May 2013
14 posts
Amplify Tablet
“The Amplify Tablet, unveiled in March at the SXSWedu conference in Austin, Texas, is the first open, tablet-based platform designed specifically for teaching and learning. Its unique, all-in-one solution allows teachers to manage their classrooms with ease, monitor student progress in real time, and complement instruction on the fly with content from pre-loaded apps and the...
Simulate the Universe
The Millennium Run is a simulation of the large-scale evolution of the universe following the Big Bang. Henry Reich of Minute Physics shows the viewer how he has used Adobe AfterEffects to create a 2-dimensional version of the stunning visual journey on his laptop. In the comments section, you can replicate this process by following a series of tutorials.
MIT Game Lab
“Modern games have brought the power of play to many endeavors – from entertainment to education, art to activism, science to socialization, and more. At the MIT Game Lab, we explore the potential of play in all these realms, particularly as it is amplified by new technologies.” MIT Game Lab creates games around research, for the purpose of research, and as a method to...
Project Earth Contest
“In celebration of World Environment Day (June 5, 2013), Project Earth will be hosting an International World Environment Day Contest for schools across the globe, where the top project from each country will be recognized in conjunction with World Environment Day.” The contest is open to “any environmental effort involving student(s) ages 4-18 across the...
Article on Homework
What role should homework play? Understanding that purpose behind the homework that one gives can ensure that the design of the homework fulfills needs for the teacher and student, and helps us avoid traps and confrontation. “‘I just think that schools need to be a little more thoughtful about their policies for homework and work with the teachers to make sure...
How do you get kids into Classical music?
CDZA makes music fun - all music. “How do you teach the classics to students today? How do you get students thinking critically about how Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach are relevant to music today? These composers provide the building blocks of modern music, and are necessary knowledge to a well-rounded musical education, but how do you get students...
Vsauce
“Hey! Vsauce! Michael here.” Originally a space for gamers, and not necessarily with a young gamer audience in mind, Vsauce transformed in only a couple years to become a one-stop video resource center of inquisitiveness. Michael Stevens leads each video with many somewhat connected thoughts, until he settles on a particular question that becomes the video’s focus. From there,...
“NoRedInk was created by Jeff Scheur, an English teacher at Whitney Young Magnet High School. After grading over 15,000 papers, he realized that to truly improve their grammar skills, students needed 1) more practice than they were getting; 2) immediate, differentiated feedback; and 3) a fun, interactive way to practice and get better. Teachers can’t possibly be expected to catch and help...
Assessment Webinars
Using assessment results to inform instruction is a crucial element of teaching, but also a complex one. StudentProgress.org hosts webinars and online training from leading experts.
Edutopia is a fantastic resources full of articles, blogs, classroom guides, and a library of wonderful videos searchable by topic (like assessment, project-based learning, and technology integration) or grade level. Searching for Social and Emotional Learning and Upper Elementary yielded videos on The Science of Learning, Behavioral Strategies, Building Relationships, and about 18 other...
Sixty Symbols
is a series of popular science videos created by professors at the University of Nottingham, filmed by Brady Haran. The series attempts to familiarize viewers with concepts and symbols used in Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics through experimentation and application. In this video, Professor Moriarty explains the evolution of 3D film, and how Hollywood manipulates the natural communication...
Pigskin Education
“NBC Learn, in partnership with the National Science Foundation and National Football League, unravels the science behind professional football. For lesson plans and activities, visit our partner at Lessonopoly.” Detailed videos highlighting professional athletes explore the math and science behind the NFL, forever changing the way students watch the game. Here is one example video...
April 2013
25 posts
“Enquanto ele lia, me apaixonei do mesmo jeito que alguém cai no sono:...”
–
A culpa é das estrelas (via adorolivros)
(I am just reblogging this to thank Brazilian nerdfighters. TFIOS, or A culpa e das estralas, is more popular in Brazil than anywhere in the world other than the U.S. I was blessed to have an excellent translator and publisher there, but a book lives—or...
