Human beings are not a pile of numbers. You can measure many things, but most of them are not meaningful in the context of education. Scientific studies can now prove that literally, no one has an average brain. The industrial system for education, the rationale for standardized tests, is based on a false premise. Education must catch … More No One Is “Average”
Do you need encouragement? Try a little Kid President. I don’t care how old, how tired or how much stress you are experiencing, it is not O.K. to be boring. I will admit, this school year has been long. The circumstances are not getting easier in my district and I would hazard a guess that … More Finishing Strong
As I prepare for MACUL 17 and my presentation about digital citizenship, information literacy and exactly what that means has been occupying my mind. I was very excited when I read Joyce Valenza’s post about UNESCO’s stand on media and information literacy. This framework provides a starting point for discussion about what students need to have, … More What is Information Literacy
I am looking for input as I prepare for MACUL 2017 about what people think digital citizenship mean in our current collective environment. Is it just about safety? Does it include introducing the concept of collaborative work in a digital environment? Does it presuppose a certain set of norms? I would like you input.
For many years, the technology policy at my school was the “walled garden”. The very phrase brought to mind lonely, sad Collin Craven shut away by himself in The Secret Garden. Our children were to be locked away. It was too dangerous to allow them to be in the digital world. Don’t misunderstand, students need to … More Sharing Your Class With the World
Just as I was sitting down to force myself to write something because I am trying to be consistent with this blog and that takes effort, sometimes more effort than I think I can muster, this wonderful post arrived in my inbox. I am sure that I am not the only one who struggles to write … More Mike Lowry: How to Start Your Own Story
I really dislike having to spend my valuable class time preparing students for standardized tests. Most of the time, it just sucks the joy from the room. I have found a few tools that make it somewhat less painful. One of my favorites for making test prep less painful is Prodigy Game. Prodigy really does … More Tools for Test Prep
This holiday season, I am fortunate enough to be visiting my son in Florida. In my Michigan home, it has already been below freezing with snow on the ground for about a month, so the opportunity to go to see his new home in a lovely Florida suburb is quite appealing in itself. I set … More Freedom to Dance in the Rain
My teaching focus as media specialist is usually on student creations of a digital or physical nature. As part of my preparation for MACUL17, I have been focusing on creation of a different sort. How do we create digital citizens how can leave a positive footprint? In the past, much of the teaching about digital … More Making a Difference
One of the things I love best about Hour of Code is the opportunity it gives for students to shine. This is especially true of students who are not seen as academically strong by their peers. Many students come to school already behind their peers in reading and other academic subjects due to their situation outside … More Code: The Great Equalizer
