A Thinking Cap?

Have you ever been told to put on your thinking cap?

Have you ever said that to someone?

I remember saying that to my 4th grade students, but I am not really sure what that even means. I found this great Storybird Creation which provides a brief explanation of de Bono's six thinking hats. Each color represents a different level and/or kind of thinking.

This is another lovely creation from janeh271 (I have written about her creations before ). I found this one after seeing a message about a resource wiki (inquiry, creativity, and thinking) on twitter from @surreallyno.

The Thinking Hats on Storybird

What changes will you see?

One of the first things I read one morning was a blog post called "The Daffodil Principle" from my friend, Elizabeth Peterson, on the Inspired Classroom Blog. If you have not read that blog post, please leave this blog right now and go read it!

Four hours after I read that blog post I was still thinking about what it had to say. (I really think I need to take my own advice and go read it now too).

As I was thinking about her post, I remembered some information I found several years ago when doing a project on Orville Wright and the First Flight (which was always one of my favorite things to teach about in NC 4th grade history).

I remember seeing this statement:

"January 30 1948: Orville Wright died in Dayton, Ohio, at the age of 76, thus ending his 28 years as a member of the NACA. NASA was created from NACA 10 years after Orville's death. In his lifetime, the speed of the airplane had been increased from 0 mph to almost 1,000 mph. " from http://wright.nasa.gov/orville.htm

Orville Wright was involved in the creation of the first powered flight ... He was also involved in the creation of the organization that sent the first man to the moon ...

Think of all the changes Orville Wright and the whole word saw during his lifetime ...

Think of all the changes the lady in The Daffodil Principle story saw in her lifetime ...

Think of all the changes we have seen in our lifetimes ...

Think of all the changes we will see in our lifetimes ...

Think of all the changes we can make in our lifetimes ...

As the daughter said in The Daffodil Principle story, “Start tomorrow.”

Or even better ... start today ....

image by antonychammond

Don't let fear of failure stand in the way ...

Elizabeth Peterson wrote a blog post called Face Your Fears of Art Integration. In that post, she listed 4 common fears about art integration that she hears from teachers and her suggestions for overcoming or dealing with those fears. I wrote a blog post previously saying that I felt like many of these same "fears" also applied to technology integration. (Part of me thinks of these "fears" as excuses or reasons for not even trying.)

• Fear #1 – I’m not an artist.
• Fear #2 – The TEST is what I need to focus on.
• Fear #3 – My administration/colleagues will think what I’m doing is foolish.
• Fear #4 – I will make mistakes.

I decided to write a blog post series about how these fears relate to technology. Here is what I have written so far:

• Fear #1
  
• Fear #2
• Fear #3

Since I am going to address the 4th fear in this blog post, this is more than likely be the end of this blog series (but you never know since I might decide to add more). Let me just start off by saying that when you start using technology, YES you will make mistakes. We will just state that fact so nobody has to worry about it anymore.

I have been known as a perfectionist, so knowing that I was going to make a mistake could have stopped me from even trying, but it didn't. I have figured out what to do when I make a mistake ... I make whatever happens seem positive. I adjust the plans and go with the flow (now as someone who liked to have everything well-planned in advanced and things go according to schedule, this is a major step for me).

Sometimes I hit the wrong button, but hitting the wrong button could make something happen. Nothing may happen when I may try to open a file or project I have attempted to save, but I will either learn how to save those files in the future or come up with a different way to complete that assignment that does not require those files. A little creativity and critical thinking can help me see the positives in most situation.

Don't get me wrong, it is frustrating to make mistakes, but the fear of failure would prevent me from ever feeling the enjoyment of success.

picture from http://www.flickr.com/photos/24859704@N07/3646744493/

Something new in Learning Village ....

Did you know a new section has been added to the dashboard of WSFCS Learning Village?

There is now an Instructional Tip of the Week area (in the first column above the calendar). So far this month, the tips have covered:

• Presidents Day
• This Month in NC History (information about any month in NC History)
• Tripttico

You should go to Learning Village (3rd quick link on the WSFCS Homepage) and check out the tips of the week. We try to update the tips each Monday.

If you have ideas for things we can include in this section, please let us know. The tips don't have to be websites or even have anything to do with technology. If you have a reading or math strategy that works really well in your class, please let us know so we can share. If you found a great instructional tip that should be shared with others, this is the way to share it!

I wonder what next week's Instructional Tip of the Week will be ...

image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/40645538@N00/242558967/

Getting Activ with Promethean!!

• Do you use a Promethean ActivBoard?

• Are you going to have an ActivBoard in your classroom soon?

• Do you have great ideas for using one that you would like to share with others?

• Would you like to learn some tips and tricks for ways to better use you ActivBoard?

• Did you know there are other people in this school system that would like to hear/see things you are doing with the ActivBoard in a classroom?

