Don't Be an Island (originally posted on 3.14)

For years I have been trying to sell teachers on the advantages of using PLN's (Personal Learning Networks) as a way to get that outside support and insight into daily classroom practices.  I understand that it is not always easy to try something new, and that it can be intimidating at first. Here are some quick tips to get yourself started with a PLN.

1) Start following websites and blogs with an RSS feed reader (not complicated at all).  I use Feedly, but this is only one of many available free readers. To use Feedly, go to Feedly.com and sign up for a free account.  Once you have an account, you can subscribe to any blog or website by selecting the "add content" heading and pasting the url into the field provided.  Now, whenever you go to Feedly.com, or open the Feedly app on your iOS or Android phone - you can quickly skim through the headlines of your favorite websites and read any articles that sound interesting to you. You can also easily save your favorites with a touch of a button.  Not sure what sites to subscibe to? Of course I recommend this site to everyone, but I also have my favorite blogs listed on the right column of this blog.  As you get more into the idea of using a reader - your tastes and preferences will grow to be more personal to your interests.

You can sort different groups of websites as different categories too.  I might have a technology group, ELA group, sports group, music group, etc.  Of course, like anything that is web-based, whatever you do on your computer is synced with your phone and tablet, so you are able to check-in no matter what device you are using.

2) Make the leap to Twitter.  I know, I know...if you are not on Twitter right now, it is probably because you are biased against what you perceive it to be.  I can understand the backlash against Twitter, as it is only as useful as the person using it.  So trust me when I tell you - it can be extremely useful.  Getting started, I would set up an account with the intention of using it for professional purposes only.  Many people use their personal Twitter account for everything - but I would caution against doing that, at least until you have a better understanding of how Twitter works, and what you want to publicly share.

Once you have a Twitter account - start following people.  Who do you follow? Smart people.  People you think have good insight.  People who you work with.  People you would like to work with.  As you look at people's feeds, you will constantly be discovering people who you would like to follow.  As the amount of people you follow grows, your feed will also update more rapidly, and you will be able to see how quickly you can learn things from other people in the world of education.  You will also be aware of conversations that are happening across the educational landscape that will open your eyes to the bigger picture.

As a beginner on Twitter, there is no obligation to contribute to conversations that you are reading.  It is a nice way to observe how it works and take away valuable resources.  As you continue to use Twitter, you will (hopefully) feel a natural inclination to become part of the conversations that you are reading and engage yourself in the willingness to be a part of the new generation of connected educators.  Take the opportunity to give it a shot.  Tell me if you appreciate it @sjoycetech.

Consistency is Key

One thing that I have been discussing with teachers a lot lately is the importance of consistent technology use in the classroom.  Using technology in the classroom can at times be frustrating and daunting, depending on a number of factors.  It can also be engaging, efficient, and fun for not only students, but teachers as well.

If we go back to the number of factors that can hinder technology integration, the biggest one that I see is that students are learning how to use computers and creating content at the same time - which can slow the process down significantly.  Of course, as students begin to use technology for the first time, this is going to be part of the process.  But don't forget that it is a process.  Students will continue to better understand and become fluent on the computers, but they need to have regular practice to reinforce the skills and processes that they are learning.

We wouldn't tell a student to stop reading if they didn't get it the first few times.  Similarly, we cannot do the same for technology use in the classroom. Do not try to do too much with computers as students are learning the process of a task.  Simply, allow them to practice the process without necessarily having them create their own content.  This will pay dividends down the road when students have a reference point for what they are doing.

Please remember, especially as you are getting started, there is no task too minimal to include technology with.  The more routine exposure we can give our students, and ourselves, the more proficient our students will become. As teachers and students' technology fluency grows, the depth of learning that takes place through technology in your classroom will naturally shift along with it.

Speaking of consistency, I will be consistent in updating this blog (at least) weekly with ideas and resources that would be of value to what we are trying to achieve in our classrooms.  

Let's Get Started!

The school year has officially begun, and the madness that comes with it is starting to settle down into a daily routine. I have to say that I have been really impressed so far with how welcoming and organized everyone is here. I am very excited to be part of such an awesome district!

So where do we begin? Being a Google Apps for Education (GAFE) district lends itself to so many possibilities, but one opportunity that I see as a big priority to approach is getting set up with Google Classroom.  Since it was just officially launched last week, you may not know much about it - but I am looking forward to making sure that everyone gets an opportunity to check it out and set up their classrooms within the application.

