Category: Podcast

MSM, PodcastBy Troy Patterson

MSM 568: Fantasy World of Wonder and Danger OR Middle School

Summary:

Shawn and Troy discuss NOLEJ, a beta program, AI, and more. Dave brings Environmental Justice to us. 

Jokes:  

I said to my son, “I need a battery so I can tell the time.” He asked, “Is it for a clock?” I answered…

  • “I don’t know! That’s why I need the battery!”

My grandma always used to say, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Now, I don’t know if that’s actually true or…

  • …just one of Granny’s myths.

I thought my new job digging tunnels would be exciting but as it turns out…

  • …it’s just boring.

This morning I saw a guy dragging a clam on a leash and I thought to myself…

  • “Man, it must be hard to walk with a pulled mussel.”

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Environmental Justice

I was recently reading the November/December 2022 issue of “The Science Teacher” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the “Idea Bank” column, written by Fatemeh Mirghassemi.  She wrote a column entitled, “Getting to the STEM of Environmental Justice: Equity Causes Enrich Student Learning in Science Classrooms.” 

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines environmental justice as “…the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”

http://k12science.net/environmental-justice/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Makin’ a MoodleBox
    • Conferences
    • Classrooms
    • Homework
  • NOLEJ Beta Expectations  
  • AI Art
    • Bias
    • Limitations

The Omniverse  (The Social Web)

Hardmaru  @hardmaru

A #StableDiffusion model trained on images of Japanese Kanji characters came up with “Fake Kanji” for novel concepts like Skyscraper, Pikachu, Elon Musk, Deep Learning, YouTube, Gundam, Singularity, etc. They kind of make sense. Not bad!

Rohit Ghumare | That #DevOps Guy

@ghumare64

Replying to @ghumare64

1. http://cleanup.pictures Remove unwanted objects from photos, people, text, and defects from any picture.  

2. http://copy.ai Get a great copy that sells. http://Copy.ai is an Al-powered copywriter that generates high-quality copy for your business.

3. http://looka.com Design a Logo, make a website, and create a brand identity you’ll love with the power of Al.

4. http://soundraw.io Soundraw is a music generator for creators. Select the type of music you want genre, instruments, mood, length, etc, and let Al generate beautiful songs for you.

5. http://You.com It provides different ad-free services which can be a game-changer in searching. Services like: YouChat YouCode YouWrite YouImagine YouSocial

The Modest Teacher  @ModestTeacher

The sub trying to take attendance.

G. K. Chesterton  @GKCdaily

All sincere poetry is also philosophy, even if it be unconscious philosophy.

SRI & ETTC  @sriettc

Valentine’s Day STEM Challenges. https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/wp-content/upl

Heather Cooper  @HBCoop_

AI Prompt Writing: If you’re writing about a specific topic, include key phrases in the prompt. Example: “Write an outline about the impact of social media on mental health, including the following key points: online harassment and self-esteem.”

margreta@mastodon.oeru.org

Margreta @margreta@mastodon.oeru.org

@cogdog Hi Alan, take a look at our “Time Machine” – built with H5P Virtual Tour 360. The students travel from room to room by finding out which year they are in. shorturl.at/CDER2 #escaperoom #H5P #history

dougholton

Doug Holton @dougholton

Handout: Open Educational Resources & Open Pedagogy

Links to resources on the basics of finding, using, and authoring #OER resources, textbooks, etc., including info on student-generated resources (#OpenPedagogy).

I’ll add a 2nd page to the handout in the coming weeks w/resources on #H5P & #Pressbooks in preparation for a workshop.

mguhlinJ. M. Guhlin

@mguhlin@mastodon.education

MyNotes: Writing in Middle School Science CER CERCA

Looking for an easy way to introduce students to CER, or Claim Evidence Reasoning approach? You may want to check out this book. Great, easy read.

https://www.

mguhlin.org/2022/03/mynotes-wr

iting-in-middle-school.html 

Resources:  

AXIS:  The Culture Translator

Through the Looking Glass

What it is: A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that teens who use social media during their formative years have alterations in their brain chemistry, particularly how they respond to social rewards.

Fragile as Glass

What it is: Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt wrote for the Wall Street Journal (paywall) about what he perceives as a lack of resilience among young people.

QGIS

Create, edit, visualise, analyse and publish geospatial information on Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD and mobile devices

For your desktop, server, in your web browser and as developer libraries

QGIS is a professional GIS application that is built on top of and proud to be itself Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).

https://www.qgis.org/en/site/

DittyToy

Dittytoy allows you to create generative music using a minimalistic javascript API.

The API syntax is loosely based on the syntax of Sonic Pi. You can find the full Dittytoy API Reference here.

If you don’t like reading documentation and want to see sample code, then these ditties give a good overview of the capabilities of Dittytoy.

https://dittytoy.net/?/

Wingfeather Saga Ep. 3

In a fantasy world of wonder and danger, one boy discovers a family secret that may awaken an ancient power or doom them to capture by a nameless evil.  Episode 4 drops February 10th.  

https://www.angel.com/watch/wingfeather-saga

Gresham College Lectures & Videos

https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now#annotations:UEaSQo1eEe2s9r-HXRT5Ug

Dunning-Kruger effect

We all find it hard to admit when we’re wrong. In an increasingly polarised world, it seems as if people are becoming more convinced of their own beliefs and less willing to contemplate other points of view. But could this be to the detriment of our intelligence?

Web Spotlight:  

The epic farewell posts of laid-off employees

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230104-layoff-linkedin-goodbye-posts

Association of Habitual Checking Behaviors on Social Media With Longitudinal Functional Brain Development

Our findings suggest that checking behaviors on social media in early adolescence may tune the brain’s sensitivity to potential social rewards and punishments. Whereas individuals with habitual checking behaviors showed initial hypoactivation but increasing sensitivity to potential social cues over time, those with nonhabitual checking behaviors showed initial hyperactivation and decreasing sensitivity over time. Two primary theories contend over whether hypo- or hyperresponsivity to rewards is more associated with behavior.31 The hyperresponsive theory posits that adolescent reward-associated behaviors are associated with greater activation of the ventral-striatal dopamine circuit.11,24,32 Consequently, adolescents would experience an increased dopaminergic release in response to social feedback and rewards, which further encourages high-reward behaviors. Indeed, compared with children and adults, adolescents show higher activation in the reward system when receiving rewards.10–12,24,26 In contrast, the hyporesponsive theory posits that adolescent reward-seeking behaviors may be associated with a deficit in the activity of brain regions associated with motivation.30,33 This theory argues that repeated exposure to a social reward downregulates dopamine receptors and production, which results in decreased sensitivity of reward circuits. Studies34,35 suggest that, as adolescents experience fewer or less intense positive feelings from previously rewarding stimuli, they are driven to pursue new appetitive reinforcements through increases in reward-seeking behaviors, which increases activity in dopamine-related circuitry. Indeed, relative to adults, adolescents show less engagement of the VS in anticipation of rewards.30,36 While for some individuals with habitual checking behaviors, an initial hyposensitivity to potential social rewards and punishments followed by hypersensitivity may contribute to checking behaviors on social media becoming compulsive and problematic, for others, this change in sensitivity may reflect an adaptive behavior that allows them to better navigate their increasingly digital environment.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2799812

Richard Byrne

The First Writing:  The Ancients – A History Hit Podcast

The results of a groundbreaking new study were released today [January 5th] by a group of researchers who believe they have conclusively decoded the earliest known form of proto-writing. 

https://shows.acast.com/the-ancients/episodes/the-first-writing

Pretending at support for technology integration

http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2023/01/pretending-at-support-for-technology-integration.html 

Random Thoughts . . .  

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MSM, PodcastBy Troy Patterson

MSM 567: 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. – Normal Working Hours for Middle School

Summary:

Shawn and Troy discuss what they did over break (including a comic), more on AI, social media, and more. Dave discusses the 5E Learning Cycle. 

Jokes:  

While my wife was in labor, I read her some clean jokes to distract her from the pain, but she didn’t seem amused…

  • It must have been the delivery…

What did the janitor say when he jumped out of the closet?

  • “Supplies!”

My next door neighbour banged on my door at 3 in the morning last night. He’s so rude. 

