Blog Post #19 - Using Videos for Teaching and Learning in the Classroom

                The educational process continues to evolve and transform into something that the one room school teacher could never have imagined. The teacher who lectured in front of the classroom while the students wrote on slates has become a thing of the past.  In fact, if educators are caught doing lecture by death methods in the classroom, they are often written up for not entering the 21^st century.  Collaboration, creative and innovative strategies, and visual models are the wave of the present and future.  A teacher should be more knowledgeable about their subject matter than the students, but often times the students have previewed multiple videos on YouTube, and they have become the expert.  With all of the resources available to help engage student understanding of certain concepts, it is essential to provide technology in the educational process.  YouTube is a web 2.0 tool that is used widely throughout school communities, business organizations, and beyond. 

                There is not a classroom teacher at Immanuel who has not used YouTube as part of their lesson planning.  Ted Ed is also another very usual tool widely used from 5^th grade to 12^th grade at ICS.  A smile comes across my face when I walk into a classroom and the teacher has the full attention of the students using technology.  I am a firm believer in old fashioned learning mixed with 21^st century concepts.  Both procedures have their benefits, but in order for a student to be prepared for the future, they must be masters of concentration and stimulation.  Sitting and studying involves concentration, while stimulation involves hands on learning, collaboration, and project based analysis.  All of these methods can be met through videos and professionals outside of the realm of the classroom.  With one search on YouTube, you can find multiple videos on the subject being taught.

                Our high school Bible teacher creates YouTube playlists of biblical theology for the students to view.  He sends the link to them and they can view it at their leisure.  If he is teaching on a particular idea, such as salvation, he will search for videos on this subject.  Once the students have viewed the video, taken notes, written an outline, and then produced a reflection, they present to the students in the classroom.  Mr. Rosario goes one step further and records the student, so that their parent may watch the presentation.   One of our alumni attends Cornell University, and he used his presentation for his registration process.  He will graduate with his Master of Divinity in the spring.  Preparing the students for university life can be tedious, but definitely worth it in the long run.

                As a principal, I am a fan of YouTube.  This wonderful tool has been very useful to me on multiple occasions, but one that stands out is my parking lot video.  The infamous school parking lot and all of the strife it causes can be overwhelming; therefore, I came up with a wonderful idea to show how to drive, maneuver, and navigate through the school traffic.  I actually had someone film me driving the proper way and then stood outside by the signs telling everyone how the Drop off/Pickup line works.  Needless to say, I am probably the laughing stock of the school, but the video did show the parents how to drive.  When I am out in the parking lot directing traffic, they all wave at me and smile as they follow the rules.  Hopefully, they are telling me I am number #1 as they wave.  All joking aside, even old principals like to stay up with the technological age. 

                Lastly, our AP History teacher, Mr. Snyder, loves Edpuzzle.  He records himself on YouTube, sends the link to his students for homework, and then they come to class the next day to work on a group assignment with Edpuzzle.  He has flipped his classroom and it seems that the students really like the new learning format.  He used to be big on death by lecture and decided to step it up a bit, so this new procedure definitely makes sure the overall environment is conducive for retention of the subject matter.  I appreciate the fortitude it takes for an educator to develop ways to connect with the students on a different level.  He is of the younger generation himself, so the effort he makes isn’t quite so taxing. His willingness to make the videos shows that the investment and time is worth it in the long run.  This past nine weeks the student achievement climbed as far as grades go, so his sacrifice made the learning involved worth the effort.

                The one room school house no longer exists, but what has replaced it is a much larger classroom with walls that extend beyond the lecturing by the teacher, the textbooks and paper worksheets, and the rote memorization.  All of these strategies are used at one time or another, but the learning process is not dependent on one method.  By opening up the classroom to all types of technology, many voices are heard, many ideas are shared, and many people are involved in the process.  We live in a world where socialization and gleaning from other’s knowledge and wisdom is an important element in moving forward into the next generation.  If this generation demonstrates the value of learning one person at a time, this stimulates the desire for all learners to grasp the importance of education.  Therein lies the cycle of life.

