You Can't Beat Real Face Time!

This morning on the news I saw a video, sure to go viral, of some college girls at a baseball game, each one so absorbed in their phones and taking selfies, not one looked up when the batter had a hit and the crowd roared! 

Looking up and around you, interacting with each other, smiling face-to-face, can enrich your life and improve your ability to reach your students, be they k-12, college or adult learners.  Last summer, I broadened my perspective by visiting classrooms in the slums of Zambia, this summer, I broadened my horizons by spending some quality time with quality educators. 

Real Face Time

I have to thank, ISTE,  NJPAECET2, and Boston CUE Rockstar Camp, NJAMLE Summer Skills Sharpening Event and of course my sponsor, TregoED for giving me the opportunity to share and grow this summer and fall, … but most of all, I have to thank those educators (check out some of my PLC- those involved in #njamle #njpaecet #cuerockstar #njed #edcampNJ) who dedicate their professional time (and a lot of their personal time) sharing so we can offer kids and colleagues the very best we have to give.

Bottom Line

Twitter is a great place to connect and share, but all the twitter chats in the world will never surpass working face to face with people.  Replacing semi-colons and parentheses with real smiles and eye contact activates mind and soul– just ask a dog.  In this day of political ridiculousness, fault finding and mounds of paperwork- gathering with lots of people that are passionate about their profession and the children they touch is rejuvenating, exhilarating, and challenges you to improve on what you do every day.

Head Out

These are just some of the upcoming free or cheap opportunities (these are in my area, but are being replicated all over the nation) to put your devices down and look each other in the eye. 

Conferences put on by professional organizations: 
Edscape, October 17, 2015 http://edscapeconference.com/

Teacher’s conventions:  NJEA Convention – Are you going?  Are you a Middle Level Educator?  Let’s do coffee!  Follow @njamle #coffeeEDU or visit njamle.org or the NJAMLE table for details!

Edcamps:  EdcampNJ- keeps getting better every year!  Join us on November 21 at Jonathan Dayton High School in Springfield for a day of great conversations, networking opportunities and learning.

And easiest- Walk across the hall, you will be amazed at what your colleagues are doing!

Okay…. so this one is not face to face, but it is a great opportunity to connect in a unique way and learn:

Book Talks:  Edmodo Book Talk: 17,000 Classroom Visits Can't Be Wrong by Antonetti and Garver http://www.amazon.com/000-Classroom-Visits-Can-Wrong/dp/1416620087

The Edmodo Group code is 4thanw  Hosted by Brad Currie and Robert Mullen

Where will you get your next real “face time?”

Do We Need to Individualize PD Instruction?

I was cleaning out my father-in-law’s house the other day and noted that he had at least 3 book shelves full of manuals – how to do, how to fix, etc.  He also had quite a collection of “____________ for Dummies”  books (DOS for dummies, Windows for Dummies, Lotus 123 for Dummies).  He is no dummy.  I marveled at all of the stuff that he wanted to learn (and at how much stuff we had to dispose of).  There was even a two inch thick, three ring binder that was just a manual for Eudora email!  Can you imagine?  Hard to believe that:    1. It was needed and 2. It existed!  He recently downloaded and printed the manual for his Samsung Galaxy Tablet.  At 85 years old, this is just the way he is comfortable learning. 

Where’s the Manual?

Perhaps that is one of the problems with teacher’s being comfortable with using new technology with students.  There is a disconnect in the way that the generations have to learn it (or want to learn it).  In education there is a wide spectrum of generations of educators on any given staff.  One thing is for sure; most of our students are not looking for the manuals!  In fact, there are very few manual readers left anymore (my husband is one- he once brought me a car manual to read while I was in the hospital, but I digress) and since they are on DVD’s or online, you still have to know tech to get to them! 

The Power of Video

Twenty years ago, I facilitated a revolutionary modular learning system called Synergistics from PITSCO. Since each pair of students had different curriculum and activities, they had video tapes that showed them “how to” do the activities of the day.  I saw then the power of video for learning.  It allowed for individualized instruction, students could work at their own pace and they caught on quickly.  I used to make “how to sheets” complete with screen shots for my students and fellow teachers.   Youtube has virtually made them unnecessary.  The most recent group of students I worked with, wanted the “how to” for completing the project, but definitely did not need or want the “how to” for learning the technology.  They just chose it from a list of links of cool tools and took it from there!

The Continuum of Learning

I think the generation we are teaching now is perfectly comfortable learning by doing, and are certainly adept at finding a video that will teach them if they need it.  I often forget that I have the answers at my finger tips (which my own children are quick to point out when I call for help, duh!).   The next group will have had iPads in their hands since they were very young.  Their technology may be built right into their glasses.  There is a great continuum of learning styles and comfort levels in teaching staffs that should be addressed in professional development.  We strive to individualize learning for our students – do we need to individualize learning for our staff?   How would that look?

Unpacking my Tote Bag

Sometimes as an educator I am happy to float along with the current, navigate the rapids and come out the other side unscathed.  I have been fortunate to be able to attend some great conferences this year and it is time to unpack the tote bags as I prepare to write curriculum and activities for another year.  Professional development should not be considered an event, but a paddle stroke that will push you forward and focus your direction.  

From PD to Action

Now that you have at least a month before you re-enter the classroom, how will you capitalize on your learning?  What issues, concerns, or techniques would you like to address or implement in your classroom next year?    What have you learned that will change the way you do your work or change the way your students will do theirs?  What’s in your tote bag?

Unpacking and Repacking

I have to admit, I have quite a few tote bags, some barely get unpacked (and I have one that is just filled with SWAG- great prizes for the classroom or souvenirs for your own children- I used to bring my children the little boxes of cereal...but I digress).   I have a middle level education tote bag, some content area tote bags, a common core tote bag and my newest – an ISTE technology integration tote bag chock full of 101 ideas, tools, apps and best practices.  The key is to take what I have gleaned from the numerous sessions I have attended and apply my learning into my practice one step at a time.  You should not feel that you have to throw out the baby with the bath water (which is a terrible saying now that I think about it). 

Upgrade One Step at a Time

My point is that you should take some of those great lessons, ideas, and practices and massage them into your teaching.  Rather than taking new stuff and fitting it into you already full curriculum, look at your old stuff and see what makes sense to upgrade.  For example, if you are going to discuss the upcoming elections, why not have students look at one issue, research different perspectives, teach them civil discourse in a discussion tool such as SCAN at Tregoed.org or Collaborize Classroom?  Adding critical thinking strategies, problem solving and collaboration to your content is a great way to upgrade your lessons.  It is not about the tools, it is how you use them.  Take a look at those essential questions in a new way and develop an authentic problem based challenge around it.  You do not have to re-do your school year; just make adjustments that will get your students to think critically and explore different perspectives.

I sometimes leave conferences overwhelmed with all of the possibilities and have to reel myself in. What are you most excited about trying next year with your students or staff?    What’s in your tote bag?