I’ve been doing a lot of work in my core classes as well as my leadership class. The challenge, creativity. My students attempt to put on a face and be something they are not. I am constantly trying to tap into their confidence and show that their authentic self is a great thing to be. Too much I feel they put on a front being afraid of what people will say.
I found this video by Bill Cosby as he speaks about graduating college from Carnegie Mellon. He gives his own definition about being a Nerd and why someone would chose that label – great story at the beginning of the video – which I used to discuss with my leadership students about being labelled a leadership student. We elaborated on that question even further by how different groups on campus interpret the term leadership student.
My favorite part of the video comes five minutes in, when Bill – a master story teller – shares an experience as a young comedian of finally making it big. Bill bombs terribly and almost walks away from comedy all together. With some prompting Bill goes out and kills on his second set. His point, don’t let anyone – including yourself – talk you out of being you. This clip starts about 5:20 into the keynote and lasts a little over 10 minutes.
Many times, as an ASB class, we get so caught up in our work and planning that we forget how much fun it can be to work together as a group. Amidst this chaos, take some time and have a game day with your students.
Living in a media drive age, it would make sense that we, as educators, have access to videos and clips that feature some of the great moments in our history: movies, music, tv, news, sports, games and ads. To truly understand history in any context is to know what is going on in that time period. There are many ways to set the scene, YouTube is one, though researching all of that video footage takes time; the Library of Congress has some great videos to download via iTunes if you have the time; or how about the vidoes and DVD’s which are delivered with our textbooks (in my case, laser discs and reel to reel – totally up to date on technology here). Even better, how about a device that let’s kids research or identify the videos that best describe the time period? Enger Video Time Machine, a new app available for the iPhone and iPad that carefully selects videos that best represent the time period they were made. As the site claims, “You can watch over 10,000 handpicked videos from 1860-2011.”
When I first heard of this app, I became excited, an all inclusive app that finds video from a specific year for me. When I started to use the app, I became more excited as the resources here are invaluable as an educator. For example, I am currently watching an animation on the sinking of the Lusitania made in 1918. Certainly a propaganda film, but still a great example of film and animation in the early days of theater. This could easily be used in History, English, Film Studies, Film Production, Cultural Studies, Art & Animation … wherever you may want it to go. I could see using some of this as background research for The Great Gatsby as understanding WWI is the precursor to understanding the Roaring 20′s. Even better, could kids make the connection that the sinking of the Lusitania is like that of the attack on 9/11? Again, things that make the kids think are always good.
My biggest appreciation of the Video Time Machine app is that it gives me, the teacher, options. I can let my kids loose to see what they find and then have them share – narrowing down my videos to four or five out of 160 in a particular year. I can choose a specific video to watch, guiding my students to the topic and asking them to write about, make a connection, or find a similar film on their own. Even better, I get it all for just .99 cents. No companion pieces to the literature, so major additional research on my own time, just an app on my learning device. Additionally, I can share the videos via Twitter and Facebook. So, with all of my students on Twitter following my class feed (SoethEngClass) I can share the videos that way and see how many watch the videos prior to class; or, how many watch them again once we leave class. Learning is about interacting, and what better way for kids to take the video with them to interact with on their iPhone, iPod, other smartphone or home computer. Now I just extended the learning beyond my classroom at no extra cost to the student.
As a newer program, they are still growing, so the 10,000 videos will definitely increase. Right now, 1860 has one video, the first sound recording. However, if I look up the year I was born, 1978, there are 165 videos, big difference. All I can say in hang in, I’m sure more will be added, and in any context, this is till a great resource.
On a side note, Video Time Machine wants to know how you are using the app, if you create a video you can submit it to them to post on their site. This app is also good for grandparents, check out this video with “Mimi,” a user submitted video where one person looks at the year she was born, 1931.
A big thanks to Bill Engelhardt who brought this app to my attention. It is well worth the .99 cent price tag.
I can still remember, clear as a bell, walking up to the yard duty. In my eight year old voice I said, “they’re making fun of me again.” Without any hesitation, the yard duty looked back, and almost yelling said “What do you want me to do? You tell me this every single day, what do you want me to do about it?” With my eight year old logic I thought, “Make it stop, you’re the adult.” However, my perceived protector did not share my viewpoint. So, my tormentors proceeded to call me names and chase me around the school yard. It wasn’t until I did something about it, and got in trouble, that the idea was brought up that I change schools. When my mom asked me how I felt at my school, I said “it’s like everyone got invited to a party except for me.” Bullying has been around a long time – the fact that bullying or its reach is enhanced by technology does not change it’s severity or impact.
My schedule for the 2011-2012 school year is done. Sure, a fundraiser might pop-up, or a lunch time activity may arise based upon special circumstances, but the schedule is set.
Activities are like that, we area always planning ahead, preparing for the next year. So much so that it can be hard to finish the year we are currently in. Next year will be my school’s first senior class, I can’t help but look with excitement and anticipation at what will be. Sure, this year has been good, but next year, seniors. Will our culture be complete?
As I sit here grading essays, my mind is focused on the task at hand, but looming – pleasantly – is the future. I look forward to a school that is developing an identity, tradition, spirit. A school with a sense of pride, unique in our endeavors. Time will tell, but I look forward to seeing of our seniors step up and help take our school to the next level.
