Presenter Media and Giveaway

The giveaway is now closed, but check back in late March or early April for our next giveaway!

Happy Anniversary to Upcycled Education!  We've been at this bloggin' thing a month and we have over 2,000 page views and 75 comments by blog readers to date!  Yay, for educators, students, parent-followers and teaching & learning!  Special thank you to little O and P for letting me sneak up to our studio to blog away.

Are you ready for our most popular day - Tech Tuesday and our first ever giveaway?  Yep, all this week until Friday, March 4th, 2011 at midnight EST, you can enter to win.  I'll let you enjoy the suspense until the end of the post to reveal the prize.

Today's Tech Tuesday was recently introduced to me by a colleague. Let me set the stage... I am sitting in a department meeting, which I adore because I seriously work with the most amazing colleagues.  These women are uber-bright, avid go-getter, teacher types.  Working with them is like working with the dream team. One of our colleagues - who happens to be a stellar ex-principal and chooses to continue working although she's retired - is walking us a through a presentation on the latest Blue Ribbon Panel report on transforming teacher education.  This super colleague starts using PowerPoint - sometimes I call it PowerPointless as it is entirely overused.  But, nonetheless, here I am at the meeting and I am interested in the contents of the report.  However, this is no ordinary PowerPoint.  This one is completely engaging!  Welcome, Presenter Media.

Presenter Media is a subscription-based treasure trove of animated clip art, high quality graphics and captivating templates.  The aforementioned all work on PC or Mac operating systems and are available in formats that play nicely with PowerPoint versions 1997-2010.  Very simply, you join Presenter Media - they kindly have a discounted subscription rate for educators.  Email them here to inquire; they are quick to respond to emails from my experience.  Once you are a member, you can download as many templates, clip art and graphics as you desire!  Once they are downloaded, they are yours to use forever!

Here is a sample of animated symbols and signs.  Click here to see the Math Symbols Bouncing Up and Down - it's a favorite of mine.

Here is a sample of templates for science lessons.  My two favorites are the sweet Green Earth Butterfly and Red Blood Cell Vein  - which sounds creepy, but it is entirely engaging.



Using the templates and artwork is easy.  I think the getting started tutorial is well worth the watch as the owner, Art, literally walks you through the process of downloaded and using the templates and artwork.  Plus, once you download, they are yours to use forever!  Did I mention that already ? 

And now.... a BIG thank you to Art and his colleagues over at Presenter Media - the first ever giveaway on Upcycled Education is a free subscription!  If you use PowerPoint, have wanted to use it or you know someone who would benefit by having a one-year subscription to Presenter Media - enter the giveaway!

The giveaway is now closed, but check back in late March or early April for our next giveaway!

Here's the skinny:

• Domestic and international entries welcomed!
• Visit Presenter Media and explore the engaging templates, animations and clip art.
• Down below this post where it says "comments," leave a comment about which template, animation or clip art you like best and how you think it could be used for teaching and learning.  As always, no passwords or usernames are required.
• You can enter up to three times; just leave three different comments below. 
• All entries must be posted by midnight on Friday, March 4th, 2011, Eastern Standard Time
• One lucky winner will be announced on Saturday morning, post-my-morning-cup-of-coffee-with-cream-and-sugar.

The giveaway is now closed, but check back in late March or early April for our next giveaway!

Isn't this fun?  Free stuff and Tech Tuesday?  Do enter below and entice your friends and colleagues to play. 

Thank you, Presenter Media and yippee! 

Jen

Your classroom and a hole-in-the-wall

I don't know if it is obvious or not, but I am thoroughly enjoying blogging.  I can barely put into words how alive, refueled and invigorating it is to me.  For all those times or situations where I felt I didn't have a voice, I am making up for them now.  I feel like a lion - ROAR!

I hope little O feels like this during her life.  Happy.  Although, it looks like she's doing a decent job of that below.  Perhaps, I should concentrate on world peace instead.

Yesterday's Theories on Thursday introduced (or "reintroduced" -  for those of you who already knew of Dr. Sugata Mitra's work) the idea that sometimes less is more in education.  Less teacher dialogue, less sage on the stage, less lecture loser.  Yep, I just referred to myself as a lecture loser.  I am holding a big "L" hand gesture to my forehead right now.  Let's face it, sometimes we teachers talk and talk and talk and talk. 

