72 CREATIVE WAYS
FOR STUDENTS TO SHOW THEIR LEARNING 
 A culminating project can really cement that learning. 

Here are 72 fun and creative ways for your students to show what they know. 

This is also an amazing Blog site!! Check it out!

Click Here: Culminating  Learning Tasks 

Posted to:
Blogs That Inspire Tab Above
Assessment and Evaluation Tab Above

LEADERSHIP 

Listen to these top 10 Outstanding Leadership Qualities.
By Cheryl Sandberg,
CEO Of FaceBook

Participatory Leadership at its best.

Click Here> Cheryl Sandberg on Leadership

Also posted to the Following Tab Above: Influential Educational Leaders

MICHAEL FULLAN

THE 6 C's of EDUCATION FOR THE 21st CENTURY

This is a beautiful Infographic of what our teaching focus should look like !

Think Critically
Connectivity
Creativity
Culture and Diversity
Collaboration
Communicate Clearly


Click here: 6 C's of Teaching in the 21st Century

Also posted on this web site under the High Yield Strategy Tab

ESL / ELL

WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE BRAIN OF A BILINGUAL CHILD?

An excellent article posted by Mind/Shift.

Take a look at learning strategies and the benefits of learning a second language.

What are the effects on the individual as a learner.

Click here for the article:  The Bilingual Learner

Also posted to this web page under ESL/ ELL.

NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER

NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR STUDENTS. 
THEY NEED YOU TO TEACH THEM SEVERAL SIMPLE THINGS ABOUT LIFE.

As a teacher, public school administrator and Faculty Instructor/Advisor at a Faculty of Education, I have learned this is so true.

After 40 years in Education, the miracle stories I see and hear are amazing.

One individual dropped into my office after decades just to say Hi...and thanks for not giving up on me many years ago. He took me out to see his Black Convertible Mustang and told me about his life.

Another one thanked me for just being there and understanding his behaviour as a 14 year old. ...and guess what..he said.... I have just finished my Ph.D.

All of your students need  you. Some more than others.

You must teach students the tools to be successful.
You must teach resilience and what that looks like at every stage of development.

Frank O'Dea never forgot these things!! 
Frank became the inspiration behind Second Cup. The Coffee Shop Empire.

This is his story as the Key Note Speaker at  START UP CANADA, ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS
November 2016. 


CLICK HERE FOR FRANK'S LINK:> Franks Link

He says especially remember
...Hope, Vision and Action.

Have Hope
Develop a Vision
Take Action,  toward that vision every day.

Believe in Yourself 
Be spontaneous
Tell your story
Network until you develop the contacts that help you move forward.

When he was around 29....life was not so good.
A drunk
Dirty
Homeless
Begging for change 
In Toronto on a street corner with others like him.

A guy one day, dropped 10 cents in his cup and Frank just looked at it.  
Something happened in that moment.
He just decided that was it.
If he did not change in that moment he felt he would probably just end up dead.

He never drank again!
He started his journey. 

He kept hope, developed a plan to sell coffee, developed vision, and took a little action every day. He networked and told his story and shared his dream.

He never forgot those that helped him along the way.
The man that gave him the dime, changed his life that day.


He now owns a multi million dollar International Coffee Franchise Empire called  Second Cup that employs thousands and helps millions of people every year. He pays it forward.

Never Give Up On Your Students!

It's amazing what they can do, with a little positive support and belief in themselves.

That's what a  21st Century Teacher does.
Teachers have that magic to help kids develop a dream.
They can teach them to be creative, tech savvy,  problem solvers.
Teachers can develop collaborative, diverse classrooms where making mistakes is a learning opportunity.
They can build classrooms where kids can feel included and take risks.
A place where they develop relationships and appreciate each others strengths and weaknesses.
A place where you can use manipulatives and learn through the arts.
A place where researched based strategies are implemented that make a difference in learning. 

Teachers can help students believe in themselves and have hope for a bright future!