  • Luckily I was still up, practicing the drums

How do you make an egg-roll?

  • You push it!

A friend of mine didn’t pay for his exorcism.

  • He got repossessed

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  5E Learning Cycle

I was recently reading the November/December 2022 issue of “The Science Teacher” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.

In this issue, I read the “Editor’s Corner” column, written by Ann Haley MacKenzie. She wrote a column entitled, “Direct Instruction: A Healthy Place for Both Science Teachers and Students?”

Direct instruction doesn’t always work. What we know about human learning is that students need exposure to a concept at least five or six times before they can begin to move it into long term memory. Hence the 5E Learning Cycle: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate.

http://k12science.net/5e-learning-cycle/

Reports from the Front Lines

The Social Web

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day, at this point every year, has to be ‘scurryfunging’ (19th century US dialect): the frantic tidying up/attempt to achieve a semblance of order that takes place just before guests arrive.  

Resistentialism is the belief that inanimate objects are out to get you: tables and shop displays bumping into you; toast landing butter-side down; sellotape hiding its end/sticking to anything other than what’s needed.

As part of a Christmas words countdown, here’s a reminder of the ‘lickspigot’(16th century): the friend or acquaintance who never fails to turn up when free drink is available. The food equivalent, from the same century, is the smellfeast.

Terrible Maps  @TerribleMaps

Chances of a white Christmas in Australia

PUNS  @ThePunnyWorld

Why couldn’t the jalapeño do archery? He didn’t habanero.

Lake Superior  @LakeSuperior

Somewhere between Cypress Hill and Snoop Dogg.

Quote Tweet   cat  @thecat854

Replying to @LakeSuperior

How high did you get your waves today, @LakeSuperior?  

Kathy O’Neil  @DestroyAllBeets

Lake Michigan is trending. People don’t know our lakes are huge? They create their own weather and are basically inland oceans. Your lakes aren’t like ours.

Glenn Stevens  @glennrstevens

Not a good beach day in @PetoskeyArea. #Michigan

Jason Neiffer Ed.D.  @techsavvyteach

AI-Created Comic Could Be Deemed Ineligible for Copyright Protection

ChatGPT 2049  @ChatGPT2049

Automated.  @DataChaz: Everyone is talking about #ChatGPT and #GPT3, but did you know there was a free, #opensource version of GPT-3 called OPT-175B? No login, no credit card needed! 😉 https://opt.alpa.ai https://twitter.com/DataChaz/statu

ChatGPT 2049  @ChatGPT2049

@jsmasterypro: Build and Deploy Your Own ChatGPT AI App in JavaScript | OpenAI, Machine Learning  @OpenAI https://youtu.be/2FeymQoKvrk https://twitter.com/jsmasterypro/s  

Stephen Reid – Digital Druid  @StephenReidEdu

“The first thing students will use ChatGPT for is to cheat”. Nope, they used it to create a game! 11 year old boy creates #HarryPotter-themed game using AI. I’ve played it, you can too. It’s amazing! https://mpost.io/11-year-old-boys-game-for-chatgpt-is-blowing-up-the-internet/

#PlayMatters #AI #ArtificialIntelligence

R.C. Sproul Jr.@rcsprouljr

I’m not saying it’s windy but it appears the wind has blown Fort Wayne down to the South Pole.  

Mastadon

Nele Hirsch @ebildungslabor@digitalcourage.social

For people who work with #H5P (or want to use it to design their learning opportunities in the future), I’ve blogged two quick ideas.

1. clickable definitions

2. multimedia self-introduction

There’s also a tutorial on exactly how to go about creating a subtitle file for a video or audio (if I don’t want to write the subtitles down manually).

I designed the content as part of a course creation for #adulteducation, but it can certainly be applied to other areas of #education.

Troy Patterson @troypatterson@scholar.social

Students Prioritize Using Moodle

A Comic with instructions on how to create an activity for students to prioritize.

https://troypatterson.me/2022/12/30/students-prioritize-using-moodle/

#Moodle

Facebook:  

Gramma’s Funnies Group:  

Resources:  

AXIS:  The Culture Translator

Top Influencers of 2022  #1-20

  • 20 Lin Manuel Miranda
  • 19 Harry Styles
  • 18 Joe Rogan
  • 17 Jeffrey Dahmer 
  • 16 Mr. Beast 
  • 15 Drake 
  • 14 Aaron Judge 
  • 13 Tom Cruise
  • 12 BeReal
  • 11 Queen Elizabeth II  
  • 10  Kate Bush 
  • 9   Tom Brady
  • 8   Vladimir Putin
  • 7   Fleetwood Mac
  • 6   Taylor Swift
  • 5   Ye
  • 4   Elon Musk
  • 3   Pro-life marchers
  • 2   School shooting victims
  • 1   AI

Public Domain Day

On January 1, 2023, copyrighted works from 1927 will enter the US public domain. 1  They will be free for all to copy, share, and build upon. These include Virginia Woolf’s To The Lighthouse and the final Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, the German science-fiction film Metropolis and Alfred Hitchcock’s first thriller, compositions by Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller, and a novelty song about ice cream. Please note that this site is only about US law; the copyright terms in other countries are different.

https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2023/#annotations:0Lu-nIIkEe2uGqPJZkEdWQ

Forever connected: the realities of parenting and growing up online

https://blog.1password.com/parenting-and-growing-up-online-report/

Pepper & Carrot

Free images for educational use. 

https://www.peppercarrot.com/en/files/framasoft.html#annotations:BB2YXoFZEe2s4I-5miBZLg

Teachers Would Make at Least $60K Under New Federal Bill

https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/teachers-would-make-at-least-60k-under-new-federal-bill/2022/12#annotations:qC6mtoB1Ee2kBt9ibQ-PtA

ClipArt ETC

ClipArt ETC provides students and teachers with over 71,500 pieces of quality educational clipart. Every illustration comes with a choice of image size as well as complete source information for proper citations in school projects. All images are appropriate for classroom use. You’ll find no advertisements, pop-ups, or inappropriate links here. A friendly license allows teachers and students to use up to 50 free clipart items in a single, non-commercial, school project without further permission. This free classroom resource is supported entirely by the fees received from the commercial users of the site.

https://etc.usf.edu/clipart/#annotations:_asccm2YEe23BkMcS3vlJA

Web Spotlight:  

Women Who Meant Business

Home

Don’t Believe Everything You See

How School Social Media Accounts Put Student Privacy at Risk

New student privacy research shows that school social media accounts have posted millions of photos of students and other identifiable information, which might be dangerous.

The study’s authors estimate that more than 4.9 million posts have included identifiable images of students on public Facebook pages, and about 726,000 of those posts are thought to identify one or more students by their first and last names. 

https://www.techlearning.com/news/are-school-social-media-accounts-putting-student-privacy-at-risk#annotations:ATMkzIYLEe2adpubr94j-g

Random Thoughts . . .  

Chad Frye – Illustration Guy on the Fundamentals of Math

“Cartoon illustrations? For a middle school math textbook? Unheard of. I remember seeing cartoon drawings in school books when I was in the third grade, but by the time I had arrived to the level of having a different teacher for each subject, school had gotten quite serious. In fact, anything math or science was like learning a foreign language to me. I hated those classes, as they consumed much of my brain’s capacity in a poor attempt to understand anything. It’s no wonder I chose a career path that thrived on poking fun at the world instead of trying to conquer it. To get to poke fun at math seemed like an intriguing prospect, and something that I more than likely would have responded very well to as a seventh grader myself.”  https://chadfrye.com/fundamentals-of-math/  

Grab some Chad Frye Originals:  https://chadfrye.com/store/?fbclid=IwAR1JmlZLE2T_pXnnFTh2S53pV6g29Q3iGjGRiBP8Cuzi6IoRSDdea18dYpY  

January is National Thank You Month – Carol Josel

Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank You!! ~ Dec 30, 2022

When I was a kid…

** If someone opened or held a door for you, you thanked them.

** If someone handed you so much as a glass of water, you thanked them.

** If someone gifted you—even with something you hated—you thanked them, not with a phone call, email or text, but with a handwritten note.

