Watch the video? What do you think the central message in this video is? We had a long break from school from 23 Dec 2014 to Jan 5 2015. Welcome back to school. It is time to get back to work! We have mid terms right around the corner, and then the end of the second marking period. For seniors this may be the last marking period colleges will review before making their decision to accept you to their institution or not. Good luck, come to work, and finish the marking period strong.
It is pretty apparent that many students feel that school is over and the teacher's didn't get the memo...students openly trying to sleep in class...providing the answer "I don't know" when asked a routine question where they could provide input. These are all indicators that many students have lost the motivation to focus. There is only problem: SCHOOL IS NOT OVER YET and FINALS are right around the corner.
Today, you will be organized into three groups to perform two tasks on a rotational basis for 15 minutes each:
CADET PARTICIPATION DISCUSSION TASK: You will discuss how to improve cadet participation in drill, community service, and military ball. Feel free to reference the rubric you filled out. Designate one person to take group notes to capture your ideas on how to increase cadet participation.
RUBRIC TASK: You will be given a hard copy of the BMHS Personal Responsibility Rubric. I will conduct a quick overview. You will then review it and Self Assess Yourself. Based upon the time left available you can discuss as a group. Final Comment: Based upon time remaining we may conduct a class-wide review of the tasks. I will conduct your individual student rubric self assessments and your small group discussion notes.
We just finished a Memorial Day module, where our goal was to learn about a service-member so we could learn about the person not just the Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine. They gave their lives so that you could have a choice on how you will live yours. Besides bearing witness, how do you honor the sacrifice they made for you...? Admiral McCraven shared his 10 lessons from SEAL training to be successful and have an impact on the world. This is a good foundation for this classroom assignment.
Classroom activity:
A. Individual Activity: Take out a piece of paper and reflect upon and answer two questions.
Question 1. What is your Philosophy for Success?
Question 2. What Do you expect from your Generation?
B. Group Activity: Teacher organizes you into three small discussion groups and designates a group leader for each. The group leader will facilitate each student sharing their responses per question with the group. Once they are done sharing their individual perspectives, they will develop a group collective response to those questions and the group leader will write those collective responses on the back of their sheet.
C. Class Activity: We will reform as a class and develop a classroom collective response and write it on the whiteboard. Teacher will take a picture of the graphic using a smart phone to capture class end product.
On Tuesday, Ms. Andronik provided a lecture on research to assist the upperclassmen cadet's in deepening their understanding of research. Our focus on research has been to assist the cadets in their development of their BIG IDEA PROJECT to develop their own sense of innovation. If you missed the class or need a refresher click on the link below:
Part I of your Mid Term is about: Big Idea Project Review and Research Update. Conducting research and managing your information is key for your mid-term which is a separate blog entry.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE YOUR RESEARCH AND THE STATUS FOR YOUR PROJECTS.
After the group activities (Cadet Leader You Have a Dilemma and Edward Snowden: Hero or Traitor) where as small groups you were tasked with conduct hasty research from a variety of sources to solve a situation or make yourself more aware of a particular topic. We had a lecture ( Research 101 PowerPoint) in class on Tuesday that talked about research and how it is a critical skill in just about everything you do in life. FOR HOMEWORK, (due tomorrow Friday) I want you to watch the below video and make a summary comment in the blog comment section about WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT RESEARCH SO FAR???
VIDEO TO BE WATCHED FOR HOMEWORK: Watch this video lecture overview about Research from a college professor in Montana. Still watch the video when he talks about using the library because even though some of his university's college systems are different, the PROCESS (using a search database or library catalog) and FUNCTIONS (how to use the data base or library catalog) are similar.
WHAT IS NEXT? On Monday, our class will receive a How to Use the BMHS Library for Your Research Class? Report to the library computer room on Monday.
I went to a teacher conference at the end of last week and they talked about an area that is key to innovation, and it is called Coding. This area is becoming a lost art. How does one program a computer to do something or solve a problem. Coding. It is about computational thinking, how to see problems and then how to solve or fix problems using technology. It is an area where many future jobs will be available in every field. Lets take a look at this...