One thing that I want you understand is that it is very SIMPLE.  I wouldn't say that if I didn't mean it.  Once you see it, I think you'll feel the same way.  So let's get started...

Embed your presentations with Google Slides

A look back...

Five years ago I stepped out of the classroom to accept a position in the technology department as an integration specialist for the district.  Even though I wasn't quite sure what my job would entail, I felt excited about the opportunity to focus on an aspect of teaching that I enjoyed greatly. As excited as I was at the opportunity to try something new and exciting - I had no idea how much this opportunity would teach me about education and life.

Of course, like anything, I have had my share of frustration and resistance along the way - but such is life. More often than not, I have had the opportunity to work with some outstanding teachers that have shown me the meaning of dedication.  I have been humbled by the selflessness I have seen from many teachers across our district to give their students the best opportunities to succeed. I have gone from a young and idealistic teacher to an informed and realistic father of three (life has definitely changed).  I have seen the bigger picture of how our school system works, and I realize that being cynical and negative achieves absolutely nothing except more negativity and cynicism.  Asking questions with the intention of working to find the best possible answers is how we make progress...together.

I have been able to understand that life is not about being perfect all the time.  It is about acknowledging the fact that I am going to make some mistakes - and I am going to learn from them. It is very easy, especially in a position like mine, to preach about things in a theoretical way.  The only problem is that our classrooms do not live "in theory".  They are living, breathing things that require adjustments and exceptions and constant maintenance.

One thing that I have definitely grasped a new understanding of is that it is not about the destination - it is about the journey (in and out of the classroom).  My personal journey is continuing on somewhere new, and I appreciate everything that I've learned from everyone in Joliet. Thanks for helping me find my way, and I hope to see you again. In the meantime - we should connect on Twitter @sjoycetech. (I had to end it with technology).

As I usually do, I will be taking a break from blogging over the summer, but I fully intend on picking things back up in the fall.  Have a great summer!

Happy Spring?

I cannot believe it has been 3 weeks since I've posted anything new here. Along with spring break, the last couple weeks have been a bit busy. But I'm here now, and that is all that matters. So what should I talk about? Let's try something new this spring! The winter is gone (at least technically), and the energy of the spring will soon be contagious.  Now is the time to give something a try.  That something you have put off in fear of failure.  The something that you have put off until after testing is over.  Let's try it out and see what comes of it.  We teach our students that we cannot learn without failure.  Let's not be afraid to fail in the name of learning.

I think the term teacher is overrated anyway.  Let's just tag ourselves "learner in charge" or "lead learner" (let me know if you come up with anything better).  Let's show our students by example how to be open minded and willing to give new things a try.  We cannot be close minded and then be upset when they act the same way.

I have realized how vital my attitude and energy is in order to inspire teachers and students to care about my message.  This is nothing new.  I do not think that I'm coming up with anything original here, but it never hurts to get a reminder.  So consider this your reminder (if you need it). Would you enjoy being a student in your class?

So let's get back to my original thought - let's infuse some creativity into your classroom with technology.  It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or an expert, we should always be pushing the boundaries of our comfort zone for the sake of our students' experience. What does that look like? Let's talk.

Quality...not application

There has been an argument going on that makes me just a little crazy. People arguing over the validity of PowerPoint vs. Prezi vs. Keynote vs. Haiku Deck vs. Google Presentation vs. blah blah blah.... Here is the bottom line:  it is about the presentation, NOT the tool that is used to create it.  A good presenter could work with any presentation tool and make it sing.  Do we have preferences? Yes.  Do we have to be snotty about which one we think our kids should be using? Absolutely not.  I know it is tempting to build up our tech cred, but if we stop trying to be so trendy, and start being practical - we can put the focus on where it belongs. The principles of a good presentation reach beyond a tool, and can apply universally to any application our students are using.  Thank you for letting me vent a little.  I needed it.  Maybe I'll make this into a presentation. Now which tool should I use?...

Don't be an island

For years I have been trying to sell teachers on the advantages of using PLN's (Personal Learning Networks) as a way to get that outside support and insight into daily classroom practices.  I understand that it is not always easy to try something new, and that it can be intimidating at first.  Here are some quick tips to get yourself started with a PLN.