That's probably what good teaching looks like now and beyond  the 21st Century.

What do you think?

Mark

Also Posted to Social Entrepreneurship.

START UP CANADA

2016 National Startup Canada Award Winners

Lots of Great Technology Research! 

I posted this because every teacher is entrepreneur in the classroom.

Have a look at the the Entrepreneurship 3 Part AQ .

Brock has an Entrepreneurial Centre.
A concentration in entrepreneurship provides you with the knowledge and skills required to start your own business or work in the small business sector. Areas related to entrepreneurship include family business, social entrepreneurship (i.e. non‐profit firms), independent entrepreneurship (i.e. starting a for‐profit firm), and corporate entrepreneurship. Career opportunities can include starting your own company or working in the development of new business opportunities within existing companies.

CLICK HERE:  https://brocku.ca/business/future/undergraduate/programs/BBA/entrepreneurship


Today we must foster learning tasks that foster creative thinking and Entrepreneurial spirit.  

Congratulations to the 2016 Startup Canada Awards winners, each of whom have been recognized by their peers as strong role models for Canadians of all ages and entrepreneurs across all sectors for championing a culture of entrepreneurship,” said Brenda Halloran, Chair of the Startup Canada Board of Directors.

 “Each recipient is driving impact in Canada and globally, and represent the greatness and diversity of Canada’s entrepreneur community.”

Category 1 – Advancing The Environment and Culture for Entrepreneurship in Canada

Category 2 – Entrepreneur-led Businesses Demonstrating Excellence

Category 3 – Exemplifying the Spirit of Canadian Entrepreneurship

Category 4 – Outstanding Impact and Enduring Legacy in Canadian Entrepreneurship



CLICK HERE FOR:   THE 2016 WINNERS

On a Personal Note, Congratulations to my niece  Meredith J. Powell

She won the Category 1 - 2016 Startup Canada Entrepreneur Promotion Award

She Co-Founded, The Next Big Thing in Vancouver.

Click here for: "THE NEXT BEST THING"

This entry is also posted to the Technology Tab above in this Blog. 

TECHNIQUES TO GET YOUR CLASSES ATTENTION 

This article is full of ideas to get your classes attention in a fun way.

Check out the right hand sidebar for more interesting articles from TeachThought!

20 Ways to Get Your Classes Attention

5o Best Smart Phone Apps

55 iPad Apps

14 Blooms Technology Posters

10 Team Building Games

10 Reading Strategies That Work

and more....

Click Here:  Strategies That Work

Also posted to this web/blogs High Strategies Yield Tab and Technology Tab.

Teaching Strategies

Studying With FUN Quizzes ..

Helps Make Sure the Material Sticks

By MindShift

Fun Quizzes can help with retention of knowledge

This can be done with Kahoot Technology for example.

Check out this article posted by MindShift.

Click Here:  FUN QUIZZES HELP WITH LEARNING

Also posted to the High Yield Strategies Tab on this Blog

FINLAND HAS A NEW APPROACH TO TEACHING 

SCRAP ISOLATED SUBJECT INSTRUCTION

Finnish paradigm shift to learning ! 

Subject integration into themes that students have an interest and desire to study ! 


CLICK HERE FOR THE ARTICLE: INTEGRATED THEMES 

Posted under the International Education Tab above too.

ESL PART 1/2/3/ -  CONTINUING EDUCATION AT BROCK

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL FIELD PLACEMENTS IN CHINA

Information sessions coming up! 

Check out this article on Brock's ESL - Continuing Education  Program
and Field Placement Options in China!

It's a privilege to be part of this educational adventure.
A great way to implement your course work and learning.

Click Here for the Article in the Brock Campus News: ESL Part 1/2/3 in China 

Also posted under the ESL and International Education Tabs of the web page.

