn't actually impact your life? The same is true for kids! #122edchat
A2: itâs important to empower students and allow them to unleash their creativity. But along the way we must teach them problem solving skills and help prepare them for the unknown future #122edchat
A2- we need the instruction to be relevant because students need to care about the learning if not they donât have buy in Ss can get facts from a book or computer but relevant comes from an experience #122edchat
A3: I learning isn't relevant, what's the point? I have taken many classes and read many books that didn't end up having much application in my life. I don't mind because I like to study and learn, but some Ss just give up and drop out if they don't think it's real.
#122edchat
A2: It frankly makes the classroom a relevant piece of the bigger picture. "It's on the test" should never be an answer. I always brought my past as a manager up and showed them how being good writers and readers would help them get a job. #122edchat
A1: Relevant instruction explains why students need to know the information (BEFORE they have a chance to ask!). It involves incorporating real world situations & student experiences! It helps engage the learners! #122edchat
A2: Why should we make instruction relevant? Not just to engage learners, but if we create a "real" interest in learning, Ss will take the learning outside the classroom, & it will live on. #122edchat#MakeItReal
A2: When something is relevant, ss care about it. When they care about it and make connections, ss learn at a deeper levels. They donât learn disjointed facts that they will forget in a month. What they learn becomes lifelong as they become intrigued to learn more. #122edchat
A3: You need to build relationships and talk to your learners. Find out what they need, what they want and how they learn. Listen, Listen, Listen and the plan accordingly. #122edchat
A3 I am working on an awareness > advocacy > action progression in social studies right now based on identity of self & others, the #SDGs, and focusing on #Social Justice issues. This is on top of my social studies standards. I also tie in our ELA core novels. #122edchat
A3: I pull from current news articles and have Ss read, write, talk, and debate about the issues raised in them. They aren't just reading about the conversation, they are PART of the conversation. #122edchat
A3: Get to know your students, talk to them, listen to them, learn about the world they live in. Relevant instruction is about them and the world they are growing up in #122edchat
A3: In our Lab, we're attempting to create those lasting connections to the experiences that Ss are having at each station by inviting local professionals in to answer the question "When will I ever use this?" If Ss can see beyond the moment they're in, Ss will buy in. #122edchat
#122edchat - A3 - I don't have my own classroom anymore, but I see a need for more purposeful academic collaboration in the classrooms I have been observing. Adults collaborate with each other every day - so should our students. #MakeItReal#edChatRI
A2: Why should we make instruction relevant? Not just to engage learners, but if we create a "real" interest in learning, Ss will take the learning outside the classroom, & it will live on. #122edchat#MakeItReal
A3 - Lots of reflecting. We never have all the answers. There will be lessons and instruction thatâs superior. But, some of our best plans will falter. I try to take notes and have students rate the class most days of the week. This provides feedback which is useful. #122edchat
A3 Involving the Ss, getting to know their interests, offering some choices in learning so that it is more authentic and connected to them, starts with relationships #122edchat
I find that at least a couple of kids know a certain tool/app/trick and can easily teach the other kids who then teach the rest.... Cool tech is contagious ya know? #122edchat#EachOneTeachOne
Well, for starters, my Friday Fun Day (writing that is fun time), we used Baby Shark as a starting point for 3 verses of a Baby Shark meets Lord of the Flies song. #MakeItReal#122edchat
A2 Without relevance, why bother? Trust me, students are smarter than we think!
