In a previous post, I talked in detail about Professional Learning Networks and the benefit that comes from collaborating with fellow teachers and lifelong learners who share a similar zest for maximizing their ability to reach each and every one of their students in a truly meaningful and technology-rich way. So the next logical step was to celebrate "Connected Educator Month" by attending an EdTech conference. I decided that the only way this would fit into my current schedule would be to utilize the awesome EdCamp Online event. In short, this event utilized Google Hangouts to herd together a bunch of online-using tech educators so that they could throw a bunch of collaborative ideas around at each other. Needless to say, this was an awesome event.
By attending this event, you get tips and tricks on everything from flipping a classroom, to using apps with 3rd graders, to talking with students about violent tragedies that have happened in schools over the last few weeks. The topics were all across the spectrum and the experience of the attendees was equally vast. By the time you are done jumping from room to room, you feel as though you've only just scratched the surface, even though you've been deeply impacted.
One attendee said that his only objection was that events like these don't happen more often. I know that at my school and in my Arts program, collaboration is my second favorite time of the week - first is my time with the kids! Every time I sit down and talk with a fellow colleague, I go away feeling humbled, educated, and recharged.
There's something about talking about education that makes you want to grow. There is something about technology that makes you want to gain knowledge, and there's something about an EdCamp conference that affects teachers in a very positive and lasting sort of way.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Sunday, October 20, 2013
My Future...
Each day that I am alive, I realize that my future has endless possibilities. I know that I will never be the CEO of a company, nor a professional athlete, nor an astronaut, but I do know that my life continues to fascinate me by continually changing for the better.
Now, we are all faced with struggles, and I am not exempt, but I'm going to take a moment out from my normal levels of complaint to give thanks for the wonderful opportunities that have been placed into my life.
In college I had two goals: climb Mount Everest, and conduct a symphony orchestra. Although, I'm still clinging to the goal of climbing to over 29,000 feet, my life has continued to make sharp turns around corners that I never saw coming.
When I began my graduate studies, I wanted to become the next great Leonard Bernstein, Gustavo Dudamel, or Esa Pekka Salonen. I wanted to start with my M.M. in Conducting and work my way up to conducting world-class orchestras performing some of the greatest music ever penned by humans. At this point, I won't delete that from my bucket list, but I've been shown some less fancy but more important opportunities.
In the spring of 2013, I was offered a job teaching K-6 music at an elementary charter school. It was an amazing job offer, but it required my family to move and forced me to reevaluate my graduate studies. Digital teaching and learning immediately became an option due to its virtual/distance options. I could take these classes from our new locale and graduate in the same amount of time. Score!
Little did I know that I would discover a gap in my own development as a teacher, and a serious desire to overcome that gap.
I've never been a big technology guy - I've always asked my brother anytime I needed help with my wireless router or suggestions on which iPhone 5 to buy. As I began teaching, though I realized that I needed to instruct my students at a level of technology where they would become tech-leaders by the time they leave my music classroom. Students at a charter school should be using the most up-to-date technology in each of their subjects, and my classroom was still stuck using white boards and overheads.
So through my Masters Degree and my own PLN, I will continue to learn how to use Educational Apps, and I will discover ways to integrate them into my teaching and into the lives of my students. I will challenge my students to think critically about the technology that they use and the effects that it has on their lives. I will encourage my students to be 21st Century learners and leaders amongst their peers.
I know that this personal development means that I must put my current dreams of extreme mountain climbing and concert hall performances on hold, but I know that the changes that I'm making to myself and the level at which I teach will refine me into a better educator, communicator, and musician. Ultimately, those three things are what I want to be.
Now, we are all faced with struggles, and I am not exempt, but I'm going to take a moment out from my normal levels of complaint to give thanks for the wonderful opportunities that have been placed into my life.
In college I had two goals: climb Mount Everest, and conduct a symphony orchestra. Although, I'm still clinging to the goal of climbing to over 29,000 feet, my life has continued to make sharp turns around corners that I never saw coming.
When I began my graduate studies, I wanted to become the next great Leonard Bernstein, Gustavo Dudamel, or Esa Pekka Salonen. I wanted to start with my M.M. in Conducting and work my way up to conducting world-class orchestras performing some of the greatest music ever penned by humans. At this point, I won't delete that from my bucket list, but I've been shown some less fancy but more important opportunities.