There is this campaign sponsored by Computer Science Ed Week, called an Hour of Code, it runs from Dec 9 to Dec 15 so lets take a look.
Location of the Web-sight for the Tutorials: Click on Link below Coding Tutorials
Homework Assignment: 1. Determine Where you will do your Hour of Code? What computer & location will you be using? 2. Which Tutorial will you watch from the above Link? 3. Go to the Website and do the Hour of Code! It is okay if you program with a pair as a team, just let me know. 4. You need to answer the top three questions by Tuesday (Close of Day on Dec 10th) by making a blog entry with your class period and first name & name of partner if you are pair programming.
As we finished the movie, October Sky, we saw how Homer Hickam, who came from humble beginnings, but had a passion for rocketry. He and his fellow "Rocket Boys" developed the ability to plan, design, and launch rockets. They accomplished this at a time where many of the countries in the world at that time could not accomplish what they did in a poor West Virginia coal mining community. As we reflect on our focus on innovation (STEM-Social topics), student creativity (passion and interest), and increased "student centered learning" let us take a look at the future. Watch this video about Innovation High
Classroom Assignment to be completed by the beginning of your class period on Monday, November 18: 1. Watch all three videos (33 mins in total): Video 1. Innovation High School (above video / 22 minutes) Video 2. Watch the video: Invisible Bike Helmet from Sweden (3.5 mins) Video 3. Watch the video: How Gardening Involves Interdisciplinary Learning (7 mins) 2. After watching the videos, make a blog entry (Comments section) commenting on the following: A. How Brien McMahon could move more towards innovative learning in the near future? ( Make specific recommendations) B. What have YOU learned about innovation so far? C. What have you learned about yourself from working on your Big Idea project so far...?
Ensure your comment blog entry addresses all three areas listed (A,B, C) above after watching the videos (Videos 1,2,3).
Click on the Link above, talk about innovation and thinking creatively....an invisible bike helmet!!!!
NOT THE PICTURE ABOVE
Having a creative interest in an area or a problem you want to solve coupled with a deep desire to learn how to solve it or improve a process can result in amazing things. These two ladies loved riding bikes but didn't like wearing the available bike helmets, but they needed protection if there was an accident or they fell off of the bike. See what they came up with to solve this...it is amazing.
This is an example of how a student used biology, agriculture, and economics to develop food for the cafeteria. Think of what your Big Idea Project will look like at the end of this school year...?
TIME TO ACTUALLY GET STARTED ON YOUR BIG IDEA PROJECT!!! You are going to actually give "birth" to your big idea that is going to have an impact on the world... home... school... neighborhood...community...church...team...organization...city... state... country...or the globe.
This project is YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW YOURSELF HOW AWESOME YOU ARE.
Class Activity: Based on our last class and blog entry, you were tasked to be ready to state your innovative big idea in today's class.
1. Look at the whiteboard in the front of the class, and you will see five different colored papers with an innovation category (STEM-Social) written on each.
Innovation Categories and Corresponding Colors:
Science: Red, Technology: Orange, Engineering: Blue, Math: Brown
Social: Green
2. Take two minutes and confirm what category you are curious or passionate about (this guidance is not new to you). Go to the back of the room and take a small colored piece of paper associated with the innovation category your big idea originates from and return to your seats.
3. Teacher will groups students by their innovation category (colored piece of paper) into small fishbowl (circular) groups.
Group interaction:
Small Group: One person at a time presents their "big idea" to your group and each person provides feedback, not agreement or disagreement to their idea. They rotate until each person has presented their idea and received & provided feedback.
Large Group (Class): Once small group interaction is done then, they will each present their idea to the entire class which provides their idea to exposure to the potential collaboration with other ideas from other categories.
4. Each student will write their big idea on their colored piece of paper and turn it into teacher by the end of class.
The Big Idea Journey has begun, you have taken the first step....