Thoughtfulness was in the air and gratitude, too, for things both big and small. My parents made sure that I followed suit, corralling my big sister and me in the living room every Friday night. Yes, every Friday night for what they called The Penny Game. The rules were simple: Answer a question correctly and get yourself a penny, as in…

~ “What do you say when you need a favor?”

~ “What do you say when you’re given something?”

~ “What do you say when someone is kind to you?”

And on and on it went, along with spelling questions, easy ones like circus and hello, and not so easy gems like Mississippi and their oft-repeated pneumonia.

And it all stuck. Not only am I good speller, saying “thank you” is a thing with me. I even thank my dog Jenny every which way, and she’s deaf!

Laughable, I suppose, in these not so civil, “I deserve” days. Fact is, 95% of Americans believe we have a civility problem. As educator and CEO Ray Williams also discovered:

*** 81% of us believe uncivil behavior is leading to an increase in violence.

*** 70% think the Internet encourages uncivil behavior.

*** 71% believe civility is worse compared to a few years ago.

What constitutes civility? Respect and politeness/good manners come to mind, starting with a simple, “Thank you.”

It matters and not just to me…

Back on July 4, 2021, January became National Thank You Month, thirty whole days devoted to being grateful. Powerful words that imply approval, one of life’s biggest motivators, the force often behind hard work, achievement, and giving back. Power words that open doors and give rise to civility and smiles all around.

So, as you dismantle the Christmas tree or put away the menorah, go old school with me and give thanks often to loved ones and helpful strangers, alike. As Gabriel Andreas reminds us, “The more we look for things to be grateful for, the more there will be.”

~ With thanks for your ongoing support and wishes for happiness and good health in 2023, Carol

Teacher Memes

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MSM, PodcastBy Troy Patterson

MSM 566: Just A Minute, I have to Word It Right in Chat GPT . . .

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about ChatGPT, how teachers could use it, and more. Dave takes us to Mars. 

Jokes:  

Why did the FBI search Santa’s workshop?

  • They had probable Claus

When I was younger I almost made history

  • But I was late so they wouldn’t let me in the class

My neighbor thinks it’s rude I spy on his garden

  • I’m on the fence

England doesn’t have a kidney bank,

  • but it does have a Liverpool.

I really worry about the future of the calendar.

  • It’s days are certainly numbered

I just found out why Romans eat so much Dutch sauce.

  • Because there’s no place like Rome for the hollandaise!

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Mars On Earth

I was recently reading the November/December 2022 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the “Scope on the Skies” column, written by Bob Riddle.  He wrote a column entitled, “Where on Earth is Mars.”  

The day is coming when a crewed mission sets down on Mars and becomes the second group of humans to be “boots” on another world.  The first group consisted of Apollo 12 astronauts who landed and returned from our Moon.  However, getting to Mars is more of a challenge, as we have learned from the numerous robotic missions sent to Mars over the years.  How will we prepare our astronauts for this mission?

http://k12science.net/mars-on-earth/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • AI Art Wrap Up
  • Lunch Coverage
  • Chat GPT
    • Test questions
    • Lesson Plans
    • Text Books

The Twitterverse/Fediverse  

Bethany Smith  @bethanyvsmith

Fantastic afternoon session on all different ways to use H5P!!! #MootGlobal22

Gretchen  @offgridteacher

Dear school administrators: During the week before Christmas, please don’t make informal observations, document student behavior, and then make teachers create an action plan in response. Speaking from experience, today.

all sunshine and rainbows  @DeeSTEM_Teach

I found out Chat GPT can write Lesson Plans……

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the Day is ‘thermopot’ (18th century): one who downs a prolific amount of hot drinks.

Kim Scheinberg @kims@mas.to

This is not a chart depicting Moore’s Law.

This chart is the CRAYOLA COROLLARY showing that the number of Crayola crayon colors doubles approximately every 18 years.

https://scholar.social/@kims@mas.to/109525496734522042

#mschat thread.  

Strategies:  

24 classroom games to make student learning FUN

https://truthforteachers.com/classroom-games-to-make-student-learning-fun

You Need Chat GPT.  Just Don’t Tell Admin . . . 

So I did a thing.  I want a short “article” on Differentiated Instruction.  I want to put it in that incredible long Charlotte Daniels form that must be filled out after an observation.  So I asked Chat GPT to give me a thing on Differentiated Instruction.  Here’s what I got.  Definitely going to use this somewhere . . . 

Chat GPT – Sample Lesson Plan on Athenian Democracy:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LTHuus1KbfwEP2UxJB3iobFhWjCdLlnGzz8RwIlFISo/copy

Resources:

Tom Lehrer Songs

All copyrights to lyrics or music written or composed by me have been relinquished, and therefore such songs are now in the public domain. All of my songs that have never been copyrighted, having been available for free for so long, are now also in the public domain.

NOTICE: THIS WEBSITE WILL BE SHUT DOWN AT SOME DATE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, SO IF YOU WANT TO DOWNLOAD ANYTHING, DON’T WAIT TOO LONG.
Songs and Lyrics by Tom Lehrer

THE BEST 5 TIPS FOR MANAGING A DISAPPOINTING REPORT CARD WITH YOUR CHILD | SHARON SALINE, PSY.D. 

1. Listen first, ask questions after

2. Set realistic goals for the next quarter or trimester

3. Make sure adequate support is in place 

4. Avoid punishments and use logical consequences

5. Set up an effective routine for studying at home

The Best 5 Tips for Managing a Disappointing Report Card with Your Child | Sharon Saline, Psy.D.

Standard EBooks

Standard Ebooks is a volunteer-driven project that produces new editions of public domain ebooks that are lovingly formatted, open source, free of U.S. copyright restrictions, and free of cost.

https://standardebooks.org/#annotations:IRO9KkPqEeu1ytMDZLevIg

Sketch & Fetch

Our Science Explosion group wrote a Pictionary game for science. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JixxHJrQhZUguecKPx-c69wVa0DKnmQeCZMEijU59yE/edit?usp=sharing

Felt

https://felt.com/#annotations:Q2kNjG2jEe207icznYPQ8Q

Web Spotlight:  

AXIS:  The Culture Translator

Wishposting

What it is: Young people are sharing their holiday wish lists via TikTok under #christmaswishlist2022.

Big Liver Lies

Pilkmas is Here

What it is: A bodybuilding influencer known as the “Liver King” who advocates for an animal-based diet admitted that his muscular physique was actually due to steroid use.

What it is: Lindsay Lohan created a viral trend in a Pepsi ad where she is featured drinking a concoction of Pepsi and milk—a drink known as pilk.

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/100-trillion-global-economy/

Wingfeather Saga, Episode 2 

A story with the magic of Narnia and a sweeping epic like Lord of the Rings. Experience the official featurette for Season One of The Wingfeather Saga and stream the series on YouTube and the Angel Studios App this December 2nd. #WingfeatherSaga #BewareTheToothyCows  

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheWingfeatherSaga

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MSM, PodcastBy Troy Patterson

MSM 565 Do You Know Where the Fire Escape Goes To? I Do…

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about the NCSS Conference, 7th-grade art, and more. Dave drops the SKNOWLEDGE.

Jokes:  

If Schrodinger’s cat was a fugitive from the law would he be wanted > dead & alive?

Strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet and friends are just enemies you haven’t made yet.

Geology rocks but Geography is where it’s at!

Three weeks ago I sent my hearing aids in for repair.

  • I’ve heard nothing since.

Most of the year I have a lot of faith

  • Around the holidays I start to become more eggnogstic.

I remodeled my kitchen.

  • I told the carpenters to not go too fast with refinishing the kitchen cabinets. When they asked why, I explained that I am afraid of quicksand.

Someone asked me what ‘contemplate’ means, I’ve given it a lot of thought

Making digital art and canvas art is quite easy.

  • But paper is where I draw the line.

Potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnips, beets, yams…. I’ll never forget my roots

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Sknowledge (Snow Knowledge)

I was recently reading the November/December 2022 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the “Citizen Science” column, written by Jill Nugent.  She wrote a column entitled, “Get in the “Sknow” for Science!” 

