The Uncommon Common Core

The Common Core is certainly the next 'phase' of education.  There has been much discussion about it, but probably not enough.  It isn't on the tip of anyones tongue outside of a few faculty members who are aware at my institution.  In my class for education majors, I am open to hearing what the students think about it and, for the most part, they are somewhat uneducated in the change.  For one, it is out of their hands and their current, immediate goal is to get that teaching certificate and degree.  Also, no one else is talking about it besides me.

I listen to a lot of audiobooks due to my 30min (or more) ride into campus, and then back again to get home. Today, while doing the regular routine of cleaning house, I began a new book. So far, the book is interesting. It’s focussed on what we envision as ‘extraordinary’ and ‘special’ traits that leads to success in ones field may sometimes be the affect of some other, seemingly unrelated parameters. Of course, the chapter that I am in is discussing academic success, so I am riveted and may not be able to do more than this post until the chapter is completed. However, none of the above is what I am writing this post about.

Far too few posts...that's what full time work does

If you have looked here the last 2 months, you'll notice very few posts.  It's not that I don't think about posting or have posts I want to generate.  Instead, it's just the desire to have my free time be a bit more free.  Work is, as you might expect, attempting to fill my days for far too many hours, so this is what had to be put aside to achieve normalcy in the off-time.  I hope that changes soon.

A Flaw in STEM??

Here's a recent article concerning the flaw in all the schools trying to improve the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skill sets of their graduates.

Good Read

Study Advice from a Basketball Player

The amazing thing about studying is that in no other endeavor would you try to improve your abilities like they do their academics.  You'd never think of getting better at tennis by watching others play tennis, or just hitting that passing shot one time, or claiming you hit can hit the shot when your friend actually did.  No, you'd hold the racquet and you'd hit that shot over and over and...until it was you who could and will hit that shot when the time comes.  But, no one reminds us that to learn we must practice after we get to the point of being able to do until the answering or understanding is natural, obvious, fast, and part of how our mind processes information.  So, study like you are training.  Study like this guy trains.  At just double nickel, he can dunk!

Double Nickel

Profiling in the Classroom

While the above video, another great Ted Talk, is not specifically about the classroom, it's worthy of discussion if only because we, as educators, can help sway the discussions from preconceived notions and looks to one of personality, action, and who-they-are.

The Cloud Part of Education...Build a School in the Cloud

You never know where your next blog post might draw inspiration.  In the case of this post, it was a reply to an email to my friends James, Mike and Wayne concerning the above Ted Talk.  I highly recommend watching Sugata Mitra's presentation and his compelling argument.  My friends sent the link to me as part of our ongoing email conversations about the world, education and business...4 people on two continents having a go at trying to make sense of those three words via email is a hoot, by the way.  What follows is my response, just copied and pasted, to the email that reminded us of Mitra's Ted Talk...

"Reinventing Schools..."

Here's a simple post to make sure you read this interesting article from Mind/Shift.  Hope you enjoy...Read Me!!

Super Nova...A Link to Helpful STEM Information and Ideas

Nova, the TV 'station', has been around for long time producing quality educational science programming.  Their website is useful and worth sharing for all you educators who need a little science pick-me-up.  Check it out...

Super Nova!!

The Role of Praise in the Education System

Am I Training My Dog To Sit?

I had a wonderful companion for 13 years.  A chocolate lab who was the most loyal and undemanding friend in my life.  Of course, I trained him to be a good boy, to listen when I had a command, and to socialize properly.  It was fun training him, as it built a connection between that little fur ball of a puppy and me.

While training him, I chose not to use treats to reward him.  Oh sure, he got a nice treat at the end of most training sessions, but not during the session (well, sometimes he did, but rarely).  Mostly, he and I trained by me giving him love and attention.  He heard my happy/good-job voice and learned what it meant.  He also heard my harsh "No!" and learned what that meant.

Kudos to Teachers

Here's a nice little article to remind all you teachers of your worth in this world...even if you are underpaid and under-appreciated most of the time...Read Me!!