1) Start following websites and blogs with an RSS feed reader (not complicated at all).  I use Feedly, but this is only one of many available free readers. To use Feedly, go to Feedly.com and sign up for a free account.  Once you have an account, you can subscribe to any blog or website by selecting the "add content" heading and pasting the url into the field provided.  Now, whenever you go to Feedly.com, or open the Feedly app on your iOS or Android phone - you can quickly skim through the headlines of your favorite websites and read any articles that sound interesting to you. You can also easily save your favorites with a touch of a button.  Not sure what sites to subscibe to? Of course I recommend this site to everyone, but I also have my favorite blogs listed on the right column of this blog.  As you get more into the idea of using a reader - your tastes and preferences will grow to be more personal to your interests.

You can sort different groups of websites as different categories too.  I might have a technology group, ELA group, sports group, music group, etc.  Of course, like anything that is web-based, whatever you do on your computer is synced with your phone and tablet, so you are able to check-in no matter what device you are using.

2) Make the leap to Twitter.  I know, I know...if you are not on Twitter right now, it is probably because you are biased against what you perceive it to be.  I can understand the backlash against Twitter, as it is only as useful as the person using it.  So trust me when I tell you - it can be extremely useful.  Getting started, I would set up an account with the intention of using it for professional purposes only.  Many people use their personal Twitter account for everything - but I would caution against doing that, at least until you have a better understanding of how Twitter works, and what you want to publicly share.

Once you have a Twitter account - start following people.  Who do you follow? Smart people.  People you think have good insight.  People who you work with.  People you would like to work with.  As you look at people's feeds, you will constantly be discovering people who you would like to follow.  As the amount of people you follow grows, your feed will also update more rapidly, and you will be able to see how quickly you can learn things from other people in the world of education.  You will also be aware of conversations that are happening across the educational landscape that will open your eyes to the bigger picture.

As a beginner on Twitter, there is no obligation to contribute to conversations that you are reading.  It is a nice way to observe how it works and take away valuable resources.  As you continue to use Twitter, you will (hopefully) feel a natural inclination to become part of the conversations that you are reading and engage yourself in the willingness to be a part of the new generation of connected educators.  Take the opportunity to give it a shot.  Tell me if you appreciate it @sjoycetech.

Code.org Class of '14

I did it (I can tell that you are impressed).  After a rigorous day of coding, I'm officially a graduate of the K-12 intro to coding class from code.org. If you are looking for a good starting point with computer coding - this is an excellent series of lessons that are scaffolded in a manner that allows students to continually build off of previously learned skills.  Although code.org states that soon there will be more age specific lessons for coding skills, this is a great place to start with most beginner students.  I would not expect a 3rd grader to be able to complete all of the lessons - as they do get a bit complicated towards the end.  But that is just my opinion - I'd love to be proven wrong.  I think that most intermediate and junior high students would be able to work through the lessons at a frustrational level.  The lessons are a great way to allow students to understand the logical thought process of writing commands, while using a visual interface to put the emphasis on process instead of typing. This is something that would be extremely valuable to commit a small block of time to everyday.  The curriculum is estimated to take 20 hours, but that will vary - as students will have time to work at their own pace.  The link to the curriculum info, along with the class setup info, is found here.  It may be stating the obvious - but you should not start this with your students until you have completed the course yourself.  Please let me know if you would like to pilot this, as I'd love to be involved.  Have fun coding!

Perfectly Put

I had the opportunity to see George Couros speak at the ICE Conference last Friday.  His keynote speech was outstanding (you can check it out here).  One thing that he mentioned has stuck with me for how simple, yet effective it is. I am paraphrasing him here, but essentially he made the point that when you wake up in the morning, you don't think to yourself, "How am I going to use my Smartphone today?".  You just use it when it makes sense to use it.  How we use technology in the classroom should be no different.  It should not feel forced, it should feel natural.

I understand that it is not such a simple task to seamlessly integrate technology throughout the school day. The more we work at it, the easier it will become. Failure is only a step closer to success.

By the way, George is a great twitter follow @gcouros

Tell a story...a short story

I love storytelling.  I love the creative process and life that a story can take on as it is being created.  Being able to use technology is an extremely valuable tool in being able to bring a story to life.  There are many tools that you can use to do this - but they are not going to do much good without a story.  

