Edutopia's Top Posts for 2014

A site that regularly supplies us with interesting ( and practical ) links is Edutopia. Edutopia is a site set up byGeorge Lucas of Star Wars fame. I recommend you joining their  newsletter – add your e-mail on theEdutopia site.

George Lucas visiting a classroom

George and Darth Vader

The George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF) documents and disseminates the most exciting classrooms where these innovations are taking place. By shining the spotlight on these inspiring teachers and students, Edutopia hopes others will consider how their work can promote change in their own schools

Visit an earlier blog where we featured Edutopia

View Online  |  Update Your Preferences Edutopia’s Top 10 for 2014 6 Scaffolding Strategies Some helpful (and awesome!) strategies to try in your classroom. 7 Apps for Teaching Children Coding Use this list to teach problem solving, creativity, and critical thinking. DOWNLOAD Dipsticks: Efficient Ways to Check for Understanding Discover 53 short and simple ways that you can use formative assessment. 30 Techniques to Quiet a Noisy Class Try these helpful attention-grabbing strategies, organized by grade level. 8 Myths That Undermine Educational Effectiveness What myths would you like to see exposed? Some may surprise you. Doing it Differently: Tips for Teaching Vocabulary This fan favorite is packed full of quick tips and free resources to make vocabulary memorable. 10 Steps for Avoiding Teacher Burnout Put a pep in your step in 2015 with these teacher-recommended ideas. VIDEO Tips and Tricks to Redesign Your Classroom This teacher remade his class for better collaboration. Watch the big AFTER reveal and get tips of your own! What I Wish I’d Known as a New Teacher Hear this veteran educator’s reflections on the six things she would’ve done differently. Classroom Management: The Intervention Two-Step How do you deal with classroom disruptions? Learn this two-step process. As the year comes to a close, Edutopia wants to thank you for all you do to improve education. On behalf of everyone here at Edutopia, we wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday!

Education Readings - Reflections/last reading for 2014

By Allan Alach

This will be last list of readings for this year. I’ll be taking a break until the end of January, but then will return, fully refreshed, to the fray.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Forget about education, schooling, GERM, etc and focus on what really matters - on yourself and those near and dear to you.

I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allan.alach@ihug.co.nz.

This week’s homework!

What’s Lost as Handwriting Fades

A couple of week’s back I posted a link to an article about Finland’s intention to downplay the teaching of handwriting. Here’s another perspective.

“But psychologists and neuroscientists say it is far too soon to declare handwriting a relic of the past. New evidence suggests that the links between handwriting and broader educational development run deep.”

http://nyti.ms/1wLMLpR

This week’s contributions from

Bruce Hammonds:

Dan Pink: How Teachers Can Sell Love of Learning to Students

Bruce’s comment: An interesting look at education from Daniel Pink. Selling the love of learning. Since learning is the inborn default mode you have to wonder where it went!

“In his new book To Sell is Human, author Daniel Pink reports that education is one of the fastest growing job categories in the country. And with this growth comes the opportunity to change the way educators envision their roles and their classrooms. Guided by findings in educational research and neuroscience, the emphasis on cognitive skills like computation and memorization is evolving to include less tangible, non-cognitive skills, like collaboration and improvisation.”

http://bit.ly/1AyOOuG

Igniting Student Writer Voice With Writing Process Strategies

Bruce’s comment: Help students discover the power of writing.

“Learning how to write can be further challenging when a student lacks confidence in his or her skills as a writer. How we mediate student perception of writing is as important as teaching the skills. Using diverse strategies via the writing process, any teacher can ensure that when a student struggles to write, a different approach is readily available.”

http://bit.ly/1DAwK9a

7 Ways to Use Technology With Purpose

Bruce’s comment: Using technology with purpose – is technology still oversold and underused?