The Sknowledge project was formed around the natural curiosity that students have for the outdoors and the snow.  The project goal is to help scientists ground truth winter weather data, one snowball at a time by measuring snow depth, air temperature, and cloud cover, and the ability to make a snowball.  For more information, visit:

https://www.sknowledge.ca

http://k12science.net/sknowledge-snow-knowledge/ 

Reports from the Front Lines

  1. NCSS Annual Conference  
  2. 10 work days until Christmas Break  
  3. ISTE coming to Philadelphia, NCSS coming to Boston, AMLE coming to National Harbor, MD 
  4. 7th Grade Art
    1. DIA “You Gotta Have Art!”    
  5. Summarizer
  6. 10 Amendments Ranking

The Twitter-Feder-verse  

AMLE  @AMLE

We’re loving the festive new #StatsInSchools  @Kahoot game from our friends at the @uscensusbureau. Thanks for helping to make statistics meaningful and fun for students! Check it out https://okt.to/wR8JHT

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘blear-witted’ (17th century): entirely lacking in foresight and clouded in judgment.

Word of the day is ‘growlery’ (1853, from Charles Dickens): a place you retreat to for the purposes of growling, muttering, and letting off steam.  

Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR)  @HC_Richardson

It’s Steven Wright’s birthday. Do yourself a favor and read the tweets in his honor.  

Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755@mastodon.social)

@jbf1755

Hey! @HerbertHistory‘s podcast has arrived!! #HATM people, unite!  https://t.co/4kFM6aDTDg  

Typical EduCelebrity    @EduCelebrity

Teacher: What was the most useless innovation in schools? Me: The Spork

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Strategies:  

Games to Improve Executive Functioning Skills

Games to Improve Executive Functioning Skills

Service Project Idea

When filling out your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address:

A Recovering American Soldier

c/o Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

8901 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, MD 20889-5600

Resources:  

Bouncy Balls!  

A fun way to visualize music or monitor classroom noise.  

https://bouncyballs.org/

Desperation Notifications!

Social media platforms are leaning into deceptive design patterns to capture your attention but they’re just contributing to our growing “notification anxiety”

https://stribs.medium.com/desperation-notifications-9a353a96622

Common Sense Society 

Common Sense Society (CSS) was founded as a debating forum in 2009 by a group of American and European university students. The group aimed to explore the ideas, cultures, and geography that have shaped our history in order to best contribute to a future that fosters human flourishing. In doing so, CSS became a celebration of the political, intellectual, and cultural inheritance which constitute our shared civilization.

Home

Examples:  

Protecting the People: Limited and Absolute Governments compares and contrasts the differences between limited and absolute governments and asks, “which system better protects human rights and happiness?”  https://www.commonsensesociety.org/education-arch/protecting-the-people-limited-and-absolute-governments/  

The Ancients and the Founders considers whether the U.S. Constitution overcomes the problems found in ancient governments and asks, “are there problems endemic to every democratic society that are impossible to eradicate?” https://www.commonsensesociety.org/education-arch/ancients-founders/  

Supporting Gifted ELLs:  Effective Strategies for the Social Studies Classroom – Elizabeth Rasmussen, PhD candidate at USF

NCSS 2022 Handouts for Effective Strategies for the Social Studies Classroom session.  

AXIS:  The Culture Translator

AI Did Not Write This Newsletter

What it is: ChatGPT became the internet’s robot darling this week, with curious users asking the interface questions and being bemused, surprised, or creeped out at its high functionality.

A New Lens

What it is: Earlier this month, Lensa became the #1 app in the Apple store’s “Photo and Video” category after releasing a feature called “magic avatars,” customized pieces of AI-generated digital art.

Why it’s an ethical conundrum: Lensa asks users to upload a minimum of 10 photos of their face to its app before it can generate a magic avatar. It then takes these photos and uses open-source tech called “stable diffusion” to produce artwork of the user in several different styles. These attractive-looking avatars are perfect for profile pictures, dating profiles, or just sharing online, and #lensa already has over 600,000 posts tagged on Instagram

Asteroid Launcher

https://neal.fun/asteroid-launcher/

Web Spotlight:  

English Learner Collaborations – Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies 

Language-aware lessons support all students, especially Multilingual Learners who are still developing in English, access primary-source rich learning.  

http://www.emergingamerica.org/english-learner-collaborations

Font Advent

Each day of the advent calendar will feature a different type foundry and highlight some of their most notable typefaces. It will be a highly opinionated and almost arbitrary selection of a few of my favorites from the list.

https://matthiasott.com/notes/independent-type-foundry-advent-calendar-2022

How Christmas became an American holiday tradition, with a Santa Claus, gifts & a tree

Christmas trees and gift-giving on Dec. 24 in Germany did not spread to other European Christian cultures until the end of the 18th century and did not come to North America until the 1830s.

From the onset, all family members, including children, were expected to participate in the gift-giving. Gifts were not brought by a mystical figure, but openly exchanged among family members – symbolizing the new middle-class culture of egalitarianism.

https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/121622_christmas_traditions_op/how-christmas-became-american-holiday-tradition-with-santa-claus-gifts-a160tree/#annotations:Btq-1HgBEe283xfk_DllLw

GPT Detector

This is an online demo of the GPT-2 output detector model, based on the 🤗/Transformers implementation of RoBERTa. Enter some text in the text box; the predicted probabilities will be displayed below. The results start to get reliable after around 50 tokens.

https://huggingface.co/openai-detector#annotations:11Rh7ncJEe2j7w9RO0EDAQ

This Is Where Most of the World’s Soccer Balls Come From

Sialkot, a city in northeast Pakistan, produces about 70% of the world’s supply—including Adidas’s Al Rihla, the official ball of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

More than 80% of the soccer balls made in Sialkot use hand stitching, a laborious process that makes the ball more durable and gives it more aerodynamic stability. The seams are deeper, and the stitches have greater tension than those sewn with machines.

At manufacturer Anwar Khawaja Industries, stitchers get paid roughly 160 rupees—about $0.75—per ball. Each one takes three hours to complete. At three balls a day, a stitcher can earn about 9,600 rupees per month. Even for a poor region, the wages are low. A living wage for Sialkot is around 20,000 rupees a month, according to researcher estimates.

https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2022-world-cup-soccer-ball-adidas-al-rihla-sialkot/#annotations:hAFnGG9-Ee2Pggsncjcgyg?leadSource=uverify%20wall

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MSM, PodcastBy Troy Patterson

MSM 564: Beauty is in the A.I. of the Beholder

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about computer carts, co-teaching, the Fediverse, and more. Dave is going all 3D. 

Jokes:  

What’s the difference between roast beef and pea soup?

  • Anyone can roast beef

So I invented a steam-powered phone.

  • but I kept getting too many mist calls.

So I told my boss three companies were after me and I needed a raise to stay at my job. We haggled for a few minutes and he gave me a 5% raise.

Leaving his office, he stopped and asked me, “By the way, which companies are after you?” I responded,

  • the gas, electric, and cable company.

In which USA state do the most people have allergies?

  • MassACHOOsetts.

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Three-Dimensional Learning

I was recently reading the November/December 2022 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the “From the Editor’s Desk” column, written by Patty McGinnis.  She wrote a column entitled, “Three-Dimensional Learning.” 

The Next Generation Science Standards call for three-dimensional learning, or the intentional integration of disciplinary core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and scientific and engineering practices.

http://k12science.net/three-dimensional-learning/

Reports from the Front Lines

The Twitterverse….Fediverse Coming Soon  

NJAMLE  @NJAMLE

Our conference on 3/15/2023 will feature: 3 keynotes 1 DJ 5 best selling authors 25 breakout sessions Unlimited networking Edu Stars We just need: YOU! Register at http://NJAMLE.org The first 50 registrations receive a signed copy of a speaker’s book!! Let’s Gooooooo!

  Buitengebieden  @buitengebieden

Having fun together.. https://twitter.com/i/status/1593631994419838979  

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘quafftide’(16th century): a one-word announcement that it’s time for a drink.

PUNS  @ThePunnyWorld

If I ever had identical twin daughters, I’d name the first one Kate… And the second one Duplikate.

