Podcast

MSM 609: Scurryfunge Songs

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about Moodle, Christmas Break, Public Domain, and more. Dave continues with the best books about Science.

Jokes:  

“How many people does it take to change a light bulb?”

That’s just one of the many questions I should have asked before buying this lighthouse.

When you misspell things because you are over-excited, you’re making hypos

Walking home late last night , I passed a hot fudge sundae, a lemon cheesecake, and a slice of apple pie.

I thought to myself…

The streets are strangely desserted tonight.

Just bought “59 Ways To Remove Glue From Your Hands.”

Can’t put it down.

I really love my furniture… me and my recliner go way back.

They’ve crossed a homing pigeon with a woodpecker.

It not only delivers the message, it also knocks on the door.

What’s the best unusual Christmas present to receive?

  • A broken drum, you can’t beat that.

Middle School Science Minute  

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

K12Science Podcast:  Two More of the Best Science Books of 2023

I was recently reading the December 7, 2023 issue of “Smithsonian” magazine. 

In this issue, I read the article “The Ten Best Science Books of 2023” written by Bridget Alex, Riley Black, Dan Falk, Shi En Kim, Carlyn Kranking, and Joe Spring.  

In the article they shared their top nonfiction science titles from the past year, selected by “Smithsonian” magazine’s editors and frequent contributors. In our last podcast, I shared the reviews of two of the top ten books.  In today’s podcast, we will look at the reviews of two more books from the list:

  • Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet by Ben Goldfarb
  • Starborn: How the Stars Made Us (and Who We Would Be Without Them) by Roberto Trotta

http://k12science.net/two-more-of-the-best-science-books-of-2023/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Plans for Break
  • Flooding in Maine
  • AI in Education
  • Moodle Comparisons

The Social Web

Jonathan Spike  @jonathanspike

Super disappointed that my #ISTELive session “Clippy Has Gone Rogue: What to do When Microsoft’s AI Starts Critiquing Your Bank Account” was NOT accepted at #ISTE24 #ISTERejects #ISTE2024

Image

Richard Byrne  @rmbyrne

If you like the Peanuts comics, you’ll want to take a look at these lesson plans.

https://t.co/44ejqxBkd8

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the Day, because it’s getting closer, is ‘scurryfunge’ (from US dialect): to frenziedly tidy up the house just before guests descend.

Richard Byrne@rmbyrne·

The Fastest Way to Create Video-based Lessons  (English teachers take note.)

https://youtu.be/QQ92bruGrLI

Benjamin Waller @jamestagal@techhub.social

New & Unreleased H5P Creations by Oliver Tacke | A Detailed Showcase! In this video, I take a look at the new @H5PTechnology Game Map and some unreleased content types developed by our Lead H5P Ambassador, @otacke Check it out.https://youtu.be/xsauYHDUt9Y?si=bRzmxM

Strategies:  

EXAMPLES FOR TEACHING WITH FAKE NEWS AND PSEUDOSCIENCE

https://blog.tcea.org/fake-news-pseudoscience/

Resources:  

Public Domain Day

https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2024/

10 Tips To Design Learner-Centered Training

Social Media and Adolescent Health

https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27396/social-media-and-adolescent-health

H5P Content Types

https://www.olivertacke.de/labs/h5p-content-types/

Web Spotlight: 

Web Design Museum

https://www.webdesignmuseum.org/web-design-history

INFOGRAPHIC: “AMERICA’S TOP NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2024”

https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2023/12/23/infographic-americas-top-new-years-resolutions-for-2024/

The last day of this year is 123123

This won’t happen again…for awhile

UPDATED Most Popular Websites 1995 – 2023

Random Thoughts . . .  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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MSM 608:  Bayardism – It’s Going to Hit This Week

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about the upcoming break, virtual school days, AI and more. Dave shares a couple of the best science books of 2023.

Jokes:  

Did you hear about the Red ship that collided with the blue ship?

  • They were marooned

I’m letting anyone who wants to use my French Revolution joke. 

  • It’s Royalty free

I got kicked out of the coffee club.

  • I wore a tea shirt

did you know Pavlov was known to have great hair?

he did a lot of conditioning

A man walks into a chemist’s and says, ‘Can I have a bar of soap, please?’ The chemist says, ‘Do you want it scented?’ And the man says, ‘No, I’ll take it with me now.

Lowe’s has all the Christmas stuff in the second row. In other words: 

  • Aisle B – home for Christmas

The bad thing about being the first to ascend a mountain?

  • It’s all downhill from there

People who drive electric cars, do they listen to AC/DC?

  • Or something current?

i just learned about recency bias. Gotta say that’s the most interesting bias I’ve ever heard of

Dave considered majoring in mime but decided he didn’t want to get boxed in with a career.

On his last report card, Rudolph went up in Math and down in History.

How did Joseph and Mary weigh baby Jesus at birth?

They had a weigh in a manger.

Middle School Science Minute  

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

K12Science Podcast:  The Best Science Books of 2023

I was recently reading the December 7, 2023 issue of “Smithsonian” magazine.  

In this issue, I read the article “The Ten Best Science Books of 2023” written by Bridget Alex, Riley Black, Dan Falk, Shi En Kim, Carlyn Kranking, and Joe Spring.  

In the article, they shared their top nonfiction science titles from the past year, selected by “Smithsonian” magazine’s editors and frequent contributors.  In this podcast, we look at two of their selections:

  • “Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World” by John Vaillant
  • “Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell” by Sy Montgomery

http://k12science.net/the-best-science-books-of-2023/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Break
  • Last Day Plans
    • Attendance
    • Moodle
    • Executive Functioning
  • Town Council Meeting
  • Virtual Schooling Days

The Social Web

Fixing Education  @FixingEducation

I’m convinced 95% of my students spend 15 hours each day on TikTok. 

