Thursday Thoughts September 10
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. Although this is not a subject that we focus on in elementary school, it is one that we shouldn't ignore. In middle and high schools throughout the country and right here in our community, young people are facing challenges and pressure to live up to certain expectations. This can sometimes leave them with a sense of hopelessness. In fact, as adults, we too have to be mindful of how we deal with the stress of the job, family and life in general. According to the IASP (International Association for Suicide Prevention), doing things such as showing care and concern and listening to others in a non-judgmental way can have a significant impact on others. Fulton County High Schools are observing Suicide Prevention Week next week. In fact, this weekend the 5th Annual Teen Music Festival, WILLSTOCK, will take place at Northview H.S. This event is dedicated to increasing love, hope and the "Will to Live" of teens everywhere. If you are not familiar with the Trautwein Family and the amazing work that they do to honor their son's memory and affect the lives of young people, please visit their website http://will-to-live.org/.
Staff Spotlight
This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Poonam Bhavinani. Many of you don't know that FCS has restructured the IT Department and our school techs are now district techs. We are fortunate to have Poonam housed with us at Medlock where we can ask her to help us at the drop of a dime. But this will no longer be the norm. Poonam has been working double time to get our school technology up and running, assisting other schools with their technology needs and helping new techs figure out what they should be doing. If you are like me, you would much rather ask Poonam to "fix it" without the need to submit a HEAT ticket. She works hard to get other district IT personnel to come to our aide and even when they come out, she is generally the person that will have to keep working on the problem long after they leave. As we prepare to roll out classroom devices, I know that we will face additional challenges so I am thankful that Poonam will be with us to hold our hands.Personalized Learning
15 Common Mistakes Teachers Make Teaching With Technology
The role of technology in learning isn’t entirely clear–or rather, is subjective.
While it clearly is able to provide access to peers, audiences, resources, and data, it also can be awkward, problematic, distracting, performing more strongly as a barrier to understand than anything else. Why this happens also isn’t clear, but there are some common patterns and missteps to look for while designing or evaluating a learning process.
15 Common Mistakes Teachers Make Teaching With Technology
1. The teacher is choosing the technology.
It’s not always possible, but when you can, let the students choose, and see what happens. Not all of them will be able to. Some need help; so let other students help them.
2. The teacher is choosing the function.
This doesn’t mean you can’t choose the function, but if you students can’t control the technology the use nor its function, this can be problematic: the learning is passive from the beginning.
3. The teacher is determining the process.
To an extent you have to, but don’t overdo it.
4. The technology is distracting.
If the technology is more magical than the project, product, collaboration, process, or content itself, try to muffle the bells and whistles. Or use them to your advantage.
5. The technology isn’t necessary.
You wouldn’t use a ruler to teach expository writing, nor would you use a Wendell Berry essay to teach about the Water Cycle. No need for a Khan Academy account and a fully-personalized and potentially self-directed proficiency chart of mathematical concepts just to show a 3 minute video on the number line.
6. The process is too complex.
Keep it simple. Fewer moving parts = greater precision. And less to go wrong.
7. Students have access to too much.
What materials, models, peer groups, or related content do students actually need? See #6.
8. The teacher is the judge, jury, and executioner.
Get out of the way. You’re (probably) less interesting than the content, experts, and communities (if you’re doing it right).
9. They artificially limiting the scale.
Technology connects everything to everything. Use this to the advantage of the students!
10. They’re not limiting the scale.
However, giving students the keys to the universe with no framework, plan, boundaries or even vague goals is equally problematic.
11. Students access is limited to too little.
The opposite of too board a scale is too little–akin to taking students to the ocean to fish but squaring off a 5 square feet section in the middle of the Pacific to operate.
12. The transition between technology and non-technology is clumsy.
“Okay students, stop searching global databases to identify the most relevant and compelling digital media resources for your project-based learning artifact. Have a seat and let’s all do a KWL chart together so we have something to hang on the wall.”
13. They think forward, not backwards.
Begin with the end in mind. Where do you want to be at the end of the lesson or activity? What sort of evidence does it make sense to accept as proof students “get it”? Start here, and move step-by-step backwards through the learning process. You can choose tech-first, but you have to be careful.
14. Technology is functioning as an end, not a means.
This is similar to #5. Learning technology is flashy.
15. It’s not cloud-based but it needs to be.
Designing a project-based learning unit that could allow student access to peers, assignments, and content and then limiting it to a school server, offline folders, disparate flash drives, or even disconnected social media platforms (one assignment on Edmodo, another piece on G+ Communities, etc.) is the quickest way to turn a 4 week unit into an 8 week unit.
This post has been updated from a 2012 post; 15 Common Mistakes Teachers Make Teaching With Technology
Habitudes- (Growth Mindset)
Looking Ahead
Space Standards for Educational Facilities Community Dialogue
"To build the schools of tomorrow, we need you today"
Over the past several months, district staff has engaged teachers, principals, parents, and community members in an effort to revise the standards we use when designing new schools and renovating older schools. This effort is the first step in developing a 2017 – 2022 capital plan.
In mid-September, the Fulton County Schools will host several community dialogues to gather feedback on design options for education facilities.
- Monday, September 14, 6:45 pm - Sandtown MS (South)
- Monday, September 14, 7:00 pm – Milton HS (Northwest)
- Tuesday, September 15, 7:00 pm - Chattahoochee HS (Northeast)
- Tuesday, September 15, 6:30 pm – Paul D. West (Central)
- Wednesday, September 16, 7:00 pm – Roswell HS (Northwest)
- Wednesday, September 16, 6:30 pm – Dunwoody Springs ES (Central)
All parents, teachers, students, business owners and community members are encouraged to participate. District staff will be in attendance. The sessions will be led by our consultants on this effort, DeJong-Richter.
For more information please contact Tiffany C. Martin (martintc@fultonschools.org) or Susan Simpson (simpsonsl@fultonschools.org).
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