Post News Link mentioned in the show:  https://post.news/?r=7oLTU  

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Strategies:  

MEET ALDO: AMAZING LESSON DESIGN OUTLINE

written by Miguel Guhlin

Ever wish you had an easy-to-follow checklist when designing learning for students? I know I have…often. Some of my colleagues effortlessly design amazing lessons, but I have to plod through each point. But lesson design is something that is critical to ultimate success in the classroom for each student. That’s why I’d like to take a moment to share my latest version of the outline I use. You can also explore this choice board organized with the outline in mind:

Meet ALDO: Amazing Lesson Design Outline

Resources:  

Our Story: An Ancillary to US History

A US history ancillary/textbook that examines some traditional some non-traditional aspects of American social, cultural, gender, racial, political, and military history. Most chapters include content provided by community college students.

Cover

Open Logic

The Open Logic Project is a collection of teaching materials on mathematical logic aimed at a non-mathematical audience, intended for use in advanced logic courses as taught in many philosophy departments. It is open-source: you can download the LaTeX code. It is open: you’re free to change it whichever way you like, and share your changes. It is collaborative: a team of people is working on it, using the GitHub platform, and we welcome contributions and feedback. And it is written with configurability in mind. 

An Open-Source, Collaborative Logic Text

AXIS:  The Culture Translator

A New Line of Questioning

What it is: A book excerpt in the Atlantic encourages families to chat with elder members about what history has looked like through their eyes.

Why it’s essential: At Axis, we’re always supporting parents by providing conversation starters geared at teens. But as we gather with older relatives for the upcoming holidays, it’s worth thinking about turning the tables a bit and encouraging young people to ask their relatives about their experiences. The Atlantic recommends simple questions about what they could see through their windows growing up, what they spent their summers doing throughout their childhood, and what they learned from their first jobs. 

Song of the Week

“Major Distribution” by Drake and 21 Savage, ft. Lil Yachty: as the second song on the album Her Loss and the second most popular song on Billboard and Spotify, “Major Distribution” is a strange blend of piano, profanity, and pop culture references. The chorus is just Drake muttering the phrase “Go stupid” over and over.

Transcription and links to references inside the song.  

The Wingfeather Saga – Animated Series on Angel Studios Streaming

In a fantasy world of wonder and danger, one boy discovers a family secret that may awaken an ancient power or doom them to capture by a nameless evil… If you love the wit of The Princess Bride, the epic world of The Lord of the Rings, and the deep magic in the Narnia series, you’ll love The Wingfeather Saga.  

Funding Page:  https://invest.angel.com/wingfeather-saga  

https://www.angel.com/watch/wingfeather-saga/episode/eac54be6-e2e5-43f8-870f-3fae75f35a53/season-1/episode-2/official-teaser-trailer-for-season-1

Fediverse

Open Educators on Mastodon

https://edtechfactotum.com/open-educators-on-mastodon/#annotations:Gh-EemKeEe2il1-ANSoeJg

Educators on Mastodon

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1beJHWsuB0MJDMqeg_q8pBRWRdQImY-n8E6PttoJLFaM/edit#gid=2032266685

Web Spotlight:  

Libraries Are Launching Their Own Local Music Streaming Platforms

Over a dozen public libraries in the U.S. and Canada have begun offering their own music streaming services to patrons, with the goal of boosting artists and local music scenes. The services are region-specific, and offer local artists non-exclusive licenses to make their albums available to the community.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d34px/libraries-are-launching-their-own-local-music-streaming-platforms#annotations:SdXUumXoEe2Pj7ckK_PpGQ

BookWyrm

BookWyrm is a social network for tracking your reading, talking about books, writing reviews, and discovering what to read next. Federation allows BookWyrm users to join small, trusted communities that can connect with one another, and with other ActivityPub services like Mastodon and Pleroma.

https://joinbookwyrm.com/

Halloween Between The Wars – Original Recordings 1927-1938

When we think of the great depression of the 1930s, the images which may spring to mind – The Grapes of Wrath, the dustbowl songs of Woody Guthrie – are generally from the 1940s. Popular entertainment of the thirties leaned not on realism, but on escapism. This is the golden age, not only of Hollywood musicals, Fred Astaire & Ginger Rodgers, Busby Berkley routines and screwball comedy, but also of horror movies. So who better to guide us into this mix of Halloween music than Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula from 1931, released the same year as Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and James Whale’s Frankenstein, and a year before the first appearance of The Mummy. Aside from the film clips, we naturally have plenty of novelty recordings, original sound effect records, hot jazz, and to close a suite of particularly morbid blues records.

Halloween Between The Wars – Original Recordings 1927-1938

https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2022/

Random Thoughts . . .  

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MSM, PodcastBy Troy Patterson

MSM 563:  Opening the Glory Box & AMLE 22

Summary:

Shawn and Troy share some jokes, talk about AMLE, and more. Dave heads to space with Astonomer. 

Jokes:  

I believe in karma.

  • That’s why I feed birds pieces of bread and slices of salami to stray cats. Whatever you give out will come back to you: And I’m hoping that will be an Italian sandwich.

Did you ever wonder why the public address system is so loud at the supermarket?

  • Because they make their money on volume

Where does a pirate get a new hook?

  • At the second hand store

John beat his addiction to chocolate, marshmallows and nuts.

  • But it was quite the rocky road.

– but what did we call Captain Hook before his hand got bitten off

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Astronomer

I was recently reading the September/October 2022 issue of “The Science Teacher” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the Career of the Month column, written by Luba Vangelova.  She wrote a column entitled, “Astronomer.”  

Her article focused in on Chris Carilli, an astronomer at the National Science Foundation’s Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, where he uses radio-spectrum light captured by a series of antennas to study the early universe.

 http://k12science.net/astronomer/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • AMLE Conference Reflections
    • Conference App:  Whova
    • Digital Conference Program  
    • Sessions  

Houston Kraft:  AMLE 22 Keynote – First Day  

  • Staying on Twitter or Moving to the Fediverse?

Eileen Award  

  • Amber Chandler of Frontier Middle School in Hamburg, NY

The Twitterverse

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘merry-go-sorry’ (16th century): life’s carousel of joy and sorrow.

Word of the day is ‘overmused’ (17th century): wearied by too much thinking.  

Word of the day is the Italian ‘sprezzatura’: a studied nonchalance, implying that something you’ve spent ages on is really nothing all, or responding to a compliment on a carefully-chosen jumper with ‘oh, this old thing?’.  

Erika Garcia @flyingmonkey13

Teachers, What is one thing your principal has done or you wish they would do to make your life easier? I’m looking to be better.

Bryan Shaw  @Coachshawb

Replying to  @flyingmonkey13

Seek out input from staff that don’t usually speak out in front of the group.

StLCardsFan  @KurtBauche

Replying to  @flyingmonkey13

Be visible in the building. Offer to visit a class unexpectedly without the fear of a secret evaluation.  

StLCardsFan @KurtBauche

Replying to @flyingmonkey13

Sit down and eat lunch with the students….and teachers.

Katie HuffMan  @kthuffmanrunsh

Replying to  @flyingmonkey13

I was out this week, sick. She personally reached out to check on me after I submitted my request for two more days. She has SO much on her plate and yet she took the time to reach out and check on me. Meant the world to me.

Don Dowdell @PonderPirate

Replying to  @flyingmonkey13

We have the option to meet with the principal in lieu of submitting planbooks. Conversations include: – How’s the class? – What’s working/not working? – What are you noticing/trying? – What do you need? – How can I help? – How are you? The family? It’s refreshing.

John Meehan (he/him)  @MeehanEDU

We made a thing. Fully editable Google Slides template and 100% free. https://emc2learning.com/get-in-the-spirit-of-halloween-memes/

Happy Halloween! #EMC2Learning

Oliver Tacke @otacke

New #H5P content type 1/4: Transcript https://olivertacke.de/labs/2022/10/2

New #H5P content type 2/4: Portfolio https://olivertacke.de/labs/2022/10/2  

New #H5P content type 3/4: Tabs https://olivertacke.de/labs/2022/10/2  

New #H5P content type 4/4: Timekeeper https://olivertacke.de/labs/2022/10/2  

Secondary Principals  @massp

New Legislative Posting Requirement- Jan.1, 2023: Gov Whitmer has signed HB 5703 requiring schools to post sections of the Michigan Constitution in areas within the district, including the Principal’s office. We’ve created printable resources for you! http://ow.ly/LcCh50Ljifa

John R. Sowash  @jrsowash

As you head back to school, don’t forget about the new Screencast app for Chromebooks. This is a great new tool for creating video lessons and it works great in #GoogleClassroom! Learn more: https://chrmbook.com/screencast-for-chromebook-2/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=jrsowash&utm_content=edtechposts

#teachwithchrome #GoogleEdU #backtoschool22  

Typical EduCelebrity  @EduCelebrity

Students might not read their email, check the online gradebook, follow the instructions on the worksheet or test, or look at the syllabus or classroom rules. But if you put the expectations on the board, they will certainly pay attention to that!