Life is about balance.

As promised in yesterday's post - by the way, if you missed the post yesterday, you must click here and watch it.  Yes, this one is a watchable post (I just had to make certain "watchable" was truly a word in the English language).  Whew, we are safe.  As I was saying before I interrupted my own self (see, talkie, talkie, talkie....), today's post will summarize some of Dr. Mitra's research findings.  How will you use these findings in your classroom (or for our parent readers, with your children)?

Dr. Sugata Mitra's research findings:

1. Children will learn regardless of income level and the presence of teachers. 
2. When given the opportunity, children will self-organize their own learning groups.  Four learners in a group seems to be the optimal number, from Dr. Mitra's studies.
3. For each group, a learner will emerge as the "group leader" or expert.  This would be a great opportunity to use our metaphor, Captain, Crew and Cargo to discuss those important roles.
4. Allowing ample time for learners to observe the expert and/or the other group mates is paramount.  This is one of the cornerstones of my beloved Montessori education.  More on Montessori education another day.
5. Children in self-organized groups need plenty of time to learn by discovery.  Trial and error, rehearsal and practice time all contribute to optimal learning and growth.
6. Children gain much from capable peers (sorry, lecture losers....).  I am sweaty at the armpits.  Am I unneeded teacher?
7. When teachers (and parents) take on the "grandmother approach" - admiring kids' work and asking reflective questions - children learn more.  OK, now I have something to work towards.....
8. There is no room for bullying when children are self-organized and working collaboratively.
9. Carrots and sticks (rewards and punishments) are unnecessary when the above conditions are present; children intrinsically and innately want to learn.  Does anyone else hear the sirens singing?

If you are like me and you want fancy charts and graphs of Dr. M's research findings, click here.  You might also like to review some of the international published studies on the Hole-in-the-wall project.  Click here if you do.

As we take off for the weekend, the question is this, "What will you do with these research findings?  How will they impact teaching and learning (or child rearing, working with colleagues, etc)?

Food for thought.  My head is spinning with the possibilities.

All the best,
Jen

PS - Will I see you next week for our first giveaway?  Come on and join us!

When less is more: Theories on Thursday

I had my world rattled and my passion ignited at the AEE international convention this past November 2010.  Dr. Sugata Mitra, an unassuming man from India, rattled it.

He spoke of his "Hole-in-the-wall" research where computer terminals where set-up in the slums of New Delphi, India, given to children who spoke no English, had no computer instruction, barely formal teaching, no rewards, punishments, carrots or sticks and then watched the magic unfold.  What he discovered could be summed up in this quote:

"Where you have interest, you have education." - Sir Arthur C. Clarke

I would never demand you watch a video, but this is a must.  This 17 minute, TED talk by Dr. Sugata Mitra sums up his Hole-in-the-wall Project - a project he replicated, again and again, to prove his assumptions about human learning and demonstrate the willfulness and tenacity of kids, an often times under-valued resource.  He is exceptionally brilliant, completely unassuming and has a tremendous sense of humor.  I believe, every teacher and parent should see this as a testament to the capabilities of our children and students - capabilities that should never be underestimated. 

Without exaggeration, Dr. Mitra's findings brings me to joyful tears.  This TED talk, but the way, is almost an exact replica of the keynote address Dr. Mitra gave at the AEE conference. 

Now, that you have watched the TED talk, what do you think?  Is the quote above correct?  What role does, or should,  a teacher (or parent) play in learning?  Use the comments window below to record your thoughts.  As always, no password or user name required.

If you check back tomorrow, I will summarize some of the keys points of Dr. Mitra's research and we can strategize how to include those in our everyday teaching and learning.  If you want to look for more information before then, check out Dr. M's think tank website.

A-ma-zing,

Jen

PS - I know I am not alone in my admiration of Ted talks.  I just watched this one by Jacqueline Novagratz and I am com-plete-ly moved.  She talks of living a life of "immersion."  How's that for some Thursday passion?

PSS - Join Upcycled Education for our first giveaway.....You deserve some love.

