Friday, October 31, 2014

#EdTech Resources 10/31/2014

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

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Thursday, October 30, 2014

#EdTech Resources 10/30/2014

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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Laughter Matters!



This year's keynote address for South Carolina EDTECH was done by Kent Rader, known as the “World’s Cleanest Comedian and Speaker.”  He helps people and associations learn and experience how laughter matters in reducing stress and building quality organizations. 


 Key takeaways:

 You are the architect of your own stress: You control your thoughts and even though they are your thoughts that doesn't mean your thoughts are always accurate.

 Hang out with happy people and make them leaders in your organization.  Everyone knows your attitude and mode can be impacted by those around you.  Influence your attitude by hanging out with happy people.

 Do something every week that makes you laugh.  This is just a good idea.  You feel better after laughing and you start to feel better in anticipation of the activity you know will make you laugh.

 "Laughter Matters." Gilda Radner

 Photo by Grace Holland
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#EdTech Resources 10/29/2014

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

#EdTech Resources 10/28/2014

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Monday, October 27, 2014

#EdTech Resources 10/27/2014

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Sunday, October 26, 2014

#EdTech Resources 10/26/2014

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Saturday, October 25, 2014

#EdTech Resources 10/25/2014

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Friday, October 24, 2014

#EdTech Resources 10/24/2014

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Thursday, October 23, 2014

#EdTech Resources 10/23/2014

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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Standardized testing for PreK and Kindergarten Students? You gotta be kidding!

Mom!  They want me to take a standardized test.
I'm not even in kindergarten yet!


Came across this article today; South Carolina DOE Selects Early Childhood Assessment Software   This is just crazy!  We need to do less testing not more. Now we want to test them before they even get to Kindergarten.
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"Daddy, I failed my FRQ!"

I received a Voxer message from my daughter informing me she "failed" an FRQ  (free response question) in AP US History.  She was just giving me a heads up and wanted me to know that I didn't need to worry because she was going to drop that class.  She wanted to give me some time so I could "wrap my head around it."  Being the supportive dad I am I told her, "too bad, you can't drop the class you will get a withdraw failing."

Her reply back can be heard here.

 Her response was classic fixed mindset.  I definitely need to work on getting her to develop a growth mindset.  I need her to not focus so much on the grades but on the learning.  Even though when I tell her it's not about the grades its about the learning her response is always " Its high school daddy, it kind of is about the grades."  You know, it kind of is about the grades because that is what society and schools focus on the most.  Anyway my task is to get her to move on and learn from her mistakes and failures.

By the way, my daughter has informed me that she will not be dropping APUSH. She will just suffer through the class.  

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#EdTech Resources 10/22/2014

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Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Choose Carefully. Always.


I saw this image in a classroom the other day.  All I have to say is thank goodness there are no exams in life. And usually in life you can redo most things.  Nothing is usually final.  But in life you should always choose carefully.
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#EdTech Resources 10/21/2014

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

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Monday, October 20, 2014

Time For Some Empathy!

It's time for teachers to have a little empathy for their students.

Webster defines empathy "the feeling that you understand and share another person's experiences and emotions : the ability to share someone else's feelings."  

 A few things happened last week that made me realize it was time for teachers to have some empathy for their students.  First, after talking to my two daughters, 6th and 11th grade, about their homework and overall school work load.  My oldest daughter asked me "daddy why do all the teachers have to give their test on the same day?" This happened on the same day a teacher complained about having to go to a PD session two days in a row.  I read a couple of articles that reinforced my thinking;  one from Valerie Strauss of The Washington Post  "Homework: An unnecessary evil? ... Surprising findings from new research" showing how little impact homework had on achievement.  Then there was an infographic "What's It Like to Be a Student Today?  from the National Education Association.  This inforgraphic has some interesting data.  What struck me was 82.7% of students 12-17 participate in one or more organized activities outside of school.  But the article that really made me think was by Grant Wiggins, "What I Learned By Doing What I Ask Students To Do".  This article gives great insight into what it's like to be a student in todays classrooms.  Every teacher should have to read this article and honestly refelct about their teaching practices.  

 My question for teachers; "Would you want to be a student in your class?"  

It's time to have some empathy for students.  Remember your homework is not the only homework given.  Your test is not the only test given on a Friday. And school is not the only thing students are involved with.     
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#EdTech Resources 10/20/2014

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

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