Ten Truths About Teaching with Technology: Article from US magazine

Ten Truths About Teaching with Technology : Article from US magazine

I have been asked by a few different people to boil down the "essence" of teaching with technology, whatever that means.  I doubt this is what they meant, but this is what they got, and I share it humbly with you.

Ten Truths about Teaching with Technology

1.  Teaching WITHOUT technology is just not acceptable any longer.  Can you imagine a teacher refusing to implement special education accommodations?  It would be a travesty.  Same thing with current technology.  New generations of teachers will (I hope) realize that there are always going to be new technologies to master every year.  Previous generations look at learning new technology as something they want to have to do once and then be done.  We need to change the way we look at learning to integrate technology to see it as a fluid evolution and not a checklist of skills.

2.  Online learning is inevitable, and is arriving soon.  The only question at this point is the model upon which it will ultimately become standard.  Students already learn plenty online.  It would be nice if Algebra or French were a part of that.

3.  Online learning does not mean students stare at screens for a majority of the time.  Online learning is used to interact with instructors and other students about experiences that should be designed to be off-line. For instance, students video record the building of the volcano experiment, and then upload to a chat setting so others can give feedback on the process or result.

4.  Powerpoints do not really signify effective instructive integration of technology.  Face it, Powerpoints have their place, but they are essentially an overhead projector.  True technology integration breaks the barrier between curriculum and student.  A Powerpoint alone cannot do that.

5.  Banning cell phone use in schools has created a problem.  For years, teachers wished for a world where every student had a calendar, calculator, dictionary, and word processor with them at all times, and now that most students have it all in one device in their pockets, they are asked to keep them hidden.  If teachers embrace the opportunity to harness the power of handheld devices, we put the power of the world at their fingertips.  By vilifying the cell phone, we have told students that the device is only for fun, and has no real connection to learning at all.  I doubt that's going to be a good thing.

6.  Education reform is about a lot of things, but the driver for all of them is society.  Society is plugged in and online and collaborating like never before.  Unfortunately, many classrooms seem to have missed the memo.  Ed reform tries, clumsily, to address this schism.

7. Facebook and Twitter are the most powerful collaboration and communication tools ever seen on the planet.  Both have toppled regimes and changed the world.  How can we ignore their potential impact as teaching tools?

8. Bloom's Taxonomy has never been more relevant, and learning with technology is at the top of the ladder.  Any teacher, tutor, or pothead girlfriend can get a kid to memorize a few states and capitals; but textured, deep learning that includes real synthesis and evaluation of ideas is far more relevant in the global classroom.

9.  Technology is cheap.  In fact, many simple changes to accommodate students' personal devices, to use cloud-based applications, and to utilize the expertise of people all over the world rather than just those who fit in the staff lounge, are all low-cost alternatives to very high-priced alternatives like adding staff or classrooms.

10.  The shift needs to be bidirectional.  Teachers who are early-adopters and innovators are important to the evolution, but administrators who cultivate a culture of innovation and engaged learning are key for any real progress into the 21st Century.

 

Cope with Your Incompetent Boss

Cope with Your Incompetent Boss Everyone complains about his or her boss from time to time. But dealing with a truly incompetent boss is frustrating and exhausting. Here are three strategies to handle the situation: Have empathy. Resist the temptation to demonize, and try to see things from your boss's perspective. Perhaps she is under extreme pressure from her superior. Or, maybe he is still learning the skills to do his job. Create boundaries. Don't let the circumstances get you down. Put up psychological limits so that your boss's incompetence doesn't negatively impact your health  or well-being. Move on. When all else fails, consider looking for a transfer to a new boss or a new employer. Don't  suffer needlessly.

एक संकल्प

 

एक संकल्प लेकर चल पड़े जिस राह में,
क्या पता था जिंदगी का ये मकसद ही बन जायेगा ,

The Obstacle in our Path

In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a road. The king then hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.

Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way. A peasant then came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. 

After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. 

The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand.


Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve.

 

Lateral Thinking Exercises

Lateral Thinking Exercises

He Didn't Break the Law
A boy who was learning how to drive went down a one-way street in the wrong direction, but he didn't break the law. How come?


Women and Shoes
One day, two mothers and two daughters went shopping for shoes. Their shopping spree was successful — each bought a pair of shoes, and all together, they had three pairs. How is this possible?


It only takes Five Minutes 
A lady shoots her husband, she then holds him under the water for over five minutes. Finally she hangs him. Five minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a lovely meal. How can that be?


Three Consecutive Days
Can you name three consecutive days without using the words Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday? 

