4 Other Essential Elements of Project Based Learning

Today I met with a great group of teachers embarking on implementing project based learning together. I shared this seminal article with them and we discussed their ideas. But AFTER I left their meeting, what I REALLY wanted to say hit me. As you plan your projects, consider at least one element of...

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Fabulous things You Can Do with Google Commands

Did you know that you can just open the Google Search app on your phone, tap the mic, and command your device like an unbottled Genie? Thanks to Whitson Gordon and this LifeHacker article, my phone is now listening to me in a whole different way! Open the "Google" app (on my phone it looks like the...

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6 Steps to Make Staff Development Sticky

The biggest problem with staff development is that many times, it doesn't work. .If you want it to "work," then you have to work. .Here are some ideas each of us can implement ourselves (school leaders, you can help!) to make sure our own professional learning sticks. If you've attended staff...

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Takeaway of the Day from the TASA Transformational Leadership Academy: Tell Students about Engagement

Tell students what engagement is. Sometimes they don't know what it is or that they're supposed to be engaged. When they know, they can help teachers design engaging work.Engagement means students are . . .attentivepersistent andcommittedStudents who find value in their work persist even when it's ...

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What the Best Teachers Do . . . What the Worst Teachers Do

I've been working lately on a New Teacher Academy and it has had me thinking a lot about the very basics of being a good teacher. My daughter, Sylvie, a high school senior this year, also contributed to these ideas. If you'd like to contribute, please add a comment to this entry or open the Google Doc...

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Student Choice Continuum: Version 1

I'm working on the idea of a student choice continuum to help explain Project Based Learning. This continuum is not meant to represent "good" verus "bad" instruction; almost all forms of instruction can be done well or poorly, purposefully or not. For example, I learn well by listening, so for me, an...

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If Teachers Planned Inservice: Another Perspective

If you're in education, I'm sure you've seen the posts called something like "If Teachers Planned Inservice." The implication is that inservice is always boring (which it often is) and that if teachers did it, it would be either 1. nonexistent or 2. less boring. As a person who plans inservice as part...

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New to a Google District? Here Are a Few Skills to Get You Started . . .

Above is an embedded Google Presentation with full view access shared via Google Drive. If you don't see it, try this link. Please feel free to use it with your staff. I'd love to hear from you in the comments if you ...

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The Teacher Evaluatron 5000: Coming to a Classroom Near You?

Last week I visited a school district and saw the most intriguing device. It looked something like the thing on the right. Until I got back home and Googled it, I didn't know what it was called, and so in discussion, it quickly became dubbed the "Teacher Evaluatron 5000." (Nice one, Matthew.) The district...

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Back to School On Campus Staff Development, PBL Style

A couple of smart principals I know (and luckily get to work with frequently) told me that they're going to use Project Based Learning for campus staff development this year. We started brainstorming a Driving Question for this purpose. What do you think? Would you rather have PBL based Back to School...

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Scaffold for Writing a Driving Question for Project Based Learning

Need help getting started writing a Driving Question? Try using the scaffold below; however, don't get locked in! This is just an IDEA for a starting point. Feel free to rearrange, get rid of, and add elements as you please. If you have suggestions to make this graphic better, please let me know if...

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Smarter Gmail Lesson 10: groups vs. Groups

What's the difference between gmail groups and Google Groups? What features do each offer? When should you use a group or create a Group? It's a confusing issue. Why oh why do they have the same name?!? Hopefully this little video will help. . .Smarter Gmail Lesson...

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GeoGuessr: An Addictive Game with Educational Potential

Yesterday after work I walked into our Tech Department computer lab and saw two of our young techs playing a game. I walked over and sat with them, hoping to learn something new, and I sure did.GeoGuessr (tag line "Let's Explore the World") is a game that works through Google Maps. When you pull...

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Smarter Gmail Lesson 9: Learn to use Tasks in Gmail and Google Calendar

If you are an email subscriber, click here to view the video . . .&nb...

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Smarter Chrome: Three Simple Chrome Tricks

Three simple tips/tricks to help you work smarter in Google Chrome. Enj...

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Innovation Day Video

Have you seen Huntsville ISD's latest Innovation Day video? It's pretty awesome! We think you'll get a lot of good advice about what Innovation Day is, how to do it, and why you should give it a try as well. Please check it o...

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WOW! Check out Katie Grassel's Great Doctopus Tutorial

Doctopus lets teachers automatically create copies of shared documents and distribute them to students in Google Docs. If you are struggling with managing Google Docs in your classes, here you go!I always thought Doctopus was sorta technical and nerdy, but guys, it's NOT, it's awesome! It's as easy as Flubaroo. Check out Katie Grassel's great tutorial below and see for yourself. Thanks so much Katie!Also,...

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Smarter Gmail Lesson 8: How to Insert a Fancy Schmancy Signature in Gmail

Want to learn how to insert a fancy schmancy signature in Gmail? Well here's a little tutorial to show you just how to do that! Hope you enjoy ...

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Smarter Gmail Lesson 7: Boomerang!

In Lesson 7, learn how (and why) to use the add in available from Boomeranggmail.com. Trust me, you're going to love this!Send mail laterRemember to follow upSchedule messages to happen when you need them...

