Upcoming Meetings
April 22, 2015 Superintendents' Council
May 8, 2015 Community Ed
May 11, 2015 TAC/Principals combined meeting
May 27, 2015 Superintendents' Council
Communication Briefings
People often use the word "literally" to emphasize a point: "It is literally a jungle out there," you might say, in an effort show the direness of the situation. But "literally" is an overused word that adds little to any sentence. In fact, its use can be confusing when, as in the example above, it is used in combination with a metaphor: In that case, a better word choice would be "figuratively" - although the sentence will be stronger without either word.
Friday, April 17, 2015
Tech Tip - Analog Twitter Wall
Analog Twitter Wall
In the theme of digital literacy, the idea of an Analog Twitter wall came to mind. It's not a new idea, but one worth exploring. Two Guys and some iPads is a blog I follow on a regular basis. Their blog post on creating an analog Twitter wall and how they did it is spot on. Being able to model appropriate online behavior in a controlled environment could be very powerful. The idea allows teachers to have the digital literacy conversation with their students, while still being able to interact with content.
There are many ways the idea of an analog Twitter wall can be used in the classroom.
1. Lunch count and attendance
2. Exit tickets
3. Chapter summary or introduction
4. Character development
The list could go on forever. All it takes is a little wall space in your classroom and it provides a way to continue learning content as well as 21st century skills. I would love to hear if you have ever used an analog Twitter wall in your classroom and how it went.
There are many ways the idea of an analog Twitter wall can be used in the classroom.
1. Lunch count and attendance
2. Exit tickets
3. Chapter summary or introduction
4. Character development
The list could go on forever. All it takes is a little wall space in your classroom and it provides a way to continue learning content as well as 21st century skills. I would love to hear if you have ever used an analog Twitter wall in your classroom and how it went.
Horizon's Report - Challenges to Implementation
Challenges to Implementation
The past two months we have looked at the Horizon's Report. The report outlines a variety of new ideas and technologies that could have an impact on education in the near future to seven years. If you have never seen the report, I highly suggest taking a glimpse at it.
There is also a section in the report that looks into the challenges to implementing some of the great ideas and technologies presented. We will spend the next couple weeks looking into these challenges, which range from easily solved to very challenging.
This week we will focus on the challenge of Adequately Defining and Supporting Digital Literacy. The traditional definition of literacy is the ability to read and write. The 21st century definition includes digital, cultural, and financial literacy, otherwise known as 21st century skills. The challenge is accurately defining and agreeing on what 21st century skills actually are AND if they are important enough to devote class time to. If we come to agreement and decide they are important enough to teach, the next challenge is how do we properly teach 21st century skills? What resources do we have? Some of the challenge for teachers is understanding a literacy that did not exist when they were in school.
Adequately defining and supporting digital literacy is a solvable challenge. Through good conversation and teamwork, a school can accurately define the 21st century skills and identify which skills need to be taught and develop a plan how to teach them. 21st century literacies are important and are needed for success in our current world. In 2015, our students need to learn how to properly read and write in a 21st century environment.
Next week we will look at the blending of formal and informal learning.
21st Century Skills Resource
P21
The past two months we have looked at the Horizon's Report. The report outlines a variety of new ideas and technologies that could have an impact on education in the near future to seven years. If you have never seen the report, I highly suggest taking a glimpse at it.
There is also a section in the report that looks into the challenges to implementing some of the great ideas and technologies presented. We will spend the next couple weeks looking into these challenges, which range from easily solved to very challenging.This week we will focus on the challenge of Adequately Defining and Supporting Digital Literacy. The traditional definition of literacy is the ability to read and write. The 21st century definition includes digital, cultural, and financial literacy, otherwise known as 21st century skills. The challenge is accurately defining and agreeing on what 21st century skills actually are AND if they are important enough to devote class time to. If we come to agreement and decide they are important enough to teach, the next challenge is how do we properly teach 21st century skills? What resources do we have? Some of the challenge for teachers is understanding a literacy that did not exist when they were in school.
Adequately defining and supporting digital literacy is a solvable challenge. Through good conversation and teamwork, a school can accurately define the 21st century skills and identify which skills need to be taught and develop a plan how to teach them. 21st century literacies are important and are needed for success in our current world. In 2015, our students need to learn how to properly read and write in a 21st century environment.
Next week we will look at the blending of formal and informal learning.
21st Century Skills Resource
P21
STEM Ambassadors
STEM Ambassadors – speakers for your classroom
Excerpt from the Science update from MDE
Spring is here and you want some fresh voices talking to your students about STEM. getSTEM, the website that makes connections between schools and businesses, has recruited business professionals to be STEM Ambassadors. Research shows that the most effective encouragement for students to pursue a STEM career is the opportunity to meet and interact with a STEM professional. One of the most frequent requests made by educators on getSTEM is for classroom speakers or career fair/night volunteers. New Ambassadors are being added right now and many professional societies want to promote their outreach efforts to you and your school. Check it out and keep coming back to see what new folks have been added! Don’t see what you are looking for? Make an ASK on getSTEM to request what you need from over 3,000 users profiled on getSTEM. Also check out the OFFERs that have been posted by the Minnesota STEM community and take advantage of all the cool things being provided. If you would like more information, please contact Tim Barrett at tbarrett@mhta.org.