𝗧𝗖𝗘𝗔   @TCEA

Check out these conversation starters that can help you connect with your teens in the classroom. 

Oliver Tacke  @otacke

Not sure what will happen, what channel will survive or be shut down, but I dipped my toes into the fediverse and joined a #mastodon instance. @otacke@chaos.social | thx

@blinry  

Tansu YEĞEN   @TansuYegen

Thanks to Harvard University, you can now virtually enter the Great Pyramid of Giza in 3D and 360º

Armistice Day Poem on Twitter

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter Fediverse never stops!” 

Resources:  

AXIS:  The Culture Translator

Good and Scared

What it is: With Halloween on Monday, all things jump-scare and creepy will be trending at their height this weekend. The Guardian explains the neuroscience of why getting spooked can sometimes feel pretty good.

Why it’s helpful to understand: Researchers theorize that tricking our brains into feeling scared, even when there is no perceivable threat, can be a more mature version of children making up stories in the playground. It can serve a similar purpose, too; in moments when we marry our imagination with our fight-or-flight instincts, we play out ways to protect ourselves in a worst-case scenario. We can also experience a cascading euphoria when the adrenaline from being scared wears off and our brains feel they “survived.” We have the true crime media industrial complex and the continued popularity of horror movies as evidence that attest to how deeply our culture longs to feel this tension and release. But what’s entertaining for one person might be truly terrifying for another, and there are certain topics that shouldn’t be exploited for any reason. 

MoodleNet:  Language Arts Listening Comprehension

Here’s a Moodle Question Bank of Listening Comprehension questions

https://moodle.net/collection/9d2bhsgtngn7-listening-quizzes

He saw a classmate get bullied for shoes, so he stepped in with a meaningful gesture

https://www.today.com/parents/parents/buffalo-teens-go-viral-kind-gesture-friend-bullied-rcna54709#annotations:6rCbllylEe2pKl8yugXjog

How A Hollywood Makeup Artist Turns Actors Into Zombies | Movies Insider

Openverse

An extensive library of free stock photos, images, and audio, available for free use.

https://wordpress.org/openverse/

Web Spotlight:  

U.S. lab chimps were dumped on Liberia’s Monkey Island and left to starve. He saved them.

Chimps aren’t supposed to be stuck on their own island — especially one with no food — or mingle with much-weaker humans. But nothing about Liberia’s Monkey Island is normal. It’s a spectacle, an increasingly costly burden and the enduring legacy of American scientists who set out to cure hepatitis B in 1974.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/us-lab-chimps-were-dumped-on-liberias-monkey-island-and-left-to-starve-he-saved-them/2019/12/11/5bb35924-14f5-11ea-bf81-ebe89f477d1e_story.html#annotations:w5N7kGBcEe2bADeawTFY1Q

Random Thoughts . . .  

Fediverse vs Twitter

Who owns your material? We went from Social Networking to Social Media. 

https://edtechfactotum.com/open-educators-on-mastodon/

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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MSM, PodcastBy Troy Patterson

MSM 562: The English Teacher is Cheating!

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about conferences, kids seeing the future, and more. Dave focuses on student collaboration for Science success. 

Jokes:  

I was worried he’d fail, but my son actually passed his school sculpture project with an A+

  • What a relief

What do you call a sleeping dinosaur?

  • A Dino-snore

What did the zero say to the eight?

  • Nice Belt.

Which knee is the most childish?

  • The kid-knee.

Why did the orange stop halfway across the road?

  • It ran out of juice.

What part of a car works the hardest?

  • The wheels because they’re always tired!
  • The muffler, it’s always exhausted.
  • The pedal on the left, it needs a brake.

What part of the car is the laziest?

  • Calipers, because they are always on brakes.
  • I dunno. The transmission seems a little shifty.

How did the barber win the race? 

  • He knew a shortcut.

What country has the highest amount of diseases

  • GERMany

How do you spell candy with two letters?

  • C and Y

Middle School Science Minute

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

K12Science Podcast:  Student Collaboration

I was recently reading the September/October 2022 issue of “Science & Children” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the Methods and Strategies column, written by Kathleen Easley and Jamie Lehto.  They wrote a column entitled, “Let’s Work Together.”  

In this column, they addressed five research-based strategies that support successful collaboration:

1.  Establishing a culture of collaboration

2.  Setting clear expectations

3. “Making the rounds”

4.  Class conversations

5.  Mediating conflict

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

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Halloween
    • Door Decorating
  • Kids Negotiating the Future
  • Conferences
    • Expectations
    • Themes
  • Project SubGirr  

The Twitterverse  

Scott Bayer #THEBOOKCHAT co-founder  @Lyricalswordz

I may have arrived at the weekend like this. But I made it. And so did you.

Video here:  https://twitter.com/i/status/1583584612298633216  (Note to self:  Cancel that flight on Garuda Indonesia)  

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘blutterbunged’ (19th century dialect): dumbfounded, confounded, and open-mouthed in amazement. (Not to be confused with ‘dumfungled’: utterly exhausted.)

Revolving_Door_Admin  @RAD_is_awesome

Remember that behavior-problem students are not to be sent to an administrator. Please follow our RTI and send them to your Buddy Teacher’s class to disrupt a different teacher and different set of students.

Oliver Tacke  @otacke

Did I say I’d bring 3 new #H5P content types to the #OERcamp in Hamburg next week? Sorry, that information is wrong. It will be 4 new #H5P content types.

Jack Berckemeyer @JBerckemeyer

To all my hard working educator friends- may your weekend be filled with rest, support, a good movie, popcorn and tons of chocolate. Plus two adult beverages.

Learn Something @LEARNS0METHlNG_

The pufferfish’s skeleton is made up of spiky bones aren’t actually connected- they just sit under the pufferfish’s skin like caltrops and expand to spread themselves apart and point outward when the pufferfish inflates!

# MIchat #mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Strategies:  

ELL Class

“I’ve written a lot about how we’ve been dramatically increasing the number of peer tutors in my ELL classes in order to accelerate learning, and thought readers might find it useful to hear about how my classes typically go.”

https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2022/10/18/heres-what-a-typical-ell-class-with-peer-tutors-me-looks-like/

Resources:  

Create Readable Videos

Learn a simple method for creating short, animated videos that bring data and information to life without a voice-over.

https://explaineracademy.com/p/readable#annotations:LdIbblDDEe2Y2uNLmfVzkw

CocoMaterial

Discover CocoMaterial, the Open Source hand-drawn illustration library with 2,461 images. Customize & download!

https://cocomaterial.com/#annotations:ynnPitUqEey06oupkBwHPA

America’s Best And Worst Rated Fast Food Chains, By State

https://digg.com/food/link/best-worst-rated-fast-food-chains-QUaeZvFQbl#annotations:kCJyFFAZEe2GgrPHFu-LVw

Web Spotlight:  

Deion Sanders being brutally honest with his Football Team

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdlfEhR7jl8#annotations:ZqwYYk8CEe2zZQdt4LZHTg

AXIS The Culture Translator

Gas Lit

What it is: An app called Gas lets teens send anonymous compliments to one another, and, despite not being available nationwide, it’s become the most popular offering in the Apple store.

Random Thoughts . . .  

Scienceagories

(a takeoff on the game–Scattegories) For 2-60 Players

Object: Quickly fill out a category list with answers that begin with the same letter. Score points if no other player matches your answers. Score the most points to win the game.