They know when we assign work without meaning. They become apathetic and disengaged They are more likely to be engaged excited curious and interested in learning when relevance is clear #122edchat
A3: I need to, must, have to start inviting visitors into my classroom via Skype or Google Hangouts to help my Ss get a better taste of the real world as well as hearing perspectives from other students around our country and world. #122edchat
A3: Have data convos with your Ss. We went over benchmarks, goals, where they were, where they needed to be, etc. Each of my Ss knew their goals off the top of their heads. We also compared ourselves to other classes. What were they doing that we weren't? #122edchat
A3. Discussing the standards and finding the interests of the Ss and incorporate them into real life problem solving situations in the classroom! Asking Ss for ideas on topics their interested in learning about! #122edchat
A3: By providing more choice to Ss, theyâre able to adapt to what is being taught and connecting their own interests. Choosing what books to read or topics to write about, for example. #122edchat
Thanks, Michael! It's a small goal of mine to hear stuff we do in class being talked about in the halls, even if it's just for a few minutes after class. #goals#MakeItReal#122edchat
A3: I try to make my class relevant through choice and reflection -
We study important concepts and the we go through the LAUNCH process to explore history concepts further. Then we share and reflect on our blogs. #122edchat
A3: Have community members come in and talk about how what they are learning ties into their jobs. We visited a local cement company and it was crazy how many concepts that overlapped!! #122edchat
And that's why I strongly disliked school. I'm here to make this experience for our Ss more beneficial and memorable. Hoping that waves of change will impact future generations. #122edchat
A3- I think it's important that we are (really, truly) reflective about the learning happening in our classrooms. If Ss are not interested or engaged, we just need to admit it and fix it. Tomorrow is always a new day. #122edchat
#122edchat A3: My students love games and talking, so adding digital break outs to the curriculum has been successful. Using programs like Flipgrid and Google Classroom is allowing us to expand our classroom and creates opportunities for my students to share accomplishments!
traffic just opened up and I'm driving way too fast to keep tweeting. Can't wait to read more of your ideas when I stop in Boston. Check out instant relevance and the instant relevant podcast for lots of ideas for making learning relevant #122edchat
A3: We can definitely speak more often about HOW Spanish is relevant. I can challenge students to use Spanish in real life and being a "brag sheet" back to school to show what they've done.
#122edchat
And so should our teachers - which does not mean doing the same thing the same way. We (educators) should model the skills we expect from our students. #122edchat
A3. Talk with students and make sure they understand their roles as drivers of their learning. When students can see the benefit and what they're "allowed" to bring to the table, you can find much richer information from them about what and how they want to learn. #122edchat
Well, for starters, my Friday Fun Day (writing that is fun time), we used Baby Shark as a starting point for 3 verses of a Baby Shark meets Lord of the Flies song. #MakeItReal#122edchat
@KellyGToGo and @davestuartjr's Article of the Week templates. @Newsela for more articles. I want students to not only be aware of what's happening currently around them - but also be PART of that conversation. #122edchat
In reply to
@Blended_Math, @KellyGToGo, @davestuartjr, @Newsela
In all of these questions, much of improving and growth is about actually âwanting to be betterâ each day. Itâs our choice to determine how much reflection and time we put into positive change. #122edchat
#122edchat - A4 - Definitely interested in using @seesaw to have students do more reflection to give them a voice in the classroom. #MakeItReal#edChatRI
A4: Right now, we are at the beginning level of this push for relevance. @AmyDaggy organized a Google Hangout for her science to interact with Anthropologists from @IllinoisStateU. We have been tapping staff for personal connections to the #STEM world as well. #122edchat
A4: #GSuiteEDU is probably our district's biggest set of tools we use to support student learning. The list of tools that integrate with G Suite is every growing as well.