Start simple... really simple.  Creativity through minimalism.  That is the idea.  When there is a limited amount of material to create a digital story from - the challenge will not be finishing the project.  The challenge will be using a medium to get the most out of the source material.  It will also give students a chance to experiment and learn without feeling overwhelmed. 

One of the most important things that need to happen once the stories have been created is the ability for the entire class to view the finished stories together.  This is a great way to have a conversation that allows for feedback and discussion about the stories that will allow the students to be better prepared for their next story.  As they progress with their digital storytelling skills, obviously the length of the stories becomes less of an issue - and the process will become part of their thinking.

I know that it seems like a logical progression.  The more they practice the appropriate process - the more they will be able to rely on the process to take on projects of a greater scope.  This does not mean that they should always be expected to create more as time goes on.  Putting certain constraints on a storytelling project forces them to be more creative in how they present their story.  This is always a fun and appropriate way for them to exercise their storytelling and multimedia skills.

Game Based Learning

I have mentioned Edutopia as a reference very recently on this blog.  One section of this site is devoted to provided resources for game based learning models.  You can check it out here.

Games are always an important part of the classroom, but some teachers are really taking it to the next level. The concept of using an in-depth game (technology-based, or not) is a very interesting topic to explore. When the game involves research, strategy, collaboration, and competition - it can be such an awesome way for teachers to engage students in a subject area.  There are a few videos on this page that are really inspiring in how they pull this off.  It is a whole different ballgame than just playing jeopardy or another quiz game that inserts material as a review (which definitely still has a place).  I wonder what it would be like to be a student that knew that they were going to be playing a strategy game in class at school.  How would that change their level of engagement?  Is this type of curriculum a good fit for all kids? I do think that this is a great way to shift towards a classroom facilitator.  You can view a short video below that introduces how the concept is playing out in a junior high history class.

Skitch it up!

Screenshots are something that make life much easier, and visual.  I have used and recommended different simple tools in the past for taking screenshots.  There are many that do this just fine, and if you have one that you like - I am not saying that you need to stop using it (...but maybe you should).  Skitch can be used simply to take a capture of your screen, or an area of your screen.  What makes it unique is that it also allows you to annotate very easily on top of the screen capture, or any other image you might have.  Once you have made your markings on your image, you can then save it on your computer.  Since this is an Evernote product, you can also save it to your Evernote account if you want.  If you don't want to use Evernote - you don't have to.  This is a stand alone program that you do not need an account to use.  Below is a quick look at a picture I quickly took with my webcam and then marked up with Skitch.  Easy peasy.  I promise.  You will need to download this program onto your device, but it is free with no account necessary.

Quality Writing Prompts

Good writing prompts are important.  Awhile ago, I wrote about this site, which does an excellent job at coming up with interesting, visual prompts that provide students with a starting point for them to elaborate through creative writing.  (Note: these prompts are intended to be used with high school students, but I think that most of them can find a place in the junior high setting, as well.) Even if the prompts don't always apply to your class or level, they are worth taking a look at.  The style and visual manner that they use are definitely something that you can adapt to your own classroom.  Below is an example from the site - and as you can see, there are common core standards connected to each prompt. Visit writingprompts.tumblr.com for more.

Why is code important?

This past weekend I got the opportunity to participate in a STEM extravaganza that our district hosts in coordination with the science fair every year.  I had an interactive display set up that allowed students to participate in a couple "Hour of Code" activities.  The "Hour of Code" initiative this year has worked to give kids exposure to basic computer programming through games.  If you are already sold, go and check out the website here.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, let me elaborate for you.

Computer programming is a skill that few people have, yet increasingly more and more of our world depends on it every day to maintain our way of life.  Do you see the problem?  Most schools do not teach it, but we are certainly reliant on the fact that someone is learning how to understand and write it.  Until recently, it was not something that was very accessible in terms of teaching materials - it was seen as a sort of underground computer techie language that only computer geeks and hackers knew how to understand.  As time has gone on, the value of having coding skills has swayed the conversation into the mainstream, and computer science is something that is being pushed into the forefront more than ever before.

A group of technology leaders have contributed to the non-profit movement of Hour of Code.  Its mission is to help newcomers understand how to get started in learning how to program a computer.  This is something that seems daunting to many adults, but fun and engaging to kids.  That is not to say that all kids will love the idea of learning how to code - but it is something that is worth exposing them to - even if only for an hour.  Kids who normally wouldn't have been exposed to these concepts are likely to continue the exploration process on their own if they are interested in it.