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘bayardism’ (17th century): a confidence that is rooted in ignorance or a wilful misunderstanding of reality.

NJAMLE  @NJAMLE

Don’t forget to submit a proposal for the NJAMLE annual conference! Submissions due December 15th!

https://t.co/6qNbCUBkpo

MAMSE  @MI_MAMSE

Looking for an opportunity to learn with other educators from the middle? Join us on March 9th for the 2024 MAMSE Conference! For more information: https://mamse.org/conference

Strategies:  

Calendar End of Year Review

https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2023/12/16/duh-why-have-i-never-thought-of-having-students-do-a-calendar-year-in-review/

New Years Resolutions

https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2012/12/31/the-best-ways-to-help-make-your-new-years-resolutions-succeed/

Resources:  

Choice Boards

https://shakeuplearning.com/blog/category/choice-boards/

Bookmarking

Raindrop

Bookmarking service. 

https://eduk8.me/2023/12/managing-and-sharing-your-bookmarks-with-raindrop/

Hypothesis

I use Hypothes.is (open source and free). This is an annotation tool, but also does bookmarking. 

https://web.hypothes.is/

Clipboard Managers

The Case for Clipboard Managers

https://sixcolors.com/post/2023/12/the-case-for-clipboard-managers/

Clipy

This is the one that I use. This is an open source project, based on an earlier open source project (ClipMenu). 

https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/58124/clipy

https://clipy-app.com/

How to create substitute teacher plans in 15 minutes with AI

https://ditchthattextbook.com/sub-plans/

Spanish: Beyond the Words

From the richness of regional dialects and accents, to vibrant modern culture across the Spanish-speaking world, “Spanish: Beyond the Words” tells the story of a truly global language.

https://artsandculture.google.com/project/spanish-language

Web Spotlight: 

Professional Development Is Dying — and It’s Most Evident in My Local Teacher Community

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2023-12-13-professional-development-is-dying-and-it-s-most-evident-in-my-local-teacher-community

101 Hidden Gems: The Greatest Films You’ve Never Seen

https://www.openculture.com/2023/12/101-hidden-gems-the-greatest-films-youve-never-seen.html

US does surprisingly well on COVID-era declines in latest PISA math test

https://jabberwocking.com/us-does-surprisingly-well-on-covid-declines-in-latest-pisa-test/

Can Kids Grow Up If They’re Constantly Tracked and Monitored?

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2023-12-05-can-kids-grow-up-if-they-re-constantly-tracked-and-monitored

Random Thoughts . . .  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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MSM 607: Rememble This, Or Not . . .

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about student research in Moodle, some inquiry cubes, and more. Dave hears an Acoustician.

Jokes:  

So, according to this BMI chart, my height has not been keeping up with my weight.

“Why is that book so thick?”

“It’s a long story.”

I tell strangers I’m “when Amazon only sold books” old.

In reality, I’m “when Amazon was only a river” old.

Got kicked out of the Liar’s Anonymous for telling them I was happy to see them.

Dave was lonely so he started a business.

Now he has a little company.

Middle School Science Minute  

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

K12Science Podcast:  Acoustician

I was recently reading the Fall, 2023 issue of “The Science Teacher” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the section “Career of the Month” written by Luba Vangelova.  In this section, she focused on the career of an acoustician. 

An acoustician is an expert in the branch of physics concerned with the properties of sound.  Tony Hoover is an acoustician and recommends interested students to have a great understanding of acoustics, which is an interdisciplinary field that involves a lot of physics, math, and engineering.  

http://k12science.net/acoustician/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Database Activity in Moodle for Research
    •    
    •    
  • Professional Development – self-paced

The Social Web

Kevin Honeycutt  @kevinhoneycutt

129 free drawing lessons by me designed to fit the time you have in class! Everything from simple machines to national symbols to habitats. https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1bC

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

(Unofficial) word of the day is ‘rememble’: to have a false memory of something. Possibly a blend of ‘remember’ and ‘fumble’.

John R. Sowash  @jrsowash

Taking screenshots is a #Chromebook feature I use dozens of times every day! I recorded this video for students to teach them how to use the screen capture tool: https://youtu.be/cGcUeTr_XMM?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=jrsowash&utm_content=edtechposts

Human Kind — Be Jingley @qurlyjoe@mstdn.social

I wonder what the part of my brain that used to store peoples’ phone numbers is doing now?

Mark Dunk @unklar@mastodon.education

A Free and Open-Source (FOSS) Geographic Information System

written by Miguel Guhlin

https://blog.tcea.org/social-studies-f

johnkuti @johnkuti@social.coop

visiting profiles of the Open Educators in this list https://edtechfactotum.com/open-educat

#mschat, #H5P, #msmatters

Strategies:  

Inquiry Cubes

https://passionatelycurioussci.weebly.com/blog/patterns-in-science-inquiry-cubes

Creating Experience Prototypes

https://dschool.stanford.edu/resources/educator-guide-this-is-a-prototype

Resources:  

EpicPBL 

Some Free materials

https://www.trevormuir.com/epicpbl

Revision History

Revision History adds a bar to the top of Google Docs with basic statistics like time spent writing, number of deletions and copy/pastes.

The replay feature (in beta) lets you watch a video of the student writing their paper.

Click on the details button to open a sidebar with more information about the student’s writing process, including what was copy/pasted and information on writing sessions.