#122edchat
2) Relevance simply implies a purpose. When was the last time, as an adult, you decided to learn about anything that didn't actually impact your life? The same is true for kids! #122edchat
A3- in science- we proposed a question to our students- our kindergarteners needed our help solve a problem- the relevance was huge for them!!! #122edchat
A4: we use google sites for our digital portfolios and blogs. We use @Flipgrid and google slides to share ideas. We also use https://t.co/CaVwb8gg3a to create podcasts #122edchat
A3: Besides tying instruction to S passions and interests, taking it one step further by bringing in real life application also ramps up the #MakeItReal effectiveness. THAT would be the "dynamic duo" of learning! #122edchat#MakeItReal
A4 Tech tools for sure⌠but basic following directions sure is handy. But the ability to listen carefully & think critically, communicate clearly, work collaboratively, and to be creative⌠Lots of Cs! #122edchat
A4: All the tech involve with S chromebooks. We are currently online shopping to calculate tax and discount. I'm hoping to also use virtual field trips soon too! #122edchat
A4: Speakers, colleges, Twitter, technology, humor, humor, fairness. I want the class to be a relevant and enjoyable place to be. We all have to be there for most of the day. Might as well as make it fun. #122edchat
Lots of technology. Google, goformative, Flipgrid, padlet, screrncadtify, etc. but also using hands on activities that force kids in a good way to get involved. Innovation isnât just the next app we use. Itâs also relationship building lessons. #122edchat
A-4 music, lighting ,I remember listening to my Van Halen 8track the day I bought it. The car the place the weather and who was with....donât remember December 4 algebra class, #122edchat
A3 I think Choice Boards help give students choices in their learning and offering them input in learning choices Listen to their thoughts and ideas #122edchat
A4: Cut out the commonly used, read & answer ?âs during social studies & science. B/c of this âsit&getâ in classes, I try to use videos & projects during my resource period for re-teaching. #122edchat
A4. Technology, listening, voting, choices, kindness projects, makerspace projects, creativity, designing, building, experimenting, taking things apart to see how things function, assembling circuits, etc. #122edchat
A5: Trust in teachers to make the right decisions, especially when it comes to flexibility with student choice. A relevant classroom might look and sound different, but it's working! #122edchat
A5: Again, at the infancy level, but we had a discussion with @sherimaher122 about exploring out trips to explore #STEM related content and connections to our Lab during the summer programming sessions. Any way that we can connect Ss to real-world experiences is a win. #122edchat
A5: As an ITC, I work with Ts to use technology to enhance their lessons. Part of that is to talk about how their Ss learn and how we can make that lesson relevant to their needs. #122edchat
A4) A lot of tools from @GoogleForEdu (Slides, MyMaps, Expeditions, Earth, Docs) to promote collaboration and see the world outside of where they are #122edchat
A5: by supporting the teachers with flexibility to teach with different methods, PD to learn and encouragement and motivation to try new things. #122edchat
I have said it before, I would love to be a student in Adam's class. I love how he is incorporating reflection into his instruction. Well done! #122edchat
A3: I try to make my class relevant through choice and reflection -
We study important concepts and the we go through the LAUNCH process to explore history concepts further. Then we share and reflect on our blogs. #122edchat
A2 If we donât make the learning relevant, whatâs the point? I always welcome studentsâ âwhy are we leaning this?â Itâs the right question and if we donât have the right answer, itâs time to make some changes! Our relevant epiphanies from Antigone, 2,4oo+ years old: #122edchat
Terrific work, once again, #122edchat! So thankful for all of your voices contributing to the conversation this evening. Thanks also to our guest hosts, @Blended_Math and @MathDenisNJ for sharing your expertise regarding relevance with us! Check out @InstantRel podcast for more!
#122edchat -A5-Edu leaders need to ensure the curriculum they are providing to students is relevant and gives the opportunity for deeper thinking and collaboration. They need to provide PD and coaching to teachers to help foster rigor and relevance every day #MakeItReal#edChatRI
A5 - PD that is driven by useful and effective tools. Also allow teachers to shape whatâs needed in class. Provide meaningful, reflective feedback. #122edchat
A4: I think most importantly are the process skills. How to study. Recognize what you can and canât do. Like, for me, I should NOT learn how to fix the dishwasher from YouTube. I can use Pinterest to do killer bday parties. Also how to advocate and communicate. #122edchat
A3 I strive to make sure activities and assessments are complex to include as many content skills and life skills as possible. Focusing and drilling is great but then it all has to be taken to the next level. #122edchat
#122edchat A4: Projects that cover what we need to but also create some fun. Using paper airplanes to learn about simultaneous linear equations. Adding more elements of gamification to my classes. More choices of activities to complete.
