WEEK #8 Did I Mention I Love Zoom?

Today we had a choice for class, we could appear in person or join the class via Zoom.  I am really grateful for the opportunity to decide for myself how I wanted to attend this class.  Most days I like attending class, today I woke up super early to drive 2 hours for classes this morning.  Once I arrived in Brandon and had my first morning classes I was pretty exhausted and enjoyed the ability to be a bit more comfortable.  The chairs in class hurt my back!
Enough whining today-you can sure tell its a Monday!
The Zoom class was convenient and productive!
  As a class we explored Kialo and I found it an interesting app.  I want to explore it more in depth and see what it is all capable of as far as student and teacher use.  We participated in a question and answer exchange which was informative to hear my colleagues opinions on the pros and cons of technology in the classroom. I won't recap the discussion, but rather speak to my observations of what occurs when we have "zoomed" as a class.

I find that I have had opportunities to get to know my colleagues better and on a different level.  I feel more connected to some that I have been in-class chats or groups with and it changes the dynamics of the class.  In class sometimes you can hear "crickets" because people may not want to respond,  they don't feel they have anything to contribute or they are shy(just some guesses).  The times we have had zoom classes its fun and engaging.  I find that so strange.  We all attend class together, yet don't interact.  That maybe due to the set up in the classroom too because it is a computer lab.  I also like that there are many ways to communicate with my classmates and Dr. Nantais our Professor. 

  We can unmute our mic and speak or text our answer.  I know I can do all of the same things in class but I prefer the zoom class.  Actually I prefer a combination of both.  Also,   I don't know what it would be like to conduct a zoom class as a teacher though...  Maybe I wouldn't like it as much!
Feel free to leave a comment about your opinion of zoom class and your perspective,  I would LOVE to hear it!

Week #7 MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE RESOURCES. . .

As promised I am sharing some personal resources that fall under my health and wellness categories.  I think it is important as an educator to make sure we look after ourselves.  Easier said than done and as I approach the final push to complete homework, I find myself not pushing enough to get outside and take a break.  Finding the balance can be difficult and hopefully these resources help someone along the way.
  One of my absolute go-to's is a book called "the 5 second Rule" by Mel Robbins.  Here is a little video explaining what the 5 second rule is:

You know, for the times you want to hit the snooze button or say I'll exercise tomorrow. . 

Another favourite resource is Yoga videos.  Back care yoga is my favourite because I always get sore from sitting and typing for hours doing homework or sitting in class.

10 ways to stay mindful throughout your day

https://www.purethoughts.co.uk/blog/10-Simple-Ways-to-Stay-Mindful-Throughout-Your-Day

These are just some of my resources that I thought I'd let you know about.  Let me know what you think and don't forget to look after yourself too!

TECH TASK #7 INFOGRAPHICS!!

This is a tech task I happen to like very much (I like them all but this is one of my favourites!). I like infographics because they usually look polished and give short but powerful pieces of information. They can be engaging and supply the reader with quick facts.  

I think infographics could be very useful in classrooms in all subject areas.  For example infographics could be used in English Language Arts for book reviews in class and quick shares.  Science infographics can be a reminder for lab procedures or used for Math equations like steps for pythagorean theorem for example.  Info graphics can be made into little informative book marks to remind readers key points when reading or meeting in groups.  I made this little infographic in relation to oral health.  It was just for fun as I like the colour combinations.  I feel like it looks clean and a quick little snippet of information as an example.

It's not anything fancy but I used Canva to make my infographic.  I like how clean and easy the graphics are.  The finished product looks so crisp and well presented.

TECH TASK #6 TWITTER

We were asked to join Twitter if we weren't on it already.  Luckily I had a class previous to Internet for Educators that I created a Twitter account for.  I hadn't really used it much and wasn't sure how to.  There were some resources I read to help me understand (Thanks Mike!).  I began mostly by retweeting what someone else said well-why try and reinvent the wheel? As you can see by my first post in this class. . .

 I was slowly dipping my toes into this new and strange Twitter world.  Very slow in fact that it took me quite awhile to understand #hashtags. . .but don't quiz me or anything mmmmkay Mike? 


A couple weeks later I was at the point in my "Twit" career that I started following EVERYTHING and the I became overwhelmed. 
So I tried using Tweet Deck and that helped, and I also realized I needed to unfollow irrelevant people and subjects.  The most important thing I learned is that if you don't try, you won't learn and get better at Tweeting. Sounds simple but it's not.  Most people don't start or they start and they drop it.  

I did find that I was responding to Tweets or at least looking at my phone for an ungodly amount of time.  With assignments due and laundry to complete, I realized I should turn off my notifications and set a time aside just for Twitter and get some work and laundry done already!!
I also took awhile to figure out how to use the # properly
EXHIBIT A:

Now I know how and it's not that big of a deal to me!

This post links my Twitter account to my post about resources in my Blog.  I haven't done this before and it's all baby steps.  I am not exactly sure how to get it to look more appealing than a link.  I'll work on it and figure it out. . .

I am thinking of ways to involve students and engage them (age and grade appropriate) to learn and share what they know as well.  I am grateful to be in this class as I have already learned so much and I have even more to learn in the future!