  • The plugin pulls from data that is already stored by Google. All the analysis is done on your computer. This tool respects your privacy (and that of your students), so no student data, including the document text, is ever sent to our servers.

https://www.revisionhistory.com/

Kialo Edu

Kialo Edu is a custom version of Kialo (kialo.com), the world’s largest argument mapping and debate site, specifically designed for classroom use. Its clear, visually compelling format makes it easy to follow the logical structure of a discussion and facilitates thoughtful collaboration. Kialo’s mission is to promote well-reasoned discussion online, and to that end, Kialo is free for educators to use.

https://www.kialo-edu.com/

Web Spotlight: 

 AXIS:  The Culture Translator

A Charismatic Selection

What it is: The Oxford University Press has chosen “rizz” for their 2023 word of the year.

What it means: The word “rizz,” if you aren’t familiar, is essentially short for “charisma,” and is generally used to refer to someone with an ability to attract others through their sense of style, charm, or general attractiveness. Other contestants for word of the year were “Swiftie” (referring to a Taylor Swift fan), “situationship” (referring to a romantic relationship that hasn’t been clearly defined), and “prompt” (referring to instructions given to an AI program like ChatGPT). As per usual, now that the word “rizz” has been given so much attention, expect it to fall swiftly and completely out of use with everyone under 25.

Slang of the Week

Erm: Maybe one of the more self-explanatory slangs, “erm” is an interjection used to express hesitation or as a response to something annoying someone said or did. It serves double-duty as a vocal-filler and a response. It’s not really new, but it’s been seeing a resurgence as vernacular with content creators, which, in turn, has trickled down to their audiences. To see some members of Gen Alpha explain “erm” and other slang, check out this TikTok by Nicole Pellegrino.

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MSM 606: What are you thinking about, The Roman Empire or AI?

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about AI in the classroom and education. Dave spotlights Joanna Haigh.

Jokes:  

I made a Belgium waffle this morning,

  • This afternoon I’m going to make a Frenchman talk nonsense.

The guy at the computer store may have mentioned that I needed more RAM on my laptop.

  • But I have no memory of it.

Why was Santa’s helper on the wall?

  • He was a “SH…” elf

When did the cranberry sauce cross the road?

  • To get to the other sides.

I met someone from a foreign country the other day. We got to talking. They stated that their country had banned scales. I said….”No way”. 

My wife is tired of cheese jokes. 

  • She says that they really grate on her.

According to my chocolate Advent calendar….there are three days until Christmas

My friend met someone new, as soon as she told him she worked in the monkey exhibit, I knew…

  • She’s a ‘keeper.

I told one of my jokes on a Zoom meeting today.

Turns out I’m not even remotely funny.

Middle School Science Minute  

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

Joanna Haigh

I was recently reading the Fall, 2023 issue of “The Science Teacher” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the article “The Use of Storytelling to Model NGSS Science and Engineering Practices” written by Adrienne Larocque and Anna Babarinde. 

An important strand of three-dimensional learning in the Next Generation Science Standards is science and engineering practices.  These practices replace the oversimplified “scientific method” often presented in science textbooks that bears little resemblance to actual scientific research. It requires time and effort to research and prepare accounts about people who model the Scientific and Engineering Practices.  Joanna Haigh is one of those people.

https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/k12science/id/28816788

Reports from the Front Lines

  • AI in the Title
  • AI in the Classroom
  • Tech Fair
  • Google Tools
  • AI for US
    • How do you use it?
    • Environmental Concerns?
    • Cost concerns?
    • Ethical concerns?

The Social Web

Shannon McClintock Fitzgerald  @shannonmmiller

It’s Here, Friends…Our December Choice Boards!  You will find everything you need here to use this with your students and teachers, including Holidays, 12 Days of Making, Hour of Code and more. Find the published link and link to copy here… https://buff.ly/48fTGev…

rebelEducator  @rebelEducator

This is an 8th grade graduation exam from 1912. 8th graders then were better prepared for life in the real world than 12th graders are today.

Joy Kirr (she/her)  @JoyKirr

Quote from a seventh grader today: I don’t know why I can’t do whatever I want to do. Why do I have to do what YOU want me to do? #mschat #middleschool #teacher

Matt Miller @jmattmiller

UNBOXING VIDEOSto show what they know Add some FUN to your video activities! Example unboxing videos to watch Downloadable student planning guide 20 video activity ideas Microsoft Flip tips http://ditchthattextbook.com/unboxing #ditchbook

Strategies:  

Bringing Artificial Intelligence to Middle School Classrooms

MIT researchers and collaborators have developed an open-source curriculum to teach young students about ethics and artificial intelligence.

Lots of resources. Seems to be a cost of about $50 per robot. 

These materials are licensed as CC-BY-NC under creative commons.

https://news.mit.edu/2019/bringing-artificial-intelligence-and-mit-middle-school-classrooms-1230

https://httyr.media.mit.edu/

Resources:  

Free Resources from Larry Ferlazzo

https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2023/11/26/free-resources-from-all-my-books-35/

AXIS – The Culture Translator

Not Kidding

What it is: Gen Z is complaining on TikTok that kids thirteen and under are poorly behaved—and they think parents who enable too much screen time are to blame. #ipadkids has 833 million views.

Watermelon Activism

What it is: The watermelon emoji is being used as a symbol of the pro-Palestinian cause, primarily because the red, black, and green colors of a watermelon are the same as the Palestinian flag.

Web Spotlight: 

LRT Christmas Special

What does Santa look like in Lithuania?  What kind of problems does he have to solve?  Here’s LRT’s take on that:  https://fb.watch/oH4f6PoXrM/  

Random Thoughts . . .  

I’ve shared my H5P presentation on my personal blog.

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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MSM 605: A Precipitous Decline of Creativity

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy struggle with the jokes, review the web, hear voices (and create voices), and more. Dave has the concepts and practices of science. 