Harnessing the Incredible Learning Potential 

of the Adolescent Brain

Posted by Mind/Shift

Have a look at this great article on learning and the Adolescent Brain

PLUS

This site is will take you to other great topics:

Teacher Stories

Growth Mind Set

Teaching Strategies 

Big Ideas

Games and Learning

Click Here for the article on:  The Learning Potential of the Adolescent Brain

Also posted under the following Tabs:

Strategies for the New and Seasoned Teacher

Blogs that Inspire

AUTISM

Autism:  Through the Eyes of Temple Grandin
TED TALK

Temple Grandin:
Temple was diagnosed with autism as a child, and talks about how her mind works — sharing her ability to "think in pictures," which helps her solve problems that neurotypical brains might miss.

She makes the case that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids.

Click Here for this amazing TED Talk: Temple Grandin on Autism

Also posted to Special Education Tab

INTERCULTURALITY 

What is that???

Here 8 Ways Students Learn a Language

Discover the power of interculturality and how it can make a big difference in how you teach culture and language in your classroom.  Posted in WE ARE TEACHERS

Click Here for the Article: INTERCULTURALITY

Also posted under the ESL / ELL Tab

INDIGENOUS EDUCATION

TRUTH RECONCILIATION REPORT

What does it mean to you?

In my discussions with my education students,  on diversity in Canada, I have discovered many do not know what it is all about.

As teachers we should know what the Truth and Reconciliation Report says are the next steps for educators.

Look at this excellent article and what Canadians are saying are their feelings on what
they can do to help bring our nation together to build a bright future fall all.

Check out Ivana Yellowback's comments in this report by CBC. She is a student at the University of Winnipeg, who talks about OUR indigenous nations and the friendship treaties that were made with Canada.  She hopes education talks about them and that Canada, as an "honourable nation keeps our promises and that respect".

Look at this CBC report that came out, October 19th, 2016.

Click here for:  What does reconciliation mean to you??


Other Related articles :


Click here for: Reconciliation Report: 94 Calls for Action ( See EDUCATION) ; 94 Calls For Action


Click here for CBC report and slide show: Sad Statistics 


Also posted under the Aboriginal Curriculum Tab above.

See more there!!

GLOBAL AUDIENCE PROJECT

CONNECT YOUR CLASS TO THE WORLD

Have a look at this new site to engage your students in International Education opportunities.

Share a project!

Be an audience!

Browse a database of work!

Thanks to Sylvia Duckworth for sharing!

Click Here to go to the site!!!! Global Education project

Also posted to Technology tab above.
See more tech articles posted there.

GROWTH MINDSET THINKERS

For the 21st Century, we need to develop teachers and students that

 have a "Growth Mindset"!

What is that? 

Find out by watching this great video posted on the Ontario Ministry of Education web page.

Click Here: Growth Mindset

 (Also posted to Webcasts and PD)

SMART PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM

This is an excellent article that looks at how Smart Phones and other
technology can be implemented and used effectively in the classroom.

Read this article and reflect on your pedagogical position.

Click Here: Smart Phones In The Classroom

TRIBES STRATEGIES AND ENERGIZERS!!!

When you start your year, do not forget to set up your classroom climate with researched based 
Tribes Strategies, (Phillips, 2011).  

Gail Phillips has completed research for her Ph.D. in Toronto and has found Tribes to be an effective strategy that makes a measurable difference in developing effective classrooms that are conducive to learning.  

The Tribes Learning Community Web Page is found at: Tribes.com

Here is a connection that is an amazing resource of: Learning Tasks and Energizers

This NEXT connection takes you to TRIBES and an overview of the Program. Tribes Overview!

At the bottom of the entry is the very important learning  task called Life Maps.  Life Maps!

Tribes is an effective strategy for new and seasoned teachers and administrators.

See the classroom management tab above for more information. 

;-)

Tragically Hip - An Incredible Study In Pop Culture

Brock Prof Says The Tragically Hip Brought Canada Together 

CBC broadcasts the Hip Concert live and with no commercials.
The first time that has been done since the 1972 Hockey summit series with the Russians.

Read more about this incredible event by clicking the link below.


