Digital Magic #12
Digital Magic #12 :: Big Thinking
Google is sponsoring a contest:
Project 10100 is a call for ideas to change the world by helping as many people as possible.
May those who help the most win!
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Also, here are a few people making a difference:
Students here in our district are using: Kiva.org.
Craig and Mark Kielburger: Free the Children.
Sarah McLachlan: World on Fire.
Click for World on Fire Video
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Things that make you go hmmmmmm…
Are these ideas worth talking about with students?
How can you use one of these links/ideas in your classroom?
Do our students believe that they can make a difference in the world?
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Did you miss an edition of Digital Magic? Is there one you want to look back on again? Here are all the editions of Digital Magic in reverse order, (most recent first).
Have a great week!
Digital Magic #11
Digital Literacy
Has a student ever handed in to you a Powerpoint or a movie that was absolutely painful to endure? I’ve seen my share of these!
Design is an important part of these kind of presentations, but do we teach it? George Lucas doesn’t think so, but he thinks we should.
Media Smarts: Kids Learn How to Navigate the Multimedia World
Click the image for the video, or see the Edutopia article here.
Last year, I showed a comedian talking about How NOT to use Powerpoint, then went through some presentations that I thought were well done with my students and I was amazed at what (some) of the groups came up with on a big project we did.
Is design something we need to teach? Is digital literacy important? When are our opportunities to teach these skills to our students?
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Did you miss an edition of Digital Magic? Is there one you want to look back on again? Here are all the editions of Digital Magic in reverse order, (most recent first).
Digital Magic #10
A Brave New World-Wide-Web
Last February I did a presentation to student teachers from SFU. It was done on Powerpoint and I wanted to put it on a wiki so I added it to a service called Slideshare. By adding it there, others could see it as well as the SFU group. I was shocked at the response, here are the current stats:
3676 views | 4 comments | 17 favorites | 105 downloads | 40 embeds
A number of people suggested that I make it into a video. I decided that I would do this for the end of one of my presentations at BLC08 this summer. So I added to the Powerpoint some details about how I am a networked teacher, as well as some music, and here is what I came up with in video format:
(It loads faster on the web site here. Or click below and be patient while it loads.)
One thing to understand is that this was not an easy process for me! I had a really hard time converting my Powerpoint presentation with timed advances into the video you see above. In fact, I didn’t have it ready until I had some help from my network this weekend. (I had to show it in Powerpoint format in Boston). You can see this video in very poor quality, here on YouTube, but it is crystal clear above thanks to another free service that was pointed out to me, called Blip.tv. I’m by no means an expert, but more than ever I’ve become connected to people who can help me! 
The student quotes in the video are real quotes from feedback that I got on my first blogging and wiki experiences with students. These experiences really changed my thinking as a teacher.
My other blog Pairadimes for Your Thoughts has been a chronicle of what I’ve learned from engaging students with web2.0 tools online.
So there is a story about me and some of the things I’ve done online. I hope to feature some of you with your experiences. It can be as simple as describing a link you really like, or a lesson you’d like to share. Or it can be a story about how you’ve used technology to really engage a student or a class! Let me know what your thinking and I’m glad to help you out with it!
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Did you miss an edition of Digital Magic? Is there one you want to look back on again? Here are all the editions of Digital Magic in reverse order, (most recent first).
Have a great week!
Digital Magic #9
Welcome to Dave’s Digital Magic #9
If you do just ONE THING from the Digital Magic series this year, then the feature of the week this week is where to start! For that reason I’m not adding other links this week, but I have included a special ‘Things that make you go hmmmmmm…’ featuring our very own Kari, after this week’s feature.
1. THE FEATURE OF THE WEEK!
Online/Social Bookmarking
Want to sign up for del.icou.us?
I created a presentation that I did with a former student. The first half of it will be helpful to you:
What’s the main value of this kind of bookmarking?
Well, here are my resources that, as you can see, anyone can access from any computer. Check out one of my tags (or folders) to see links I’ve saved in that area of interest. Pick one that interests you and check it out!
http://del.icio.us/dtruss/mathtools
http://del.icio.us/dtruss/math-links
http://del.icio.us/dtruss/science
http://del.icio.us/dtruss/middleleaders
http://del.icio.us/dtruss/careers
http://del.icio.us/dtruss/problem-solving
http://del.icio.us/dtruss/lifelessons
http://del.icio.us/dtruss/cyberbullying
http://del.icio.us/dtruss/research
http://del.icio.us/dtruss/newliteracy
http://del.icio.us/dtruss/delicious
That’s del.icio.us! However, another option that I have been checking out recently is diigo…
2 reasons to love diigo:
1. Highlighted text that stays highlighted when you return to a bookmark.
2. Groups like this ‘Educators’ Group find and share great stuff with you.
Diigo or Delicious? Try one out!
