Seeking Feedback and Kahoot

Something Different…

I’d like to start an anonymous conversation with 2+ questions

1.     What do you need from me (eg suggestions for improvements, feedback, etc)

2.     What school, district or state policies inhibit student learning and you from doing your job as effectively and efficiently as possible?

3.     Anything else?

Obviously, this is totally anonymous and optional. I’ll keep this survey open for the entire year. You can answer either or all at any point.

Sometimes I’ll use Cougar Communication to explain a policy. Sometimes, I might agree with you (eg “A-B day vs semester block scheduling” but know there’s nothing I can do about it.)

Anyway, I hope it fosters some communication and helps me become a better educator.

Here’s the link http://goo.gl/forms/KAHNoGf5D2

Ideas for the Classroom: Kahoot

Kahoot is a web-based service for creating and sharing student quizzes, surveys or discussion to any web-abled device. Much like Socrative, you create a quiz, survey or discussion for your students. I experimented with Kahoot and found it intuitive and easy to use. It’s easy to add pictures and videos and I like that you can control the pace of the questions. I really like the ability to embed youtube videos, so students can watch a video and then be quizzed on it. It also enables you to embed only a portion of the video, so you can have students watch 2 minutes of the video and then ask a question, watch the next 3 minutes and then ask another question, etc.

Student sign in is easy (either through the app or by going to kahoot.it). Students simply enter a couple of unique digits and their names and they’re ready to go.

Great for:

·      BYOD and technology integration

·      Gamification

·      Formative Assessment

·      Feedback

·      Quizzing

·      Youtube video learning

Administrative Notes

Tomorrow is a flex day and student picture retakes.

Positive Referral Link: http://goo.gl/s0KXRB

Work Order Request Form: http://goo.gl/H7hFwK

What I’m Reading

Throw Out the College Application Process : A New York Times Op-Ed Piece

How Curiosity Enhances The Brain to Enhance Learning : Lots of educational implications in this research-based (it’s short) article

Choral Response and CORBS Feedback

Excellence in Education: Choral Response

I saw choral response used in a different—and great—way this week. Choral response is, of course, when the teacher asks/posts a question and the entire class responds, preferably after wait time is provided or students have had a chance to answer on their own.

The “new” use of choral response that I saw was a quick strategy to get a general idea of what the students knew about the topic. The teacher asked the class a series of questions and had the entire class respond in unison.

What I liked about this simple strategy was it did not single out students, allowed the teacher to gauge what the class knew and established a mindset that it’s OK to be wrong.

Ideas for the Classroom: CORBS Feedback

CORBS is an acronym for how to provide effective feedback (Hawkins and Shohets, 1989)

Clear: Simple, specific and straight as opposed to vague, complex or confusing

Owned: Describe how it made you feel and use language  such as “I found…” or “I felt…” making feedback your own perception and not as an ultimate truth.

Regular: Try to give feedback as early as possible so that the person has time to do something about it

Balanced: Balance the positives with the negatives

Specific: Feedback should be based on observable behaviors and specific situations that can  be modified. General feedback is difficult for the learner to use, so attempt to be specific and give examples.

Administrative Notes

Homecoming was a great week! The spirit displayed by our students—and teachers—was phenomenal, capped off with a great pep rally, football game and homecoming dance.

Each year, the Kettle Run spirit seems to grow. We must never lose sight of the how the culture of our school influences student learning and we thank you for creating such a great climate.

Positive Referral Link: http://goo.gl/s0KXRB

Work Order Request Form: http://goo.gl/H7hFwK

Tonight’s twitter #vachat (8pm) discusses Response to Intervention/Dealing with Struggling Learners. Hope you can join us.

What I’m Reading

10 Design Questions that Will Improve Your Teaching : From Marzano’s Art and Design of Teaching to help plan effective units and lessons.

Differentiated Instruction Visually Explained

Why a Leading Professor of New Media Just Banned Technology Use in Class : An interesting BYOD article from The Washington Post

Cougar Communication: Edcamp Reflection, Geddit

 Excellence in Education

As you know, I had the opportunity to participate in another edcamp this weekend. These always energize me for two reasons: 1) I learn new things that I can’t wait to try or implement; 2) I realize how fortunate I am to work with such a phenomenal staff and great students.

Looking back I wanted to let you all know about some of the bragging I did about Kettle Run and you.