In the spring of 2013, I was offered a job teaching K-6 music at an elementary charter school. It was an amazing job offer, but it required my family to move and forced me to reevaluate my graduate studies. Digital teaching and learning immediately became an option due to its virtual/distance options. I could take these classes from our new locale and graduate in the same amount of time. Score!
Little did I know that I would discover a gap in my own development as a teacher, and a serious desire to overcome that gap.
I've never been a big technology guy - I've always asked my brother anytime I needed help with my wireless router or suggestions on which iPhone 5 to buy. As I began teaching, though I realized that I needed to instruct my students at a level of technology where they would become tech-leaders by the time they leave my music classroom. Students at a charter school should be using the most up-to-date technology in each of their subjects, and my classroom was still stuck using white boards and overheads.
So through my Masters Degree and my own PLN, I will continue to learn how to use Educational Apps, and I will discover ways to integrate them into my teaching and into the lives of my students. I will challenge my students to think critically about the technology that they use and the effects that it has on their lives. I will encourage my students to be 21st Century learners and leaders amongst their peers.
I know that this personal development means that I must put my current dreams of extreme mountain climbing and concert hall performances on hold, but I know that the changes that I'm making to myself and the level at which I teach will refine me into a better educator, communicator, and musician. Ultimately, those three things are what I want to be.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
How Long? How Long?
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/apps-for-creativity-diane-darrow
After reading the title of the article Creativity on the Run: 18 Apps that Support the Creative Process, I began to wonder how hard would it be for a teacher to create an environment where students can think creatively every single day? To answer the question, I looked deeper into the article.
Our first stop had the "Idea Catcher" apps. These are the apps that students should have on their iTouches or iPads where they can jot down ideas, or take notes. These help to capture the thoughts of students in a quick and convenient way.
Next we have apps that assist in the process of brainstorming. Within these apps, students can take private notes while a larger discussion is taking place. These apps give the student the freedom to take notes in a less structured way, so that they can revise and augment their notes with ease.
Then, the visual thinkers get their chance to create, edit, share, and save their ideas. Through apps like Paper by Fifty Three, or Whiteboard Pro, students can simultaneously edit ideas while collaborating with other students.
Finally, students can complete and connect their ideas through apps like Popplet or Idea Sketch. These apps will be especially useful for your visual students because it allows them to connect ideas with lines and arrows in order to show a continuous thought or cause and effect. With apps like these, students can design note pages that are functional in any subject.
To answer my question, it's not very hard to allow students to use their creativity in a useful way. The hard part would be taking the first step toward allowing your boldness as a teacher to positively affect your students. This article provides a list of apps that would work well in a classroom setting. Each app would speak to a different Multiple Intelligence and would have its strengths and weaknesses, but would be well worth the time to integrate them into your classroom.
After reading the title of the article Creativity on the Run: 18 Apps that Support the Creative Process, I began to wonder how hard would it be for a teacher to create an environment where students can think creatively every single day? To answer the question, I looked deeper into the article.
Our first stop had the "Idea Catcher" apps. These are the apps that students should have on their iTouches or iPads where they can jot down ideas, or take notes. These help to capture the thoughts of students in a quick and convenient way.
Next we have apps that assist in the process of brainstorming. Within these apps, students can take private notes while a larger discussion is taking place. These apps give the student the freedom to take notes in a less structured way, so that they can revise and augment their notes with ease.
Then, the visual thinkers get their chance to create, edit, share, and save their ideas. Through apps like Paper by Fifty Three, or Whiteboard Pro, students can simultaneously edit ideas while collaborating with other students.
Finally, students can complete and connect their ideas through apps like Popplet or Idea Sketch. These apps will be especially useful for your visual students because it allows them to connect ideas with lines and arrows in order to show a continuous thought or cause and effect. With apps like these, students can design note pages that are functional in any subject.
To answer my question, it's not very hard to allow students to use their creativity in a useful way. The hard part would be taking the first step toward allowing your boldness as a teacher to positively affect your students. This article provides a list of apps that would work well in a classroom setting. Each app would speak to a different Multiple Intelligence and would have its strengths and weaknesses, but would be well worth the time to integrate them into your classroom.
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