Jokes:  

Just trying to read the Led Zeppelin wikipedia entry about when Jimmy went missing, but it says Page Not Found.

How many pastry chefs does it take to make a pie?

  • 3.14

NASA is launching a mission to say sorry to all the aliens.

  • They are calling it Apollo G.

Question:  What did Worf say when small ice asteroids began hitting the Enterprise hull?

Answer:  “Captain, we are being hailed.”

Lumberjack reply guys are like “well axe-ually”

I just finished my income review for the IRS

  • It was very taxing. 

I had a dream that I was an oil-field. 

  • I can’t tell you how bored I was.

Mary and James Smith walk into the doctor’s office. 

“What seems to be the problem?” The doctor asks.

“Well, my husband keeps referring to himself as a separate person,” Mary explains worriedly.

“James doesn’t see a problem with this,” James says.

“Ah, I see,” the doctor says.

“Have you ever heard of anything like this before?” Mary asks desperately.

“Only twice. Which means that your husband… is the third person.”

Middle School Science Minute  

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

K12Science Podcast:  Scientific Ways of Doing

I was recently reading the Fall, 2023 issue of “The Science Teacher” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the section, “Commentary” written by John Suchocki. He wrote an article entitled, “Pathways to Science Literacy.”

The concepts of science and the practices of doing science are not the same.  As science teachers, we should pull the rich practices of science (the ways of doing science) out front and center as a helix wrapping around the core concepts of science.

Reports from the Front Lines

The Social Web

Veoveo  @Veoveoshop

This Year’s ‘Stand Out From Crowd’ Christmas Eye-Catching Grinch Sweatshirt lol 

AaronDavid@AaronDavid@mastodon.world

The News-Herald  @NewsHeraldMI

Cursive makes a comeback — by law — in public schools https://trib.al/dNrEy8j

TeacherGoals  @teachergoals

Accurate.   http://teachergoals.com

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘dumfungled’ (19th century): worn out, used up, and totally spent. See also ‘depooperit’ and ‘forswunk’.

Anna Spanner@Annaspanner@bookstodon.com

Today one of my top set year 10s called me Mum. I gave him a gold star and awarded myself one too for the heck of it. #EduGlow

Resources:  

NASA +

New FREE streaming service. Lots of great resources and scheduled live events. 

Home

Voice Generator

This web app allows you to generate voice audio from text – no login needed, and it’s completely free! It uses your browser’s built-in voice synthesis technology, and so the voices will differ depending on the browser that you’re using. You can download the audio as a file, but note that the downloaded voices may be different to your browser’s voices because they are downloaded from an external text-to-speech server. If you don’t like the externally-downloaded voice, you can use a recording app on your device to record the “system” or “internal” sound while you’re playing the generated voice audio.

https://voicegenerator.io/

Bonus:

Change voices for fun effects. 

Note: For some voices (Bane and Dalek, for example), you’ll need to put on the correct “accent” for the voice transformation to work properly. Basically, try to make your voice sound like the target voice, and the engine will add some effects to make it sound like the real thing. Another random tip: You’ll need to talk relatively slowly if you’re using any of the “echo-ey” voices, otherwise the echos will make it hard to understand.

You can use the generated audio clips for any purpose at all (commercial usage included). There’s no need to credit voicechanger.io if you don’t want to. You can leave feedback here, but please note this is just a hobby project so I won’t be updating the site regularly. Thanks for stopping by – I hope you find this site useful! 😄

https://voicechanger.io/

AXIS:  The Culture Translator

Here are 5 conversation starters to help spark meaningful, memorable, and fun discussions around the Thanksgiving table. Thanks for being a part of the Axis family!

  1. There was a lot of discussion in 2023 about how often men think (or don’t think) about the Roman Empire. Do you ever think about the Roman Empire? Or, is there a different era of history you often find yourself thinking about?
  2. “Barbenheimer” might be over, but the question remains: if you could watch two movies back-to-back on the big screen with your friends, what would you pick? 
  3. It looks like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce might be introducing their families to each other this weekend. How soon do you think couples should meet each other’s parents? 
  4. A “Mean Girls” reboot will hit theaters early next year—and, it’s apparently a musical. What’s one reboot or sequel that you think was better than its original? 
  5. “Girl math” was trending earlier this year as people discussed the unusual ways they sometimes justify spending money (i.e. anything you buy on a gift card feels like it might be free). Do you have any quirky spending habits like these?

Web Spotlight: 

How Stories Shape Our Minds

The 20 Internet Giants That Rule the Web

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/The-20-Internet-Giants-That-Rule-the-Web.jpg
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/20-internet-giants-rule-web/

Stories Behind the Most Famous Photos in History

Random Thoughts . . .  

It is Michigan-Ohio State Week:  https://youtu.be/9ak9Uxtntfk  and for 2023:  https://files.mastodon.social/cache/media_attachments/files/111/471/590/843/454/385/original/8c7463b4c0e8c043.mp4  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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MSM 604: Hot Stuff Inside the Fish Bowl

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about YIG (Youth In Government), breaks, jokes, hacks, and more. Dave eclipses us all. 

Jokes:  

I’m not superstitious

  • Just slightlysticious

I thought that the dryer was shrinking my clothes. 

  • Turns out it was the refrigerator all along

I work outside. When the weather is nice I put on sunglasses, but when it’s really sunny…

  • …I ask for my supervisor.

How do you wash your hands over the holiday?

  • With Santatizer. 

Did you hear about the guys that stole a set of golf clubs?

  • They’re still looking for the driver

If I could time travel I’d visit Holland back when everyone wore hand carved footwear…

  • …wooden shoe?