Deep Question
How much dirt is in a round hole that is 9 feet deep with a diameter of 3 feet? (Hint: You don't have to do any math to get the answer. Just use your head!)


Need for Speed
Why was a lady able to pass three cars going 70 miles-per-hour, while she was going only 60 miles-per-hour?


Which Room? You decide
A man is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in three years. Which room is the safest?


The Horse and the Hay
A horse is tied to a rope six feet long and there is a bale of hay 8 feet away.  How can the horse get to the hay if he does not bite or undo the rope?


Who is that man?
John and Mark are chatting at a party.  John notices a man on the other side of the room and points him out to Mark.  John says: "Brothers and sisters, I have none, but that man's father is my father's son." Who is john talking about?


How can this be?
A man and his son where involved in a road traffic accident, the father died at the scene of the accident and the little boy was rushed to hospital.  When he arrived the surgeon said "I cannot operate on this boy, he is my son." How can this be?


Men in Black
A man wearing all black, black shoes, socks, trousers, top even a balaclava.  He is walking down a street where all the street lights were off.  A lady comes towards him in a car and stops to let him across the road. How did the driver see the man? 


Round or Square?
Why is it better to have round manhole covers than square ones?


Party Punch
A man went to a friend's party and drank some punch.  He then left early. Later everyone else drank the punch and died of poisoning.  Nobody had anything to the punch after the man left.  He did not die and he is not superman! How is this possible?


Barman with a Gun
A man walks into a bar, sits down and asks the barman for a glass of water.  With that the barman pulls a gun out of his pocket and points it at the man.  The man stands up, says "Thank you" and leaves the bar.  Why did the man express his gratitude?


Crossing the River
A man has to get a fox, a chicken, and a sack of corn across a river. 
He has a rowboat, and it can only carry him and one other thing. 
If the fox and the chicken are left together, the fox will eat the chicken. 
If the chicken and the corn are left together, the chicken will eat the corn. 
How does the man do it? 
 

Solutions to Lateral Thinking Puzzles

Hope you didn't cheat !! 

He Didn't Break the Law 
He was walking.


Women and Shoes
Only three people went shopping: a grandmother, a mother, and a daughter — but remember that the mother was the grandmother's daughter!


It only takes Five Minutes 
The woman was a photographer. She shot a picture of her husband, developed it and then hung it up to dry.


Three Consecutive Days
Yesterday, today, tomorrow.


Deep Question
None. You make a hole by digging out the dirt, so the hole is empty.


Need for Speed
The cars she passed where going in the opposite direction.


Which Room? You Decide
The third. The lions that haven't eaten in three years are dead.


The Horse and the Hay
The rope is not tied to anything, so the horse has no problem getting to the bale of hay.


Who is that man?
John's son.


How can this be?
The surgeon is the boy's mother.


Men in Black
It was daytime.


Round or Square
A square manhole cover can be turned and dropped down the diagonal of the manhole.  A round cover cannot fall into the manhole.  From a practical view point, it's much easier to move as it can be rolled.


Party Punch
The poison in the punch came from the ice cubes.  When the man drank the punch, the ice was fully frozen.  Gradually it melted, poisoning the punch.


Barman with a Gun
The man had hiccups.  The barman recognised this and decided to shock the man to get rid of them.  It worked so the man left without his water.


Crossing the River
The man and the chicken cross the river, (the fox and corn are safe together), he leaves the chicken on the other side and goes back across.

The man then takes the fox across the river, and since he can't leave the fox and chicken together, he brings the chicken back.

Again, since the chicken and corn can't be left together, he leaves the chicken and he takes the corn across and leaves it with the fox.

He then returns to pick up the chicken and heads across the river one last time.

Which Wolf Wins?

An old man is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves – a good wolf and a bad wolf.

One wolf is negative - he is angry, envy, sorrowful, regretful, greedy, arrogant, self-pitiful, guilty and resentful. He tells lies all the time and has false pride.

He continued, "The other is positive - he is encouraging, peaceful, loving, hopeful, sincere, kindness and humble. He is full of empathy, generous and compassionate.
The grandfather explained that "the same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The boy thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old farmer simply replied, "The one you feed the most."

Positive thinking is just as easy as negative thinking, but worthwhile.

 

Sharpen the Saw

There was once a woodcutter who was working feverishly to saw down a tree.  A young man came across the woodcutter and asked "What are you doing?" 

"Can't you see" the woodcutter replied, "I am sawing down this tree."

The young man sat down and asked the woodcutter to take a break and sharpen his saw as he looked exhausted. The woodcutter explained to the young man that he had been sawing for five hours straight and did not have time to take a break. 