PBS Nova Labs
For me, there really is no greater educational institution than PBS. Maybe Sesame Street just had such an amazing influence on me that I’ll be forever enamored by the things this organization creates, or maybe it’s just because they continue to do amazing things even today. Taking authenticity to another level, to where any audience can become actively engaged in the scientific issues...
Physics is Behind Everything
Michio Kaku is a professor of theoretical physics at the City University of New York who specializes in string theory. In this lecture, he discusses how physics is behind absolutely everything. You really cannot get more real world than tracing back the origins of nearly every invention to a physicist. Hear him discuss advancements since Albert Einstein attempted to define everything with one...
Authenticity - Parent Resources
We strive for including authenticity consistently in our plans and assessment. If we are preparing students for the real world, then why not involve them in solving real world problems and inquiring about real world interests? This infographic was made in consideration of the parent. Teachers have made great strides in incorporating the real world in learning, particularly with mathematical...
Inquiry Like Whoa - 100,000 Stars
“100,000 Stars is an interactive visualization of the stellar neighborhood created for the Google Chrome web browser. It shows the real location of over 100,000 nearby stars. Zooming in reveals 87 major named stars and our solar system. The galaxy view is an artist’s rendition.”
Inquiry Like Whoa - Altas by Collins
“See the world in context withAtlas by Collins™ by interacting with seven themed globes. The latest update includes a share function on all globes. Each globe allows you to see themed information presented in beautiful mapping and graphics. In the Energy globe for example, you can overlay the Earth with information on energy resources, reserves, production, and consumption.” Check...
Watch
Coding - Creative Coding
Coding is not just a skill for the mathematically inclined, and as technology advances, so does usability. Our increased dependency on technology and subsequent increases in opportunity for creativity through technology are evident in the things new generations are able to do with ease, and it does not appear that the trend is likely to stop anytime soon. Technology is allowing its youngest...
Coding - Codecademy
As these resources become increasingly complex, and most likely suitable for different age groups, we find Codecademy, self-described as “a team of hackers working hard to build a better way for anyone to teach, and learn, how to code. We’re determined to succeed in realizing our mission to turn a world of tech consumers into one of empowered builders.” This interactive and...
Coding - ScratchED
MIT, the leader in all things technology, is also leading the charge for involving kids in coding. ”Scratch is a programming language that makes it easy to create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art -and share your creations on the web. As young people create and share Scratch projects, they learn important mathematical and computational ideas, while also...
Writing Webinar
The Common Core and Writing: Building Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking “In this session (April 16, 12pm PST/3pm EST) Esther Wojcicki, American journalist and teacher at Palo Alto High School, will share her experiences with what works in preparing students to become college and career ready. In our conversation with Esther, we will discuss ways to engage...
Mapping to the Core Webinar
Implement the Common Core into Curriculum and Assessments Presented by Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs Thursday, April 18, 2013 Join Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs as she provides an overview of the Mapping to the Core (MTTC) model that she will be presenting at her 2013 Curriculum Mapping Institute. Schools all over the US have used MTTC to fully integrate the Common Core Standards....
Crash Course
To add to the video experts featured in the past, I bring you . Although many videos focus on concepts within STEM or focus on interesting topics that may or may not relate over time, Crash Course delivers a series of themed courses through fast-paced, humorous continuity. Originally gaining fame as the Vlogbrothers, renowned author John Green (Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars) and his...
Literacy and Learning Exchange
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) at schools or districts can sign up to work collaboratively and receive free access to journal articles, webinars, videos, and other resources that correspond to their needs and interests by registering for the National Center for Literacy Education’s (NCLE) Literacy and Learning Exchange. Teams receive access to an Asset Inventory (a tool used to...
Teachers as Learners
“Although it’s hard to find time for intellectual pursuits outside of our work, many companies are using technology to increase accessibility. I want to provide PD that is job-related, but also share some ways for driving other areas of interest that are not as directly related to content. When we push ourselves as learners in ways that we enjoy, we become models that inspire our...
See the World Sans Passport
Can’t get that field trip request to the Matterhorn approved? Too tough to put together the funds to visit the Fjallabak Nature Reserve? Check out Airpano. “AirPano is a noncommercial project focused on high resolution 3D aerial panoramas. AirPano team is the group of russian photographers and panorama enthusiasts. During the next 2-3 years we plan to shoot the aerial panoramas...