My daughter is roaming around the house drawing polka dots on everything she sees. Right now, I’m hiding in the closet

  • and hoping she won’t spot me.

The founder of IKEA got elected Prime Minister in Sweden.

  • He’s now assembling his cabinet.

Thank you for explaining the concept of regenerative braking.

  • It was slow going at first, but in the end I got quite a charge out of it.

I keep hitting “Accept All Cookies” but, so far, NOTHING.

Middle School Science Minute  

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

K12Science Podcast:  Things to Know About the Solar Eclipse

I was recently reading the Fall, 2023 issue of “Science and Children” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the section, “Science 101” written by Matthew Bobrowsky. He wrote an article entitled, “What Can My Students See During the Upcoming Solar Eclipse?!”

The total solar eclipse that will take place on April 8, 2024, will probably be your last chance to see one until 2045.

Reports from the Front Lines

  • YIG  https://www.myig.org/  
  • Break
  • Computer Science Week
    • Dec 4->10
  • Kindergarten Stories
  • State of Maine Hack

The Social Web

Tim Chilcote  @TimChilcote

Efforts underway to reintroduce Arctic grayling to Michigan waters after a century-long absence

Taipei Times  @taipei_times

A Taipei high-school student was ordered to pay NT$70,000 in restitution to a classmate for posting their childhood photographs online and making fun of their appearance and family background https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/ar

CU Boulder – ALTEC  @CUBoulderALTEC

Today is the day! Don’t forget about ALTEC’s “Creating Interactive Language Materials with H5P” workshop presented by Maggie Rosenau (they/she). Link: https://tinyurl.com/28vnddmd  

Strategies:  

10 Classic Klaxons… Things to avoid doing or saying

https://teacherhead.com/2023/11/05/10-classic-klaxons-things-to-avoid-doing-or-saying/

Resources:  

92 ESSAY TRANSITION WORDS TO KNOW WITH EXAMPLES

https://annmichaelsen.com/2023/11/13/92-essay-transition-words-to-know/

CALCULUS MADE EASY

BY SILVANUS P. THOMPSON

Calculus Book in public domain. 

https://calculusmadeeasy.org/

Web Spotlight: 

Students Are Busy but Rarely Thinking, Researcher Argues. Do His Teaching Strategies Work Better?

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2023-11-07-students-are-busy-but-rarely-thinking-researcher-argues-do-his-teaching-strategies-work-better

Science says teens need more sleep. So why is it so hard to start school later?

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/11/09/1211610533/science-says-teens-need-more-sleep-so-why-is-it-so-hard-to-start-school-later

How we’ve created a helpful and responsible Bard experience for teens

https://blog.google/products/bard/google-bard-expansion-teens/

Random Thoughts . . .  

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MSM 603: Waldorf & Statler Conversations

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy channel Waldorf & Statler. Dave, has well, Beavers from Space. 

Jokes:  

Anyone got some eye jokes?

The cornea, the better.

Her bio says she’s a short fiction writer. It’s unusual to put one’s height there but to each her own.

Not to brag, but my house is featured in the new issue of Lesser Homes & Gardens.

I just had an energy bar. Something called a ‘Snickers’.

Gonna start scheduling more spontaneity.

Most bald men still own a comb.

They can’t part with one.

Singing in the shower is fun until you get soap in your mouth.

Then it’s a soap opera.

I am old enough now that when I do the twist, I provide my own percussion.

I thought I was on to something with my new steam-powered phone.

But, alas, I’m getting too many mist calls.

Middle School Science Minute  

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

K12Science Podcast:  Beavers from Space

I was recently reading the Fall, 2023 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the section, “Citizen Science” written by Jill Nugent. She wrote an article entitled, “Beavers from Space!”

Beavers from Space is an online project that launched in 2023, and your help is needed to determine where beavers are found and where they appear to be absent, specifically in the waterways of Alberta, Canada.  For more information, please visit:

https://workingwithbeavers.ca

Reports from the Front Lines

  • AI Art
    • Canva
    • Prompts

The Social Web

Mindy Belz  @MindyBelz

War may not be far away but the olive harvest must go on. Here in northern Cyprus with a U.S. carrier group offshore and Hezbollah and Iran threatening attacks.

LRT English  @LRTenglish

If you’re looking to learn more about the rich history and vibrant culture of the Baltic states, then look no further. Emerging Europe, partners of LRT English, has curated a reading list:  https://t.co/LVZHmlsBJZ  

IMLEA  @IMLEAorg

My students loved performing readers’ theaters like this one from Scholastic Scope.  

https://t.co/cBiTF2HEs1

Larry Ferlazzo  @Larryferlazzo

World Toilet Day Is On Nov. 19th – Here Are Teaching & Learning Resources

https://t.co/bPDq2ltB3N

Strategies:  

Class Discussion Strategies

https://www.trevormuir.com/blog/class-discussion-strategies

Station Rotation – Look, Sound

https://catlintucker.com/2023/10/station-look-sound/

Three Things Your Ed Degree (possibly) Got Wrong

https://theeffortfuleducator.com/2023/11/01/three-things-your-ed-degree-possibly-got-wrong/

ICAP

https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2023/10/30/i-had-never-heard-of-it-before-today-but-the-interactive-constructive-active-passive-icap-theory-of-student-cognitive-engagement-could-be-useful/

Resources:  

AXIS The Culture Translator

Is Everybody Texting Without Me?

What it is: The evolving rules of the “group text” are a fascinating study of how teenagers talk to each other, showing us what’s changed—and what hasn’t changed at all.

Steam-Free TV

What it is: According to a new UCLA study, teens prefer to watch television shows that emphasize friendship plots rather than sex and romance.