“In order to make sure you are using technology the right way, you must first “start with why”. If your students understand the “why” behind your technology use, then the class will have a purpose and technological glitches and issues can be worked through. If they don’t understand the “why” then any small issue could turn into a major problem.”

http://bit.ly/13t3QYZ

Outlook on instruction: Class around the clock

Bruce’s comment: An interesting overview of educational trends for 2015. Worth reading to see how things might unfold in the US.

“Some exciting advancements are on the horizon for classrooms in 2015. While they sound technical, the biggest changes aren’t going to be driven by an app, a computer program or a new kind of tablet—they will come from new theories about how to engage both students and teachers in the classroom.”

http://bit.ly/1GKL9vM

Provocations for Early Childhood Education

Bruce’s comment: Just read a few of the postings on this blog to remind us of the kind of childhood we used to have and what the young need today – an exploratory childhood  based on play - that some characterise as ‘benign neglect’.

 “Just today I really started to piece more things together, to see the connections to who I was as a child and who I am now as an early childhood education practitioner.  My passion for envisioning, creating and enhancing spaces for children is most definitely genetic first, then fueled by my studies and work with children, and set ablaze by 16+ years of exploring/applying lessons from the Reggio Approach - that whole nature versus nurture thing.”

http://bit.ly/1syHkJk

Declaring your incompetence

Bruce’s comment: Some good advice if you really want to be a learner.

“What I find time and time again in my work with people is that the hardest part of the learning journey or of making changes is the admission of the inability to do something or of the struggle. Once that step has been taken the process is usually simple, if not easy. Surrendering to the learning journey by declaring one’s incompetence is the doorway to beginning to change.”

http://bit.ly/1J1fiuU

Tinkering Is Serious Play

Bruce’s comment: Making things is very serious play – back to the real basics of learning.

“The maker movement celebrates creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship through the design and construction of physical objects. Maker activities may come across as playful, even slightly wacky, explosions of inventiveness. But in education contexts like schools, museums, libraries, and after-school programs, research shows that if the invitation to creativity is accompanied by intentional structure and guidance, maker activities can be channeled to support deep student learning.”

http://bit.ly/1BXevsY

Passion-based learning in the 21st century: An interview with Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach

Bruce’s comment: This article/interview with Sheryl Nussbaum- Beach really resonates with me.  Really good advice for teachers who want to equip their students for the future.

“In this interview, Sheryl describes the “shift” she believes must take place in teaching and learning practices if elementary and secondary schools expect to remain relevant in an era when information and communication technologies will continue to expand exponentially.”

http://bit.ly/1Gs5vvH

To Advance Education, We Must First Reimagine Society

Contributed by Bruce’s colleague Wayne Morris.

“Because disaffection with the education system reflects a much deeper societal malaise, it’s imperative that we first figure out what kind of world we really want: a world populated by responsible adults who thrive on interdependence and community, or a world of “customers” who feel dependent on products, services, and authority figures, and don’t take full responsibility for their actions?”

http://bit.ly/1BXfM3b

Practices to Engage All Learners

Bruce’s comment: How to engage learners – a more important issue than  current obsession testing and a narrow orientated accountability.

“Teaching students who are at risk requires energy, dedication, talent, and commitment. These exemplary educators consistently and continuously remain connected and engaged with their students. By keeping their students' needs, interests, talents, and learning styles in the forefront, these teachers successfully reach and educate the students who need them most.”

http://bit.ly/1qZaJvj

From Bruce’s ‘oldies but goodies’ file:

Environmental awareness for pre-schoolers - from 'On Looking' by Alexandra Horowitz

Bruce’s comment: The above article made me think of this excellent book about exploring your environment through a range of perspectives.

“For many of us our experience walking is un-remembered because we  fail to pay attention and we miss the possibility of seeing what is in plain sight of us.”

http://bit.ly/1xo3Ndi

Learning from outdoor play

Water play

Following on, Bruce draws attention to this ‘oldy but goody’ blog about creating in early education an environment for the young to learn through play.

