MSM 458: An Interview with Bob! (That’s Me!)
Jokes:
Why is everyone so tired at the beginning of April?
- Just finished a 31 day march
What do you call a bear with no teeth?
- A gummy bear
Hey, did you hear that they are banning the fifth month of the year?
- Everyone is dismayed.
If you think Thursdays are depressing, wait two days.
- It will be a sadder day
I saw a Delorean for sale.
- Good shape, low mileage.
- Yep, it was only driven from time to time.
What’s the fastest liquid on earth?
- Milk
I’m a kleptomaniac.
- Don’t worry though, I’m taking something for it.
People said the I’d never get over my obsession with Phil Collins.
- Sussidio, Against All Odds, Take a Look at Me Now
Middle School Science Minute
by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)
Middle School Science Minute: Journaling Outdoors
“Journals provide a non-threatening place to explore learning, emotions, daily events, and language through writing.” This statement is provided by Eva Varga, in her blog “Integrating Writing with Middle School Students.
Journals can take many forms. Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources provide a nature journal lesson for grades 6-8 on its “Natural and Historical Education Resources for Home” website, which can be found at:
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/MS_HS_Journaling_Outdoors_684892_7.pdf
An example of a journal starter:
Compare two natural objects. How are they different besides size? How are they alike? What do they resemble?
Interview: Transitioning to LMS Based Learning – An Interview with Mr. Bob Harrison
Twitter: @R_O_Harrison
Introductions & Foundational Knowledge
Topic 1: LMS Based Learning
Topic 2: Pedagogy
Differentiation
- More efficient than working on one’s own.
- Teacher efficiency
- Student efficiency
- Use of teacher time
Feedback based on the choices students make.
Automating some of the tasks to free up time for prepping for the next student activity.
Providing feedback for student work with immediacy.
Enrichment vs. Taking Grades and Student Engagement
- Motivating students beyond doing it “just for grades”
- Using Badges
- Set Criteria
- Arrange for multiple attempts at success
- Shifts learning from “just getting grades” to the importance of feedback in learning.
- Useful feedback.
- Emotional attachment
- Useful data for the teacher to see student completion and rates of success.
- Creates a sense of “normality.”
- Shifting from “Enrichment” to “Assessment”
- Course Collaboration – the Network is Smarter than the Node.
- Shared resources in a course
- Discussions on student success within the LMS.
- Blind Grading
- Sharing Strategies/Skills in the PLN.
- Discussions on student success within the LMS.
Strategies
- Discussion Forums
- Creates a sense of community in learning
- Virtual Lessons
- A progression of pages with formative assessment interspersed.
- Interactive Videos
- H5P plug-in to insert prompts in the video.
- Print outs
- Concept map, illustration
- Alternative – use the drawing in Google Draw to illustrate the item.
- Quizzes
- Bank of questions
- Randomized assessment
- Another way to give feedback
- Share grading with PLC
- Big Blue Button
- Video Conferencing – Not every teacher has to be on. Share content delivery.
- Blind Grading
Meeting Student Needs
Asynchronous learning meeting teen sleeping/waking schedules.
Using Google Classroom
- It is a good beginning.
- Understand what the tool does
Returning to Blended Model
- How has this changed your approach?
- Challenging educational philosophy
- Opportunities for reflection
- Pedagogy – What does/should teaching look like?
- Student expectations
- Building a library of content – useful for more than just “now.”
- Intervention strategy
- Alternate teaching strategy
- Student absence/ISS
Closing: Troy & Bob
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