Game Play: The game is played in 2-3 rounds. To play a round, do the following steps in order:

1. All players take a category sheet and pencil.

2. Setting the Timer: Use either a game timer or a stopwatch. Each round should last 3-4 minutes.

3. Toss a letter die and call out the rolled letter or select a letter from a container (do not use the letters Q, V, X or Z). The selected letter is the key letter that will be used in this round of play.

4. Start the timer.

5. All players quickly fill in the first column of their answer sheets. Answers must fit the category and must begin with the key letter rolled.

Example:

List 1

1. ANIMAL

2. WATER

3. THINGS THAT ARE COLD 4. SPACE

5. MEASUREMENT

6. INSECTS

ETC……

One

COUGAR CLOUD COLD CUTS CAPTAIN CENTIMETER CRICKET

6. When the timer stops, players must immediately stop writing.

7. Scoring a Round: Players, in turn read their answers aloud for number 1. Players correct their own answer sheets by circling an acceptable answer that DOES NOT match any other player’s answer. Continue reading answers until all of the categories have been scored. Then, score 1 point for each of your circled answers. Record your score at the top of the column of your answer sheet.

Starting a New Round: Set the timer again, select a new letter and continue playing using the same category list as you did in the previous round. Fill in the next column with your new answers. NOTE: If the same letter is selected twice in a game, select a different letter.

WINNING THE GAME

After 3 rounds have been played, all players total the 3 scores on their answer sheets. The player with the highest score is the winner.

In case of a tie: The players who tie play one more round with a new letter. The player who has the highest score in that round is the winner.

Rules for Acceptable Answers

1. The first word of your answer must begin with the key letter.

2. The articles “A”, “An”, and “The” cannot be used for their key letters.

3. The exact same answer CANNOT be given twice in one round. Example: You cannot answer Daisy for a flower and also for a girl’s name.

4. When answering with a proper name, the first or last name may be used as long as the key letter is the first letter of your answer. For example, if the key letter is “A” and the category is person, the “A” could be used to start their last name or begin their first name.

5. Creative answers can be acceptable. For example, you could answer Knuckle as a kind of Sandwich. But if one player challenges the answer, the group must vote on its acceptability.

Challenging Answers: While answers are being read, other players may challenge their acceptability. When an answer is challenged, all players (even the challenged player) vote on whether the answer is acceptable. Players who accept the answer give a thumbs-up sign. Players who do not accept the answer give a thumbs-down sign. Majority rules. In the case of a tie, the challenged player’s vote does not count.

Extra Points: When answering with proper names or titles, score an extra point for using the key letter more than once as a fist letter in your answer. For example: Ronald Reagan, Carson City, Simon and Schuster, and the Rouge River for 2 points; Hubert Horatio Humphrey for 3 points.

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MSM, PodcastBy Troy Patterson

MSM 561: The Full Moon Experience

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about conferences, full moon, and more. Dave has part two on Air Pressure and Barometers. 

Jokes:  

What has four wheels and flies?

  • A garbage truck

What did the toilet roll complain about?

  • People just keep ripping me off!

What did Darth Vader say to Admiral Motti after browsing his collection of George Michael records?

  • “I find your lack of Faith disturbing.”

What’s the first bet that most people make in their lives?

  • The alpha bet

You know what I like about a no-nonsense ballet documentary?

  • It’s on point

What kind of shoes do frogs wear?

  • Open toad

We finished reading Macbeth in class today.

  • It was quite the Shakespearience.

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Barometer

I was recently reading the September/October 2022 issue of “Science & Children” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the Science 101 column, written by Matt Bobrowsky.  He wrote a column entitled, “Do You Have a Weather-Related Activity That My Students Would Enjoy?”  

In this column, Matt addressed two topics:  Air Pressure and Barometers.  This lead me to do a two-part podcast series.  The previous podcast looked at the topic of air pressure and how it can be explained to students and this podcast will deal with the tool that measures air pressure – barometers.  The air that surrounds us and surrounds the Earth is called air pressure.  So, the pressure in the air surrounding us is called atmospheric pressure.  An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure is called a barometer.

http://k12science.net/barometers/

Reports from the Front Lines

The Twitterverse  

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘rantum-scantum’ (17th century): reckless, disorderly, and chaotic.

G. K. Chesterton  @GKCdaily

Without education we are in a horrible and deadly danger of taking educated people seriously.

Dr. John Spencer  @spencerideas

Happy Friday. Here’s a dad joke.

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Oliver Tacke  @otacke

Oh snappers. I’ll be at the #OERcamp in #Hamburg later this month, and the camp seems to become the stage for presenting two new #H5P content types + one (probably done by then) feature that people have been missing for quite some time now.

Marc Morris  @Longshanks1307

Today’s the 956th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, so obviously I’m reposting the scenes from the Bayeux Tapestry I made with Playmobil.

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Peter Lorimer  @pighilltweets

It’s only fair, if this 1800-year old (Han Dynasty) ceramic horse is going to live in my head. Then I should gift it, on so it can live in your brain as well!

Mr. Carr on the Web  @MrCarrOnTheWeb

This just popped up in my feed and I’m so glad for it! I love the way Amanda’s brain works. SO inclusive and scaffolded.

Quote Tweet

Amanda Sandoval @historysandoval

I’ve been lesson planning revamping a lot lately and one of the strategies that I keep incorporating in my HyperSlides is a reduced #8Parts. I’m using it with videos, podcasts, speeches, etc… Shout out to @JBuckLearns & @NoyesEnglish for the inspiration.  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1krqtqNMVpoeHbUROcswbfhTAOf2X9VnueaIKy8YOGCM/edit?usp=sharing

Try it on this TED Talk by Matt Diffee:  https://youtu.be/tAMbxnEtNxE  

Kim Campbell  @KimCamp4Kids

First the pandemic and now this….come on…educators can’t get a break!!

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Yong Zhao, Ph.D  @YongZhaoEd

Has any of the ed reforms worked at all? “A return to the pre-pandemic status quo would be insufficient and a disservice to students and educators.” High school class of 2022 had lowest ACT scores in over 30 years, data shows  https://t.co/8vALM0bxTX  

Amanda Sandoval   @historysandoval

Played a modified game of Scattegory during lecture. The kids ate it up! Mixed academic rounds with fun topics as they raced to be the first group to fill in all the letters. First time using this strategy, but won’t be the last. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d

Tim Allen @ofctimallen

“If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane. -Robert Frost

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Strategies:  

How growth mindset shrank

https://stuartritchie.substack.com/p/growth-mindset-decline

What Are The Most Misunderstood Ideas In Education?

25 Of The Most Misunderstood Ideas In Education

Resources:  

AXIS:  The Culture Translator

Plot Twisted

What it is:  Viewers of a new Netflix movie say they were shocked by graphic depictions of sexual assault and a high school shooting shown in the film.

Why it’s made audiences upset:  Luckiest Girl Alive is an adaptation of a 2015 novel by the same name, and it starts off almost like any dime-a-dozen rom-com. Mila Kunis stars as Ani, an ambitious young woman in New York City with a wealthy fiancé. Ani aspires to move from working for glossies to writing with gravitas. But as the movie progresses, revelations into Ani’s past grow progressively darker and the vibe gets more Gone Girl than Gossip Girl. The movie is trending #1 on Netflix after premiering on September 30, but many have taken to social media to call for a trigger warning and a more accurate synopsis, saying that they felt hoodwinked by the thriller’s intensity and violence. Parents should know that Ani relives trauma after trauma on screen throughout the film, and that the plot’s central focus is a high school gang rape.

Web Spotlight:  

What Does SOS Stand For?

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/31911/what-does-sos-stand#annotations:v-YTDEl6Ee20gPeFRT_vNA

Test Yourself for Hidden Bias

Psychologists at Harvard, the University of Virginia and the University of Washington created “Project Implicit” to develop Hidden Bias Tests—called Implicit Association Tests, or IATs, in the academic world—to measure unconscious bias.

https://www.learningforjustice.org/professional-development/test-yourself-for-hidden-bias

Random Thoughts . . .  

Dr. Monte Selby hangs out with a World Famous Podcaster.  

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MSM, PodcastBy Troy Patterson

MSM 560: Under Pressure

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about MAMLE, middle school concepts, micro-credentials, and more. Dave puts us under pressure.