TECH TASK #4 INTERNET RESOURCES IN THE CLASSROOM

TECH TASK #4

HEY!! I've learned how to increase my font size!! Small victories one day at a time, right Mike? I am trying to release my Tasks as I finish instead of all at once to save you from being bombarded and as I learn I will share what my journey has taught me ..... oh  blogging can be so painful but rewarding 😝😅😅!!

Ok, one of my favourite internet resources for elementary(K-5) science is Mystery Science!!!
This is a resource you have to pay for, so if you have room in your budget I HIGHLY recommend this in your classroom.

There are many options and lesson plans to choose from.  Kids love the videos, activities and collaboration.  These lessons are engaging and make science fun.  That is why I love this internet resource and did you notice that I LOVE SCIENCE?

SAMPLE LESSON:

You will see that the students watch a short video with Doug(the creator of Mystery Science and the narrator in all the videos) explaining what the topic is about.  He poses questions along the way and asks the class to stop and turn to a neighbour and discuss the question. Then the video continues and there is an activity the students complete.  Mystery science website has resources you download and print for your students to complete the experiments/activities.  There are also supplies you as a teacher gather or ask your students to bring into the classroom for the experiment. 

Here is a sample of one lesson of Mystery Science:

TECH TASK#2 Personal Learning Network PLN

I reviewed all the information to read on my personal learning network and what that looked like for me.  Then I read research and stats about the digital world and students and what parents think.  I feel that as a teacher it is important for me to grow my PLN and connect on a digital level.  It allows me to stay current and share innovative ideas on pedagogical topics I am not only passionate about, but also what I require more education on.  I only have a small number of professional development days to attend in person.  The onus is on me as a professional to learn and grow educationally.  As teachers we NEVER stop learning unless we choose to.  PLN's allow us as educators to formally learn world wide and expand our own thinking and learning. Well what might my PLN look like?

I use facebook to connect with colleagues that are far away, LinkedIn for professional connections, edu blogs for learning and sharing ideas.  I use Instagram for keeping in touch with my professional community and fellow instagram users for their classrooms.  I am constantly searching for new Ted Talks and Pinterest ideas that spark ideas in the classroom or inspire me to think differently.  I have just started to incorporate MOOC's and Twitter in my learning network.  One Note helps me keep organized sans paper (I LOVE IT!!) and create a collaborative learning network by linking colleagues from other provinces and countries together.  I look forward to expanding my PLN in the future!

WEEK 6 Feb.10-16, 2020

Andy McKiel was our guest speaker for Monday Feb 10/2020

TOPIC: DEEP LEARNING

Real world connections make meaning to the kids in our classrooms 

6 global competencies AKA 6 C's 

We need to teach the importance of these skills 

Communication-effective ways connecting with anyone in the world 

Document-" A rich seam" Michael Fullan Ed researchers 

Google him and see what he has to say.

Have a real world connection with our teaching.

MF reached out to superintendent-new pedagogies for deeper learning 

St. James Assiniboia-Andy spoke about 2 schools that participate Crestview school-was the model collaboration communication. 

Putting those competencies-could ask any kid about the 6 c's they could respond.  Productive  

Louis Riel 

Evergreen SD 

These school divisions also participated

You had to pay to play so limited number of school divisions joined at the time.  

4 Quadrants = Four Elements of Learning Design 

Learning Partnerships 

Leveraging Digital-involves all the other quadrants, teachers need support-whiteboards, iPads, 

Tech changes so rapidly and we must change with it. 

Learning Environment-lighting changing the mood of the classrooms, outdoor learning spaces 

There is a time and a place for technology-he supports willingness 

Simon Breakspear(Australian)-Deep Learning and Innovations 

Teaching Sprints-challenges in the classrooms-rapid prototyping and getting in and trying stuff, not waiting until you have all the answers and starting small.  Failure is actually good. Getting in and get messy and learn. Student teachers-start small 

Think about what lesson or unit looks like and how to incorporate deep thinking-all of the different ways students can show what they know. 

Making sure that we aren't just handing out worksheets but that we are engaging learners 

Talking to students about ideas and empowering students  

-PD-Global Deep Learning Labs 

-celebrating the familiar 

-global learning lab-TO this past fall, validated the work being done in their school division.  work in the STJASD 

SMART LEARNING SUITE-interactive and we participated in adding our responses on an online blackboard 

Some examples of how to engage learners and conduct deep learning: 

Canadas NORTH-POLAR BEARS GLOBAL WARMING AND CHALLENGES 

Skype call in a tundra buggy and answered questions 

Put it into a book they published 

Appearance dangers they faced 

Wanted to take action 

Adopt a polar bear 

Bake sale-advertising, counting money found other ways to share with other classes, made a classroom blog 

Kal bartesky-came into the classroom and taught the students and printed a calendar students line drawings for polar bears.   

-painting polar bears-riding the wave conference 

-Bring in partnerships 

Followed the passion interests into the classroom 

Type 1 diabetes-one student sparked the students learning. 

  

Question-where does coding and computational thinking –shouldn't it be the 7th "C"?