Autonomy is Key in Education

Posted by Paul Wagner on August 13, 2014
Posted in: Professional Development.

Over the summer, one of the books I read was Drive by Daniel Pink.  It was a good read for me.  Even though it is centered around the business world, there are many aspects of it that would greatly benefit the educational world as well.  The one that stands out in my head most of all is the need for autonomy: giving people the freedom/independence to do something they find value in.   He talks of companies allowing time for their workers to take on a project that means something to them and then, most importantly, allowing extra time for them all to share what they have come up with.  Giving them this time has proven time and again to be beneficial not just for the employees but also for the company.  Some of their new products, or fixes/improvements for some of their existing products,  have directly resulted from this “free time”.  It also gives the employees an investment in the company.  They feel that they are part of the company, not just working for it.  Isn’t this something every classroom, campus, and district should thrive for?

I am here to challenge every teacher and administrator.  Find a way to incorporate this aspect in your classroom, campus, or district this year.  As a teacher, try a genius hour or 20% time project with your class, whether it be finding an hour a week or maybe one day/afternoon a 6-weeks or 9-weeks.  Give your students a chance to learn about something they choose.  Let them find a passion that they can truly invest in, then let them take time to work to create or improve something related to that passion.

As an administrator, incorporate the same concept with your staff.  Take a staff development day and allow teachers to team up and work together on an issue or passion that they feel would benefit your campus/district.  Total autonomy to solve a problem that they see with the students, whether it be a teaching strategy, a schedule change, or a new bus procedure (to name a few) could reshape your campus.  These people devote their lives to improving the lives of others.  Give them a chance to invest in their campus…take ownership of it…and provide new, innovative ways to improve it.  They know better than anyone where the needs are and may have the best way to address those needs.

Do not forget that there must be time allowed to come back and share, whether it be a classroom of students or a campus of teachers.  Celebrate what they have accomplished.  You may be surprised…the “problem” you have been working to solve for years just may appear.

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Five AR Apps to Try

Posted by Paul Wagner on June 4, 2014
Posted in: Apps, Integration, Professional Development, Technology.

I know, I know…I shouldn’t be talking or even thinking about next school year yet, but the summer is a perfect time to try out some new ideas or activities to get yourself comfortable and ready to introduce to your students next year.  If you haven’t given it a look, augmented reality is something to consider.  It is fun and engaging…two things that you want for your students AND two things to make it easier to mess with during your summer time!

There are 5 apps I am listing to help introduce you to augmented reality.  These are good ones to start with to give you a taste of what this concept can bring to the table.

chromville app

 

 

App: Chromville 

Price: Free

This augmented reality app is based around an ancient world, Chromville, well known for it its power source of color.  There are 5 villages: Firecity, Stonetown, Greenland, Waterville, and Cloudskingdom.  These villages all have adventures awaiting them…they are just waiting for you to write them!

The app provides images for story-starters.  Download the PDF files for the different villages, color them, and then use the app to make your image come to life.  Use what you see to inspire your story.  The plan is for this app to release different “chapter” story-starters so that you can continue you story as time goes by.

To learn more about this app, visit http://chromville.com

spacecraft 3D

 

 

App: Spacecraft 3D

Price: Free

This augmented reality app is from NASA.  One trigger image allows you to learn about and interact with different spacecraft that have been utilized over the years.  Be amazed as each robotic explorer comes to life.  Some explorers, such as the Curiosity, even allow you to move parts of it using the controls at the bottom of the screen.

This is a great app for introducing space or robotics.  Download the trigger image, or marker, and get your mind moving.

To learn more about this app, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/app20120711.html

ar flashcards space

 

 

App: AR Flashcards Space

Price: $2.99

This augmented reality app gives you a new experience with our solar system.  Each planet, the sun, and the moon are represented by a trigger and will give you an opportunity to interact with the planet, making it a 3D figure.

This is a great app for introducing the solar system.  Download the PDF of trigger images to get started.

To learn more about this app, visit http://arflashcards.com/ar-flashcards-space/

There is also a FREE app from AR Flashcards that introduces the letters of the alphabet and a few dinosaurs.  Learn more here: http://arflashcards.com/

atlas traclabs

 

 

App: Atlas TracLabs

Price: Free

This augmented reality app allows you to program a robot to perform a simple set of movements and then play it back.  You are the puppet master!  Record up to 5 animation sequences that will be joined together.

This is a great app for introducing robotics or body movement.  It will give students a start on simple programming.  Download trigger image to get started.

To learn more about this app, visit http://traclabs.com/tag/atlas/

colAR Mix app

 

 

App: colAR Mix

Price: Free with In-app purchase opportunities

This augmented reality app is great for the imagination.  Be a designer, an artist, a story maker.  You start with a basic image but are in control of the design.  What brand can you put on the image?

The app provides great opportunities for story-starters.  Download the PDF files for the different scenes, color them, and then use the app to make your image come to life.  Use what you see to inspire your story.  You can download all the images for free, but some of the images require in-app purchases in order to get the interactivity to work.

To learn more about this app, visit http://colarapp.com/

The Power of the PLN

Posted by Paul Wagner on May 21, 2014
Posted in: Integration.

I have gotten a lot, and I mean A LOT out of my PLN this year.  They have been there to bounce ideas off of, as well as to just listen when I am having a rough time or motivate me and get me re-focused on the task at  hand.  It has helped make my year a successful one.

