This week I finally got around to reading Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers and came across the quote in the poster below. I then, as seems to be the case a lot recently, decided to put it into a motivational poster for the classroom. I found the image via the Creative Commons search engine but it was the creator's comment below that told me this photo was one to use:
"He says Arun has talent but does not practice enough. All masters say that but it is usually true."
Thanks to @deangroom and @Darcy1968 for posting the quote contained in the poster above on twitter. This poster now adds to my classroom.
These days there are many alternatives to the trusty old powerpoint presentation, yet many of us still rely on it. There is a place for powerpoint, keynote or similar presentation tools but many of us have seen them used badly so many times that we quietly groan to ourselves as we realise the presenter's chosen tool is in fact 'powerpoint'.
So, in order to stop this problem and ensure that it doesn't perpetuate across generations, before you start your students on their next assignment using a presentation tool like powerpoint, please give them some tips on how to do it effectively.
Here's a couple of places to find some pointers:
Garr Reynolds of Presentation Zen: What is good PowerPoint design?
Guy Kawasaki on The 10/20/30 Rule of Powerpoint
Or, you could show your students this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartridout/4203264995/in/set-72157623044488642/
When it comes to all things ICT, if there is one thing that I recommend you do this year it is to 'Get Connected'. Expand your PLN beyond the walls of your school and use Wikis, Nings, Twitter, Facebook, Skype (the list goes on) to connect with teachers around the world. Teachers who share the same concerns, the same interests and have students with the same sorts of issues. I have slowly expanded my network over the past year or two and it has not only broadened my horizons and made me think more but has reinvigorated me as a teacher and within myself. There are so many teachers out there who are willing to share and teach each other and as it has been said many time before: the more you give the more you will get in return.
The free ebook linked here is an example of the power of sharing, collaboration and becoming connected. UK Educator Doug Belshaw created #movemeon with the help of his twitter network, who were asked to tweet their tips, ideas and suggestions for all things educational. These have been placed into various sections of the ebook, including 'activities', 'behaviour' and 'feedback'. Even if you do not agree with everyone's suggestions, it will get you thinking.
Download the book for free here.
Perfect reading for this time of year, Seth Godin has collated the ideas of seventy big thinkers into an ebook that should help us reflect on this year and look forward to next year. He writes:
Now, more than ever, we need to shake things up. Now, more than ever, we need a different way of thinking, a useful way to focus and the energy to turn the game around.
Available as a free download, it is certainly something to keep you thinking over the holidays.
Have you ever reconsidered going to a professional development course because it was too expensive, too far away or the timing wasn't really convenient; or thought twice about a conference because there were only really 1 or 2 sessions you wanted to attend? The K12 Online Conference is pretty much the perfect form of PD and none of the above excuses are applicable. Attend from the comfort of your own home or during a free period / lunchtime at school. There are a variety of workshops to choose from as well as keynotes, fireside chats and plenty of conversations. It is free and everything is archived meaning that you can watch, listen and learn in a time that suits you. The text below is taken from the K12 Online Wiki:
The K-12 Online Conference invites participation from educators around the world interested in innovative ways Web 2.0 tools and technologies can be used to improve learning. This FREE conference is run by volunteers and open to everyone. The 2009 conference theme is "Bridging the Divide." This year’s conference begins with a pre-conference keynote by classroom teacher and international educator Kim Cofino the week of November 30, 2009. The following two weeks, December 7-11 and December 14-17, over fifty presentations will be posted online to our conference blog and our conference Ning for participants to view, download, and discuss.
So, if you're keen to find out about how to set up a website, use skype or video conferencing in the classroom, use Google SketchUp or delve into Second Life, then this conference is for you. The Conference Schedule will show you what is on and when. The K12 Online Conference is PD in your PJs at its best; anytime, anywhere PD.
Find more information at the Conference Ning and start to follow or, better still, join in some of the conversations.
Find some of the presentation Teasers here.
If you've never "googled" yourself, why not try. One way or another, the results may surprise you; but if the search shows up nothing at all, is that a good thing? Will future employers expect you to have a digital footprint? Will paper resumes be a thing of the past?
For those who are not so "tech savvy" or not as comfortable with using ICT for teaching and learning but keen to try something new, it's often a case of not knowing where to start. Personally, I began with an aggregator and began using Google Reader to catch up with what was happening "out there". I began reading blogs written by educators in general, before focussing a little more on blogs written by language teachers.
So, now that we all have an aggregator of some sort, what's next?
For me, the next step was podcasts. Easy to listen to as you walk the dog, drive to work or run around the neighbourhood. The best place to start is by selecting Podcasts in the iTunes store menu and then choosing "Education" from the categories on the left hand side. There is then the option to narrow your search using the "More Education" menu.
Most podcasts are free and, if you subscribe to them through iTunes (also free to download), it will automatically download them for you. Currently I subscribe to and recommend:
I also recommend that you subscribe to TED Talks as it is a constant source of fascinating presentations on a variety of topics.
If you're still looking for more, try 20 iTunes Feeds for the 2.0 Teacher.
What's your favourite podcast? Please add any recommendations in the comments below.
If you have recently purchased Flip Video cameras, as we have, or any other kind of video camera for the classroom, the first place you should stop is Forty Interesting Ways To Use Your Pocket Video Camera in the Classroom. Put together on Google docs and inspired by Tom Barrett, it is a collaborative effort that highlights a whole array of activities you could do with the camera, across a variety of subjects. Another great resource for links and ideas can be found over at Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age.
In the meantime, here is a very simple video made with a flip video during Japanese. It is of a visiting student from Japan showing the class how to write calligraphy. Simple but effective.