“Young children are programmed by evolution to learn from their experiences. By the time they arrive at school they have already developed the ability to walk, talk, draw, ask questions and develop theories about everything.Teachers need to build on such achievements and do nothing to blunt the amazing curiosity young children bring with them. Classroom environments, at all levels, should celebrate students’ interests, questions, and their theories.”

http://bit.ly/1uSlCeI

We have lost so much over the past 50 years. We need to return leadership back to creative teachers.

“In recent years the myth of the principal as the key to school transformation became persuasive and as result the principal's status has gone up commensurably. Crowther questions this myth, believing that the reality has not lived up to the rhetoric. The so called 'heroic leader' may effect short term change but all too often this is a temporary transformation.”

http://bit.ly/14oaM8E

Reflection on my teaching beliefs

Bruce’s comment: unfortunately we still haven’t escaped the surveillance and audit culture!

“Recently I read an article by educationalist Andy Hargreaves who wrote about 'Four Ways' of educational change since the 1960s. His thoughts reflected many of the thoughts about educational changes that have concerned me over the years. It is obvious that what 'officially counts' in education is driven by forces beyond the classroom. The creativity of the 60s that 'emerged' out of the decade of security following the Second World War, is a good example and was when my education journey, or story, began.”

http://bit.ly/1zeOfrA

Criteria for a quality Classroom.

Bruce’s comment: It’s a bit late for Southern Hemisphere teachers to do much about the ideas in the blog as most schools have closed for the year but it might be worthwhile reflecting about the ideas about criteria for a quality classroom and maybe keep in mind for the new year? The only things I would add to the list of quality learning criteria is that

Artwork represents endpoint of student research - year 5/6

quality classrooms have moved away from the use of demeaning ability grouping and have ‘reframed’ literacy and numeracy as an integral component of class inquiry studies.

http://bit.ly/1J1gfU7

Fundamentals in education

Bruce’s comment: 

 On re-reading this I  was struck by how little my basic beliefs have remained unchanged over the decades –  at the core of my beliefs is the simple idea of the importance of the creative mind continually responding to experience - continually reshaping itself as it goes. It is strange how ideas re-emerge as today I wrote a blog which had the same message – that how the brain ( one’s

1970s booklet

identity) is unconsciously shaped by the culture it is exposed to and that we ought to be focussing on the culture we create as teachers rather than being side-tracked by accountability demands. Earlier today  I re-discovered a booklet I put together  in 1970 about the kind of creative teaching of a group of teachers I worked  had developed. Once again  this booklet still reflects my current beliefs.  It is almost that, over the decades, in the process of coping with imposed compliance demands, I have been forced to dance to others tunes and in the process compromised my beliefs.  I have the feeling I have come full circle. Let the others comply if they wish – let’s stick to what we really believe in.

http://bit.ly/13b5vRO

End of year survey – tapping the wisdom of your class/school/community

At the end of the school year it is a good idea to gather information from the students you are passing on.

Not only is this a chance for you to get some insight about your teaching but it is also a great way to value the ‘voice’ of your students.

What are your students’ attitudes towards areas of learning?

 You might also like to think about developing a similar survey for the beginning of next year to give some insight into student’s attitudes that they bring with them to your class. You could include the various learning areas, what they are expecting to gain from the year with you, and what questions they would like to find out more about. You might be able to work the later into a negotiated curriculum?  For each area chosen provide a 1 (don’t like at all) to 10 (love it) scale.

How much have their attitudes  changed?

If you had completed such an attitudinal survey of students’ attitudes at the beginning of the year the same survey at the end of the year will indicate positive or negative changes in the students attitudes to the various learning areas. Attitudes about an area of learning are as important as achievement.

 For the students at the end of the year:

 1. What have been the three best things you have done this year? Why?

 2. What would you have liked to have done more of this year?

 3. What didn’t we do that I wish we had?

 4. In what way have I changed this year? What areas have I improved in, or grown to like more?

 5. What were the things I didn’t like most this year?

 6. What would you change about how I teach so the class would be better?

 7. If you were giving advice for next year’s students of how to survive in style in my room, what would you say to them?

 Below are some interesting sentences for students to finish that will give you some idea of how they see schools, teachers and themselves? 