• While not absolute, our faculty gets along with each other!
•  Our principal fosters a spirit of collegiality, teamwork and is willing to listen!
•  Our professional development in October followed the edcamp model and it rocked!
• Teachers benefit from a great amount of classroom autonomy!
• Teachers are willing and encouraged to take risks!
• Our parents and students are actively involved in Kettle Run!

Thanks for being awesome and giving me the chance to brag!

Tech Idea of the Month: Geddit

I know our BYOD still lacks something because of the inability for students to routinely get online, but I wanted to share a new BYOD program/app with you.

It’s similar to Socrative, PollEverywhere and Celly, which I’ve shared before.

What it does:

• Gather feedback from students as part of the formative assessment-feedback loop.
• Your questions go to the students’ devices (multiple choice, short answer). Students join classes by entering a class code.
• Answers are displayed in a graph format or listed individually for each student.
• Questions can include pictures.

For more : www.letsgeddit.com

 The idea comes from Richard Byrne’s Free Tech for Teachers http://goo.gl/kPDSR9

Administrative Stuff

Most of you are doing a phenomenal job of using BlackBoard for posting grades. We’ve received lots of positive comments from parents and students. Thanks!

Even with BlackBoard use, we ask that you please contact parents of any student who is receiving a D or F in your class. As you know, it’s extremely important to engage parents in the education of their children.

We’ll be adding a 3^rd faculty meeting option this week to help avoid conflicts. I’m still working out the details.

Tonight’s #vachat topic: What Matters in Education?

Upcoming Kettle Run Events/Schedule   

Tuesday:                    Beware of April Fool’s Day (don’t say I didn’t warn you)

                                    FLEX (meeting for students participating in Career Shadowing)

                                    Faculty Meeting

                                     

Wednesday:               Faculty Meeting

Thursday:                  FLEX

                                   

Cougar Communication, Sept 9

Cougar Communication

Excellence in Education: Passion

In conducting candidate interviews, I’m always looking for passionate teachers. Students want teachers who make class engaging, interesting and fun (click here for more on what our students want from their teachers). Teachers want peers who are committed and positive. 

Passion can, of course, manifest itself in many ways.

This past week, I was fortunate to see many examples of enthusiasm and passion. A partial listing:

·      Mr. Christian taking the time to high-five each of his students prior to a quiz, knowing each student was going to pass the quiz.

·      Ms. Nosal telling everyone about her final obligation on her PhD dissertation.  

·      Mr. Wilson overreacting (a good thing) with great theatrical skill about his own error.

·      Ms. Allen having fun with her students, laughing and joking along with them.

As you can see, passion manifests itself in many ways.

·      When someone asks you how your day is, say you’re having a great day!

·      Saying “hi” to and carrying on a brief conversation with every student as they enter your classroom.

·      Creating engaging lessons that draw students in like a moth to a flame

·      Going out of their way to ensure that a student feels safe, respected, and loved

·      Striving to create a life-changing experience for all your students

All passionate teachers:

·      thrive on interacting with students and peers.

·      know how they come across and how others are receiving them.

·      believe in each child; realizing that every student needs a champion.

The best teachers are the ones who communicate their passion for the subject and for their profession to their peers and their students.

BYOD Ideas for the Classroom: Socrative

Socrative is one my favorites. It’s a student response system that can be used on tablets, smartphones and laptops. Students can either visit the class specific website or download the Socrative app.

It’s simple to setup and just as easy to use.  And yes, it’s free.

Ways it can be used:

1.     Anonymous Formative Assessments, Bell Ringers, Question-Answer, Exit Activities

Using the single question option, Socrative allows teachers to verbally ask questions and students answer the questions anonymously. Questions can be multiple-choice, true-false or short answer.

2.     Quizzes

By selecting Quiz-Based Activities, teachers can create quizzes. Unlike the above, the teacher pre-enters the questions, which can include visuals, so students see the question(s). Feedback is immediate for both the student and the teacher.

3.     Group Quiz

Socrative offers several games and various options that go beyond the above. One is called SpaceRace. Teams of students answer questions; each correct answer moves the rocket closer to the finish line. This is a great option for when a lot of students don’t have devices.