Jokes:  

Why did the skeleton refuse to go to the Halloween dance?

  • Because he had noBODY to dance with.

I asked my friend to spell wonton backward

  • To which he replied: NOT NOW!

If someone wants to call me a passive person…

  • I say let them.

Have you heard the rumor going around about butter?

  • Never mind, I shouldn’t spread it.

Did y’all hear about the cow who weighed a ton??

  • I personally think it’s a whole lot of bull.

Shoes keep your feet safe from injury.

  • That’s their sole purpose.

I met someone special in a Scottish ICU.

  • Alas…..

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Air Pressure

I was recently reading the September/October 2022 issue of “Science & Children” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the Science 101 column, written by Matt Bobrowsky.  He wrote a column entitled, “Do You Have a Weather-Related Activity That My Students Would Enjoy?”  

In this column, Matt addressed two topics:  Air Pressure and Barometers.  This leads me to do a two-part podcast series.  This podcast will look at the topic of air pressure and how it can be explained to students and the next podcast will deal with tool that measures air pressure – barometers.  Air pressure is the force exerted by air on any surface in contact with it.

http://k12science.net/air-pressure/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Monte Selby
  • MAMLE
    • Keynote by Mike Muir
    • Breakout Sessions
    • Dr. Monte Selby
      • NMSA 2010
      • Podcast history
  • ACTEM

The Twitterverse  

𝗧𝗖𝗘𝗔  @TCEA

Who doesn’t love a Pixar Short? Here’s a list of how to use them in your classroom. via Adventures of Ms. Smith #edchat #learning #teachertwitter

Megan Vosk (she/her)  @megan_vosk

The @AMLE teacher-leader committee has written an article called. “So You’re A Teacher-Leader, Now What?” So proud to be a part of this team with @DrCameli @cmt215il @BioTeach704 @steph_auditore and others. #teacherleaders #middleschool #collaboration

https://t.co/Xp04U8eHhz

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘ramfeezled’ (18th century): feeling worn out, used up, and particularly enfeebled.

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Strategies:  

Extending Penmanship Lessons Beyond School – Edutopia 

“I had long suspected that my son struggled with dysgraphia, a learning disability that affects a student’s ability to write. I needed to step in and figure out how to help him. In my research, I noticed a trend toward providing cursive as an alternative to students struggling with handwriting.”  

https://www.edutopia.org/article/extending-penmanship-lessons-beyond-elementary-school?fbclid=IwAR3UYItpA9PpJe4VECoWa3YRKI6h5Q2bxQbfOyCDLf6hP1CFiqj6Qq3Ppj0

Resources:  

Synth Is Shutting Down  

This fall, Synth is shutting down.  Thank you for believing in the power of audio, from podcasting in the classroom to building relationships asynchronously. You’ll still be able to use the service until October 13th.  

https://gosynth.com/

Alternatives suggested by Richard Byrne:  https://www.freetech4teachers.com/search/label/Synth  

Web Spotlight:  

6 Strategies to Help Neurodiverse Students Fully Engage in Class

1. The first five minutes:

2. Relaxation:

3. Keep it moving:

4. Recognize DOOM boxes:

5. Words matter:

6. Rule of three: 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/6-strategies-help-neurodiverse-students-fully-engage-class

Random Thoughts . . .  

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MSM, PodcastBy Troy Patterson

MSM 559: I Can Read It, I Just Can’t Write It

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about AI, students writing questions, jokes, the Twitterverse, and more. Dave has some Joyful Science. 

Jokes:

Stephen King

Mountains aren’t just funny, they’re hill areas.

I got banned from /r/CleanJokes for posting, “Frosted Flakes! Cheerios! Lucky Charms! Frosted Flakes! Cheerios! Lucky Charms! Frosted Flakes! Cheerios! Lucky Charms! Frosted Flakes! Cheerios! Lucky Charms! Frosted Flakes! Cheerios! Lucky Charms! Frosted Flakes! Cheerios! Lucky Charms!”

  • Apparently, I’m a cereal poster

I saw a picture of myself with a border around it that my friend stole and put on his wall.

  • I can’t believe I’ve been framed.

What do you call Iberian Wildcat websites downloaded in Spain?

  • Spanish Links.

Why aren’t koalas actual bears?

  • They don’t meet the koalafications

What’s it called when you apologize using dots and dashes?

  • Remorse code

I studied Culinary Arts at the University of Bologna

  • Strangely enough, I couldn’t manage to sandwich in any time to eat between courses!

I’m allergic to people that aren’t funny.

  • Guess I’m lack-jokes intolerant.

What happens when you leave your boombox outside a library overnight?

  • It becomes a dewy decibel system.

I bought bird seed about a month ago and I think it’s defective.

  • I took it home and immediately planted some. I haven’t grown any birds yet

At first there were only 25 letters in the alphabet.

  • Nobody knew why

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Joyful Science

I was recently reading the September/October 2022 issue of “Science & Children” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the Editor’s Note column, written by Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn.  She wrote a column entitled, “Joyful Science.”  

Remember to plan lessons, follow the curriculum, and cover the content, but don’t forget that essential element in the planning — the students.  Create space and time for them to find the joys in learning by figuring things out, debating, assessing data, developing arguments, and solving problems.  Let’s find ways to make learning joyful. 

http://k12science.net/joyful-science/

Reports from the Front Lines

The Twitterverse  

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

A reminder that an ‘empleomaniac’ is someone desperate to hold on to power, no matter what the cost.

Word of the day is ‘arsle’: when you have the distinct impression you’re going backwards instead of making progress.  

Typical EduCelebrity  @EduCelebrity

Teachers, it is now the fall season. Be sure to put pumpkin spice in your lessons as well as your coffee!

𝗧𝗖𝗘𝗔  @TCEA8 

Ways Teachers Can Talk Less & Get Kids Talking More via @Angela_Watson #edchat #k12 #teachertwitter

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Resources:  

Folktale Readers Theater

*Creative Commons Licensed: This website is a repository for CC-BY licensed scripts for readers theater that come from the folktale traditions of the world. These scripts are free for you to copy, adapt, remix, rewrite, and transform based on your own inspiration; my only request is that you credit the source — Laura Gibbs at Scripts.LauraGibbs.net — so that others can find their way here too. 

https://sites.google.com/view/ccreaderstheater/#annotations:-8JEPj2wEe2qqaNEXLLJLw

Additional Resources:

Summarize

Get a summary of any long YouTube video, like a lecture, live event or a government meeting. Powered by GPT-3.

https://www.summarize.tech/#annotations:u9xqoj0kEe25bBfDUgQgWQ

5 Low-Stakes Activities to Help Teens Open Up

https://www.edutopia.org/video/5-low-stakes-activities-help-teens-open#annotations:xR-mNDwpEe2zlEfv0usKYw

Google | Better Searches, Better Results

Click to access Tips_Tricks_17x22.pdf

Quazel

Uses AI to have conversations to learn a language. Pronunciation examples are provided.

https://talk.quazel.com/en-us/chat/try

European Day of Languages:  Languages Take You Further  

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/dgt/languages-take-you-further/en/discover

AXIS The Culture Translator

Meet Your Match

What it is: A NYT op-ed argues for a return to more traditional forms of dating, like courtship, family set-ups, and even paid matchmakers.

Why it’s trending right now: More than a few recently published articles have pointed to dating app fatigue. For some, these apps seem to lead only to heartbreak, rejection, and frustration instead of lasting partnership. Reality TV shows (such as Indian Matchmaking and Married at First Sight) in addition to scripted hits (like Bridgerton) seem to be striking a nerve, reminding people who aren’t married that maybe meeting people in real life has some benefits. This op-ed writer says that set-ups orchestrated by a third-party add an element of accountability that swiping right just can’t replicate. Maybe your teens won’t be running to you for matchmaker money just yet, but it’s possible that the cultural tide will continue to turn back to real-life dating for the next generation.

Web Spotlight:  

Embracing hard questions over reading approaches and phonics

https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/general/embracing-hard-questions-over-reading-approaches-and-phonics#annotations:Kz9XWDwaEe2qIZ9f94uRwQ

Random Thoughts . . .  

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