Blog Post #19 - Ted-Ed Presentation

http://ed.ted.com/on/oZXppR6I http://ed.ted.com/on/oZXppR6I   This is my Ted-Ed presentation, which leads into the overall theme of my final presentation.  By Linda Johnson

Blog Post #18- Using Google Photos in the classroom and Beyond

                The art of picture sharing has come a long way since the era of nine millimeter projectors and inviting everyone over to watch the family slideshow.  Back then, most people devised some sort of serious illness so they could decline the viewing of the wonderful slides of the camping trip to Yellowstone National Park.  Nowadays, picture sharing is possible with every technical device known to man.  Pictures and videos uploaded through the Web 2.0 resource tool known as Google Photos has made it possible for anyone to view memories made through pictures instantaneously or at their leisure.  This wonderful process is used in social circles, personal family gatherings, classroom teaching and sharing, as well as in the business world.

                Walking through the school hallways this past week, I was amazed to see so many teachers utilizing Google Photos in their lessons.  As I visited with several of the teachers about their usage of the tool, I selected three of my favorite.  Each one of these methods allows for the users to be vulnerable to revealing things about themselves to others.  The importance of learning how to speak in front of others outweighs simple book learning.  For example, one of the speeches that the students at Immanuel have to present to their classmates is an informative one.  Mrs. Zaragoza has special requirements that I had never seen and I have a degree in speech.  Each one of the students must use Google Photos for their speech, but they are not allowed to use personal photos.  They must find a person from the Bible who they align with in attributes and beliefs and tell their own personal story through their eyes.  The assignment is titled, “The Day in the Life of ­­­__________."   One of the students chose Queen Esther and told her story about having to protect her own family members from death in the middle of the Juarez crisis in 2008, when her father was being extorted.  What an amazing assignment for the students to use a Web 2.0 tool and learn the process of storytelling and public speaking!

                Mrs. Corpus, our Marine Biology teacher, uses Google Photos for the students to display pictures of a dissection of a shark in their photo journals.  They upload their photos into Google and describe the steps of the procedure that they completed in the lab.  Our English teacher takes it a step further for a writing assignment where the students use the same photos to write and tell a story. This past week the students told their made up stories to their classmates, while showing the pictures and the students loved it.  For the teachers to work together and cross connect different subject matter speaks volumes to me as an administrator.  In my opinion, both Mrs. Campos and Mrs. Corpus went the extra mile to engage the students in a digital way.  People love pictures because they are excellent visuals to aid in the understanding of what is being taught.  These two assignments displayed the importance of student learning outcomes and the role they play in the educational process. 

                Being the elementary principal at Immanuel has been one of the highlights of my career.  I love the children and the many ways that they learn and interact within the school community.  One of the best events of the year is the Father/Daughter dance that is held each spring at Immanuel.  SALT, our parent group, plans all year to make this a very special day.  Last year, we had over 350 fathers and daughters attend the dance.  One of the parents on the committee is a photographer, who knows so much about the digital era.  Mrs. DeLeon loves Google Photos and she devised a beautiful memory book for the attendees.  Every picture told a story of the evening with a special caption attached to it.   There was a special booth where the children saw the photos and were allowed to make up the captions.  Some of their captions were used for the actual photos.    Last year, the entire slide show was posted on our website and it won a national award!

                 As I reflect on this topic of picture sharing, I am grateful for the opportunity to share the wonderful ways in which the teachers at Immanuel truly do make a difference.  I spend a lot of time in the classrooms evaluating and viewing all of the wonderful interactions between the teacher and students, and to be able to share it with my colleagues is a blessing.  Sometimes we get caught up in the testing, assessing, and evaluating, and we forget to enjoy the process of learning unfolding.          

Blog post #17 - My Google Photo Album

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipNJmP47GW5dds0k5x11gILl4MMQAMWmidnweEBz

This is the link to my Google Photos Album about Golden Retrievers.  Our family dogs have always been Golden Retrievers.  My album has photos with quips and true facts about the Golden Retriever. Enjoy!  Linda Johnson

Blog Post #15 - Using Live Binders for Teaching and Learning

                Social Bookmarking is an interesting trend being utilized in some classrooms.  There are several sites that offer this tool for engaging students in the classroom with social media, but the one that stands out is Live Binders.  One of the most challenging phenomenons for students is organization.  Staying organized saves time, reduces stress, and allows for a sense of preparedness for assignments.  “Social bookmarking simplifies the distribution of reference lists, bibliographies, papers, and other resources among students,” states Mike Forder in the article, “5 Ways to Use Social Bookmarking in the Classroom.”  The importance of teachers and students having what is most valuable to them in one place is essential to learning.   The majority of teachers feel that the process is too time consuming to set up and they are scared off by the word “social,” but some educators who utilize the tagging system in Live Binders find it very user friendly.