Current Affairs Update: We have talked about the Affordable Healthcare Act...the Debt Crisis...the Housing Crisis...the Debt Ceiling...considerable discussion in the media about what is wrong with our country and unfortunately depending upon the political slant of the particular news channel you will often hear the media blame one particular party or another. Word / Concept Bank: ApoliticalNews MediaFreedom of SpeechFourth EstatePress Bias Media Bias Let's watch a video (with some biases of its own) that talks about the cost of Media Bias on our Elections:
Classroom Activity / Associated Homework:
1. Form into three separate groups.
2. Watch the first video which is of a MSNBC media reporter getting emotional but voicing what appears to be a balanced perspective of blame towards both parties and the demand for the POTUS to step up and lead the country to start to fix this crisis.
3. Review & Discuss the Word / Concept Bank as a class.
4. Watch the second video on Media Bias which gives a look at how a CNN Reporter (typically viewed as a liberal reports about the Tea Party (grassroots ultra Conservative Republican party group).
5. Discuss your impressions as a group and your HOMEWORK is to make an individual blog entry (minimum of a paragraph) of your opinion whether or not you think their is bias in our news media? and why?
As we hear Ashton's words of wisdom, what do you think???
Do you need to be some other than you are to be successful?
Opportunity looks like Hard Work. (Agree or disagree)
Being SMART, THOUGHTFUL, and GENEROUS is what...?
Is your present state of productivity (getting your work done) the way it is?
What does the phrase WORK ETHIC mean? (Click on the hyperlink) Think of what Ashton said in relation to the INDIVIDUAL work ethic of each of you during this assignment so far and the GROUP work ethic of your debate group. How would you describe your group's performance so far? Period 2? Period 4? Period 6? Period 7?
What is a Personal Learning Network and why are we talking about it...?
Let us start with a definition from Wikipedia of Personal Learning Network as a start: A personal learning networkis aninformal learningnetwork that consists of the people a learner interacts with and derives knowledge from in apersonal learning environment (PLE). In a PLN, a person makes a connection with another person with the specific intent that some type of learning will occur because of that connection. Learners create connections and develop a network that contributes to their professional development and knowledge.The learner does not have to know these people personally or ever meet them in person.
One aspect is that the learner contribute and derive knowledge in a PLEthrough various nodes.In this way, the learner chooses which mediums (digital, F2F, P2P,) and social media to build a PLN. Specifically, the learner chooses whom to interact with in these media and how much to participate. Learners enters thePLEwith certain goals, needs, interests, motivations and problems that are often presented to the people they include in their PLN.Moreover, the learner will collaborate and connect differently with various members. The learner will establish stronger relationships with some members and have a low level of connection with others. Not all nodes will be equal.Some of the member roles include searcher, assembler designer of data, innovator of subject matter, and researcher.
PLNs are becoming an important part of professional development in several fields with some businesses creating their own e-learning content and PLEs for their employees. In addition, PLNs have become prevalent in the field of education and are rapidly becoming adopted as centers for the diaspora of field related information (in this regard, they are also often referred to as PROFESSIONAL Learning Networks).
WHY DEVELOP A PERSONAL LEARNING NETWORK?
This is one of the best ways of using all available resources to improve and manage your own learning. Any network is about PEOPLE, PROCESS, and SYSTEMS (TECHNOLOGY).
PEOPLE: Anyone you can interact with to help you learn. Friends, fellow students, family, teachers, mentors and coaches, and subject matter experts (SMEs).
PROCESS: HOW, WHEN, and WHERE do YOU LEARN and COLLABORATE. Is it digital, Face to Face (F2F), or Person to Person (P2P)? Do you learn during school (07:30 am to 2:15pm), at home during homework time, at work, or throughout the day? It isn't all about technology, sometimes you meet people to talk with them about things you want to learn.