Need A Tablet with a Stylus?

The M1400

I've been using a tablet pc since 2003, starting with my Motion Computing M1400.  That first machine was a screen only, using USB or BlueTooth to connect to a keyboard.  It was heavy (by today's standards) and large, but it amazed those who saw me use it in the classroom.  Still, everyone said the same thing, "What good is that without a keyboard?"  I'd argue about using it on my lap by interacting with just the pen and they would just scoff at me.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 a Teacher's Dream?...Update

Samsung released a ton of new products yesterday, most notably it's latest version of the Galaxy Note Series.  These are cell phones with large screens and stylus for note taking.  Gottabemobile has a great review of some of the more interesting qualities of the new note.

While at ISTE 2013, I ran into several...at least 10...K-12 teachers who use the Galaxy Note II as their cell phone and absolutely love it, IN and out of the classroom.  I was surprised by their IN use at all, and asked them why and how they used the Galaxy Note in the classroom.  I paraphrase a few comments made be to me at ISTE:

A Good Read...

Here's a link to a great article about how some top minds would change STEM education.

Link!

 Personally, I didn't read one idea in that article that was anything new, and NEW is what is exactly needed.  Students are different that they used to be and the people we ask these types of questions to are still immersed in their remembrances of education gone by.  Whatever the answer is, it would be made by someone who watched the following video by none-other than Sir Ken Robinson.

Without thinking outside the box (heck, not in the same room as the box), we'll continue to do what we've always done...put a band aid on the problem and see incremental results that only work a short while for a few of the students out there.

Textbooks Be Gone...It's Time To Pronounce them Dead!

There are few aspects of the earliest school paradigm still hanging on.  Most notably are the rectangular classroom with a front where the teacher hangs out, grading scales, the design of schools in general, and our good friend the textbook.

The goal of the textbook, in my opinion, is to be a presentation of the topics/concepts/skills in someone's words other than mine.  A second version of the material is important, because not every student will get an idea from being in my class and experiencing my presentation of the topic.  The text is one other voice available to my students.  The more voices my student experiences, the better the chance that one will actually hit home and spark long term learning about the topic.

Studying Attitude Graphic...

A few days ago, I found the interesting graphic above.  Today, I posted it on my course blogs (yes, each of my classes gets a blog of its very own).  Feel free to use the idea in your classes.  It's truly about attitude.  Maybe our students need a 'study attitude' that is just like a "game face" we often hear about.  Well, that's my hope and intention with the posts, at least.

The post was titled "Something To Think About..." and it showed the picture above followed by these few sentences:

• It’s OK to not get a concept at first.
• It’s not OK to give up if you don’t get it at first.
• For example, would you stop playing a video game after the first time your player gets killed?
• Think about it!!  Study with the passion you play games (be them video or sports or …) and you’ll end up winning!!

Wunderlist in EDU...Report 1

While not a formal report and I lack any real data, I do have some initial readings on my attempt to help train my students to study using Wunderlist.

The students have enthusiastically embraced the use of the To-Do list application.  I have made use of the app 100% voluntary in my introductory chemistry course (second semester college chemistry for science majors).  75% of the class requested an invitation to the class To-Do list.

The Shop Around the Corner...

So, I have to admit that I am a fan of Jimmy Stewart and Tom Hanks.  Both are fine actors with what appears to be fine character.  These two actors also share a movie based on the same premise:  communication is the key to falling in love.

On Nathan Fillion, Google, Knowledge and Understanding

Here's an interesting video on information and knowledge, with references to Nathan Fillion (without the video, my title is rather cryptic).

So, what's your feeling on the matter?

A Shared Viewpoint

Here's a nice blog post that is on par with my thoughts (Mindshift).  The author of the article and myself both see a need to experiment with the classroom, technology, and pedagogy involved.  Trying to fit todays tech and learners into the classroom and pedagogies of the pre-mobile world is a huge waste of money and money.  Moreover, we're not producing better students that are ready for college, let alone the workforce in our current model.