TED Ed - Flipped Lessons

I have discovered creating flipped lessons through TED Ed (http://ed.ted.com).  The site allows instructors to use any of the pre-formatted TED Ed Flipped lessons and personalize video lessons  for the instructors classroom and curriculum. Teachers can use any TED (http://www.TED.com/video) or You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/user/SMARTERTEACHER) video to create a flipped lesson.  The format allows the instructor to create 15 multiple choice or short answer questions that can be directly linked to the video.  Also included in the lesson format are options to create discussion questions and additional assignments based upon the topic of the flipped lesson.  

The flipped lesson format of the TED Ed site is a functional means of introducing new topics through multimedia formats.  Creating support lessons for extending the classroom for additional work and/or review of material.  Or to supplement the curriculum with additional topics that cannot be completed within the guidelines of the curriculum.    

Predation and Survival of the Fittest

Whether you teach Biology and Darwinian Evolution, or Environmental Science and you need to explain Predation, or even an Economics course where you need to explain Survival of the Fittest, you need to utilize "The Battle of Kruger" video available on You Tube.

This real life battle of survival between Water Buffalo and Lions is a tremendous piece of real life Biology.
And, don't be surprised when the Crocodile gets in to the act.  I'll let the video, speak for itself.

I Love When Students Get It.

I really enjoy getting an email from a former student containing a lesson, a link or video from their college course work that reminded them of my classroom. 

For me it is validation that they got it!!!

I recently recieved this You Tube connection from one of my former
Environmental Science students.

It is a wonderful message about the life cycle of STUFF and
our ongoing pursuit of STUFF.

Life is Good - Playmakers

From the time I put on my first shirt and read the brief history of Bert and John Jacobs, I have been highly impressed with their philanthropic pursuits, their environmental policies and ultra simplistic but completely fulfiilling nature of the simple messages of the Life is Good Company.

Whether it is Jake suggesting to, "Do what you like, but like what you do", or the simple messages of Peace, Earth and Love. The Life is Good concepts are something that everyone should be reminded of daily. 

Recently, Life is Good developed a program called Playmakers designed to enhance play for children to assist in healing.  Healing of all types, physical, emotional, or social.  The You Tube video below provides a tremendous message about the power of play and all of our roles in providing these opportunities to those we love and those entrusted to our care.

Thank you Bert and John

Life is Good!!!

Welcome Back!!!

School is back in session.
Summer vacation has come to an end.
Students are heading back to the classroom.

Are you simply going to break out last year's lesson plans and change the dates?
Will you make copies of the same handouts you used last year?
Will this year's students hear the exact same stories you have told for the last five years?
Can students simply find copies of last year's quizzes and tests from your former students?
Have you checked the video library to make sure the same movies will be available again this year?

What will you bring to your classroom this year?
What have you added to your repertoire?
How will you enhance the learning process for the students entrusted to your care?

Have you added a new project to the curriculum?
Did you increase your understanding or use of technology?
Have you read journals, books, blogs or newletters to gain new stories and information?
Did you or will participate in a workshop or inservice to gain new insights?
Have you read any new research on how the brain learns?
Did you visit other teachers classrooms to add to your Best Practices?
Did you take a class this summer? 
Did you travel to someplace that will provide inspiration to your classroom?
Have you watched any documentaries, TED Talks or You Tube videos to add to your knowledge base?
Have you created a classroom blog?
Will you create new quizzes or tests?
Have you added a new text?
Have you changed the decor of your room?

What will be new in your classroom?
How have you made yourself a better educator?
Are you a Dynamic Teacher?

I refer you back to one of my first blog posts, If as a Teacher...

Remember, Stagnant Waters Kill the Fish!!!

If you wish to turn your students into life long learners, than you must also value learning?

Your growth as an educator is just as important as their growth as students of learning?

What Can We Do In Two Hours?

This, information was shared at a symposium I attended back in 2007.  I am sure some of the numbers have changed with the further growth of social networking, touch pads and smartphones.

We have about 150,000 hours of living to expend between the ages of 1 and 18.

We sleep about 50,000 hours of that time.  We dream about two hours of the eight that we sleep each night. Sleeping and dreaming appear to be positively related to development and maintenance of long term memories.

We spend about 65,000 hours of our 100,000 waking hours involved in solitary activities, and in direct relationships with family and friends, and these play a major role in the maintenance of personal memories.

We spend about 35,000 of our waking hours with our larger culture in formal and informal metaphoric/symbolic activities --- about 12,000 hours in school, and twice as much with various forms of mass media: computers, television, films, music, sports and non-school print media.  Mass media and school thus play major roles in the development of cultural memories.

Thus, in an average developmental day between the ages of 1 and 18, a young person sleeps 8 hours, spends 10 hours with family/friends/self, 4 (probably more) with mass media, leaving only 2 hours for school.

Our society has an incredible expectation for those two hours.  

The You Tube video "A Vision of Students Today" is an eye opener, when it comes to understanding the mindset of the students we teach each day. 

Two Dozen Reasons and Uses for FLIP Cameras in the Classroom

A Dozen Reasons Why FLIP Cameras are Great for the Classroom

1.  They are easy to use.

2.  They are student friendly.

3.  Very little training required. 

4.  No cords necessary.

5.  Portable.

6.  Built in stabilization.  

7.  Quick USB connection.

8.  Easy charge.

9.  Fast uploads.

10.  Rapid replay.

11.  Frame by frame replay.

12.  Easy review.

A Dozen Ideas for Using FLIP Cameras in the Classroom.

1. Create short study reviews.

• Post to YouTube, Class Web or Moodle

2. Video science experiments.

• Review result, make observations.

3. Video student presentations.

• Speeches, skits, plays, debates.

4. Students create video stories to explain topics.

• Collaborate to create storyboard, video and present material.

5. Interview other students outside of class. 

• Gather data, gain perspective, introduce opinions.

6. Interview an expert to bring to class.

• Guest speakers anytime.

7. Video skills for playback and critique.

• Solving a math problem. Making a free throw. Completing a dance move. Singing a song.  

8. Video a school tour in Spanish or French.

• Bienvenidos a mi escuela...

9. Groups video problem solving in real time. 

• Critical thinking in process.

10. Share with colleagues. 

• How did you teach this information?

11. Video the whiteboard notes at the end of class.

• Post online for students to use.

12. Video teaching a lesson for self observation.

• Professional development in the palm of your hand.   

Lessons From Geese

I use the You Tube video "Lessons From Geese"  in all of my classes to introduce the concept of collaboration and cooperation in my classroom.  I stress the importance of developing a teaching/learning relationship among the students in my classroom.  I try to eliminate the concept of competition for grades.

I want the students to help each other to learn and encourage the idea that all students can achieve success. The teaching/learning concepts of Dr. Gary Phillip's are further developed in understanding that when students teach each other they actually improve their own understanding of the material. 

I go to great lengths to explain the difference between cheating and actually assisting students to understand as a means of improving the learning process for everyone.

T  -  Together

E -   Each 

A -   Achieve

M -  More 

Once a coach, always a coach.