This past week, Twitter has made an even bigger impact on me.  I guess I shouldn’t say Twitter but rather the connections I have made through it.  Our team is planning a staff development, and one of the focuses we are looking at included innovative educational topics and those at the forefront of them.  We took to Twitter asking for some help.  We wanted to do some informal interviews with some of the educational leaders.  The response back has been amazing.  We are scheduling Google Hang-outs and Skype calls with Tweeps all over the country.  People are giving up their time to help our teachers become even better at what they do.

I cannot wait to see how this turns out…and no matter how many times I say it I know those helping us will not understand how grateful I am that they are there to help make our teachers stronger.  Thank you to all of you that have agreed to help!

If You Aren’t Trying to Change It, Don’t Complain About It.

Posted by Paul Wagner on May 7, 2014
Posted in: Uncategorized.

The end of the school year brings with it many extra “things”.  We are not allowed to finish this year without first setting the table for  next year.  The problem is we lose focus on what is most important…the students and their  teachers ending this year.  I hear a lot of complaining.

  • “This isn’t done.”
  • “Why don’t we have this?”
  • “There isn’t enough time.”
  • “How will this ever get done?”
  • “I can’t believe they expect us to do that.”

The list can go on and on.  I fall into the trap just as everyone else does.  We see the days going by.  We are tired, but the finish line is in sight.  If only all of these “things” would get done already!

My piece of advice: If you aren’t trying to change it, don’t complain about it.  I have been around long enough to know that sitting and complaining about a problem will not bring a solution to it.  The only thing that will do is cause more problems because you are bringing all the people around you down as well.  One bad seed can spread and eventually choke out all that is good.   Focus on what you can change.  Work to find solutions.  Don’t bring problems to the table unless you have an idea of how to fix them.  Discuss the problem, don’t just complain about it.

Don’t worry…I just fell off my soapbox.

Share Your Presentation with Everyslide.com

Posted by Paul Wagner on April 30, 2014
Posted in: Integration, Technology.

We are always looking for resources to make our lives easier.  I have found one that has a lot of potential.  Last week EverySlide.com came across my radar.  In the little amount of time I have played with it I have to say I am very impressed.

icon

Everyslide is a free service that allows you to upload and share your PowerPoint or PDF presentation online to other devices while you are presenting.  All that is needed for you to share is the URL they provide you.  Anyone else with an internet capable device is able to view and interact with your presentation as you go.  Each slide is touch interactive, so you can ask your audience to click on their screen to answer a question…possibly a map you have showing.  The program compiles the data and will then display it as “hotspots” on your map.  The more clicks an area gets the darker the spot becomes.  Fast and easy.

main page

When you log in, your landing page is simple and to the point.  Upload your file(s) to the site and start the presentation online.  There is also an option to create an instant poll without even starting a presentation.  We will look at instant polls a little later.

presentation screen

Once a presentation has been uploaded and started you will see a URL in the upper middle of the screen. This is the address you share with others so they can join your presentation.  Your toolbar runs across the top of your presentation.  You have other options available to you:

  • Move between slides with the arrows in the upper left.  Each participant has the ability move back to previous slides from their device but they cannot move ahead of where you are in the presentation.
  • Go full screen.
  • Create an instant poll.
  • Show/hide the collected clicks on the screen by your participants.  If you look toward the lower left you will see a red dot.  That is where I clicked as a participant.  As more click you will see the dots populate.
  • The two numbers will show the number of clicks vs the number of viewers.  You quickly can tell how many people are following along and how many have made a selection.

instant poll

The instant poll option is a great resource as well.  You have 120 characters to use for a question.  Choose from true/false, multiple choice, or a word cloud.  Once you start the poll your question will be displayed on everyone’s screen.  Everyslide will collect the data and give you an option to display the results as the poll is underway.  Stop the poll at any time.  This is a great way for you to get a quick feel for understanding.

I am very excited about the possibilities that this site can offer.  If you are in a BYOD or 1:1 atmosphere you instantly have a way to collect real time data and put your information in the palm of your students’ hands.

 

Cache in BIG with Your Class

Posted by Paul Wagner on April 23, 2014
Posted in: Integration, Technology.

My family loves to camp and hike.  We spend a lot of our time outdoors.  This past weekend we were out again living the good life in the pop-up and hitting the trails.  We brought along our GPS units and used the geocaching app to locate a bunch of caches along the trails we were on this weekend.  The app is an expensive one, but if you like to geocache and do it often it is money well spent.  Our kids have a ball hunting for each cache and are very successful in their finds.  To learn more about what geocaching is, visit the geocaching.com website.

Photo Apr 18, 2 45 10 PM

Photo Apr 18, 3 29 25 PM

Photo Mar 12, 4 42 27 PM

 

We also extended our Easter tradition and did a geocache for their Easter Eggs as well.  We have camouflaged eggs we have been hiding and marking with coordinates for the past 4 years in a park near our home.  This year we upped the ante by hiding them along a nature trail at a state park.  They had a blast!  It was very challenging for them and they needed a clue here and there, but they were very excited to be able to venture into the unknown to find their prizes.

Photo Apr 19, 11 49 03 AM

Photo Apr 19, 11 45 42 AM

This brought geocaching back to the forefront of my thought process for education.  We are constantly looking for fun ways to engage our students, especially if we have been focusing on the same topic for some time and they need one more push to get over the hump.  Why not take the activity you were going to give them and, instead of putting it on their desk, hide it in a cache on school grounds.  Mark the spot and have them go on a geocaching adventure.  It will bring some excitement to the day when they are having trouble getting motivated.  Geocaching is also a great way to introduce a new topic.  Give them clues in each cache that will lead them to the concept you are introducing.  Get those minds working overtime!

Are you interested but not sure where to start?  Check out this blog post for some great tips to get you moving in the right direction.  It is time for you to cache in BIG with your class!