The students’ answers will provide insightful responses, similes, or metaphors for the class teacher to give attention to.

 A school is a place where……………..

Answers could range from: ….’You have to go’ to…. ‘A place where teachers help students learn’.

A teacher is a person who…………………

Answers could range from: …’tells me/kids what to do’ to…’A person who helps me/kids learn’.

A student is a person who………………

Answers could range from: ‘Does as he/she is told’ to…. Likes learning about new things’.

It is interesting to see what ideas/ metaphors students come up with and if they see themselves as learners or someone who is taught things.

 Try it. You might be surprised. You might even learn something!

Something similar could be devised by principals to gather ideas for their own professional development – or something devised by the Board of Trustees to get feedback from the parents/caregivers?

The responses to such questions show how the culture of the school or class is seen.

Culture Counts!

Educational Readings - student centred inquiry learning and the importance of making things

By Allan Alach

I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allan.alach@ihug.co.nz.

This week’s homework!

Jamie McKenzie

Just say no! Questioning the value of topical research

Jamie McKenzie is always worth reading.

“Schools should outlaw topical research as being mind-numbing and substandard.

Around the globe goals have been raised to focus on imagination, invention, synthesis and problem-solving. Topical research is an ancient, outmoded practice that should join many other unworthy rituals in the dustbin of history.”

http://bit.ly/1AjMjNe

The Need to Address Noncognitive Skills in the Education Policy Agenda

“This paper contends that noncognitive skills should be an explicit pillar of education policy. It contributes to the growing interest in these skills by reviewing what we know about noncognitive skills, including what they are, why they matter, and how they enter into the education process.”

http://bit.ly/15UrSgg

For some students art is everything

Arts Education Matters: We Know, We Measured It

"Arts experiences boost critical thinking, teaching students to take the time to be more careful and thorough in how they observe the world.”

http://bit.ly/1vyry0g

This Will Revolutionize Education

Set aside 7.22 minutes to watch this powerful video - is technology going to be the holy grail of education? Khan Academy?

“I think it is instructive that each new technology has appeared to be so transformative. You can imagine, for example, that motion pictures must have seemed like a revolutionary learning technology. After all they did revolutionize entertainment, yet failed to make significant inroads into the classroom. TV and video seem like a cheaper, scaled back film, but they too failed to live up to expectations. Now there is a glut of information and video on the internet so should we expect it to revolutionize education?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEmuEWjHr5c&feature=share

What Aristotle Knew

“The distinction between those who can solve a problem and work their way out of a situation is in the ability to ask the right, critical questions to identify the problem, and then ask what it takes to solve it.”

http://bit.ly/1wgaTka

Even in our digital age, early parental writing support is key to children's literacy

"We have found that scaffolding is a particularly beneficial activity, because the parent guides the child. And, if that parent guides the child and also demands precision in a sensitive and thoughtful way -- i.e. 'what did you mean to write here? Let me help you' -- this definitely develops the child's literary skill set.”

http://bit.ly/1Gcplel

This week’s contributions from Bruce Hammonds:

Tanith Carey: Tiger Parents - and Tiger Schools! Relax and have more fun!

Don't   push - find what your kids love

“It is obviously important, Tanith writes, that we must help children reach their potential but that this ought to be based on their individual strengths and not be set by 'the standards of schools intent on boosting their reputations on league tables - or the economic goals of governments’.”

http://bit.ly/1wfRRIF

Are we on the verge of an end to test-based accountability?

Learning how to take tests is not learning

Bruce’s comment: All this test based accountability is under attack but what is the alternative?