SYSTEMS (What Web 2.0 types of technology do you use?): Internet, Blogs, wikis, social media, etc. How do you use information technology to gain access to info about things you want to learn, to learn faster and more in depth? Besides texting, Google search, twitter, and Facebook what Web 2.0 technologies do you know?
Developing a PLN will help you now as a student and in your future life as a professional, so lets get started!! This will also help you in your Cadet Innovation Project....
Cadet Innovation Project....I know you think I am crazy...what can you a teenager do to affect the lives of others, let alone the world. After watching this YouTube video, how can you still think that....? Remember it all starts with with YOU being curious about something that you are interested in or something that bothers you that you want to fix. What are you curious about? What do you have a passion for learning about or a particular challenge or problem you want to fix? You need to use your imagination...?
Part of your Cadet Innovation Project is to open your mind to the concept of innovation itself. Let's look at a some definitions of Innovation according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary says :
A. the introduction of something new, a new idea, method, or device
B. In technology, an improvement to something already existing. Distinguishing an element of novelty in an invention remains a concern of patent law.
There is a tendency to think that INNOVATION is about IDEAS...well that is only part of it. INNOVATION is about applying action and your talents to that great IDEA and through a series of trial and error experiments discovering what works and what doesn't, and refining your idea and innovative concept.
Sometimes by collaborating with another person or group, your idea combined with someone else's idea results in Innovation as well. Let us look at an example.
Background. Communications skills are critical to just about every activity in life in both your personal and professional endeavors. In this picture, you see a sailor from the Submarine School talking to cadets during a visit to Groton Naval Base. In this situation the sailor has limited time to orient high school students to a multi-million dollar submarine simulator so they can generally understand what it is and how to basically operate the simulator in the short time they have. Sometimes we not only have to communicate, but have to do so effectively in a short amount of time or within a time limit.
Speech Word Bank: Popcorn Ice Baseball Van Light Fear Integrity Banking Lint Goals Classroom Activity: (Monday) 1. Pick a Partner, you will not be assigned one...choose wisely. There will be 2 person speech teams. 2. Choose 2 words from the speech word bank with each of the team members responsible for the speech content and speaking related to that word. 3. Collaborate the development (planning, preparation, etc.) of your speech which is required to be 2 minutes and 30 seconds long. Use your creativity to determine how you will use those words from your speech word bank to include the theme (persuasive, informative, etc.) or focus of your speech. Ensure you have a written speech script timeline which encompasses:.
Introduction, (Student A) Time estimate: _________________
Discussion Points about Word #1, (Student A) Time Estimate: _____________________
Discussion Points about Word # 2, (Student B) Time Estimate: _____________________
Conclusion (Student B) Time Estimate: _________________________
Endstate of Monday's Class:
A. Have a Speech Script timeline complete where each one of you knows what content (with associated time estimate) you are responsible for in the 2:30 minute speech.
B. Finalize your portion of the speech, as will your partner, to include self timing your portion of the speech as you rehearse it at home. Rehearse & time your portion numerous times to ensure it is of high quality as you can make it and it meets the time limit.
C. Anything you don't finish in class is your homework, which will be assessed during your speech tomorrow. You will not have any time to work on your speech Tuesday in class, you will only be given a short amount of time to rehearse it one time with your partner for timing and transition.
(Tuesday)
Orientation for Tuesday's Class:
We will start right away. Come to class with your refined and rehearsed (timed) portion of the speech ready to go.
You will Rehearse your speech within the first 10 minutes of class with your partner.
Then we will start the speeches and the peer assessment of the speeches.
When you are not giving your speech you will be assessing (grading) your fellow students performance. Write the speech partner's names on a piece of paper and grade them for Body Language, Speech Content, and Presentation Effectiveness.
You will assign a grade of 1 (acceptable),2 (very good),or 3 (outstanding) for each one of those three areas: Body Language, Speech Content, and Presentation Effectiveness.
Also give any specific feedback on anything you think they need to improve upon.
You will hand in your Peer Assessment sheet in at the end of class. Ensure you write your name & class period.