Giving feedback

As promised, this is Part II of last week's post when we shook up behaviorism.  If you missed that post, click here.  How did the three types of responses work with your students (or loved ones)?  I'd love to hear about them; use the "comments" window at very bottom of the post to share your experience(s).  Like always, leaving comments is simple stuff - no password or user name required.  

Today's ideas will be short and simple - how to give feedback to students (kids, colleagues, loved ones and assorted others) in tactful, respectful, effective and non-behaviorist ways. 

I think of "contrast" when I consider these suggestions.  "Two sides of the same coin," as the idiom goes.....

Feedback Idea #1:  Stars and Wishes
When offering feedback to students, share their "stars" and your "wishes."  Stars are highlights of their best work or behavior.  Wishes are thoughtful suggestions how to improve.  Sometimes, I have peers give each other stars and wishes.  I usually "train" them first by granting me stars and wishes.  When they are savvy at that, I have them give stars and wishes to each other.  Students seem to especially like feedback from their peers versus me all the time.  Of course, caring classrooms and stars & wishes training them is paramount.  For this feedback, I typically use these handy slips I created and have students (or myself) circle the appropriate icon and grant the star or wish (sometimes both).  If you'd like a full sheet of them ready to go, click here. 

Feedback Idea #2:  Pluses and Deltas
A decade ago, I worked for Outward Bound and was taught this useful strategy.  Like stars and wishes, it fosters constructive, non-behaviorist feedback.  In this case, the pluses are highlights of a student's best work or behavior and the deltas are areas that need change.  Delta, in this meaning, comes from the math and science worlds where the delta sign often means, "a small change in....".  I generally use a paper tool like the one below.  If you'd like a full sheet of pluses and deltas, click here.  You can tell I am into paper feedback.

Feedback Idea #3:  Glows and Grows - my new favorite!
I thank one of my graduate students, Josh, for this strategy he picked up from another educator and was kind enough to share with me (and his classmates during a class online discussion).  Like the previous tools, glows are highlights in a student's work or behavior. Grows are areas to improve.  There is something about the rhyme and alliteration of "glows and grows" that speak to me.  It is my feedback tool of choice, at the moment.  Click here for a full sheet of glows and grows.  A big thank you to Josh!

What other types of "contrast" feedback tools do you use? Share some of your ideas in the comments window below.  If you are the first to leave a comment, click on the word "comment" to get us started.

My best,

Jen

PS - One week until the first Upcycled Education giveaway begins!  Want to win something cool?

Doodle for Tech Tuesday

Is it just me or does anyone else have a difficult time setting meeting dates and times that work for everyone?  Sometimes it takes ten or more emails for my colleagues and I to reach consensus on an inclusive meeting date. When I am organizing a "Girls Night Out" or a family get-together, the same email barrage happens.  Things are going to change today.

Say "adios" to the email-derrumba.  Since I taught in Quito, Ecuador for a year, I figure I can throw in Spanish words here or there to show-off.  Today's Tech Tuesday, free web tool is going to change how you set meetings, nights out and family dinners.  Say "hola" to Doodle.

Doodle is a free, web-based scheduler that enables you - the user - to set meeting dates with multiple people with ease.  You don't even need a log-in or password (I log-in because I typically have multiple Doodles scheduling at once).

To begin, go to Doodle and "Schedule an event."  Next, choose your possible meeting dates.  Though completely selfish, I always start with all the possible meeting dates that work for me.  You can see my choices in green below.

Next, choose possible meeting times.  You can add up to five different time slots per day.  You do add your own "pm" or "am" descriptor.  I once scheduled a meeting for 5am!  Yikes.  My bad.

Lastly, Doodle generates two web links:  one for your invitees and one for you, the amazing administrator.  I usually copy and paste the participant link into an email and send it to my invitees.  Then, they all respond via the link and voila (is that Spanish?  Ha!), you check back (via the administrator link provided) to see what the consensus date and time are for the meeting.

Que fantastico, no? (I couldn't figure out how to get the accent or the other upside-down question mark for this phrase.  If you have a doctorate in Spanish Composition, please educate me).

Ahora (or "now," for you non-Spanish speakers), go try Doodle today.  If you prefer a two minute video about Doodle than my above ramblings, click here.

Off to schedule a Girls Night Out meeting,
Jen

PS - One week until the first Upcycled Education giveaway begins! Get ready to win!