“In short, we’ve seen dissatisfaction with the status quo of education reform, and we’ve seen acknowledgement of that dissatisfaction. But what we’ve not seen is a widespread, deeper rethinking of school improvement or an embrace of an alternative – and there’s the rub. It’s highly unlikely that the nation will move away from the status quo until it has a different pathway forward.”

http://wapo.st/1qzdy5Y

Project-Based Learning Through a Maker's Lens

Bruce’s comment: The importance of ‘making’ in project based learning. This ought to be the emphasis in our schools not judging achievement on things many students are not interested in. It’s what the progressive teachers of the past believed in.

A 'maker' is true learner

“A Maker is an individual who communicates, collaborates, tinkers, fixes, breaks, rebuilds, and constructs projects for the world around him or her. A Maker, re-cast into a classroom, has a namethat we all love: a learner. A Maker, just like a true learner, values the process of making as much as the product. In the classroom, the act of Making is an avenue for a teacher to unlock the learning potential of her or his students in a way that represents many of the best practices of educational pedagogy. A Makerspace classroom has the potential to create life-long learners through exciting, real-world projects.”

http://bit.ly/1x4SkiO

Both process and product important

Makers in the Classroom: A How-To Guide

Following on …

“We all construct our own meaning of the world around us; Making just gives us a context to construct our understanding in. It engages students’ hands in the work of their minds in order to help them construct deep conceptual understandings.”

http://bit.ly/1zSTVWp

Design Thinking: A Lesson That Connects Classmates

Bruce’s comment: Teaching design thinking – and the dispositions encouraged in the process.

Pride of achievement

“Design thinking is a creative problem-solving process that calls for thoughtful solutions to real-world situations. Design thinking in the classroom provides a motivating and engaging learning experience for students. Within the design thinking model, individual learning styles can be validated through a project based learning experience.”

http://bit.ly/1DfePER

New Teachers: Creating a Shiny, Happy Classroom

Bruce’s comment: The ‘real oil’ on classroom management – well worth the read.

Engaged kids don't misbehave

“What I prefer instead is to develop a classroom that does not require a system to handle misbehavior because it so rarely occurs. No checkmarks on the board, no list of consequences, no rewards. Just engaged, productive, friendly students.”

http://bit.ly/1unRrKY

Five Fun Ways to Spark Self-Discovery in Youth

Art display of portraits

Bruce’s comment: The power of the teacher to spark learning – some practical ideas.

“A “spark” is the inner light that gives us energy, motivation, purpose and focus. It makes us feel alive when we’re doing what we love. Sparks are expressed as talents, qualities or passions. And when we operate from our sparks, we shine and offer something good, beautiful and useful to the world.”

http://bit.ly/1zSVcwM

Art 'sparks' many students!

From Bruce’s ‘oldies but goodies’ file:

Who am I ?

Do we focus enough on developing in every learner a positive sense of self?

From NZ film 'Boy'

“A positive sense of self provides a role in making future decisions, and positive memories allow us to imagine possible futures. The past and our memories are the making of who we are. Our classrooms ought to reflect such students' stories past and present. It helps students answer the question 'How do I know who I am?’”

http://bit.ly/1z9TKqd

Inquiry Learning; an educational agenda for a future era.

Prof Brian Cox

Inquiry learning – the default way students learn – except at school?

“Inquiry education has a long history going back to John Dewey (‘learning through experience’) and was, and still is, in conflict with traditional content transmission teaching which still underpins much of current practice. Until this dilemma is faced inquiry education will not be successful.”

http://bit.ly/1wj8hyY

Prof Brian Cox - 'science is being comfortable with the unknown' This is contrast to teachers who pre-determine students learning!

Driving into an exciting future!

Bruce’s comment: the future demands new organisations and this includes schools.

Set our schools free from the past!

“In a future that will demand collaborative teamwork, networking, individual initiative and creativity and to prove such qualities we need to urgently ‘re-imagine our schools. We will need a new 'educational vehicle, new driving skills' and a whole new sense of direction. The key will be for schools to see future discontinuity as opportunity and to develop new flexible educational organizations to thrive in such times.”

http://bit.ly/1GsBkTc