Full disclosure - I do not know how to code.  I am learning about it because it is something that has always interested me, but I never had the avenues that allowed me to properly explore it.  I'm looking forward this spring to working with some students who are also interested in computer programming and seeing what we come up with.  I look forward to sharing some of these projects on this blog.  In the meantime, take a minute and check out code.org and see the possibilities for computer programming in your classroom.  Even if it is just for one hour - it is worth the time to give students the opportunity to see what it is about, because they may not get the chance anywhere else.

"Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer...because it teaches you how to think."

    -Steve Jobs   

Fostering creative thinking

As a student, I was outstanding at listening and following directions.  This allowed me to feel successful in school as I got mostly A's throughout my K-12 education by doing what was asked.  There was one small problem in that process...I failed at becoming a creative and innovative thinker - at least in the context of a school/workplace setting.  When no one told me what to do - I did not know what to do.  What is funny is that the thing that I valued the most about my free-time was being creative.  Whether it was writing music or media design, I longed to get wrapped up in these activities while I was being forced to do menial tasks through school that proved my knowledge of whatever it was we were learning about.  I saw no connection with school to the creative outlets that I enjoyed the most.  Whenever I did get a glimpse at using this creativity in my school experience, I remember the amount of care and effort I put into it.  I still remember the fun and pride that came with those projects.  I wish I had more moments in school that I could reflect on in this light.  I definitely remember those teachers that regarded creative thinking as the priority, not just a special project.  It was those teachers that helped me to find my voice - not someone else's, and I am grateful for them.  We need to show our students that their voice is what defines them.  Information is cheap and easy to access - what we do we that information is what will shape our lives.  Let's allow our students to form and defend their opinions.  Let's give them creative opportunities to communicate these opinions.  Let's stop telling them what to do, and start making goals with them.  Their voices are the most important in our classrooms, not ours.

I am constantly impressed with the culture that I experience in classrooms throughout our district.  I get to experience examples on a daily basis of teachers truly reflecting what I am speaking about.  I love being able to help in any way that I can to contribute to this effort.  Whether it is in the training, planning, teaching, or support phase - I am thankful to be able to be a part of it.  Never hesitate to contact me if I can help in any way.

You might be asking why I'm rambling about philosophy on my edtech blog. Truth be told, I had the intention of writing about something else, but once I started - it turned into this.  Call it a random moment of creativity.  I'm still working on my voice too (and its my blog, so I can do what I want).  Thanks for reading - my goal is to build off of this idea and illustrate the connection that creativity and technology have.

Get connected with Edutopia

I'm always looking for new channels that are sources of good conversation in instructional trends.  There are many that simply churn out the same basic advice or bullet point lists that barely scratch the surface.  Using the word trend itself is something that is hard not to be skeptical of.  I have seen much of this since I've been a teacher, and even more in the realm of instructional technology.  It seems to be indicative of the world we live in.  Something is new and exciting, everyone thinks its the best, and then a certain amount of time passes until we move on to the next thing.  Obviously, this is not exclusive to education - as new things always posses an excitement that can be blinding to their true value.  But, knowing this, makes it very important to have real conversations about what our goals are in the classroom.  How can we use technology to enhance our goals, or reach them easier? There are many websites that help to build my collective perspective about instructional technology's role in today's educational climate.  Edutopia is a site that I've found useful in getting some unique and well thought out perspectives on how some educator's are using technology in a forward-thinking and evidence-based manner.  There will always be trends, but a conversation about these trends' value in the classroom in terms of evidence and methods is able to help differentiate the worthless ones versus the worthwhile ones.  So far, I have found Edutopia as a site that does this rather well. So if you get a chance, check it out - I think there is something on there for you.

Never say never...

Well - here I am again.  Ready to pick this blog back up and continue to use it as a way to keep anyone who is interested in the loop with yours truly.  With the introduction of our new district instructional technology resources, I hope that this is something that teachers will see as a beneficial channel to follow.  I'm always open to suggestions and feedback, so please contact me if you have any.  My goal is to update this blog each week with as least 1 resource post, and 1 post on philosophy/pedagogy with educational technology. Thanks for visiting.  Please keep checking back for new posts...and please spread the word to other teachers.  Page visits make me happy.