End of the Year activities

http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/responsiveclassroom/responsiveclassroom016.shtml

Blogger Marylynn Clayton makes suggestions for end of the year activities to keep students engaged in learning. Charts and reflections are the main points of this blog. Clayton suggests personal reflections from the year. These would be used to talk about what each student learned and how they improved from the beginning of the year. In a history class, I would use these reflections to talk about each students' favorite topic from the year and go into depth what they learned during that time. This would also be a good time to bring out any unanswered questions. Students can help students remember and comprehend what happened during a certain time period.  A fun way for any grade level to reminisce on the year would be a drawing wall, where each student draws out an event they found interesting and admiring everyone's work when all is done.

Twitter

Cheryl Costello tweeted a link to 25 ways to get the most out of twitter.While most of the tips in the beginning of the blog were for novice twitter users, many of the latter tips would be useful in the classroom. It was stated to use hash tags on twitter to further find topics of interest. I also learned new tips to get further into twitter. Although it has always been there, i I was oblivious to the advanced search bar to the left of the screen. Twitter can be used effectively in the classroom to find differing opinions on very specific topics. This blog post would be beneficial to educators as well as students. With a tool as new as twitter, it may be difficult to have an educator and student be on the same level of knowledge for the new material. I would use twitter for my students to find information and opinions from experts in a certain field.


http://www.edudemic.com/25-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-twitter/

Cheryl Costello @cherylcostello · Apr 19

25 Ways to Get the Most Out of Twitter | Edudemic #PLN #Twitter #socialmedia http://www.edudemic.com/25-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-twitter/ …

0 retweets3 favorites

Gaming in History

History Education @thenhier · Apr 10

Interested in using computer games in the history classroom? Read (and comment on) the latest THEN/HiER blog. http://thenhier.ca/en/content/gaming-history-classroom-lessons-learned-playing-civilizations …

http://thenhier.ca/en/content/gaming-history-classroom-lessons-learned-playing-civilizations

Scott Pollock uses games in his history classes to help students understand pieces of history that they do not discuss in class. Pollock used examples such as how geography and technology played a part of the rise and fall of civilizations. Pollock wanted his students to use what they saw in the games, to help them study and better understand WHY things happened. Involving games in the classroom has been a popular topic and should certainly be considered by  all educators at some time or another. If I was teaching about the Watergate Scandal, I would want to make sure that students understand why Richard Nixon did what he did, instead of just explaining his actions. It may be difficult to find games for every historical event but if it is going to benefit the students, the time would not be wasted. 

Karl Kapp

Gamification is used as a tool in classrooms to help engage and motivate students in their learning. Simulations are used for learners to practice specific behaviors. Gamification seems like it would be very useful in math classes and sciences classes more so than history classes. With history, there is not much to practice, unlike math using multiple math problems to practice the material. In my classroom, I may use gamification to ensure the understanding of material that is being delivered. Matching games may be most effective to remembering names and dates.

Star Wars in the classroom

Ryan O'Donnell talks about how he uses Star Wars in his history classes to convey a theme in real life history. O'Donnell uses cases of political change in Star Wars to show how the Roman Empire has fallen. This blog gave me the idea to integrate popular shows and movies into daily lesson. Especially in history, this would be very beneficial. I remember in high school my history teaching my junior year would relate historical events to every day life. One specific instance was when American wanted to separate from the king but still receive assistance, it was like a teenager wanting to leave their house but still have their mom come over to make their bed.

http://www.innovatemyschool.com/industry-expert-articles/item/1355-star-wars-the-ultimate-teaching-resource.html

ABC's

Education Week led me to a link about professional in teaching. This, of course, is a very important aspect of education. How an educator presents themselves will have an impact on how the students learn and react to the teachers authority. The website "Career Corner" lists what characteristics are essential for a good educator; which include knowledge, competency, honesty, integrity, accountability, self regulation, and image. To me, the most important characteristics from that list are competency, honesty, and accountability. Every teacher should know the material they are teaching.It is practically impossible to teach students a subject you do not know yourself, or at least to an appropriate degree. Before the information is passed to the students, you as the educator, are responsible for that material. You must have accountability of your work. Teachers must also remain honest. Things that should be brought to the attention of administration should not be neglected. You have a duty as a teacher to ensure the safety and well being of each of your students. After reading this short article, I will be more aware about what I do and how I present myself in and out of the classroom.