Today’s post comes to us from Matt Soeth, technology coordinator for CADA. Matt is an English teacher and Activity Director with seven years experience. He has also been a vice principal and led many professional development trainings with students, educators and administrators in technology and leadership.
When you see kids learning, that’s when teaching get’s fun. This post looks at the process for me, as an educator, how amazing it is when I see kids I have been working with all year have their “a ha” moment: http://wp.me/p3Fhl-2c
I stand amazed at the quality of educational leaders that are connected through
CADA. At the state convention this year, it was impossible to go anywhere without
witnessing sheer excellence. It was impossible to leave without feeling truly
energized and, in some cases, empowered to integrate technology like we never
imagined. Every detail was exquisite. Every presentation not only educated those
who were there, but also challenged us to do better (and more!) with less. Continue reading ‘All of Us Have Something in Common …’
I recently took some time to list out some of my favorite uses for Google Voice, check it out and let me know your thoughts. If YOU have any favorites, please let me know. I’m always looking for more to add.
With a new iPhone update and an Android update to come, I have grown to love Evernote more and more. Note taking has never been easier on my iPhone – so with some playing – I have come up with more than a few uses for this app.
Now that I have the ability to add media and text in one note – I do that all the time. In class, I will take a picture of what is on the board from our discussion, share about 30 seconds of my closing thoughts by using the recording option, label and tag the note to search it later, and then share it. I like this in that it frees up my kids to engage in discussion and they can take the notes down later.
Books: I’m always coming across books that I need to read, so I have a list going of my favorite books, and I started adding pictures of book covers. If I have time I add links online where I can buy the books.
To do list – I start one of these every day and add check off items finishing all I can before I leave work.
I taught my students how to take notes on this app – so much easier and more usable than a notebook in that they always have their phones with them.
I take pictures of documents; I have my students do the same. That way if something is lost I am not making more copies and the kids have a digital copy as a jpg or a PDF file. Homework should not get lost any more.
Screen Capture: with so much content blocked on my school server, I have used the screen capture tool of Evernote on my computer to take shots of sites I cannot access at school.
Geo-tagging: this is more for admin, while walking around I thought how neat it would be to tag places where certain issues arise, such as where kids hang out during lunch or after school, graffiti, fights, or slow lunch lines. Then, after tagging that several times with the GPS in my phone, sharing that Evernote file with my staff and ask them to keep a specific eye on an area. I could easily show them what is going on and where certain events are taking place. It would be so easy to track a pattern and identify what is really happening.
In leadership I started having kids create notebooks for projects. Rather than fill out committee handouts the kids can now post all of their information into the file. Then, if I need an update, say how the float is looking for homecoming, I can have a picture, video, and text showing me everything is done or in progress and find out the status of the group. Afterwards, I now have a file that accurately and completely demonstrates what that group did and can now use that as part of the student’s grade as well as a living history for the class.
Collaboration: as I work in class I have encouraged other teachers to start using Evernote. We try to share ideas back and forth. It’s not perfect, but it has started a dialogue and forces us out of our rooms once in a while. It helps me keep track of lessons online rather than going to my file cabinet or looking for my planning book from two years ago (or more).
I had the kids create a notebook/scrapbook on Romeo and Juliet. The girls were Juliet, the guys were Romeo, and they had to create a notebook with notes that detailed the life of the two young lovers from right before to the night they met. I encouraged my students to include media: they recorded dialogue, added pictures, and one group went all out and shot a short dance sequence in costume. So much fun and great presentations at the end. This challenged the kids with their analysis skills and it engaged them with access to a new medium.
After presenting at CADA convention, I really didn’t write a whole lot up as I walked people through the process of using Evernote with the intention of writing up a blog right after. Well, this is not exactly right after, but pretty darn close. So, check out the info, let me know your thoughts, and happy note taking. Continue reading ‘Explaining Evernote’
CASL president Jamal Edwards takes us through his 3 Step Mojo process as he highlights his method for making changes in his every day life. Keep it simple, focus, and pick the three things you would ilke to change in your life. For more info on CASL check out www.casl1.org and for more info on CADA check www.cada1.org.
This week we hear from two students at Willow Glenn HS in San Jose who share their experiences of their first senior prom. Along with learning some new dance steps, these students were part of a group that went out of their way to create a memorable evening at their local senior center.
This week I discuss a couple of lessons I teach my students that utilizes their cell phones. We spend time on both texting as well as how to have a conversation on the phone or when leaving a voice mail. For more info on CADA, click here.
In this episode I talk briefly about how I manage student cell phones in the classroom, my procedures and a few activities I like to employ as part of my lessons. I will have more posted on our blot at http://cadaleaders.wordpress.com. You can find out more about CADA at www.cada1.org.
I will start this by saying this podcast is not legal advice, just hours upon hours of research. Every school in the country is dealing with students cell phones, and each district is taking a different approach. In this episode, I try to break down some of the basics to help get you informed about what to expect if you decide to start allowing cell phones o […]
Our Technology Coordinator, along with the help of speaker Scott Backovich, throw down some online challenges for teachers and students to use the next time you are on the web. For more on CADA, visit http://www.cada1.org.
When I first heard of this app, I became excited, an all inclusive app that finds video from a specific year for me. When I started to use 