Web Spotlight: 

 AMLE Policy Agenda Announced At #AMLE50

“With a growing body of science emphasizing the profound and consequential nature of early adolescence, now is the time to act on the promise of the middle school years.”  

https://www.amle.org/advocating-for-the-middle-grades/

Teen Breakfast

https://news.yahoo.com/grandma-heartwarming-teen-breakfast-club-190722476.html

Mt. Washington’s Breakfast of Champions

https://youtu.be/J37u_usbJHc

Random Thoughts . . .  

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MSM 602: Unboxing the Runcible Spoon

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about Maine Events, finding joy, presentations, unboxing videos, and more. Dave takes Science Out the Door. 

Jokes:  

You know why chicken coops only have two doors?

If they had four doors they’d be chicken sedans.

I really like the word aesthetic, it’s so pleasant on the eye. I wonder if there’s a word to describe that.

I don’t even walk a mile in my own shoes, why would I do it in someone else’s?

I accidentally rubbed ketchup in my eyes.

Now I have Heinzsight.

Folding paper into a depressed donkey: Eeyorigami

Paper airplanes are soarigami

When your paper folding hobby becomes too much work: choregami

Rumor has it that if you look up from your phone this time of year, you can see all sorts of pretty colors in the trees.

Middle School Science Minute  

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

K12Science Podcast:  Teaching Outdoors

I was recently reading the Fall, 2023 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the section, “Practical Research” written by Samantha Lindgren, Meghan McCleary, Susan Gasper, Amanda Nieves, Kara Stengren, and Amira Shabana. They wrote an article entitled, “Outdoor Teaching and Learning in Natural Spaces and Outdoor Classrooms.”

When we consider topics like climate change and the complex impacts it has on our students’ futures, learning in outdoor spaces and using the natural environment as a primary learning resource becomes an important and timely approach to science education.  This type of learning draws on the fields of outdoor and environmental education, which emphasize place-based and experiential pedagogies, interdisciplinarity, and the relationships between people and nature.

Word of the Day Just For Dave:  Runcible Spoon

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Unboxing Video
    • No Slides
    • Copy/Paste
    • Vonnegut’s Letter
    • “I don’t think being good at things is the point of doing them. I think you’ve got all these wonderful experiences with different skills, and that all teaches you things and makes you an interesting person, no matter how well you do them.”
    • https://troypatterson.me/2023/10/25/3883/ 
  • TypeWriters
  • Maine Events 

The Social Web

Cian McCarthy  @arealmofwonder

The Word of the Day  (#Halloween2023 is approaching!)

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the Day is a reminder of the beautiful Old English ‘uhtceare’ [ucht-kay-ara]: ‘dawn sorrow’, for those moments when you lie awake in the darkness and worry.

Eric Curts  @ericcurts

How to Play YouTube Videos Safely in School http://controlaltachieve.com/2016/01/play-youtube-videos-safely.html

Strategies:  

6 NEW THINGS “I’M” DOING IN THE CLASSROOM – & THEY’RE WORKING OUT WELL

  • Fruit Basket
  • Cell Phones Banned For Use In Classroom
    (Here’s the deal: I work very hard to provide engaging and useful lessons, and also work very hard to support all of on a personal level.  What I ask in return is that you respect your classmates and me, you try your best, and you don’t make me have to “police” cell phone use.  Do we have a deal?)
  • Positive Calls To Parents
  • Voluntary Homework
  • Permanent “Pods” In My Second Classroom For ELL Newcomers
  • Weekly Oral Presentations By ELL Newcomers

https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2023/10/25/6-new-things-im-doing-in-the-classroom-theyre-working-out-well/

How to Be Strategic with Scaffolding Strategies

Scaffolding strategies need to be used strategically. For example, a strategy intended to support executive functioning or language development may not be effective for deepening content knowledge and thinking.

  • Myth #1: Scaffolding is the same as differentiation.
  • Myth #2: Scaffolding is always temporary.
  • Myth #3: Scaffolding is used to change the overall intended rigor.

Three common areas of support can be useful for educators to consider when helping students develop the skills needed for accomplishing more challenging tasks or understanding complex information.

  • deepening content knowledge,
  • facilitating executive function, and
  • supporting language and vocabulary development

https://www.middleweb.com/49785/how-to-be-strategic-with-scaffolding-strategies/

Resources:  

HyperCard Simulator

https://hcsimulator.com/

Avalon Project

Tons of Primary Sources. 

https://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/major.asp

H.E.L.P. How to Enjoy Living with a Preadolescent 

https://my.amle.org/Shop/Store/Product-Details?productid=%7B6F1D07E3-3A67-4ABB-9C9A-8C9178167B97%7D

Author: Judith Baenen 

If you’re looking for a resource to share with parents and caregivers, look no further. These fun, easy-to-read pamphlets are designed for busy parents of 10- to 15-year-olds. These inexpensive pamphlets help parents know what to expect of young adolescents and why. They offer compassionate, practical solutions to common problems such as forgetting, irritability, power plays, friendships, chores, and more. New behaviors, changes in attitudes and values, and changes in relationships are normal. These pamphlets share characteristics of young adolescents, situations that might happen at home, and ideas for parents to continue to support and love young adolescents through this rollercoaster period of life.  

Web Spotlight: 

Keep It or Ditch It: A Litmus Test for School Technology

In 2019, 40% of schools in America had a 1-1 device policy. In 2023, it’s 96%. 

https://www.trevormuir.com/blog/ed-tech

AXIS:  The Culture Translator

Gradeflation

What it is: A teacher in Greenwich, Connecticut offered comments on how the grade of “A” became, and continues to be, the most common grade given in America.

