Month: August 2014

21st Century, Tech

Teaching Above the Line

Sonya terBorg

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My friend Brian recently posted his reflections on Technology Leadership.  One of his points regarded the use of the SAMR model which is an evaluative tool that helps teachers ‘push their teaching above the line’ from enhancement to transformation. This tool is, as Brian points out, very well known in tech circles.  But what about non-tech circles?

SAMR Model

There are three Learning Technology teachers at my school and we all agree that technology should be used to transform student learning in a way that would not be possible without technology.  But what about the teachers we work with?  Do they all share our philosophy? Do they know the SAMR model? Do they care to?

Take a look at this intro to SAMR in 120 seconds or a 4 minute version via Commonsense Media 

So, are we all committed to “teaching above the line”?  I watched this video and still wanted more.  More ideas about how to share this model with teachers in a way that would help them begin to integrate technology in a ‘teach above the line’ kind of way.  A quick search led to the following resources, including one that is really interesting to me on transforming classroom learning blogs:
  NOTE: I like this chart (above) but I am hesitant to label or box apps into one category.  A lot of it depends not only on the app you are using but the way in which you are using it and WHY you are using it.  I’m not saying the above mash-ups are wrong, I am just saying to use this graphic as a guide and think about what you are really doing when you start using technology to transform your teaching and learning. 

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Part of a four step model for lesson planning from Edudemic. Click image for website.

I still think there is a long way to go in working toward school ‘above the line’.  I still have conversations in which people don’t see the difference between Khan Academy and a worksheet.  Really? A website that delivers levelled problems that increase or decrease in complexity given the speed and accuracy of your response with the option of seeing a step-by-step play of how to solve the problem and an embedded, world-class explanation of the problem via video if you are still stuck, and instant feedback on your progress, versus a piece of paper that offers no feedback or differentiation until it has been turned in to a teacher, graded, and returned?

This graphic, while to the point, asks and important question:

Credit: Bill Ferriter @plugusin

I like the ideas in this graphic and the sentiment behind it as described by the author and by another blogger. For me, in addition to this it is a matter of thinking about Starting With Why – what is your why?

Why technology?

Why are you using technology in your classroom?

Tech, Thinking

Making Thinking Visible

Sonya terBorg

I love the visible thinking routines from Project Zero. They are stunning and give amazing insights into the things children know. If you have not used them before to help your students express themselves, now is a good time to start!

Need more encouragement than that? Check out this post by MYP teacher Rebekah Madrid. Ironically, Rebekah used to teacher at Munich International School (where I am now) and now teaches at Yokohama International School (where I used to teach).  She was inspired by the elementary teachers at YIS school who were successfully using thinking routines to draw out student learning, and she explains what happens in her class as a result of her bringing thinking routines to her classroom.

Our colleague, Frank Curkovic, (who has since left YIS for Singapore) created these stunning guides to both the Making Thinking Visible routines and the Artful Thinking routines.  Check them out:

 

Click for link to Issuu

Artful Thinking

 

 

 

 

If you are at all interested in tech integration, transformational learning, the future of learning, design thinking, and visible thinking, get comfy with a cup of tea and Rebekah’s blog and you won’t be disappointed.

Creativity

Make Your Mark!

Sonya terBorg

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It’s coming soon!  International Dot Day is on September 15, 2014.  It is a day to celebrate “making your mark”. I have posted about Dot Day before:  Dot Day 2012 and Dot Day 2013.  Both posts will give you lots of ideas for Dot Day and some thoughts on how we as educators, can help students connect rather than simply collect the dots on their learning journey.

This year, FableVision Studios have come up with a song for Dot Day.  If you are familiar with “The Dot” you will see the connection between the book and the song and be inspired to make, make, make your mark! How can you encourage your students to use their talents to make their mark?

 

The Dot Song from FableVision on Vimeo.

Here are the lyrics (download the PDF)

Dot Day Lyrics

 

Are you interested in joining the Dot Day celebration? Sign up today! Discover more creative ways to celebrate Dot Day
on the FableVision blog and Pinterest pages.

Uncategorized

The Success Series

Sonya terBorg

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SoulPancake is awesome. If you don’t know it, check it out.  As their tag line says, their objective is to open your mind, challenge your friends, and feel damn good.

Currently on their YouTube channel, is a Success Series of four videos.  All of them are worth watching.  Two of them are remarkable.

The first, One More Thing, One More Time is from Josh Sundquist.  Josh talks about just that: being successful by doing one more thing than you were planning on doing , and doing it one more time than you thought you could do. Josh is a son, brother, cancer survivor, author, Paralympic ski racer, motivational speaker, YouTuber, mediocre rapper, and a member of the US Amputee World Cup Soccer team. His motto is “1MT1MT” and he is a believer in hope, possibility, having a sense of humor, and overcoming adversity.

 

 

The second is titled, The Steps to Success.  It starts by asking people to think about someone who has helped them on their journey to being successful. Once they have a person in mind, they are asked to write that person a letter to tell them how thankful they are for their influence and their support in their life.  They are then put on the spot and asked to phone the person and read them the letter.


