For the last several years I have been on a one man campaign to end the use of scissors, glue, and cardboard trifold science fair type project boards in high school. It hasn’t been a very successful campaign. I reasoned that kids in high school should be creating things that look like those they willContinue reading “Paper, scissors, and glue. In high school.”
Author Archives: Wmarkhall
Giving Feedback
I have committed this year to do a better job of providing timely feedback for my students. I know that timely feedback is what makes or breaks a learning experience. When I was a child learning to ride a bike, I knew immediately when I made a mistake. I knew because I crashed and itContinue reading “Giving Feedback”
3 and Out
I just finished the coursework for a Preliminary Administrative Credential at Teachers College of San Joaquin. In California prospective administrators have two options to become credentialed; take a test or take a year long series of courses. The test takes a Saturday and has a relatively small fee. The coursework option is several thousand dollarsContinue reading “3 and Out”
Have I Ever Told You How Much I Hate That Software?
I try to give my students choice. I don’t tell them how many slides their presentations have to have; I tell them they have to give a presentation, and I give them questions to answer. They usually choose PowerPoint first, because that is how they have been taught you do a presentation. Then they realizeContinue reading “Have I Ever Told You How Much I Hate That Software?”
Note to self: Do is the way to go.
The first day of school this year absolutely wiped me out. I was exhausted. I didn’t understand why the kids were so worked up. Some periods I was having a really hard time keeping the kids’ attention. I didn’t get it. I thought I was loosing my touch. I don’t have days like this,Continue reading “Note to self: Do is the way to go.”
Summer Professional Development
The participants of the CUE Rockstar Teacher Camp aboard the USS Hornet. One of several amazing edtech events I attended this summer. (Photo from http://www.rockstartechcamp.com/) I just came home from my last professional development of the summer. Today was the first ever EdCamp San Joaquin. This was a free “un-conference” that was sponsored by the TeachersContinue reading “Summer Professional Development”
Summer Work
Summer is here. Check out day has come and gone, but I haven’t checked out. I have been to school almost every day since school was out three weeks ago. Well except for the week I actually took a vacation. I don’t know how people walk away from campus for two months and not evenContinue reading “Summer Work”
Back channel
As soon as the school year was over I started work on next year, because that is what good teachers do, and I hope to be a good teacher. On the last day with students I give them a survey to complete. It keeps them busy for the last period of the year doing somethingContinue reading “Back channel”
No More iPads
Innovative uses of edtech. The graduate school I attend has announced they are no longer providing iPads for their students. They gave two reasons; budget cuts, and they have observed students don’t use the iPads. No one can deny the impact of budget cuts, the school is also no longer going to loan textbooks- studentsContinue reading “No More iPads”
What’s this Minecraft stuff all about?
Last weekend I was lurking in another Twitter chat. This time it was #CAedchat, a weekly chat that happens Sunday nights at 8:00 PM. Many educators I highly respect participate in it. This particular evening the topic was gaming in the classroom, something I have no experience in, so I didn’t have a lot toContinue reading “What’s this Minecraft stuff all about?”
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