Sir Ken Robinson on Standardized Testing. 

bit.ly/1GP7HeD

Excellent short 2 minute video.

We need HIGH Educational Standards and we must fight against the common movement toward Standardized Testing.

We are all different and do things in different ways due to our personal learning experience. Personalized education is needed before standardized testing.

Classroom Management Ideas 

This link has been posted in my blog under classroom management strategies!!

Have a look!! Some great ideas you can build on!!!

Click here:  http://www.buzzfeed.com/weareteachers/27-attention-getters-for-quieting-a-noisy-classroo-h0xt

The Brain And Restorative Powers

Great video clip by CBC on the brain and learning and its restorative powers.

Interesting information on Autism, Parkinson's and more.

Check it out.

Click here: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152678385612686

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Developmental Stages of School Aged Children

An excellent resource worth bookmarking!

Click this link: bit.ly/1EY5SON

Technology Implementation in Schools - Here's How!

Bill Torrens ‏@bill_torrens Principal at Gatestone School 

tweeted out a wonderful reflective blog entry on 

how to develop and implement a Technology Plan in your 

school.  


Click the link below to see the whole article. 

• Build a shared vision –  This is vital if the goal is a sustained, cross-curricular application on a routine basis. Especially when you leave the school.

• Develop a strategic plan backed by action – Why is this change needed? How will it be implemented? What resources are needed? How will we monitor progress and evaluate on a consistent basis? What other challenges have to be overcome? 

• Access matters – During the planning process it is imperative that there is a critical analysis of existing infrastructure. 

• Ensure ongoing professional development – I cannot overstate the importance of this suggestion enough.  Teachers need training on how to develop pedagogically sound lessons and quality assessments aligned to higher standards.  They also need to be exposed to a variety of tools and ways that they can be seamlessly integrated to support specified learning outcomes. School leaders need professional learning opportunities that assist them to effectively observe and evaluate digital learning in classrooms.   Professional development should be ongoing and embedded throughout the school year.

• Monitor with intent – The vision and planning process provides the focus, but consistent monitoring helps to ensure sustainable change leading to transformation.  School leaders need to consistently monitor and provide feedback on digital learning activities through observations, evaluations, walk-throughs, and collecting artifacts.  

• Provide support – Throughout the initial implementation stages, and well after the initiative gains steam, ongoing support needs to be provided. Support comes in many ways such as empowering teachers to be innovative, giving up control, being flexible, encouraging risk-taking and providing a budget.

• Model the way – To put it simply, don’t expect others to do what you will not. Attempt to model at a basic level the expectations that you have when it comes to digital learning. Don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves and work along side your colleagues. 

Excellent synopsis. Check it out. 

Click this link: http://Click esheninger.blogspot.ca/2015/03/digital-learning-prospers-with-right.html?m=1 …

The 6 C's for the 21st Century Teacher and Student

The "6  Cs" for the 21st Century Teacher 

Michael Fullen, Ontario's education researcher guru has set our next focus for teachers.
He has called it the 6 C's for Teaching and Learning. Here they are listed below. Check the attached short article to learn more!!

• Character education— honesty, self-regulation and responsibility, perseverance, empathy for contributing to the safety and benefit of others, self-confidence, personal health and well-being, career and life skills.
  
  
• Citizenship — global knowledge, sensitivity to and respect for other cultures, active involvement in addressing issues of human and environmental sustainability.
  
  
• Communication — communicate effectively orally, in writing and with a variety of digital tools; listening skills.
  
  
• Critical thinking and problem solving — think critically to design and manage projects, solve problems, make effective decisions using a variety of digital tools and resources.
  
  
• Collaboration — work in teams, learn from and contribute to the learning of others, social networking skills, empathy in working with diverse others.
  
  
• Creativity and imagination — economic and social entrepreneurialism, considering and pursuing novel ideas, and leadership for action. 
  

Click this link to learn more: The 6 C's: From Great to Excellent

This link is also posted in my Favourites List on the home page.

Gender And Diversity

In our Methods Class, Faculty of Education, Brock University, we have been working on Diversity and Differentiation. 

If you get  chance take a look at this article on Gender and Success at School. 

Boys are behind girls academically across the grades our statistics revealed in class last week. 

Have a look at this article from the Economist- Click Here: 

www.economist.com/news/international/21645759-boys-are-being-outclassed-girls-both-school-and-university-and-gap?fsrc=scn/tw/te/pe/ed/theweakersex

JAMES BOND - INNOVATIVE EDUCATOR

CLICK THE HERE FOR THE WEB PAGE

GOOGLE DRIVE IN THE CLASSROOM

TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

Google Drive in the Classroom

A wonderful past Methods student sent me these 2 amazing articles today.

They are too good not to share!!

Check the related posts at the bottom of the articles.  

Thanks Alexis!

CLICK HERE FOR: 12 ROLES For GOOGLE DRIVE IN THE CLASSROOM


TEN WAYS TEACHER PLANNING NEEDS TO ADJUST TO THE GOOGLE GENERATION 

iPads In Education 
uses, benefits, and challenges

An outstanding study! 

Easy to read,

Great graphic organizers to show data

Clear data lists

Excellent Summaries and Conclusion

A 2013 survey of 6,057 students and 302 teachers in Quebec (Canada)

Preliminary Report of Key Findings 

By:  Thierry KARSENTI

        Aurélien FIEVEZA 

Click Here: iPads in Education