Free Tools for Change
Here ”you will find free articles, case studies, and position papers to help you think about, understand, and articulate the need for change in your community. We offer many useful tools to school and district leaders; however, we know that leadership, more than our tools, is the key to transforming schools. Until leaders use the tools we provide and encourage others to use them, these...
Your Irrational Brain
David Ropeik talks about why the rationality that we believe our brains work with is actually irrational. What do we do about it? Give it a watch.
Is he right? If so, what is the impact on education?
Planning Resource
“We created Planboard because we realized teachers are still using single pages of paper to write their lesson plans. Planboard is a simple tool made specifically for teachers and educators to simplify their lesson planning. Features include being able to share calendars, print off schedules, and being able to re-use your lesson plans for next year.” Additionally, Planboard allows for...
March 2013
18 posts
Coding - Minecraft and Raspberry Pi
It’s impossible to know all of the skills some of our youngest students will need when they leave school, but there are many ways that we can match complex thinking to the interests they have today. There is no question that many of our kids love playing video games, and understanding how those games work is not a far step from playing them, especially with the educational promise of a...
Free Learning - NWEA
The makers of MAP® have a few resources that they make freely available. Check out this series on formative assessment, available anytime you like with a free registration. Formative Assessment Webinar Series “Learn how formative assessment can impact student growth and increase teacher effectiveness. In three compelling sessions, international formative assessment expert Dylan Wiliam...
Article on Making and Kids' Minds
Harvard Wants to Know: How Does the Act of Making Shape Kids’ Brains? By Katrina Schwartz Through an initiative called Project Zero, Harvard is investigating the theory that kids learn best when they’re actively engaged in designing and creating projects to explore concepts. It’s closely aligned with the idea of design thinkingand the Maker Movement that’s quickly taking shape in progressive...
Gaming
Our last issue talked a great deal about gaming in education. This animated gif (Outlook 2007 users - and likely Webmail viewers - cannot see animated gifs. Click here to view it online) was created by a Kickstarter project for L.A. Gamespace, and along with their wonderful illustrations are many arguments for how gaming brings people together for learning.
Gamified Learning Resources
If your kids aren’t already playing mathematics games on Manga High, it’s a resource worth checking out. Students are exposed to games that help them build skills in a variety of math types. Following UK curriculum from years 3 to 11, Manga High motivates students with rewards, engagement, competition, goal setting, and scaffolding tutorials when they get stuck. In fact, even if your...
Gaming in Education
There is no question that gaming is a big part of what kids do. Although we probably associate this with young boys, gamers are boys, girls, grown men, and grown women. Gamification, which Gabe Zichermann defines as “the process of using game thinking and game mechanics to engage audiences and solve problems,” is not exclusive to video games. All around us, the world is gamified:
...
Article on Self-Compassion
How Self-Compassion Can Help Prevent Teacher Burnout Vicki Zakrzewski Vicki Zakrzewski provides tips for keeping cool and being kind to yourself, even in the midst of a stressful situation. “With the burnout issues teachers face, taking care of themselves through work/life balance is important, but it isn’t enough,” says Neff, “Teachers need to give themselves permission to be self-compassionate...
“Pop art: only possible in an affluent society, where one can be free to enjoy...”
– Susan Sontag (via explore-blog)
Tch Channel in Use
Back in our fifth issue, I talked about how amazing Teaching Channel is as a resource for inspiring engaging lessons.Leonardo Botaro, our mathematics teacher, has found ways to literally do a song and dance for his students while motivating their learning. Here are two videos that he found inspirational: Marlo Warburton on silly songs Alex Kajitani on integer rapping I could think of maybe...
IB Virtual Community
Do you like the idea of sharing resources with other teachers through social networking? The IB virtual community has been created in collaboration with ePals to offer IB stakeholders the ability to connect, communicate and collaborate with one another. Tools offered within the IB virtual community include blogs, wikis, discussion forums, file uploading (documents, images, audio and video),...