4.     Back Channel

A back channel is a virtual room where students can pose questions or comments regarding the material being presented as it is being presented. Two good sites/apps for backchannels are Padlet and TodaysMeet. By using the Short Answer section of Socrative students can enter their own questions or comments during a presentation, lab, or lecture. One of the big advantages of backchanneling is that students who may be reluctant to participate in a traditional class setting, will be more likely to participate behind the scenes.

Finally, Socrative continues to expand and improve its offerings.

Administrative Notes

Teachers on the comprehensive cycle, please remember that your goals are due by Friday. If you need further assistance, please let me know.

Offer—PLEASE take me up on this: I want to be in your classroom and help out. I need to stay connected to what it means to be a teacher. So, if the opportunity presents itself, please let me be your sub, guest teacher, whatever. We can even turn the tables and you—or anyone else—can observe me.

Tweet of the Week

Upcoming Schedule

September 9^th         Field Hockey @ Liberty 5:30 Varsity only

                                Golf @ Prince William vs. Patriot 3:30

                                 Volleyball @ Handley 6/7

                                JV Football vs. Millbrook 6:00

                                               

September 10^th       Volleyball vs. Spotsylvania 6/7

                                               

September 11^th       Cross Country @ Nokesville Park 5:00

                                                                                               

September 12^th        Volleyball @ James Monroe 6:30 Varsity only

                                 Field Hockey vs. Spotsylvania 4:30/6:00

September 13^th        Varsity Football @ Millbrook 7:00

                                                                                                                                               

September 14^th        Cross Country @ Kernstown 9:00 am

                                                                                                           

Cougar Communication: September 3

Excellence in Education: Guide By The Side

We can’t expect students to be autonomous and creative when we tell them exactly what to do. Instead let’s aim to point students in the right direction and get out of their way.

I love it when I enter classrooms and I can’t immediately find the teacher. Sometimes the teacher is huddling with students. Other times the teacher is sitting with a group or working one-on-one with a student.

Embodied in this guide by the side philosophy is that students will learn more, discover new concepts and apply their learning on their own. Students are no longer passive learners.  The assignment becomes a quest for knowledge as students strive to discover answers on their own. We’ve moved beyond the transmittal of information from teacher to student. The teacher becomes a facilitator.

Cognitively, this approach makes sense. When students—for that matter anyone—are able to generate relationships between the new material and what they already know, they are far more likely to remember it and apply it. In this constructivist classroom, students are given the opportunity to truly interact with the material.

This is not to suggest that the teacher no longer lectures or instructs. A guide by the side teacher provides a framework, some information, and resources. The guide by the side constantly poses questions to stimulate students.  

Students need to think for themselves, pose and solve problems. In a guide by the side classroom, students produce knowledge instead of reproduce information. As we become guides on the sides—it won’t happen overnight—students will become more independent and real learning will improve. 

BYOD Ideas for the Classroom: Audioboo or Soundcloud

As today marks the official start of BYOD, I’ll be trying to share some BYOD ideas over the next couple of weeks.

Both Audioboo and Soundlcloud are IOS and Android apps that are simple to use and allow students to record and seamlessly upload their audio to the web for sharing.

I’m more familiar with SoundCloud and one of the features that I love is that you—as a teacher—can add a comment to a recording that a student shared with you.

Some possible uses:

• Foreign language classrooms (pretty much any time)
• Students interviewing each other (one can become a famous person, for example). The other positive to this approach is that it only requires one, shared device.
• Students record their paired verbal fluency/think-pair-share 
• What other uses can you think of?

Administrative Notes

“If we don’t tell our story, who will tell it for us?” As teachers, you are constantly creating engaging lessons that go beyond the ordinary. When you’re doing something beyond the ordinary, please let us know. Mr. Warner has started a blog called Cougar Chat http://goo.gl/Gz81E5 where we can post goings-on. We’d love to post it on YouTube, create a press release or tweet it. Help us tell our story.

We know the transition to Blackboard hasn’t been easy as all hoped. We appreciate your extra efforts as you try to get your Blackboard grades and more up-and-running.

If you’re interested in leading/facilitating an edcamp session: http://goo.gl/P8vYy6

Visual of the Week: Fair Isn’t Always Equal

*I got this off the Internet but can’t remember from where.

Upcoming Schedule

September 4^th          Field Hockey vs. James Monroe 4:30/6:15 Varsity first                                      

                                                                                                                                                           

September 5^th        Volleyball @ Manassas Park 6:00/7:30

September              Cross Country @ Great Meadow 9:00 am