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Showing posts from July, 2021

101. The Transformative Power of AI

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Folks, let’s face it. Our classrooms are going to look a little different this year. AI, specifically ChatGPT, is going to change the way we design learning experiences and assess student mastery. I’ll be honest, when I first explored the ChatGPT platform I was terrified. As I have dug deeper into the technology and its capabilities, I realized that while it does pose significant challenges — it also presents us with some pretty amazing opportunities. In this series, we will explore what AI is capable of, its implications in the classroom, and how it can benefit both teachers and students. Let’s start by examining where we have been, where we are currently, and looking forward to where we are going. Whether this is a trip you wanted to go on or not, the AI train has left the station and it is time for all of us to jump on board. From Card Catalogs to Artificial Intelligence I belong to the micro-generation called Xennial. Xennials are considered to be a “bridge” between Generation X a...
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#54 SEL in the Covid Classroom & Beyond: Focusing on Student Well-Being

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One of my favorite self-reflection activities is the Rose, Bud, and Thorn. In this activity, students are asked to reflect upon an event and identify a: Rose: A highlight, small "win" or recognize growth Bud: A new idea that emerged from the experience or a hope that they have Thorn: A challenge or difficulty that was encountered I would like to encourage you to pause for a moment and reflect on your teaching experiences during the last year. I bet it is really easy to identify those thorns, right? What about those roses and buds? Are you proud of the resiliency and perseverance of your students? Did you learn new ways to teach? Did you realize even more acutely how much you treasure seeing your students every single day? As I reflected on my "roses," I felt an immense sense of gratitude for the people who continue to support me and allow me to better support my students and teachers. As I reflected on my "buds," I have been really glad to see more emphasi...
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#53. Let's Talk About Motivation...

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Motivating students can be one of the hardest parts of teaching. There are a number of factors that impact student motivation both inside and outside of the classroom. In this post, I will share how blended learning can be utilized to increase student motivation.  I n 2009, Daniel Pink presented a Ted Talk called "The Puzzle of Motivation." If you haven't seen it yet, here is the link . It is less than twenty minutes long and with over 27 million views I can assure you it is well worth your time! In his talk he differentiates between the role of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation in driving behavior. Extrinsic motivation is your typical "carrot or stick" approach to behavior. I use extrinsic motivators in my classroom in the form of grades, prizes, words of praise and sometimes as punishments like docked points or a detention. In my blended learning classroom, I provide an extrinsic motivator called " Flex Days. " If a student is earning a C- or bett...
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#52. Strengths and Talents Interventions

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As educators, we will be facing some very unique challenges as we begin the next school year. For over a year our students' learning has been disrupted. Some of them have never even stepped foot in our school buildings. In addition, most have experienced a lack of structure and normalcy to support their learning. They have not been able to connect with their friends, teachers, and coaches as easily. They might have faced additional financial hardships at home if their caregivers lost their jobs - or if the students lost their own jobs. They may even be grieving the loss of a loved one. As more schools are requiring students to return to in-person learning we should anticipate that some students may not want to return. As educators we are confronted with a challenge: How do we reacclimate our students to what school looked like pre-Covid? What skills and tools can we provide them with to help them navigate through this transition? One area of study that can help answer these questio...
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