A-5 I like to give my teachers the freedom to take a risk. Never fear failure, if we fail we learn and we expect students to believe this so shouldnât we? A great idea never attempted is only an idea...it wonât make a ripple in a pond #122edchat
A5 Let us teach the way we know meets our kidsâ needs and modalities. Support our desire to attend PD (and pay for us to go). Give us time to plan relevant instruction! Give us time to teach (and not test them to death!) #122edchat
A5. Shifting to personalized learning across a school system can take a lot of work. @HenryCountyBOE provided us with a great overview of how they made it happen: https://t.co/E7574UaTJC#122edchat
A4.We are blessed to have so many great tools! @AppleEDU & @GoogleForEdu have so many great components, along with @Seesaw@Flipgrid for sharing with our local& global communities. I also love @Newselaâs articles set at different reading levels& @Wonderopolis questions #122edchat
Hope all of you can join the amazing @ChristineBemis2 as she leads #teachpos this Sunday at 7:30 est, 6:30 cst. Weâve had a great set of chats over the past few months. #122edchat
A4 Following #NGSS specifically Science and Engineering Practices, Student led Discussions, Sâs asking questions on a Driving question board! #122edchat
A5: Admin thst allows me to be me. Or a pink dinosaur. One who comes down to see what all the noise is because they know itâs something great instead of something horrific. One who welcomes vulnerability and transparency. #122edchat
#122edchat A5: They can model the tools we already have. There is so many new materials coming so quickly it helps to see them in action. Ideas always have a germination station. Or just email or tweet @kim_lohse4 with questions!
#122edchat A4 Primary source speakers. Started in 2013 with Mark Goodman in our 1980s class and has continued on to other SS classes. Ss are engaged and get to interact with people of history and hear their stories. Here are a few of our speakers.
A5: Building/District administration can support relevant instruction by allowing Ts to take risks, use unconventional methods & tools, and spaces to deliver engaging but deeply connected content. #122edchat#MakeItReal
A5. Support teachers by providing PD choices to fulfill their desired areas of need, also allow T to lead PD trainings and teach each other! #122edchat
Spot on, Rachelle! Too often we miss this component -- listen to them. We are so hyper-focused on making the connections for them, but it may not be the one that fits best. Kudos to you! #122edchat
A4 @Canva, @Screencastify & Collab Screens increase creativity, collaboration, self-expression, professionalism, revision. Students gain confidence when they see their class-inspired creations, true to or better than their vision, are shared. https://t.co/0TDExCKW3B#122edchat
A-5b I encourage Ts to invite me in for the good stuff. Drop in visits are fine but shouldnât I see their best days. I can assist and mentor way more if I see the project there is no gotcha #122edchat
#122edchat A4 We have also had speakers live: Philo Barnhart, creator of Ariel from The Little Mermaid & friend Charles Moisant shared about animation and the importance of art with our Ss. Here is Mr. Barnhart drawing Flounder.
A5 I hope our school community will join our end-of-novel discussions, our genius projects, our Impact Projects, everything! By being active participants in our class, the students get to practice the art of a professional conversation and discover they are supported #122edchat
I think that's great. Then your staff knows you are a true presence and not there to be evaluative or punitive. Admin should be visible - in a good way. #122edchat
PLAN: grade papers, then #122edchat
REALITY: fall asleep on couch, wake up in odd mix of sweat and drool when startled by teen daughter coming home
#ThisTeacherNeedsABreak
A4: Using technology to help students âconnectâ with people around the world or âvisitâ places theyâre studying about. Locating texts about topics that are relevant to their lives #122edchat
A5: By supporting technology integration, encouraging innovative ideas, motivating educators to locate resources that help students make authentic connections #122edchat
So sorry I missed this awesome chat tonight - I'm reading some great stuff! Unexpected event happened, but all is well. I expect to join in next time. #122edchat