Slang of the Week

girl math: refers to the sometimes strange, sometimes silly ways that women see their finances. Examples include “cash doesn’t count as money so anything bought with cash is free” or “if I stop myself from buying one $35 skirt then that means I’m being very frugal if I buy seven other things that are only $5 apiece.” The trend is fun and a lot of young women find themselves relating to it, but it also has the potential to imply that women can’t be smart with finances, or are all irresponsible with their money. Several girls on TikTok have pointed out that women are still working hard to be taken seriously in STEM fields, and terms like “girl math” could contribute to those difficulties.

Education Legislation

Michigan Legislature Bill Book:  http://legislature.mi.gov/(S(r3c1onq3xgjzf2mpxlozlu5s))/mileg.aspx?page=home  

Random Thoughts . . .  

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MSM 601: Sad News, Hastings Has Posted An Obituary

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about State History Day, Parent Tech Night, and more. David is teaching through Virtual Reality. 

Jokes:  

Just read an article on the history of French pastry.

  • It was a total puff piece.
  • “Another day, another doll hair” – very unproductive worker the American Girl factory

Did you know that Apple is using a new file format for its photos?

  • what the heic?!

When World of Lego opened, people were lined up for blocks.

Winter is the only season that happens twice a year.

Why don’t skeletons fight each other? 

  • They don’t have the guts

    Middle School Science Minute  

    by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

    K12Science Podcast:  Virtual Reality

    I was recently reading the Fall, 2023 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

    In this issue, I read the section, “Integrating Technology,” written by Michael McKenzie and Alex Fegely. They wrote an article entitled, “Differentiate Science Lessons by Using VR in Station Rotations.”

    Blended learning strategies combined with innovative technology, for example, virtual reality (VR), can be used in science classrooms to differentiate teaching and enrich learning experiences.  An app often used in classrooms is YouTube VR.  You can learn more by visiting:

    https://www.youtube.com/@360

    http://k12science.net/virtual-reality/

    Reports from the Front Lines

    • Your State’s History Day Preparations:  https://nhd.org/en/  
    • Parent Tech Night
    • Spreadsheet “Fun”
    • Student Name “Fun”

    The Social Web

    Susie Dent  @susie_dent

    Word of the day is ‘suspire’ (15th century): to let out a deep sigh.

    Word of the day is ‘snerdle’ (18th century dialect): to wrap up cosily beneath the covers and hold off the day for a little longer.

    One of my favourite dictionary facts: the verb ‘go’ has always lacked a past tense based on itself. So we opted for the past tense of ‘wend’, as in ‘to wend one’s way’. Which means that instead of ‘I goed’, we say ‘I went’.  

    Lithuania MFA | #StandWithUkraine  @LithuaniaMFA

    #OTD 1791, the Mutual Pledge between #Lithuania & #Poland was adopted, preserving Lithuania’s autonomy in the Commonwealth. The Pledge was part of the Constitution of May 3, an example of progressive political thought, testifying mutual commitment & respect for nations’ autonomy.

    Andy Saunders  @1940Andy

    Sad news from the announcements page of the local newspaper in Hastings:

    LRT English  @LRTenglish

    On Tuesday night, schools and kindergartens in Lithuania again received bomb threats

    https://t.co/5qQGjNOsAJ

    Moodle @moodle@openedtech.social

    Generative AI and H5P at #MootGlobal23 with Svein-Tore Griff With.
    This presentation was voted one of the most popular presentations at MoodleMoot Global 2023.

    Watch now: https://youtu.be/pjWVpqqErSc?si=5-27Wx

    Strategies:  

    Reimagining Study Hall to Promote Student Goal-Setting

    WIN: ‘WHAT I NEED’ TIME

    Students might spend the period taking a test they missed, consulting with a teacher about lingering questions, or working on a group project, eliminating the hassle of weekend meet-ups.

    WIN’s value lies in intentional structure, not unbounded freedom. The session comprises seven sequential, interconnected components, each of which advances the period’s purpose.

    https://www.edutopia.org/article/study-hall-can-promote-goal-setting/

    Resources:  

    AXIS:  The Culture Translator

    Forever Young

    What it is: Teens as young as fourteen spoke with New York Magazine about their time-consume multi-step skincare routines, which often include strong active ingredients like retinol and glycolic acid.

    A Hill of Beans

    What it is: A viral bean soup recipe on TikTok led to a bigger discussion about how algorithms skew users’ expectations of the content recommended to them.

    What the online world is saying: A TikTok user recently posted a recipe for a healthy bean soup. They were then inundated with requests for advice on how to modify the recipe to not include any beans. (The bean-averse are, apparently, a multitude.) But beans were the whole point—the recipe being called bean soup. Another TikTok user, @sarahthebookfairy, posted in response to the debacle, calling this an example of what she’s dubbed the “what about me?” effect. Social media users, she argues, have grown too accustomed to having hyper-individualized content served up to them through an endless feed. When they come across a post that doesn’t necessarily pertain to them, they feel compelled to respond to the content anyway, if only to call out how it doesn’t suit their preferences. The original post describing the “what about me” effect currently has well over 4 million views.

    Start the conversation: Why do you think people still respond when they see a post that doesn’t apply to them?  

    Moodle Course:  Python for Beginners

    Originally uploaded by Christian Thompson: This is the introductory course for Python for Beginners. Please start here if you have no experience coding in Python. This course is self-paced; you can proceed through the course, but should complete each unit before moving on to the next unit.  

    https://moodle.net/resource/uHFOlHUh/python-for-beginners

    ZipCaptions

    Zip Captions provides an easy to use live captions experience which lives right inside your browser. We don’t capture, store, or share any of your data, there are no hidden fees, and no agreements to sign.

    https://zipcaptions.app/#/

    Trust & Safety

    Trust & Safety Tycoon is a game exploring the difficult choices and tradeoffs involved in managing a trust and safety team.

