21st Century Educating: what does it look like, feel like, sound like?

I get that we can read a ton about the premise of 21st century education and what changes need to occur, but I see teachers struggling with what, practically, that means for them, within their classroom walls, with their 20+ students.  How does one paint the picture?  Sadly, I think that the picture is painted in the creative parts of our minds and sometimes that picture will have flaws and will have to be constantly re-done, touched up, and be ever changing.   That is hard for us teachers to accept in this high stakes world of education.  I have tried to create a collection of artifacts that will help you "think outside of the box" and imagine.... what could it mean to you.  Do not be afraid to give something a try...

21st Century Education Weebly

Your Personal Learning Network

Link to picture

So, how are you doing with your Personal Learning Network. Have you found the great power in it yet?  I know, it is the time thing...  It is for me too, but my PLN is how I learn and how I find fun, exciting new ideas to try in my classroom or share with you. (Aren't you lucky?)  I have found the power of Google Reader, Twitter, Pinterest, and save links all the time in my Diigo.  

In fact, I had to start this blog because I was finding so many awesome ideas to share and I didn't have anyone to share them with... so I am sharing them here.

If you have yet to find the power and beauty of a Personal Learning Network, see if these two blog posts inspire you to give it another try.

Professional Education Learning Communities 

Part 1:  Definition, Process, Common Core

Part 2:  5 Easy Steps ~ 50 Links to Goldmines

Is Great Teaching an Art or a Science?

Stumbled upon another great TED talk that examines this question, is teaching an art or a science?  It takes a great look at teaching today and the greatly swinging pendulum of what we used to do as teachers and what teaching is today.  Great coversation.  Gives me more depth of knowledge to what I have been experience.  Take a look and see what you think....

21st Century Education

21st Century education is a big buzzword right now.  We are well on our way into the 21st century and we are still trying to figure this out. I think the big chunks I glean from all of my reading is that a shift from teacher directed learning to student centered needs to occur.  We need today's students to be in charge of their learning and self motivate and self direct more than possibly in the past.  These are critical skills that the adult of the 21st century will need to "survive" the 21st Century workplace.  We also need our students to be able to solve problem, by working together, communicating with others using many different venues to converse, and also to critically think through situations as they arise.  This is not done by reading the textbook, filling in the worksheet, or completing problems 1-20 even.  We've got to change our practice.

Here are a few good pieces on this subject that I hope make you think deeper, more critically about 21st Century Education.

21 Signs You Are a 21st Century Teacher

New Tool Alert ~ Quizlet

One of my favorite tools is Quizlet.  My daughter has been reviewing her social studies and Spanish vocabulary on her iPod using the Quizlet app and it got me exploring.    She studies, she does well and the teacher noted that kids that use it do better than those that study using traditional notes and study methods.  I love its versatility, that it works on the computer but also on iPods, iPads, Android devices,  awesome!

If you are not familiar with Quizlet, here is a quick look at this tool...

Check out more here....... More about Quizlet.

How could you use Quizlet to help your students learn information in your classroom?

Play Quizlet here.... do you know your Latin American Countries and Capitals?

What can you use Quizlet for in your classroom?

So very tired......

I have to admit, there is a common theme among so many of us teachers lately, we are very tired.  I know that life is busy, but everyone's life is busy. I was fighting the fall cold, so is that the contributing factor?  Could it be that the season is changing and the cold weather is making me more tired?  .......Or I've been wondering, is it more....  
Strangest thing, while reading my Google Reader yesterday afternoon with a cup of tea, I came upon this very interesting blog post article.  Could this be it?  Read it for yourself.  It is definitely food for thought....


The Exhaustion of the American Teacher by John Kuhn  

I'm Intrigued by BYOD

My daughter entered high school this year and with that came our first experience with BYOD.  (Bring Your Own Device ~ since my husband needs the acronym defined better.)  It has been interesting to hear her talk about taking her iPod to school to do what she needs to do.  I am intrigued by the BYOD movement and understand the need for schools to explore this.  Cost inhibiting factors make it be that schools can't fund the constant replacement of machines or fund 1:1 initiatives.  Buying a bank of devices to have on hand for students who do not have their own devices, but allowing student who have devices to bring them makes sense in this age of education.  

I think about how I function with my iPhone.  Basically, can't live without it.  I am constantly looking up "things" when I am in "need to know" mode.  Kids in school should be no different and in having that instant access, they are owning their own learning and taking charge of what they are learning.  How awesome is that?  Isn't that what we want? Independent learners?

Here is an interesting article I found on BYOD and the things to think about if you want to launch a successful BYOD program.

Dan Meyer ~ A New Perspective in Teaching (Math)

If you haven't heard of Dan Meyer, he has interesting perspectives on teaching math and teaching in general. Watch his Ted Talk to learn more about him and his ideas....

IF that isn't cool enough, he also has a website called 101 Math Questions, which is a website that shares images and videos as prompts for math questions.  Question can be entered into the site in a 140 character, Twitter style.  Higher level thinking stuff!    Here is a direct link to the top 10 questions from this site.  Finally, here is a blog post from Dan Meyer, which will explain the premise behind this website even better than I can.  Check it out and let me know what you think! 

A Flipped Look at Flipping your Classroom

In this blog post, the author classroom teacher, Shelly Wright, makes some excellent points about her last year of living in a flipped classroom.  This is a great blog post to read if you are flipping your instruction or interested in it.  Here's the link to the blog post:  

Flip:  The End of a Love Affair

Will Richardson ~ Poses a Challenging Question.

I always enjoy reading and listening to Will Richardson because he isn't afraid to ask or pose the difficult questions.  In a recent blog post on his site, he asks, What's the sound foundation?  It is worth a read, since it will make you think about education in our world today.
 I also noted that he has come out with a new book called Why Schools?, which is $2.99 on Amazon in the Kindle edition.  I look forward to reading this.  My guess is, he is going to expand on the thoughts he starts in the blog post.  He definitely makes me think!

With great thanks and gratitude....

I work with so many teachers that deserve a great big thank you for everything they do for children every minute of every day.  Teachers everywhere deserve our praise and gratitude for their hard work at shaping the future leaders of our world.  Here's to you all......  

SmartBoard Blogs to Follow

If you are a SmartBoard user, here are two blogs you should add to your Personal Learning Network:  Teachers Love SmartBoards and The WhiteBoard Blog. Both of these websites share great ideas for using whiteboards or specifically, SmartBoards, in the classroom.  Teachers Love SmartBoards is totally dedicated to SmartBoard technology and shares notebook files as well as web content that works well with the SmartBoard.  The WhiteBoard Blog is more general to all types of whiteboards and highlights web content that works well with whiteboards as well as general whiteboard strategies and techniques.    Both sites are great and worth a look! 

Let's Get Started....

As of late, I have been thinking... I find so many awesome ideas to share with others, but I always struggle with the how to best share effectively.  I decided that possibly a blog may serve my purpose in that I can post random technology integration, education, 21st century, type posts here and they can be shared with anyone interested enough to be looking.  Hence, the start of this blog.  May it be a great means of sharing fabulous content with all of you!

This blog will be a conglomerate of other resources, and compilation of articles, links, tools, etc. that I find as I sift through my personal learning network.  I will share the best of the best in hopes that you find some things of great use.  

Sara Schoepke