Education Week @educationweek · 4h4 hours ago

The ABC's of being a "professional" educator: http://blogs.edweek.org/topschooljobs/careers/2015/04/the_abcs_of_being_a_profession.html?cmp=soc-edit-

http://blogs.edweek.org/topschooljobs/careers/2015/04/the_abcs_of_being_a_profession.html?cmp=soc-edit-tw

A tweet from Ed

Post-It Power

As a student  I always questioned how to take better notes in class. I was unaware of the many different methods possible for taking notes. Alexandra Recasan writes a piece with three different note taking methods, Recasan states in the beginning of the piece that teachers should hint at the method that would be most beneficial to a specific lesson. There will always be the method of taking notes with pen and paper. However, there are many templates available online for note taking that may be better to use for a specific subject. The three methods that Rescasan talks about are the Cornell method, mapping method, and outline method. The Cornell method has been highly regarded. It is typical to see two columns with the Cornell method -- the left column being smaller and used for key terms while the right column is bigger and used for elaboration. The mapping method is simply creating a center point and branching off with key information from there. The outline method is the most elaborate method. A main topic is talked about and it branches off into smaller and smaller topics, covering the most information. In a history class, the Cornell method seems like it would be most beneficial. Most of the time, key terms are obvious. The elaboration of each key term may be more difficult to reach, but the right hand column would provide adequate room to go back and fill in the missing information. It would be simple enough to print out a template with two columns to hand out to a class. This would give students the opportunity to take good notes, without the excuse of forgetting a note book. The Cornell method could even be used as a homework/classwork assignment. The teacher can provide the template with the left side filled in and the right side left blank for the students to elaborate on the stated key terms.

http://linkis.com/innovatemyschool.com/5UiNc

5 Minutes tips

https://twitter.com/marctaylor17

I recently found a new twitter account from an educator in Tennessee, Marc Taylor. Although he is interested in science, he often posts about general education tips and news. Taylor recently posted a link to twenty tips when you have five minutes left in class. The tips are simple and would work in any class. Most of the tips involve writing down questions and saving them for the class. The tips offer an opportunity for the teacher to have an easy class opener the next day. Tip #8 caught my eye when I saw Twitter. With technology taking over, twitter is a great and easy way to get students involved in learning. It can be as simple as, "Tweet one fact you learned in class today." The teacher can create a class # to ensure every student contributes. Taylor also tweets out a lot of links to new scientific research being done around the world.

Marc Taylor @marctaylor17 · Mar 27

20 tips for when you have 5 minutes left in a lesson.... - Innovate My School http://ln.is/innovatemyschool.com/5UiNc …

0 retweets0 favorites

"Homework Hassles"

http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/homeworktips/homeworktips002.shtml

The "green light" strategy for having students get their homework done is a great plan. It can work in any grade level for any subject. By giving students a few minutes at the end of class to do some of the first few problems, it allows you as the teacher to walk around and assist any student who may be having trouble. For high school students, this may help eliminate the "I didn't have time between work and extra curricular," excuse. In a history class, I would allow my students to work together and quiz each other on definitions, people, places, events, etc.

Cheryl Costello: Twitter

https://twitter.com/cherylcostello?lang=en

Tweeter Cheryl Costello seems to focus a lot on technology in the classroom. In the last few hours, 3/16/15 at approximately 8:30pm, Cheryl has posted six tweets about technology. The tweets give links to more resources. My favorite tweet from today leads to a great visual about technology today. The visual gives many different ways that technology can be, and will be used in education up to the year 2020. The cloud will be beneficial in any class I teach in the future. It will give students the opportunity to start work in the classroom on one device and finish it at home, on another device with great ease,

Cheryl Costello @cherylcostello · 2h2 hours ago

A Beautiful Visual on How Technology Is Transforming 21st Century Education #edtech http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2015/03/a-beautiful-visual-on-how-technology-is.html …

0 retweets0 favorites

Keeping in Touch

http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/responsiveclassroom/responsiveclassroom017.shtml

Communicating with a student's parents can be one of the most beneficial actions taken by a teacher, to ensure that learning is happening in school and at home. Often times, a phone call from a teacher is in response to negative behavior or sub-par grades in class. Carol Davis and Alice Yang give teachers ideas on how to successfully and effectively speak with parents about student progress. Phone calls should be made more then just when there is an issue int he classroom. If a student has made a significant stride in their education, it is worth it to reach out to the parents. While many of the tips, like the "exit pass: 'today i feel proud that I...'", seemed directed towards elementary level classes there were some stated that could be potentially be used in a high school classroom, like a weekly newsletter about what is happening in the classroom. If the parents are involved in their child's education, it is likely that conversations will be brought up about things in the newsletters -- "What happened to Nixon after the Watergate Scandal?" or "How far did you get on your Prezi project that is due next week?" The main objective of the enhanced teacher to parent communication is to create educational participation between students and their parents.