Click Here For The Article

9 Elephants In The Classroom

By Will Richardson


FUTURE DIRECTIONS - BIG QUESTIONS 

OUTSTANDING ARTICLE

One of the best articles I have read on these issues outlined below:
 Posted April 10/16,  by Zoe Branigan Pipe Facebook Enrichment Page.

I wonder if there is a ministry of education, anywhere around the world, that has addressed these elephants in the classroom.

I worked at a school in the 90's that due to the principal leadership did address these issues. But when he left the elephants returned.

Educational leaders and philosophers have been talking about these changes for decades. (Fullan, Kohn, Freire, Sir Ken Robinson, ) .

Ministers of Education, Directors of program at the Ministry, Directors of Education in Boards, (along with you Zoe, and George Couros and forward thinking educators) need to develop an Inquiry to change what we are doing or we are always going to get what we have gotten in the past.

Factory model classrooms, and curriculum are not the way of the future. Zoe Branigan-Pipe, the classroom environment you are developing should be in every classroom in Ontario.

Why isn't it? What do we do about it?

Mark

THE NINE ELEPHANTS: 
1.  Most knowledge we teach is forgotten after the test. What really needs to be taught?

2. How do we make schools engaging? Handing a student an iPad is not good enough.

3. How do we structure the physical environment of factory model schools for 21st Century teaching and learning?....and universities and colleges ?

4. We need to assess what matters. What actually matters? We need to stop training students for exams that computers can pass.

5.  Learning is being destroyed by administering grades.  Look at Kohn's research on what Grades do to learning.  See my Blogs Assessment Tab above.

6.  What should the 21st Century Curriculum look like?  We are not there yet.

7.  We know that separating learning into discrete subjects and time blocks is not the best way to prepare kids for the real world.Why are we doing it?  Even age groupings are not wise.  I had a grade 2 student who could beat every intermediate student in chess. What do we learn from that?

8.   We know the system of education as currently constructed is not adequately preparing kids for what follows if and when they graduate.  Look at Ontario's Math scores.  We better look at what we are doing to remedy that beyond add 20 minutes a day to that old fashioned Math block!

9. And finally, we know that learning that sticks is usually learned informally, that explicit knowledge accounts for very little of our success in most professions.


Click Here for Article:  http://willrichardson.com/9-elephants-classroom-unsettle-us/ http://willrichardson.com/9-elephants-classroom-unsettle-us/

This article is also visible under this Web Pages Blog tab.

ONTARIO CONNECTED EDUCATORS

Ontario School and System Leaders Edtech MOOC

This is an incredibly informative site where you can check blogs of many educators through Ontario.
It is a massive resource for Edtech learning.

Developed by Donna Fry
Provincial Lead for Leading Technology Enabled Learning & Teaching

Scroll down the right side of her web page for 50 educator blog sites.

Click Here: Ontario Connected Educators  

This is also posted under my favourites on this web page and under blogs that inspire

Donna Says:

So with #OSSEMOOC, we are trying to build capacity and promote connections.

We need to create a sustainable learning environment in Ontario that promotes self-directed learning for education leaders, and...

• considers all learning preferences
• allows for all levels of readiness
• provides numerous entry points
• is flexible
• allows choice
• respects limitations of time
• supports a variety of learner interests
• promotes the development of connections and connected learning

Check out her site!

You will come back to it time and time again!

Mark

Multiple Intelligence and Learning Styles 

A great article on Howard Gardner's work on Multiple Intelligence and the difference between that and Learning styles.  

 Check out this great article
Click here: Multiple Intelligences: What Does the Research Say?
eduTopia: April 4/16 

Marks and Grades

How useful are they anyway?
Here is an article by Alfie Kohn who indicates his research shows marks and percentage grades do not promote learning.

There are other ways to assess work, provide feedback and promote learning in the 21st Century.
Read and reflect on his message. 

Kohn, A., (2011, November). The case against grades. Educational Leadership. Retrieved

from http://www.alfiekohn.org/article/case-grades/