MSM 174 Beyond Seat Time & Jeff for the Win!
Middle School Science Minute
by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)
It runs a little longer (2 minutes–but hey, I took off my watch and found I had all the time in the world). It is about the announcement of the new Science Framework that was released last week. From the framework will come the new science standards (late 2012). This will probably become the common core for science, just like ELA and Math–thus the National Curriculum in Science. So, it is a good heads up for people. If you want to mention it in the show notes, the audience can download the full 320 page report for free at:
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13165
News:
Beyond Seat Time: Advancing Proficiency-Based Learning
Can we do without the traditional school year? Is it feasible to shift to a system of student advancement based solely on proficiency? iNacol’s Susan Patrick shares her vision of what such a system would look like and what it will take to get there. (Hint: It’s already underway in some states.)
http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/08/10/beyond-seat-time-advancing-proficiency-based-learning.aspx
NMSA becomes AMLE: Watch for the change during the months of August and September.
Jeff LaRoux wins NMSA/AMLE election!
Congrats!
Resources:
U.S. Debt clock
Ten ideas for interactive teaching
By Jenna Zwang, Assistant Editor
- Follow the Leader:
- Total Physical Response (TPR):
- One Word
- Opposite Arguments
- Historically Correct
- Test Tournament
- YouTube Video Quizzes
- Electronic Role Playing
- Puzzle Pieces
- Pop Culture Statistics
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/06/06/ten-ideas-for-interactive-teaching/?ast=42&astc=3032
http://www.fctl.ucf.edu/TeachingAndLearningResources/CourseDesign/Assessment/content/101_Tips.pdf
Web Spotlight:
Teenage Girls And Social Media: Tips For Parents From A Best-Selling Author
Nearly 10 years ago, author Rachel Simmons wrote a best-selling book called Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls. Now she has updated her book to include the role of social media and technology.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2011/08/09/139176817/teenage-girls-and-social-media-tips-for-parents-from-a-best-selling-author?ft=1&f=1019
ISTE 2011: Professional Development led by Liz Davis
In a non-review year, she meets with teachers to help them prepare for their review year. Teacher had kids make stuff:
Kids prepared Choctaws (?) and rotated every 20 minutes.
Kids develop a wiki on the subject. Teachers meet with their TEAM leader to pull together stuff for their bi-annual review.
“Tech Tuesdays” Techies getting time to work with teachers. Tech coaches/IT departments justify their jobs by the level of tech integration. They survey the staff and then evaluate to see how far they’ve moved the staff from where they were to where they are at the end of the year. Tech department evaluations based on level of tech integration/use. Tech department schedules time with the teachers to help them with their job reviews and in doing so, helps them prove their value to the district.
Lots of teachers forget they use the tech and the IT people help them remember the projects to include in their portfolios. Teachers started meeting outside of school time to teach each other once they learned a new tech skill.
(The Geek Mustangs) Side note: lots of aluminum cases for iPads. IT organizes their PD for staff very similarly to what we do here at EduBloggerCon. Some put it in a survey monkey thing and have them pick their sessions there.
Use a food/menu metaphor: Appetizer, Main Course, Dessert Appetizer: Something I want to dip my toe it, something I want to find
out about, but not explore. Main Course: Something I want to learn in depth Dessert: Something fun at the end to wrap it up and I can use in my
classroom. Make an annual report at the end of the year and compliment teachers on their tech integration. Make a celebration at the end of the year out of it. (Culminating experience) Organize the kids to do tech PD for other students.
Students did a screen cast for each of the Google products. Checkout Flipboard for the iPad.
On Our Mind:
Starting of the school year.
Eileen Award:
- Linda Chapman Broderic
- Dave T.
- Debbie T.
Advisory:
From the Twitterverse:
 *web20classroom Integrating Technology Into The Common Core-based Curriculum: bit.ly/pejYGM |
 *russeltarr Voicethread Examples in Education: tinyurl.com/3uoda3q |
 *middleweb Latest MiddleWeb news: more tips for newbies, graphic novel debate, wonderful sci images & hashtag PD secrets. bit.ly/phyKvJ #ntchat |
 *johntspencer Schools need to be a little more like CSI and a little less like Jeopardy. #tvandteaching |
 *karlyb Picked up a lot of great education apps for free this weekend from this list: digital-storytime.com/sale.php #edapp |
 *AncientProverbs Giving your son a skill is better than giving him one thousand pieces of gold. -Chinese Proverb |
 *twibbon It’s International Left Handers day today! Celebrate with other lefties like @oprah and @justinbieber – bit.ly/axHpPV |
 *Ron_Peck Calling all Social Studies Teachers! If you want great collaboration and resources, join the SSChat Ning. sschat.ning.com #sschat #elemchat |
 *AngelaMaiers NEVER Open With This One… http://twrt.me/5fvwe via @westfallonline |
 *TopPublicSchool @Dianeravitch Atlanta Public Schools will leave corrupt principals in positions of authority using the evaluation to retaliate & silence. |
 *Harvard Mini-lectures from Harvard faculty are available for download on Harvard’s iTunes U channel http://hvrd.me/ik8Ex3 |
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Don’t forget to join the conversation on MiddleTalk and Twitter at #midleved this Friday at 8:00 pm EST. |
Jokes You Can Use:
Anytime you see a young man open a car door for his girlfriend, either the car is new or the girlfriend is.
Little Johnny comes downstairs crying. His mother asked, “What’s the matter now?”
“Dad was hanging pictures, and just hit his thumb with hammer,” said little Johnny through his tears. “That’s not so serious,” soothed his mother. “I know you are upset, but a big boy like you shouldn’t cry at something like that. Why didn’t you just laugh?
“I did!” sobbed Johnny.
Morty was in his usual place in the morning sitting at the table, reading the paper after breakfast. He came across an article about a beautiful actress that was about to marry a football player who was known primarily for his lack of IQ and common knowledge. He turned to his wife with a look of question on his face. “I’ll never understand why the biggest jerks get the most attractive wives.”
His wife replied, “Why thank you, dear!”
Events & Happenings:
Calendar of Events:
NMSA News:
- National Conference: Thursday, November 08, 2011 —Saturday, November 10, 2011 Louisville, Kentucky.
- Promotional Materials:
- Crossword Puzzle! (Maryland Conference)
- Other News:
- ISTE Eduverse Talks are the recorded sessions held on ISTE Island every week. Join ISTE in their Second Life conference location for their weekly talks on education.
- The ISTE Special Interest Group: Virtual Environments is holding meetings on Mondays from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (SLT) on ISTE Island.
Ohio Middle Level Association:
- The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference.
Michigan Association of Middle School Educators
- The Michigan Association of Middle School Educators Annual Conference is coming up March 2012 in Warren Woods, MI.
- The North Carolina Middle School Association’s Annual Conference March 13-15, 2012
- Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.
- Classroom 2.0’s Ning Blog: Archived content is available.
- Second Life:
- Regular Tuesday meetings are scheduled. See the board on the ISTE Island for up to the minute details. Check frequently this week as the ISTE Annual Convention is this week.
- Video: Educational Uses of Second Life
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