                I sat down with our tech teacher, Mrs. Valerio, and asked her viewpoint on Live Binders.  She has her masters in technology and she had never heard of it.  She is very familiar with Delicious though and uses it in her lessons for the junior class.  She does a project in her classroom where the students must develop a digital notebook filled with the elements involved in starting a small business.  The students are given all semester to devise, develop, analyze, and forecast the startup of their own business.  There are pages with tabs, subtabs, line items, data graphs, and research items for their business.  They may work with a partner or alone.  Some of the students truly soar when it comes to being entrepreneurs, while others think it is too hard.  Mrs. Valerio has done it for the past several years and one of her previous students actually used the format and plans learned in her class to open up a coffee shop in Dallas, Texas. 

                Being a third grade teacher for 15 years and having Show and Tell in my classroom every Friday brought up the idea of using Live Binders for Habitat projects in science.  The students do research on their own and in the computer lab at school.  Part of the research involves finding websites and links to pertinent information before the student writes their research paper and presents orally; therefore, being able to share links with other classmates would be beneficial.  The students could share links in Live Binders so that all of the students could review the facts for the entire year.  Instead of forgetting about the information in the presentation, they could have it at their fingertips to recall and remember for a later time. 

                Our college prep teacher could utilize Live Binders in his classroom as well.  Being able to grab data and information on a certain topic concerning college and transfer it to a digital binder would be helpful.  Becoming paperless and not having to look for that notebook would be time saving and beneficial in the college readiness process.   Mr. Snyder could give the students a topic and allow them twenty minutes to find as much as they could on a particular university, a procedure, an application process, or financial aid.  When they find information they could tag it with their last name attached and share it with the entire class.  This would be an excellent way to engage the students in the process of collaboration. 

                In closing, any new strategy or procedure is going to require effort on the role of the teacher and student.  Delving in and being willing to implement 21^st century ideas in the classroom will be challenging, but the end result may be very worthwhile for all parties represented in the process.

This is my project for LiveBinder.  It is a reference notebook for teachers to integrate essential skills within the classroom.  My intent is for all teachers to recognize the importance of manners and life skills modeled for a student's success in the classroom and beyond.

               

Blog Post #16 - Feedly Readings

                The day and the life of an educator spins an emotional story line where the key players determine the outcome of a successful or challenging day.  If a teacher could concentrate solely on her objectives and lesson for the day, it would be like a fairy tale.  With the constant demands from administration, challenging moments with the students, and difficulties with parents, the job of a teacher can be overwhelming.  In the article, “Rediscovering Your Fulfillment as a Teacher,” Dr. Allen Mandler, addresses the importance of finding a new passion in the midst of the struggles.  He summarizes that the daily obstacles a teacher encounters can be enough to squelch a teacher’s dream.  I understand the importance of supporting your teachers as a principal, but all too often, teachers feel underappreciated by administration and unsupported by their principals.  Put into the mix, impossible policies, unmotivated students, and difficult parents, and you have a recipe for disaster.

                It is important to find what works and turn the tables back to your attitude and the calling of being a teacher.  If you are truly called to teach, no matter what obstacle comes your way, you find a way to overcome the difficulties that are causing the stagnation and negativity.  The author talks about becoming playful again.  I remember being in the classroom and doing math yoga with my students.  I was determined to create my own fun.  Singing your directions, stretching out on the floor and telling a story to the students, doing jump rope multiplication and division, are a few ways to engage the students in fun learning.  I feel that finding the inner child in you and being vulnerable with the students helps ignite a positive attitude.   Dr. Mandler discusses the importance of being decisive task driven.  In other words, focus on the journey and the means to the end.  The lens that we look through plays a role in our attitude.  We often want the people around us to change, when in actuality, we should be the change agent.