Need help? I’m glad to offer it! Don’t worry too much about the ’social’ part of bookmarking at first. Instead, try one of these sites out for yourself. Once you see the personal usefulness and start using the tool, then the social part of this kind of bookmarking will become useful later on.
2. THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMMMM…
Teaching gifted students compared to teaching every student.
No link for this one, instead, here is a reflection Kari did on having a SHARP, gifted cluster, in her class this year. I thought this was very insightful and also thought about just how much this applied to every student, not just gifted ones!
Top 10 Lessons I Learned Being Involved in SHARP
1. Different is Good: Strategies for differentiation help all students be successful: Gifted, LD, ESL, Non-Categorized.
2. Free Birds Soar: Given the freedom to choose how to present their learning, Gifted students will surpass your, and their own, expectations.
3. Stimulation is Mandatory: Gifted students need to be challenged constantly, or else boredom sets in.
4. Knives and Spoons: Gifted students are not necessarily “gifted” in all areas of the curriculum.
5. Fun and Games: Gifted students are still typical kids- they need to have fun and be accepted by their peers.
6. Be Comfortable with Uncertainty: Gifted students ask lots of questions, but it’s okay if you, the teacher, don’t have all the answers.
7. Stars Are Part of a Larger Constellation: Gifted students need to be recognized for their uniqueness, but still fit in with the rest of the class.
8. Heads May Butt: Your cluster may not always get along or work well together all the time!
9. A Watered Flower Grows: Being involved in SHARP helps you to evolve as a teacher.
10. Hear Me Vent and Brag: Having conversations with other SHARP teachers is valuable and gratifying.
Thanks for your words of wisdom Kari!
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Did you miss an edition of Digital Magic? Is there one you want to look back on again? Here are all the editions of Digital Magic in reverse order, (most recent first).
Have a great week!
Digital Magic #7
Welcome to Dave’s Digital Magic #7
Here are 5 links for you to explore.
1. THE FEATURE OF THE WEEK!
A “Digital Arts” Menu for Multiple Intelligences
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2. Create online art
I shared this with Trina, ask her how she used it with her class. I also wrote about it before on this blog.
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3. For your listening pleasure
Want to send someone a song without them having to download it? Tell them it is a Beautiful Day? Or just listen to songs from your favorite artists? Or create playlists? Songza has it all… and you don’t even need to sign up if you don’t want to.
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4. More fun…
I asked my Twitter network for ideas and Gabriel in Argentina suggested Mr. Picassohead as well as these fun sites:
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5. THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMMMM…
The purpose of homework…
Is homework an effective practice?
What is it intended to accomplish for student learning?
How do you use it effectively?
How do you deal with homework that isn’t done? Is this the same as others on your team?
What feedback have you had from students? Parents?
What I’ve read recently to get me thinking about homework:
What do you think?
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Did you miss an edition of Digital Magic? Is there one you want to look back on again? Here are all the editions of Digital Magic in reverse order, (most recent first).
Have a great week!
Digital Magic #6
Welcome to Dave’s Digital Magic #6
Here are 5 links for you to explore.
This week we have a video theme. I was tempted to discuss them, but instead I will let them speak for themselves… comments are welcome.
1. THE FEATURE OF THE WEEK!
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2. The Power of a Signature
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3. Talking to Teens
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4. Miniature Earth
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5. THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMMMM…
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Video’s are a great teaching tool! One way to start collecting them is to sign up for a free YouTube account. When you are signed in, and you find a video you like, just click ‘Favorite’ and you can collect videos there. Then from any computer you can sign in and find all your favorites.
You can also make Playlists, which lets you create video players, like the one seen on this wiki.
I like this because you can show a number of videos without students seeing the comments under the videos (which can sometimes be very inappropriate for classrooms). You can also use playlists to separate your favorites for different uses.
Start with the simple task of signing up for a free YouTube account, and then I’ll be glad to help you.
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Did you miss an edition of Digital Magic? Is there one you want to look back on again? Here are all the editions of Digital Magic in reverse order, (most recent first).
Have a great week!
Digital Magic #5
Welcome to Dave’s Digital Magic #5
Here are 5 links for you to explore.
1. THE FEATURE OF THE WEEK!
26 Learning Games to Change the World
To be honest, the only one I’ve tried is Free Rice, and I wrote about it here.
If you use and like another one, please let me know!