We are looking for more members for our WSFCS Promethean Users Group. This group of educators meets to share ideas, resources, best practices and more. We will be sharing information in actual meetings and online. Please fill out this form if you would like more information about joining this group.

We hope to continue the learning that took place at the ActivCarolina Conference last weekend. Even if you did not attend the conference, please come join the fun!

Document Cameras and Skype

In our district we have been working over the past few years to really ramp up the technology that is in the classrooms to benefit both our teachers and students. We have instituted a Classroom Solution specific to the grade levels with one design for the Elementary and one for the Middle/High Schools. Included in this solution we have chosen to provide document cameras as an additional input device for teachers and students to use.

Over the past couple of years I have blogged about the benefits of document cameras versus the traditional overhead projector. I have discussed its uses as a digital camera and camcorder as well as techniques to integrate it into classroom instruction. One thing I have yet to talk about is how the document camera camera can be used as a(n) webcam. Yes I said webcam.

The primary version of document cameras that we have in our district are made by the Lumens Company, but we also have others versions which will act in the same manner. When the document cameras are installed correctly and the included software is setup the computers will see them as webcams, depending of course on what programs or websites you are utilizing. In our district we have been using Skype as a method of global communications in which our teachers are collaborating with in and out of county schools, businesses, colleges and universities and interesting people.

You have to make sure that when you are using Skype the program must be able to see the doc cam and set it as the default visual device. To do this you will have to make sure that the doc cam drivers are installed on the computer you are using, see specific doc cam installation guide for setup informaiton. Once the doc cam is installed properly make sure that it is turned on and open the Skype program and log in. After you are on the Skype dashboard you will click on Tools--> Options and then Video Settings. In the video settings, depending on your setup, the live video should show up. Now one thing to remember on the video settings for Skype, in order to make sure you do not get any random video calls you need to make sure that your settings are checked to only accept video from people in your contact list. This alleviates any issues that could arise during a Skype call.

Now for two technical issues that have come up, in our district that is, when we have been using the doc cams with Skype. I will list them out and the solutions we have used to correct the problem.

1. Image shows upside down in Skype - This usually happens when using older doc cams like the Lumens DC-133, 150, 155, 160 or 162. The solution is to turn the doc cam around and the lens unit turns down so that the image will be right-side-up.
2. The image does not show up at all and you have an error on the screen - This has been just recently discovered. From what I have ascertained it is due to the recent upgrade of software by Skype to version 5.1 from version 4.1 - In our network version 4.1 is stable and has been the standard so what we have done is to uninstall the 5.1 software and reinstall the 4.1 which will then allow Skype to see the doc cam again.

Now this is just one of the things that you can do with your doc cam, but if you are looking for more ideas you can click on my LiveBinder below to get some additional resources.

WSFCS Document Cameras

You can also hear more about this topic and resources in our Weekly Podcast as WSFCS DIT Unplugged - Episode 11

Things I have learned to make me a better teacher ...

I was very fortunate to have to the opportunity to attend some of the presentations and discussions at the 2011 Reform Symposium (#rscon11 on twitter). What is even better is that the sessions were recorded, so I will be able to listen to the sessions I did not get to attend as well as listen again to the ones I attended. As a participant in the 2010 Reform Symposium (search for Reform Symposium on my blog to find posts about it), I knew there would be lots of great things shared, but it was information overload ... in a good way.

One of the sessions I attended was "One thing I've Learned To Make Me A Better Teacher" which was an open discussion facilitated by Melissa Tran. (I knew it would be great especially since her name is Melissa) :)

Here are a few of the comments that stood out to me:

• it is important to surround yourself with positive influences
• developing a PLN on twitter will prove so beneficial
• feel passion in what you do
• help develop the passions of others
• make connects and build relationships with all those around those (students, teachers, coworkers ...)
• what we do is all about sharing
• teach from the heart ... students will know if you really care
• you have to reach students before you can teach them
• failure is OK as long as you learn from it

I shared a few of the things that stood out to me, and I would encourage you to go listen to the archive of this session (will be posted Jan.15th) to see what stands out for you.

Since things from this session stuck in my mind, I decided to ask a question on twitter (I am @mwedwards): "What is something you have learned that you think new teachers should know?"

I will share a few of the responses I got:

• "That parents are partners... that you're stronger together and to use rubrics and save evidence of work 4 interviews"
• "New Teachers should know how to handle parent/teacher conferences. Listen to parents voice concerns,then solve problems together"
• "Wish teachers taught relaxation training on a regular basis!"
• "I have learned too many things to mention in a tweet!"

What are some things you have learned to make you a better teacher?
What are some things you have learned that you think new teachers should know?

If we all work together to put the pieces of the puzzle together, it will be easier ...

image by D Sharon Pruitt and found athttp://www.flickr.com/photos/40645538@N00/4269396864/