                I often tell people that as a principal, I do not manage people, I manage their issues.  If I concentrate on the overall landscape of the school community and all the parties that encompass it, discouragement can easily set in.  It is simple for me to be a cheerleader for the teachers and remind them that they can persevere, but when it comes to the parents and students, I have to take one conflict at a time.  Malcolm Gladwell, in his article,” When Transforming & Innovating Your School Seems Hopeless: Three Things You Can Do,” stated that looking at situations as “Goliath Situations,” is so important in the scheme of things.  Most of our problems, when we look at the heart of them, involve misconceptions about the situation and about who really has the power.  The story of Goliath, a giant, and David a shepherd boy is all about misconceptions.  David was able to destroy Goliath in spite of everyone’s opinion of who was stronger and more powerful.  We worry too much about everyone’s voice instead of going with our gut feelings.  When I look at my own dealings with conflict resolution in hopeless situations, I realize the benefit of trusting my own instincts, while taking in the viewpoints of all involved.  Sometimes it means just having the last word of wisdom. 

 

                I gleaned much wisdom from this particular article because it helped me put things into perspective.  Being flexible in a smaller school is possible because of the amount of parties involved.  Also, not having all of the bells and whistles that supposedly makes the process of education better, allows for the ability to change the rules, step out of the box systems put it in and reinvent the game.  Rethinking issues and reacting graciously to changing conditions is acceptable.  Forming the opinion of using what you have and making it better is feasible as well.  Having a different and more positive mindset can determine the outcome in the long run.  We all have troubling moments in our career where situations, people, and circumstances destroy our ability to move forward, but when we sit still, contemplate the alternative, and focus on the reason we do what we do, we recognize that tomorrow is a new day.   Dave Ramsey so eloquently said, “If the why we do what we do is bigger than the journey itself, we should get back up and keep making a difference.”  This simple quote hangs outside my door and reminds me that the big picture has little or nothing to do with ME.  It has everything to do with what I do with what I have been given on my journey. 

Blog Post #14- Final Project Ideas

                The calling to teach should never change; regardless of where your classroom may be.  Stepping out of the classroom eight years ago was life-changing in multiple ways; however, I still have the mindset and heart of a teacher.  My classroom walls are bigger and my responsibilities encompass the entire school community now, but I will always be that humble teacher.  As a principal, I oversee so many things, but first and foremost- are the people in my care.  The students, the parents, the teachers are the lifeblood of any school and they require love, support, and prayer.  Two years ago, after I realized the demise of the families at Immanuel, God prompted me to teach parenting classes.  I am by no means a perfect parent, but I love to teach about my journey of raising my own two children and all of the ones I helped raise in the classroom.  Most of the disciplinary issues I deal with involve parenting or the lack of proper modeling in the home.  As you know, problems at home can spill into the school community; therefore, the need for guidance and humble wisdom was needed. 

                My final project will be titled, “Teaching Accountability” for now.  It may evolve into another title but this will be the main theme.  After learning about Web 2.0 tools this semester, I am sure that my project will be more entertaining than just a boring PowerPoint!  I plan on utilizing Prezi, Evernote, Edmodo, and Twitter.  The Prezi presentation will include words, videos, images and photos.  Using Edmodo for a parent poll, Evernote for parent notebooks, and Twitter as the communication tool, should make for an engaging presentation.  Blogging came to my mind for the communication tool; however, after learning about the capabilities of Twitter, I thought it would be a better fit.  All parents seem to have something to say- positive or negative, so tweeting is limited to 140 characters.  This works for me!

                Polling or surveying parents has seemed to be an effective way to teach about what they are struggling with in parenting and providing solutions for them.  The problem will always be the parents following through with a plan of action and being consistent.  We can sit and listen until the cows come home, but if we don’t drive the cattle to a better location, life becomes stagnant.  Everyone has business or personal journals that they write in, so what better way to have a digital notebook with helpful hints, instead of shuffling through your purse or briefcase looking for a pen and paper. Throughout our busy day, full of interruptions, being able to tweet quickly or browse articles is the way to go.  Most everyone has some form of digital connection with them at all times, so why not use it to help someone else.  Your words and story may be the medicine someone needs right at that moment- so tweet.  Lastly, a succinct presentation that can capture your ideas, themes, and solutions instantaneously is wonderful.  

                 I look forward to sharing all that I have gleaned from this class, because I recognize a leader who continues to love learning, is one who willingly chooses to step out of their comfort zone and try something new, and this speaks volumes to those who are a part of the educational process.  We cannot expect everyone else to do something we are not willing to do- no matter how hard the task may be.