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2. GLOBAL ISSUES… continued
World on Fire – by Sarah McLachlan
A typical music video costs about $150,000. Sarah only spent $15 on her World on Fire video, and then she took $148,270 and spent it in ways that positively impacted the lives of thousands of needy people! (Donations list)
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3. MORE ON MATH
The Math Playground
If you click on the K-7 Mathcasts you will get to see Voicethreads in action... (I linked to Voicethread in Digital Magic #2)
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4. STAR WARS
R2D2 in the classroom?
OK Lawrence, this one is for you, although I have to say, “I want one too!”
Sorry to say there is no money in our budget to get these into our school.
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5. THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMMMM…
Academe’s Dirty Little Secret
This blog post is written by Darren Kuropatwa, a brilliant high school Math teacher.
Here is an excerpt:
“You can require your students to demonstrate their understanding of what they are learning by having them apply their knowledge analyzing and evaluating relevant novel situations or problems. Better yet, get them to create content that educates an interested learner and they will automatically incorporate all those levels of engagement while they make their learning sticky. I don’t need to tell you that there’s nothing like having to teach a thing to make you really learn it.
Darren walks the talk! His students will go home and spend hours helping to teach others, when it is there turn to scribe the class notes and post them on a blog for the other students in their class. You can see this in his Scribe Hall of Fame… or if you aren’t into Math, just check out the link to the article.
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Did you miss an edition of Digital Magic? Is there one you want to look back on again? Here are all the editions of Digital Magic in reverse order, (most recent first).
Have a great week!
Digital Magic #4
Welcome to Dave’s Digital Magic #4
Here are 5 links for you to explore.
1. THE FEATURE OF THE WEEK!
TWIDDLA
It simply doesn’t get any easier than this to collaborate online.
Click on “Start a new meeting”, name your session, check the ‘private’ box. Invite people to join you by e-mail… and you are collaborating on your own personal online space.
Real collaboration, in real time.
Mark up websites, graphics, and photos, or start brainstorming on a blank canvas. Browse the web with your friends or make that conference call more productive than ever. No plug-ins, downloads, or firewall voodoo – it’s all here, ready to go when you are. Browser-agnostic, user-friendly, mom approved. Oh yeah, it does one-click audio chats too.Real collaboration, in real time.
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2. SEX-ED
TEACHING SEXUAL HEALTH
A great site with sections for Teachers, Students and Parents.
Here is a link to the Teacher’s Resource Page: Lesson plans, illustrations, glossary and much more.
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3. SEE IT & LABEL IT!
VISUAL DICTIONARY
Probably most useful with students on adapted programs,
(and also in Biology/Science classes).
"Visual Dictionary, to learn by way of image with thematic,
clear and precise pages, with concise and rigorous texts...
Different from an encyclopedia or from a traditional online dictionaries,
thesauri and glossaries because the images replace the words."
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4. WOW
77 OPTICAL ILLUSIONS!
My favorite, taken from the original source below,
is the Silhouette Illusion.
Stare long enough and she changes directions!
(If not look away and use your peripheral vision.)
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5. THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMMMM…
END OF QUARTER RUBRIC
NOTE ON THE USE OF THIS RUBRIC: [Check out the link before reading this!]
“Habits of Mind are the characteristics of what intelligent people do when they are confronted with problems, the resolution(s) to which are not immediately apparent. These behaviors are seldom performed in isolation. Rather, clusters of such behaviors are drawn forth and employed in various situations.”
(Arthur L. Costa and Bena Kallick: 16 Habits of Mind) The purpose of a rubric when assessing student work is to provide benchmarks of achievement based on these habits which allow a student to understand their current level of mastery and discipline in order to set goals for future drafts, assessments, or marking periods. For as long as possible we will refrain from discussing grades, per se, and focus our discussion on achievement and progress. As long as a student continues to set goals, reflect and evaluate their work and habits, set new goals and modify their work, habits and effort accordingly, they will realize increasing success and achievement as the year progresses. Thus, rather than penalizing a student who begins the year as a believer and ends the year with nothing compared to them by averaging a lower earlier grade with a later higher one, the student is evaluated according to mastery and achievement as demonstrated by their ability and mastery by the end of the year. However, a student who may begin the year with the drive and motivation to knock on heaven’s door, but who then slacks off, loses focus and discipline and ends up wondering what they did to deserve this, will not be boosted from a D to a C because first quarter was strong when it is not reflective of the ability or master he or she consistently demonstrated.
Could you use this rubric or parts of it?
How important are these ‘Habits of the Mind’?
What does this rubric look at compared to what our report cards look at?
Do you ‘average’ previous terms or give ’snapshots’ of where students are now?
