What can we learn about teaching and learning from these teachers?
Back to the Future - Brian Crosby's lecture was incredibly educational. It really expanded my ideas of how you can make learning exciting and break it out of the classroom. One point that stood out for me was how he used blogging in place of standard test taking. His students learn their material, often with projects and interactive activities, and then blog about their experience and new knowledge while answering questions based on that knowledge they have "gotten their hands in" so to speak. This connects the students with their learning tremendously more than paper and pen every would. He also discusses how his students connect globally and are immersed in the world, the entire world, not just their corner of it. Crosby is obviously a wonderful, passionate teacher that inspires his students and creates a learning environment in which each student,even those that can not be there physically, can interact and learn.
Blended Learning Cycle-Paul Anderson's vlog about blended learning tells you how to incorporate technology into a traditional classroom. He has six parts to his blended learning cycle.He has a number of learning cycles, and likes to make acronyms out of them. For example, QUIVER. You begin with a Question-or a hook. This is what gets the students thinking in the first place. Next
Investigate-get the students to flesh out and explore the question. Then comes a Video-this allows Anderson to free up time for questions and students can watch the video independently and learn at their own pace. Then is Elaboration, students read section from the text and do problems that allow them to go in depth with their learning then Review-Anderson meets either individually or in small groups with the students to make sure they are on the right track. They can not move on to the last part the Summary quiz, until Anderson is assured they have a good understanding and are familiar with the material.
Sam Pane Fourth Grade-Sam Pane discusses how to be a good "digital citizen". He is energetic and engages his students. He has them think of themselves as digital super heroes. What a fun way to get students to be aware of the importance of their actions in the digital realm.In one exercise, the students put their super hero in a situation in which people are being irresponsible or disrespectful, and their character steps in and saves the day. Then he has the students do a gallery walk, in which they review each others work and think about these different situations and how they translate to real experiences and issues they may encounter online.
Making Thinking Visible-Ron Ritchhart discusses the importance of working together as a group with students to develop understanding and to create a supportive atmosphere of thinking. He discusses how the world is becoming more globally connected, and students these days need to be see the world from different perspectives. This makes me think of Brian Crosby's lecture, and how he uses his classroom to help students connect with students all over the world and learn about the issues they face.
Project Based Learning- Dean Shareski's vlog portrays three different teachers discussing the integration of PBL's in history and english courses. They restructured their days to give themselves time to go deeper into learning, to blend their ideas, and time to provide better feedback for students. This expands their students learning, and teaches them above and beyond the required curriculum.
Roosevelt Elementary bases there PBL's on real world problem solving, taught within the classroom. Teachers get together and collaborate on their projects. I find that wonderful, because in some of the other videos I have watched on PBL's some teachers seem to have been on their own when it comes to creating projects for PBL's. These teachers show their students that they trust them, in that they allow their students choices, and enable them to learn skills applicable to the "real world". This prepares them much earlier than a traditional classroom to cooperate in groups and develop social skills and problem solving skills. This also enables teachers to learn student's strengths and weaknesses better, and to see which learning style works best for individual students. PBL's bridge the gaps in learning, as some projects will require work that spans subjects and skills.
Good Post ! I like how he used technology in the classroom to include students that could not be there. I also like how Mr. Pane let his students create digital citizen's. That was a creative idea to get the students involved. I agree that working in groups is beneficial. Students learn how to work together.
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