History Education: the hier

https://twitter.com/thenhier

The Twitter account History Education gives a lot of opportunities for conferences and advise about teaching history and tips for students to find sources and how to write sources analysis'. The account links teachers, students, and historians.

History Education @thenhier · Feb 16

Using visual arts to teach historical empathy: new blog by Katherine Joyce on Picasso and Spanish Civil War http://thenhier.ca/en/content/feeling-emotions-war-developing-historical-empathy-through-visual-arts …

Blogs are shared to show different types of teaching methods, in order to teach new material.

What Students think about using iPads in School

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/02/what-students-think-about-using-ipads-in-school/

Technology in moving into schools faster and faster. The types of technology are ever changing. Students are starting to stray away from the typical notebook and pencil in class and moving to iPads. Many students like that using the iPad gives them the opportunity to hand in homework on certain apps. Everything is right in the palm of the student's hand -- notes, homework, syllabus, etc. Although there may be glitches in the technology, most students are interested in using the iPads. The immense amount of apps in the app store, can be used in a variety of classes. History classes could use the iPad to create projects, such as timelines, iMovies, etc. Students may also use iPads to keep notes organized as well. Student Anthony Mainiero, on the other hand, would rather have class be more fun and wouldn't mind straying away from the iPads to go on more field trips.

Rap is Education

http://adifference.blogspot.com/

From Rap Music to Deep Learning Across the Curriculum

Mike Lombardo's video about rapping and its relationship to literature opened my eyes to a new way to educating students. It is safe to say, more people are becoming interested in rap music and its uses of specific grammatical techniques. I am constantly going back to implementing live performances in my future history classes. Have the students create and recite a piece of poetry in a flipped classroom environment. I could give each student a topic to teach the class about and their poetry will help them develop a sense of ways to use/create different types of literature in their learning. Someone so famous for spitting out the most intense songs, some more than others, is being used to show that rap can help students learn, not only in English classes.

Improv Learning

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/01/how-improv-can-open-up-the-mind-to-learning-in-the-classroom-and-beyond/

In How Improv Can Open Up the Mind to Learning in the Classroom and Beyond, author
Linda Flanagan quotes high school student Lilly Hartman as saying "Unlike the classroom, where the learning environment is often tense and competitive, an improv setting builds enthusiasm among the participants." This line was extremely appealing to me while reading the blog. As I have stated in previous posts, acting out historical events often help students remember key ideas and occurrences. While students are learning, they are given the opportunity to relax a bit and enjoy school. Along with gaining factual knowledge, students will become better at public speaking and more likely to think and act quickly. Although this blog is about an improv class, it can be easily introduced into any subject and practically any grade level. The article gives many examples of ways to use imrpov acting. In a history class, they discuss the idea of a project where students look up a historical figure and become that person. Improv learning enhances cooperation, collaboration, open-mindedness, and creativity. 

Out of your comfort zone

http://successfulteaching.blogspot.com/2015/02/other-boxes.html

Pat Hensley talks about not only thinking out side of the box, but going outside of your comfort zone. When your plans get messed up, you must be adaptable and have a back up plan. Hensey's blog helped me realize that things do not always go right, but there is almost always a way out of turbulent times.
I would use this idea in the class room by purposely manipulating a plan and having students adjust to the changes brought up. This will help the students, just like it helped me, know that there is always a way to get out of a difficult time. I may say an assignment is six pages long, and at a later date tell them that they must reduce it to a three page paper. This will also help the high school students prepare for college. Many times I have been asked to do that exact activity. I was forced to determine the most important points of my paper and manipulate it so that it still flowed.