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Did you miss an edition of Digital Magic? Is there one you want to look back on again? Here are all the editions of Digital Magic in reverse order, (most recent first).
Have a great week!
Digital Magic #3
Welcome to Dave’s Digital Magic #3
Here are 5 links for you to explore.
1. THE FEATURE OF THE WEEK!
Periodic Table of Visualization Tools
Click on the link and then put your mouse over any section for a visual example of the tool. Great to remind you of different ways to visually express ideas.
Lesson plan: Students choose one tool from two different categories to demonstrate what they have learned.
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2. LEARNING AND ENGAGING ONLINE
Back to Wiki’s
At our staff Pro-D session there were more questions about wiki’s. (Wiki-wiki means Quick in Hawaiian, not ‘clueless’ as I joked)
I provided a more informational introduction to wiki’s in Digital Magic #1, but this video is much more fun! Think of a word document online, that everyone who is invited can change, that includes a tracking history to see who did what. Or ask an expert, Stan, Sharon, or Lawrence, to show off their wiki’s. Here is one that I did for Science, where I tried to bring Science Alive! Check out the Senses page for a few projects.
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3. GLOBAL AWARENESS
Worldmapper is a collection of world maps, where territories are re-sized on each map according to the subject of interest. The map below is according to Population.
There are now nearly 600 maps. Maps 1-366 are also available as PDF posters. Use the menu above to find a map of interest.
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4. MAGIC
This is CRAZY! Cyril does his magic trick, ‘oooh-ahhh…’ then he says, “But wait…” and then takes it even further… simply amazing!
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5. THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMMMM…
Clarence Fisher, a brilliant Canadian teacher and blogger, wrote this short paper (4 easy-to-read pages), Changing Literacies (PDF).
Being literate is so much more than being able to understand a written text on a piece of paper.
Here is a quote from his section on Access,
“Fast forward to our society and the ability we now have to drown ourselves in
cheap, disposable information from books, television, the internet, radio,
magazines, video, etc. In our time, one of the major skills of being literate is
the ability to access texts in many different forms from many different sources.
Importantly, it is not about searching for texts, it’s about finding them.”
In this article, Clarence describes why I became a ‘technology guy’. Actually, I don’t really care about technology… I just see how these tools, like wiki’s, can engage students in meaningful ways, where they create and share what they have learned in new, interesting ways.
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Did you miss an edition of Digital Magic? Is there one you want to look back on again? Here are all the editions of Digital Magic in reverse order, (most recent first).
Have a great week!
Digital Magic #2
Welcome to Dave’s Digital Magic #2
Here are 5 links for you to explore.
1. THE FEATURE OF THE WEEK!
Classroom Organization- Cooperative Learning Strategies
Nothing new here, but when I found this, it reminded me of some of the really interactive things I’ve done in my classroom, but didn’t use as much as I should.
Overview
Cooperative Learning Strategies
Role of parents/carers in the classroom
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2. LEARNING AND ENGAGING ONLINE
Voicethread.com
Teachers can get a FREE ACCOUNT! There are soooo many classroom possibilities.
3. GLOBAL AWARENESS
4. MATH CENTRAL
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
5. THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMMMM…
How Not to Talk to Your Kids: The Inverse Power of Praise.
A Feature in the The New York Times, By Po Bronson. I will let the article speak for itself:
Later, when given a much more difficult test, these results were magnified. It really is worth reading the whole article, but here is a key point about the research above:
More food for thought from the article:
In a nutshell, praise effort rather than intelligence. The article goes on to mention the value this has on developing persistence when faced with failure, while praising intelligence increases the stress and reduces the desire to face such challenges. I will be thinking about this a lot over the next few days both at school with my students and at home with my own kids. – - – - – Po Bronson’s blog, “How Not to Talk to Your Kids” Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. From Part 4:
“A common praise technique that people use (I know I did it with my tutoring kids… up til a few weeks ago, that is….) is to use a present success to control future performance. For example, if a typically-sloppy child writes an essay that’s atypically legible, a parent or teacher may say, “That’s very neat: you should write all of your papers like this.” Even if it’s meant as sincere praise and encouragement, the research shows that’s not only an ineffective way to praise. In fact, like praising for intelligence – it can actually damage a child’s performance. Here’s what is going on…”
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Have a great week!
About Me
Who am I? A husband, a parent… An educator, a student… A thinker, a dreamer… An agent of change.
What is this blog about? Tools, ideas, lessons, activities and strategies that I think of, or find, as I explore the web.
Is there more? My ‘Pair-a-Dimes for Your Thoughts’ on DavidTruss.com has a philisophical bent to it. My thoughts on education, learning and technology.
Feel free to Contact David Truss.
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