The young man looked at the woodcutter and said "If you sharpen the saw, you would cut down the tree much faster." 

The woodcutter said "I don't have time to sharpen the saw. Can you not see I am too busy."

Preserve and enhance the greatest asset you have – You.
Take time to refresh your skills,  your knowledge and your mind.
 

 Adapted from "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" - Stephen R. Covey.

Focus on What you Want

Will Smith says: 
"People ask me about racism in Hollywood.  Why would I acknowledge racism?  When you acknowledge the obstacle you actually give it power.  I want to walk through it.  I want to walk over it.  I want to walk around it.  So my preoccupation is with the power that we all possess individually."

There are 3 steps:

1. Focus with clarity on the goal.
2. Imagine your goal as if it were already happening.
3. We commit ourselves to it. We know in our hearts that this will be. There is absolutely no doubt.

A quote from the movie The Pursuit of Happiness - "Don't ever let somebody tell you, you can't do something… not even me.  You got a dream...you gotta protect it.  People can't do something themselves, they wanna tell you, you can't do it.  You want something?  Go get it.  Period."

The more you imagine your goal, the quicker you will accomplish it.

Positive Attitude

Positive Attitude

When snake is alive, snake eats ants. when Snake is dead, Ants eat Snake. Time can turn at any time. Don't neglect anyone in your life…….

Never make the same mistake twice, There are so many new ones, Try a different one each day.

A good way to change someone's attitude is to change your own. Because, the same sun that melts butter, also hardens clay! Life is as we think, so think beautifully.

Life is just like a sea, we are moving without an end. Nothing stays with us, what remains is just the memories of some people who touched us as Waves.

Whenever you want to know how rich you are? Never count your currency, just try to Drop a Tear and count how many hands reach out to WIPE that - that is true richness.

Never change your originality for the sake of others, because no one can play your role better than you. So be yourself, because whatever you are, YOU are the best.

Baby mosquito came back after 1st time flying.
His dad asked him "How do you feel?"
He replied "It was wonderful, Everyone was clapping for me!"

Now that's positive attitude!

WAYS OF REVISION

Make notes.
Use paper or revision cards to write up notes for each module. Re-read your class work and summarise it into key points. Then you can use a highlighter to mark the most important ones which you should learn first. 

Record your notes.
Either record yourself saying the notes or use a voice converter programme to change word files into an audio format. Listen to it, even if it is while you are doing other things, and it should soon start to sink in. 

Make use of past papers.
Ask your teachers for papers from previous years or find some online by using the websites of the exam boards for each of your subjects. This is a very effective way of practising the actual format of an exam and the real thing will seem less intimidating as you will be familiar with it. 

Stick notes up around the house.
Write your notes on post it notes or just tape them up where you are likely to seem them. On the fridge, inside your wardrobe: wherever you will see them day to day. When in the exam you can visualise the area they are stuck in and it will help bring them to your mind. 

Colour code.
Use different colours for different areas, you can visualise these when in the exam and help trigger your memory. 

Test yourself.
There are many revision books available with questions in them, but even without one you can create your own questions and get family and friends to test you. That way you know what you still need to work on. 

Make sure you have a full set of notes.
It's vital that if you missed any lesson you get the work from it, you can either ask the teacher or borrow them from your friends. 

Make revision a group activity.
Invite friends around to revise together and test each other. You could make it into a game by making some cards with questions on and others with the answers. Lay the questions face up on a table and divide out the answer cards between everyone. The first person to get rid of all their cards by laying them on the corresponding questions wins. 

Make mind maps.
Write the main topic you want to revise in the middle and then draw lines coming off this with the different areas written on them. Continue to branch out until you have all the information for each section down. This is very visual and helps you realise how the areas of a topic interlink. 

Make acronyms and rhymes.
By taking the first letters of the things you need to remember (e.g. The processes the body needs for survival) you can come up with a word to help remember it. For this example you could use Mrs. Nerg (Movement, reproduction, senses etc.). By doing this or making a rhyme to remember things you can jog your memory in the exam by repeating it in your head. 

Look, cover, write and check.
One of the most basic but simple ways of learning. Look at your notes, cover them, write them down without looking and then check if they are right. This is best with diagrams or phrases you have to learn so you ensure you get them right. 

Try teaching.
If you have a willing parent or friend then sit them down and teach them about a certain area of your subject. You will need to know it to explain it. 

Repetition.
Repeat your notes aloud as this is a good way to commit things to long term memory. 

Know the guidelines.
Make sure you know what the examiners are looking for and the knowledge that you need. Make a checklist, it will feel good every time something gets ticked off and you can be confident that you haven't missed anything out.