Who has helped you become successful?

What would you say to them?

I spent a long time thinking about this.  The more I thought about it, the more grateful I became for all of the people who could be a recipient of my letter.  It also made me question the idea of success: a successful friend? wife? mother? teacher? person? There are multiple people to thank for the many facets that make up the success of the whole person.

Again, who is on your list? What will you say to them?

Creativity

What Do You Make?

Sonya terBorg

I Make A Difference

Last year we had Taylor Mali visit our school and share his poetry with our faculty, staff, and students. I never got the chance to speak with him personally but I wish I had.  If you have seen or heard his poem about teachers, you might have some questions for him – I know I did.

I was told by a great friend to always give the benefit of the doubt to someone – to always believe something good, rather than something bad, when you have the possibility of doing either.  My friend would tell me that everyone operates from the best of intentions, and I try to believe that this is true.  When working in a school that offers a values laden curriculum, I would hope this to be true.

So, with that said, listen to Taylor’s poem with the benefit of the doubt. Some people say he is too strict, too controlling, too self-centred.  I say that he is trying to make a point and is using poetic license to do so.  Don’t dwell on the fact that he makes kids sit in silence or not use the bathroom, dwell on the good in his poem.

 

“I make a difference” – this is the crux of the poem.  

How will you make a difference in the life of your students this year?

Creativity, Inspiration

Dear World….

Sonya terBorg

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For the past three years, I have ended the school year with a “Dear World” inspired photo shoot. This is a chance for my kids to express who they are and the message that they would like to leave as they depart our classroom and head on to new things.

This past June, I did it again with my gorgeous kids.  Their quotes were original and heartfelt and their photos make me cry! They are strong, determined, passionate kids with so much to offer and they possess the determination to see them through anything.

Here are our messages of love and hope from us to you….enjoy!

 

Dear World….xoxo MIS 4D 2013/14 from Munich International School on Vimeo.

Inspiration, Reflection

Note To Self

Sonya terBorg

Three things I need reminding of today…

1. Be not a slave of the ordinary.

2. Shun the non-believers (thanks, Patty!)

3. I love what I do. 

What do you need reminding of today?  What reminders could your kids set themselves to keep them focused on their learning journey?  Who inspires them?  Who inspires you? 

 

Note to SelfShun the Non-BelieversI love what I do

Creativity

Creatively Tinkering…

Sonya terBorg

Tinkering School is a place where kids can pick up sticks and hammers and other dangerous objects,and be trusted. Trusted not to hurt themselves, and trusted not to hurt others. Tinkering School doesn’t follow a set curriculum, and there are no tests. It sounds like my kind of school!

Gever Tully shares more about his school in the following TED talk:

I came across this video when looking for ideas about Genius Hour and Genius Year – the latter being the idea that self-directed learning be embedded into daily school life.  This was interesting to me as that was the outcome of a year-long group study into Genius Hour: that time be allocated – or more accurately, prioritised – so that students have a chance to engage in truly self-chosen projects that see them pursuing their own interests and passions throughout their time at school.

Time is definitely of the essence – and is something Tully acknowledges children need a lot of if their creativity is truly able to flourish:

“we can offer the kids time — something that seems in short supply in their over-scheduled lives”

Will you be a passionate teacher this year and help your children explore their inner genius?

 

If you are looking for a regular boost to inspire your creativity, Creative Something is for you.  I came across this website a while back now and every now and then I find my way back there for some inspired reading.  Check it out. 

Inspiration, Mindset

#LikeAGirl

Sonya terBorg

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Since when was doing something “like a girl” an insult?  This is what director Lauren Greenfield set out to discover as she began the social experiment known as  the Always #LikeAGirl campaign. 

 

Watching the video, I think of all the strong, brilliant, talented girls I know (including my firecracker daughter!) and I am thankful for campaigns like this that start to raise awareness of the way we say things. 

In the same way as saying something is “so gay” or “so retarded” is not appropriate, saying you do something “like a girl” should be turned around (as the campaign suggests) to being an expression of strength and downright amazingness.  

How do you use your words to empower your students?

Creativity, Inspiration, PYP

The Sound of Silence

Sonya terBorg

Clint Smith is a teacher, poet, and a doctoral candidate in Education at Harvard University.  In July of this year, he shared a TED talk that was just over four minutes long. It is a spoken word poem that I listened to three times and could easily watch again…and again.

Chris talks about “your silence” and how it is important to start giving a voice to those things you never say.  Your voice is one of the most powerful things you have.

How do you create a classroom in which your students are free to express their silence, to say what has previously be left unsaid?  How do school administrators create an environment in which faculty feel the same way too?

As a teacher in a PYP school, we talk about cultivating an attitude of empathy.  But how? I think one way is to start having the conversations that are a little uncomfortable – but perhaps not as a first step.  Like most things that you want to see flourish and grow on their own, building empathy can take a little ground work. 

An article posted on Edutopia fits the bill well: Empathy – The Most Important Back to School Supply.  

Mostly, I think we will find the silence will end when our students start to realize that what they have to say matters and that their silence actually speaks volumes.