Effective Communication is a Lifelong Skill and you won't generally have unlimited time in which to communicate your points.
It is one thing to give feedback to others, but it is another thing to receive feedback on your performance from your peers or even people junior to you. It is critical that the feedback is collected professionally and presented professionally. A professional needs to have a secure ego to be able to hear negative, but constructive criticism. Take a look at this short video on peer evaluations on work and performance.
As your teacher, I have included myself in the process where I solicited your feedback on my performance. What will take place in class:
You will be given a group activity such as in class manual of arms or drill practice.
I will pull you into the staff room individually and give you a synopsis of your peers comments & advice for you.
I will also include my own impressions of your performance and conduct.
Tuesday Night Homework:
Post a blog response on what value this experience was for you to hear what your peers and teacher thought about you. Put initials and class period in your response.
MONDAY (NOV 26): WEEKLY PUBLIC SPEAKING ASSIGNMENT:
Watch this six minute video, take notes, and draft a written one minute (1:30 min max) speech on what specific DECISIONS and ACTIONS you need to make for YOU to be SUCCESSFUL....
Do not just write the stereotypical comments: " I need to apply myself...study harder...pay attention in class...do my homework....etc."BE SPECIFIC on the DECISIONS and ACTIONS ...
You will give the short speech in class (participation) today and your homework is to post your short speech in the Comments section of this blog, include your name and period (for example: Cadet Smith, Period 2) in the beginning of your comment (written short speech).
This post is extracted from Ms. Pernille Ripp's blog : Blogging through the Fourth Dimension (Educator Musings / Technology / and Lessons ) My Life as a Teacher by Pernille Rapp.
As a proponent of student blogging I am often asked what it "does" for my students. The thing is, it does quite a bit.
Provides them with a voice. Education cannot be done to students anymore, they have to have a voice since it is their lives it effects the most; blogging gives them that.
Gives them an authentic writing audience. The product doesn't end with me and a grade, it is out for the world to see and to continue to be developed.
Puts their place in the world in context. We think our students know how much in common they have with kids their age around the world, but they don't usually. Blogging with those kids and connecting through projects such as the Global Read Aloud brings the world in.
Increases their global knowledge. Again, when you connect with others through your work and words, friendships develop and as does a mutual interest in the lives of one another This is the modern version of penpals.
Instills them with tech saviness and confidence. Blogging teaches my students yet another tool to use and we also use it to showcase other tools we have played around with. They feel confident in their skills as bloggers and it carries into their overall tech approach.
Instills safety rules and measures to be taken whilst online. We drill safety all year and the kids know the lessons by heart. It is our job to teach them how to be safe and the best way to do that is to work with them in situations that could be unsafe if treated the wrong way.
Teaches them how to give constructive feedback. We comment on each others posts but they have to be constructive comments. Blogging is a natural extension of the peer edit.
Teaches them how to have a meaningful written dialogue. When students don't get comments on their posts, we often go back to see why not. Usually they realize it was not written in a manner that invited others to participate in their writing. Revision and reformulating follows.
Cements proofreading and spell check. We don't want the world to see us as a poor spellers or grammatical buffoons.
Expands their geographical knowledge. We pushpin maps with the location of our connections, this sparks more questions, which lead to a deeper relationship between the students and those we connect with.
Furthers their empathy, as well as interest in others. Blogging should not be a solitary experience, but rather one that invites discussion. To have meaningful discussions one must care about others, which is shown through their questions.
Encourages them to view their own writing through a more critical lens. Because we have a portfolio of their writing from the beginning of the year to now, we can go back and see their development. Are they developing as a writer or what do they need to focus on? The stakes are raised because it is not just the teacher that sees their work.
Creates reflective students. Because students are given a mouthpiece to the world, I see them take more chances to reflect on themselves and their choices. It is remarkable to see a student reflect on what grades has taught them or what it means to be a student.
It creates opportunities for us to have fun.
THIS SHOULD HELP ANSWER WHY YOU SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THIS BLOGGING
