A very interesting science lesson...

Here's great Ted-Ed video on why ketchup is so hard to pour...   Who knew there was so much Science involved.  Enjoy!

Students of Today

Check out this TED talk from a 12 year old app developer - who taught himself to create apps!   He is in amazing individual who shows how innovative kids are today.  Enjoy!

Thanks to Terri Bresnahan for sharing this video at our BATC meeting!

"Our Teachers Deserve Better"

A Video Camera in Every Classroom?

Over the weekend I read an interesting article from the Huffington Post about have have a video camera in every classroom.   Bill Gates brought up this idea during a recent TED talk - proposing to have a camera in every classroom to help teachers get better: rather than only focusing on evaluation, look at growth models where video is in the center of self reflection.  This does make sense as you are never going to get better at anything, including teaching, as long as you are in isolation.   Here are some key points they point out about videoing teaching.

• Elevating Your Practice
• Lessening Isolation
• Garnering Teacher Enthusiasm
• Keep evaluation and exercises for growth separate
• Cultivate trust
• Empower teachers in the process.
• Observations not judgements

Getting better is about looking at the difference between what we perceive about our teaching and what actually happened.    As you Instructional Technology Coach, I'd be happy to help you with this self reflective process.  Perhaps I could work with you on goal setting and watch you teaching with you!    I believe video can be a powerful tool, once you get past what you look like while being videoed... at least that is my fear of always being videoed!   

I've read a lot of Jim Knight, Instructional Coaching guru, and he thinks videoing is an extremely powerful tool.   I'm looking forward to my first video session this week with a second grade teacher.  Hopefully we both find  the process to be useful... and we hope to brag about it as well to spark some interest!     Let me know if you are interested and I'd be happy to help!

Are you interested in Bill Gates: Teachers Need Real Feedback.  Check out his TED Talk below.  

100 Websites You Should Know and Use

I came across an interesting blog post today from TedEd listing 100 Websites that you should know and use.    Click here to see the entire article... there are some great ones to use at home too!

The websites are divided into multiple categories:

• Business & E-Commerce
• Audio & Visual
• Literature, Media, & Culture
• Politics, News, & Global Issues
• Science & Technology
• Curiosity & Knowledge
• Graphics, Music, & Arts
• E-Commerce Experience
• Searching and Finding
• Online Resources
• Top Interactive Experience Creators

We have many teachers here using some of the educational websites listed such as Khan Academy and Ed Week.    I personally use some of the e-commerce ones very frequently too, like Etsy!  

I plan to check out this extensive list more carefully over the coming weeks, but if anything looks interesting to you, please let me know - and I'll fast track my research for you!

Flipping Out?

I know that ISATs, report cards, conferences, the big snow storm, committee meetings, trying to fit into your swim suit before spring break, among other things may have people flipping out!   But this is a different kind of flipped...

Created by Knewton and Column Five Media


There are many great resources to help you with flipping your classroom.  Like TedEd for example, which has videos, resources, and questions to assess students learning after watching the video.

TED-Ed is a great resource for teachers with instructional videos for students, like the one about water above, as well as great some great professional videos for teachers.

TED-Ed has amazing resources for teachers... especially if you are considering flipping your classroom.   I'd be happy to help you flip your classroom if you are interested, even if it's trying it for a lesson!   After the ICE Conference and some good researching, I feel that we can flip classrooms, even in elementary school!  Let me know if you are interested in trying out this concept with me!