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Brief Guide to Vocabulary for Project Based Learning

While I've been using Project Based Learning since my second year as a public school teacher some 14 years ago, I have only recently learned the vocabulary to describe the practices I find so effective.Thanks to BIE.org for standardizing and publicizing this terminology. So here's what we do (and don't) say to describe our practices. A big shout out to a certain nearby Project Based Learning elementary...

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Smarter Gmail Lesson 6: Filters (and Filters + Canned Responses)

Learn how to use Gmail 3-5 minutes at a time in this series. The sixth installment includes using Gmail filters and how to use filters + canned responses (billed as "email for the TRULY lazy"). Hope you enjoy ...

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Smarter Gmail Lesson 5: Canned Responses

Learn to use your Gmail SMARTER not HARDER in this humble little series. This is episode five where you learn how to use canned responses. Enj...

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What Does it Take to Get Into Instructional Technology?

I got an interesting question from a teacher this morning, basically, the question is:What does it take to get a job in Instructional Technology? Do you think I should do that?Here is my answer. What is yours? Please reply in the comments.There seem to be quite a few jobs emerging in Instructional Technology/Innovation....

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Smarter Gmail Series: Lesson 4, Labels, Folders and Labs

Learn how to use Gmail 3-5 minutes at a time in this series. The fourth installment includes using Labels, Folders, and Labs. Please include any questions in the comments, and I'll get back to you asap. Hope you enjoy it!http://youtu.be/QEWG6r31...

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Smarter Gmail Lesson Three: Where we Learn to Use Archive (not Delete) and How Conversation View Makes us HAPPY!

Learn how to use Gmail 3-5 minutes at a time in this series. The thrid installment includes using archive (not delete) and how Conversation View inevitably contributes to a happy, longer life (the claims JUST keep growing). Hope you enjoy ...

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Smarter Gmail Lesson Two: Google Chat and Google Voice

Learn how to use Gmail 3-5 minutes at a time in this series. The second installment includes using Google Chat and phone features through Gmail. Hope you enjoy ...

Smarter Gmail Lesson One: Inbox Zero & Priority Inbox

Learn how to use Gmail 3-5 minutes at a time in this series. The first installment includes the philosophy that makes Gmail make sense to me (Inbox Zero) and provides a pitch for using Priority Inbox as well as how to customize it to meet your needs. Hope you enjoy ...

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Get More out of Google: Tips & Tricks for Students Conducting Online Research (from hackcollege.com)

Enjoy this "Get More out of Google" infographic from www.hackcollege.com. Find it in its original form he...

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Standardized Tests Making you Fried (in a BAD way)?

STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, and ADMINISTRATORS: This is a CALL TO ACTIONIf Standardized Testing is frying you (or your children), and you live in Texas, now is the time to SPEAK UP to your Texas legislators. In this article, I'm hoping to provide everything you need to contact your legislators and...

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Infographics for Math (Like Data Fried)

I had the pleasure of speaking with some of my favorite math teachers today, and we had a "wouldn't it be cool if" moment, so here goes . . .Wouldn't it be cool if our students used Google's Public Data Explorer or the Pew Research Center to create some great infographics* with Visual.ly? Yeah,...

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A Student's Perspective on Innovation Day

Today we held our first Innovation Day in Huntsville ISD. I figured it was going to be pretty cool, but I had no idea how cool. In the first 10 minutes I was on the campus of Samuel Walker Houston Elementary I watched a student dredge chicken for frying, saw 5 girls sewing clothing, helped three boys...

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An Open Letter to Teachers in an Age of High Stakes Testing

This is an open letter to teachers everywhere, but especially here in Texas, the home of the Standardized Test. It is republished here by permission of the author, who wishes to remain anonymous. Teachers: I’m on your side, I feel your pain, and I am one of you, but having a child who struggles in school...

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Photos of Children from Around the World with Their Prized Possessions

My friend Rebecca King (@rebeccakingRK) from Rockdale ISD noticed the power of Gabriele Galimberti’s photography series of the world's children and their prized possessions.  Unfortunately, some of the sidebar adverts were not child friendly. Rebecca wanted her educator colleagues to be able to use the photographs for writing assignments, etc., so she created...

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Education Project Runway Style

The latest season of Project Runway (it's the teams edition--advertised as "There's no I in TEAM") has really got me thinking.How many of you would HIRE someone who came into an interview and announced the following:I prefer to work alone (translation: I'm terrible at working collaboratively).I am really...

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If you Don't Like Change . . .

"If you don't like change, you're really gonna hate extinction."-Ross ShafferDino Photo B...

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Cultivating Innovation on a K-4 Campus (Guest Post by Jessica Powell)

https://twitter.com/itechjessJESSICA POWELL, @iTechjessInstructional Technologist and Staff Development Professional.VIEW MY COMPLETE PROFILEOn March 22, 2013 something amazing is going to happen: 600 elementary students are going to take over their school and their teachers aren't going to do...

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Intro to Google Drive and Chrome for Educators

Interested in how Chrome (the browser/operating system) can work for you in schools? How Google Drive is different from Google Docs? What Google Drive Apps you should you install?Great!Check out this video tutorial. Don't forget to comment if you learned something new or have something to add....

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