Following "Stump The Teacher"

  In our Internet for Educators class, we were given a list of popular Edu-bloggers, and were asked to give a few of them a read as to expand our network.  I came across a few, read the blogs, liked what I read, and then added them to my reader.  Then I came across a blog name that just stood out, and that was "Stump The Teacher."  I added this to my reader before even reading anything, because the name was just so unique.  I saw it almost as a challenge: as in "try and get me on something," or "stump me... if you dare!"  So I finally went into the blog.  What I found out was this.... his name is Josh Stumpenhorst.  So, a very good play on words, and that more than got my attention.  He is a grade 6 teacher from Chicago, Illinois, as well as a techie, basketball coach, and a very big Star Wars fan (got to love the Star Wars).  Follow his blog at http://stumpteacher.blogspot.ca/.




  I began to read his posts, and I immediately became intrigued.  The first one I read was called "A New Hope," which obviously grabbed my attention (it's the first Star Wars movie title: first movie made, 4th in the series if you want to get technical).  His post was on the topic of empathy and compassion in the classroom, and how it seems that there is a growing concern for how it looks like it is disappearing.  He then mentioned how he still sees evidence of its existence, and that he as a "New Hope," for it.  I believe that there is still compassion in the classroom, but we just only hear the bad stuff.  So often we see the good things in a classroom, but no one talks about it because it is the expected norm.  Everyone always hears about the bad stuff because (in a sense) its a conversation starter.  People would rather talk about a bad thing a student did over a good thing a student did.  There is more intrigue in that right?  There is a problem with that.  If we miss talking about the good stuff, then the notion that there is no compassion in the class is just going to grow.  We need to make an effort to acknowledge the good.  I'm not saying that every time a student says thank you or is nice to someone they get a cookie or a hall pass, but we should let them know that we appreciated the kind behaviour.  This will only spread the word around and make it known that students do actually care for one another.

  His other posts have included thoughts on many things: public education having to make it's first change at the university level; does asking questions make someone a troublemaker?; and a very heartfelt and meaningful post about the horrible shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  His thoughts are amazing, and his style is classy and sometimes humorous.  Please, please give him a read.  You won't regret it.  At least follow him on Twitter at @stumpteacher.  Until next time...  CHEERS!!

Technology in the Classroom Isn't For Looks

  We recently had Clarence Fisher join us via Skype from his position in Snow Lake.  The conversation we had was brief, but awesome.  He talked about how we need to teach proper digital skills to our students.  Digital skills are very important, much like how reading and writing is.  I'm not saying reading and writing isn't important, I'm saying that digital skills are becoming increasingly important.  Teaching a student how to use technology to gather information is essential.  Teaching a student how to separate the real information from the garbage is also important.  I have written many essays in my short time on this planet, and I have sure come across a lot of junk in terms of information.  It is really hard to know what is good and what is bad.  I wish I would have been taught how to filter it, because I have probably loaded an essay with some awful stuff at some point.  If my knowledge was better at the time, I probably would have known what was good and what was bad, but my awareness was self taught so it took awhile.

  We also discussed the actual, physical use of technology in the classroom.  Many teachers have technology in their classrooms, but don't use it, or don't use it right.  A smartboard isn't something you just slap on the wall and say "Oooooooo....... pretty."  It is also not a glorified projector screen.  It is an educational tool that students can interact with, which can greatly benefit their learning.  An iPad just isn't a really slick, amazing, gorgeous, sexy and crazy awesome device; it has purposes that are educational and surpass everything I previously stated in this sentence.  Yeah it checks email.  Yeah it tells you when the Toronto Maple Leafs just scored a goal (which last night was plentiful I must say).  Yeah it tells you the weather.  However, if these are the only reasons it is sitting in your classroom,  take the thing home, because you are just teasing the kids with the notion that they may get to use it.  I use my iPad for a lot of assessment.  Evernote is an amazing tool for the computer, iPad, and iPhone.  It allows me to take antidotal notes, take pictures of students' work, and tag names and assignments so they are all organized.  It is just too awesome.  Anyways, use it if you have it, and use it right.  Let the kids use it.  IPads and smartboards in classrooms should be smeared with fingerprints. 

  Great presentation, and great information!  Until next time... CHEERS!!


PS - This is the album I have been listening to while doing homework today.  "Koi No Yokan" by Deftones.  Awesome stuff, so give some of the songs a listen on YouTube if you like a mellower heavy metal sound.

This is the audio video for their song "Tempest."  Enjoy.

Think, Think...... What Else Should I Use?

This, is my interpretation of my very own educational sharing world:

As you can see, I do not have all that much on it yet in comparison to some.  However, I am somewhat new to the massive educational sharing network, but I do know that one day this will be a lot bigger.  The first one that I ever used, and probably almost everyone first started using, was the web browser (except for family and friends; but lets just talk technology for now).  In sense, it almost had to have been the web browser, because to get the majority of the others you had to use the web browser (except for the iPhone and iPad, but you probably did research on it before buying one through a browser; and again the family and friends of course).  The web browser allowed me to reach all of the other portions of my network, even though I did not show using arrows because that would just look too busy.

Out of all the portions of my PLN, I would have to say that Twitter is the one I use the most.  I joined twitter last year (to follow the NHL trade deadline), and have used it constantly since.  I used it for more personal stuff for awhile, but then I learned through ICT that it had a countless supply of educational benefits.  Sharing, following, and chatting about all kinds of educational opportunity, ideas, lessons, sessions, and the list goes on.  The best part is, that all it takes is a quick follow or a hashtag search and it is at your fingertips.

I cannot count how many times Google Docs has come in handy for me.  Collaborative projects, study notes, slideshows, etc.  The ability to take multiple people's experiences and ideas and collectively add it to an online database is just astonishing.  Google Docs would have been one of the most handy tools I could have used in my undergrad degree, but sadly I never heard of its existence until I was in my first year in the Faculty of Education.

I just started using Diigo... so I'll get back to you on that one.

MAPLE is going to be DA BOMB (yeah, I just said that).  I have just been added to this amazing online resource thanks to John Evans, and once it becomes more widespread, it will be the go to online resource for Manitoba teachers.  Just think, an online social website created by teachers, and exclusively for teachers!  It is essentially Facebook without the veil.  I say this because if you are on MAPLE, then it is you, not a fake version of you.  You have to be a Manitoban teacher to use it.  No invite groups, or special 1 month trials, only real teachers.  You have to love that, because then you know you are getting the best possible resources available.

I would start talking about the iPad, but if you just look at how many connection arrows I've made with it, I think it sums up my thoughts on it well enough (it is literally the best piece of equipment I have ever owned).

I am still learning and always will be.  So, in ten years from now if I am asked to create another mind map of my network, and then compared the two, I would probably be astonished to see how much it has expanded.  I am going to keep thinking, searching, and trying, to see how many I can possibly use effectively.  I am also very open to suggestions of really good one!  So... wish me luck!!  Until next time... CHEERS!!

*Thinking of what to try next, or about what to eat?  You decide!*