Project Showcase

One of the highlights of my experience at Edcamp Bluewater was a lively discussion about Project Based Learning and the difference between assigning projects and project based learning. I have some ideas about how to tweak my quarters to reflect the difference. In the meantime, my library science students culminating project from Quarter 1 was to create a public service announcement for Banned Books week. They studied intellectual freedom, the 1st amendment and its application to the school library throughout the quarter by reading a book that was on the ALA banned/challenged list and following a book challenge from the Miami Dade school district that went all the way to the Supreme Court. The following are the two best examples from the student submissions. They used the CogDogRoo site to choose the best digital format for their PSA. I look forward to using these as promotional material during Banned Books Week 2013. Nice job Andria and Kristen!


Andria's Banned Books Week PSA

Kristen's Banned Books Week PSA

Edcamp Bluewater

Had a great time at Edcamp Bluewater Saturday. For those of you not familiar with the Edcamp concept, think of it as self-directed professional development. With your colleagues delivering information based upon best practices, innovation and classroom experience. Had a great time and wanted to follow up with my new Twitter and blog followers with a recap and some links.

The session I conducted was on my new favorite tool: Instagrok.   We had a great discussion about how the tool can be used from elementary through high school, its possibilities for instructional differentiation, submission options (including purchasing an app on Edmodo) and assignment options. We also discussed some concerns from a research perspective as some of the key facts come from student assignments and the depth is not sufficient for a long-term research paper at the higher levels. We agreed that this tool has a lot of potential. The conversation took a natural turn, leading to comparisons of Edmodo and Moodle as classroom virtual learning environments. The best part of the session is that the group shared, not me with as the presenter with the expert knowledge (which I admitted up front I didn't necessarily have for this tool). Other participants showed how to look at apps in Edmodo and shared student work that had used CogDogRoo storytools.  When I reflected upon the day, I though about how this would apply back in the classroom. Everyday teachers struggle with the digital shift that has created educators who are not  the experts in all aspects of our teaching. We are certainly usually the content experts, but what about the technology, applications and connections to the students world?  What I experienced at EdCamp could certainly work in a classroom. A shared expertise that left us all more prepared. This is what I envision in the new cycle of technology integration and student connection.                                             

Hurricane Sandy Reading Recommendations

 The devastation across most of the Eastern portion of the United States, as well as an inspiring conference over the last couple of days, has me thinking of books that relate to a theme. If I were to hash tag my thoughts on Twitter I would use #hurricane, #globalwarming and #evacuation. Those three hash tags have me recommending the following two reads:

Zeitoun tells the story of a man who chose to stay in New Orleans during the mandatory evacuation period following Hurricane Katrina. The story is at times warm, funny, heart-breaking and thought provoking. In addition to the personal liberties denied during the emergency situation is the opportunity to understand a unique cultural perspective of an American woman's conversion to Islam.  The detainment, while rife with examples of prejudice and mistreatment, should have the reader also questioning personal responsibility, the role of the government during times of crisis and suspension of liberty. YouTube search Zeitoun for interesting first-person interviews.

                                                                               
Carbon Diaries 2015 is an award winning YA novel of the near future global climate change world that results in carbon rationing. Wen predicted natural disaster actually strikes, many of the same themes found in Zeitoun are explored. As a bonus for my teen readers, this is the first book in a series, providing continued reading choices!

Grab a book, share it with your friends and family and let the conversations begin.

 The devastation across most of the Eastern portion of the United States, as well as an inspiring conference over the last couple of days, has me thinking of books that relate to a theme. If I were to hash tag my thoughts on Twitter I would use #hurricane, #globalwarming and #evacuation. Those three hash tags have me recommending the following two reads:

Zeitoun tells the story of a man who chose to stay in New Orleans during the mandatory evacuation period following Hurricane Katrina. The story is at times warm, funny, heart-breaking and thought provoking. In addition to the personal liberties denied during the emergency situation is the opportunity to understand a unique cultural perspective of an American woman's conversion to Islam.  The detainment, while rife with examples of prejudice and mistreatment, should have the reader also questioning personal responsibility, the role of the government during times of crisis and suspension of liberty. YouTube search Zeitoun for interesting first-person interviews.

                                                                               
Carbon Diaries 2015 is an award winning YA novel of the near future global climate change world that results in carbon rationing. Wen predicted natural disaster actually strikes, many of the same themes found in Zeitoun are explored. As a bonus for my teen readers, this is the first book in a series, providing continued reading choices!

Grab a book, share it with your friends and family and let the conversations begin.