The "A" Matters

http://www.edudemic.com/stem-vs-steam-why-the-a-makes-all-the-difference/

The newly implemented STEM program has become very popular in American schools. STEM focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math. The new question is whether or not the arts should also be applied to this program, renaming it to STEAM. The arts are an extremely important part of a student's education. The arts provide a creative outlet for students, allowing them to express themselves in a safe, productive way. Integrating the arts will help create well rounded students; students will certainly be efficient in the maths and sciences, but adding the 'A' will ensure the another possible subject of expertise.
Those who have influenced our society the most today, may agree that the arts are vital. Steve Jobs has created devices that allow people to search the web, join in on a conference call by video, and play all of your favorite games. It does not only take science and technology to come up with something so useful. It is certain that Jobs must have had a marketing strategy, which would include the arts.  The overall design of the products would also need knowledge in the arts -- what would be most appealing to the customers.
If the 'A' was integrated into the STEM program, I would do my best to incorporate that into my history lessons. A simple, yet effective, way to do so, would be to have students research a prominent inventor. They would have to dig deep to discover each aspect of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, that helped create the product. I would then have the students come up with their own sketch of the same product with different designs. This will promote all of the aspects of STEAM into a history class.

Student's Helping Students Learn

http://www.edudemic.com/student-to-student-teaching-online-video/

The Educdemic Staff write their blog about how student are able to help students learn. They offer ways for students to assist their peers in subjects like math, as told by educator Eric Marcos. One of the techniques for peer learning that I found beneficial would be the storytelling technique. I could easily implement this into many history lessons, by having students create movie trailers, comic books, or radio broadcasts to project to other students. This blog was more so about video projects, however, a kinesthetic technique may be more beneficial as it puts the information in motion in front of the class.

Process vs. Project

http://successfulteaching.blogspot.com/2015/01/process-vs-project.html

Pat Hensley discussed the process of learning vs. the final product of learning. It is very important for teachers to understand their students as individuals and learners. If a teacher knows each student's effective learning style, they may transform their lesson plans to help each student succeed in the best way possible. As soon as i decided to become a teacher, I always said that I would be a very understanding and flexible teacher. I will stand by this and allow my students to decide how they learn. If one student learns more effectively by reading the text book, they will be able to learn that way. If another student would rather see an event taking place, they will be allowed to view that event in front of their eyes. Each student would later have to do some type of assessment to ensure that they definitely did retain the information given in each arena.

Portland Maine Problem Solvers

The Portland problem solvers took a new approach to learning and understanding science.By taking a hands on approach to such an intense subject like science, it gives the students a better opportunity to truly grasp the given information. It allows the students to see exactly how things like electrons work. As a history education major, it does not seem difficult to create such a hands on lesson for events such as the Vietnam War.  I would have the students reenact the events that occurred throughout the world over many years. Another technique that may be effective would be to have the students act out the events in the appropriate month that it occurred in history. For example, I could create a lesson based on the military radio conversations on the day Pearl Harbor was bombed by Kamikaze pilots on December 7, 1941. With this teaching structure, the students will be able to see just how and when events happened and who did what, instead of reading straight from a textbook or slideshow. As a visual learner, this approach would be much more successful than the traditional textbook approach.

http://vimeo.com/68323188

"From Chalkboards to Chat Boards"

In 2075, learning will be completely based off of technology. The forms of technology accessible to humans will surpass any past technologies. With the increase in technology, learners wil have a better opportunity to study what interests them on their own time. Author Dana Rosen starts her article with a quote by Albert Einstein and ties it all together at the end, with a suggestion to take Einstein's advice to be creative and when thinking about all of the possibilities.
MOOCs seem to be a learning technique that eliminates any excuse for people to be uneducated. These free resources give anyone the opportunity to learn. However, Rosen states that eventually, MOOCs will no longer be free. While there will be a cost to be a part of these MOOCs, the online courses will still cost significantly less money than a typical four year university.In this day and age, mobile learning seems to be the most realistic and easiest form of eLearning. With all of the apps there are today, it is certain that any math or science problem can be solved no matter where the learner is located. mLearning also leaves more room for learners to explore there interests.
Rosen talks about gamification in her article. She claims that learners like the challenge and the opportunity to develop their own strategies.
As I started reading the article, I began to question why I was even taking this course. Why would I want to be a teacher when technology seems to be taking over? Rosen then proclaims that teachers will still be a necessity. Instead of being a disiplinary figure or "transmitter of knowledge," teachers will design content and ensure that the students are staying on track and reach their potential. I am now reassured that there is still a chance to be a successful teacher, regardless of the ever changing and improving technology for schools.

Welcome

I'm a student at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and I am studying history in hopes of becoming a high school history teacher. This blog is a requirement for my instructional technology class. Come back and see what I have to say about today's education.