    Created in association with the Atlantic Council’s Task Force for a Trustworthy Future Web.

    Built by Copia Gaming and Leveraged Play. Written & developed by Mike Masnick, Randy Lubin, and Leigh Beadon with generous support from the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation.

    https://trustandsafety.fun/

    Typpo

    With Typpo, you can effortlessly create engaging videos in seconds. Simply speak into your phone and let our advanced A.I. technology transform your words into fun and visually stunning animations. You don’t need any design skills to get started – anyone can use Typpo to share their ideas with the world. Share your videos directly from the app on your favorite social media channels or send them as messages to your friends and family. Try Typpo today and see how easy it is to turn your voice into captivating videos.

    https://typpo.app/

    Globe Game

    Every day, there is a new Mystery Country. Your goal is to guess which country it is using the fewest number of guesses. Each incorrect guess will appear on the globe with a colour indicating how close it is to the Mystery Country. The hotter the colour, the closer you are to the answer.

    https://globle-game.com/

    Web Spotlight: 

    How Teaching Should Change, According to a Nobel-Prize-Winning Physicist

    He argues that the traditional lecture method for teaching physics and other STEM fields has been proven ineffective, and that shifts to more active methods can greatly improve learning outcomes to make sure the next generation of researchers can make the next Nobel-worthy breakthroughs.

    …I saw actually sort of a correlation, that the really top students in coursework never turned out to be the better physicists, I decided there was some fundamental question here about learning and thinking.

    https://www.edsurge.com/news/2023-10-17-how-teaching-should-change-according-to-a-nobel-prize-winning-physicist

    12 Male Role Models From Science Fiction and Fantasy

    https://buttondown.email/charliejane/archive/12-male-role-models-from-science-fiction-and/

    Random Thoughts . . .  

    AMLE is 50 Years Old!

    Homepage

    Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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    MSM 600: It’s All About AI

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    Summary:

    Shawn and Troy talk about AI, ACTEM, collaboration, and more. Dave is cultivating collaboration. 

    Jokes:  

    if two boats go under at the same time, that’s sinkronicity

    Does the spork go on the left or right of a paper plate?

    Delleps is spelled backwards.

    How do they figure out who’s the best fighter in Candyland?

    • They turn a mint.

    I hated my old job where all I did was push buttons all day…

    • …it was depressing.

    Middle School Science Minute  

    by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

    K12Science Podcast:  Cultivating Collaboration

    I was recently reading the Fall, 2023 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

    In this issue, I read the section, “From the Editor’s Desk,” written by Patty McGinnis. She wrote an article entitled, “Cultivating Collaboration,”

    Collaboration is a key skill that is foundational to society.  The expansion of scientific knowledge, coupled with today’s complex global issues, makes collaboration among scientists and engineers crucial if we are to develop solutions to difficult problems.

    http://k12science.net/cultivating-collaboration/

    Collaborating on The Mysteries – Bill Watterson and John Kascht

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHND7L1wUl0

    Reports from the Front Lines

    • ACTEM
      • AI Creation
      • Carl Hooker
      • Apple Pop Up Classroom
      • Game Based Learning
      • Podcasting in the Classroom
      • H5P Presentation

    Eileen Award  

    • uncheckedFacebook:  Dr. Pat Williams-Boyd 

    The Social Web

    Susie Dent  @susie_dent

    Word of the day is ‘snerdle’ (18th century dialect): to wrap up cosily beneath the covers and hold off the day for a little longer.

    Kevin Honeycutt  @kevinhoneycutt

    Download my black line master PDF of the Space capsule Learning Pod and print on cardstock for great results your kids can use as a pencil/pen holder or just take home for more adventures! https://kevinhoneycutt.org/ewExternalFile

    Cian McCarthy  @arealmofwonder

    Word for the Weekend

    Massimo@Rainmaker1973

    The importance of punctuation (Commas save lives)

    MrBerard@MrBerard@pilote.me
    Explaining CPU exceptions to A-Level #CS Students:

    “It’s a priority queue. So when I’m teaching your colleagues of Year 7, if one needs me, I go help them…. Another calls, they have to wait their turn… But if one gets a nosebleed, I have to address that first…”

    Resources:  

    AXIS:  The Culture Translator

    The Cost of a Bargain

    What it is: Chinese-owned shopping app Temu is drawing teens in with absurdly cheap prices.

    How to Help Students Avoid Getting Duped Online — and by AI Chatbots

    Students these days are terrible at sorting true facts from misinformation online and on social media, many studies show. But it’s not because students aren’t good at critical thinking, …

    One problem that students — and, really, any of us — face, Caulfield argues, is that people often approach information they encounter online with the same strategies for telling fact from fiction that worked well in an earlier time, when most published material had undergone some level of vetting and verification.

    “There wasn’t suddenly a massive decline in critical thinking,” Caulfield says. “People were just applying approaches to information on the internet that weren’t really appropriate to the internet, that people were applying some of these pre-internet approaches that weren’t really applicable.”

    One of the primary things you’re doing when you’re reading on the internet is you’re trying to decide if something’s worth your attention or not. 

    In traditional models we’ve often taught students that the way you solve any problem is by giving it deep critical attention. And of course, this is disastrous on the internet. 

    https://www.edsurge.com/news/2023-10-10-how-to-help-students-avoid-getting-duped-online-and-by-ai-chatbots

    Web Spotlight: 

    Random Thoughts . . .  

    Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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