If Google Can't Find It...

I love this commercial.

For some odd reason, it speaks to me.

It speaks to me particularly because we are at a crossroads in our information revolution (perhaps education evolution, as well).  It speaks to me because it accurately reflects what we are becoming as information consumers.  It also speaks to me because of the blind faith (myself included) we place in our devices and gadgets (and Internet).

As a test, have your students or kids do a search on Google.  A search for anything.  If it's not on Google, it must not exist, right?

I can almost guarantee that the search terms used might be the exact question you just asked.  This is not a bad place to start, necessarily, but is it optimal?  Are we enticing our students to actually think about what type of results/information they are getting?  What types they need to get?  How to use that information persuasively and accurately?

In other words, are we pushing students to evaluate, assimilate, and manipulate...or just regurgitate?  Do we ask the dreaded "unGoogleable" question?  (Yes, I said it...some things are not on or from Google.  Is there a support group for this?)

Three things hit me last week:

• I read a post by Michael Keany with some great examples of "essential" questions--questions that have more than one answer and no "perfect" answer.  I am particularly enamored of this one for every level of student--is it better to work together or alone?
• Elena Aguilar gives AWESOME alternatives to the traditional book report.  Not only does she hit higher-order thinking but great collaborative efforts, persuasion and exposition, performance opportunities and technology standards.  Everything the common core is about.  Powerful.
• My six year old came home with math assignments that ask for number facts and fact families.  I had to refresh my understanding.  For example, how many ways can we get to the number 20?

As encouragement, here are some easy ways to "unGoogle" your class activities:

• Ask an essential question as part of your class' weekly journal or writing project.  "When is violence justified?" would be an awesome discussion (or even unit) starter.
• Start an assignment with the statement..."(Here's the problem), how do we fix it?"
• Give the answer first, then ask "How do we know this is true (or false)?"
• Give the parts and ask "What can we make out of this?" (or numbers, or words, etc...)
• Try something as simple as "Bucket Fillers."

How DO we fill someone's bucket today?

Multitasking Chrome-Style (Google Tip)

Google Chrome is truly a fully customizable browsing experience.  Besides the security and ease of use, Chrome has so many features that are just downright cool.

The one I use daily is the ability to open multiple tabs on startup.  If you are a heavy user of online tools, this saves time and lots of clicking around.  I understand that this sounds pretty lazy...how long does it really take to click on a new tab and find it?  

I like to look at my computer as my toolbox.  When I DIY at home, I hate realizing I forgot a tool in the garage or can't find that elusive allen wrench or misplaced my flashlight (this one is entirely my kids fault, btw).  Searching for it with patience and grace don't seem to be in my nature.  It's best to start the job with all of your tools available.  Chrome is my work tool.

Every day, I use multiple gmail accounts, this blog, Pinterest, Hangouts.  To have them right at my fingertips, I set up Chrome to open them at start up.

• Click on Settings
• Under the "On Startup" settings, click the circle next to: Open a specific page or set of pages
• Click on "Set Pages"
• Enter the URL of all the pages you would like to open on Startup

That's it!

Have your "toolbox" work for you.

More Cool Chrome Tricks

Life's Just a Game

More and more, I see seminars, webinars, and conferences focusing on "gaming" in the classroom.  I have already posted on this subject, but I am seeing a wealth of discussion within the last 6 months about the benefits of gaming in the classroom.  Education professionals have been including a huge variety of games in the discussion--educational, MMORPG (don't know what that is?), apps, flash games online...you name it.  

Can you name this game?

As much as I would love to play Candy Crush at school (addicted, thanks), I have been following these webinars to get to the heart of why gaming is becoming such a relevant and timely topic.   

Why the sudden explosion of gaming conversations?

The real heart of the matter lies in two trends:

First, I think as educators and as parents, we have finally begun to embrace technology as a means of enhancing education and teaching.  Tablets and smartphones have changed the way we communicate, find information and access everything from anywhere.  We aren't locked to a computer on a desk anymore.  We are "enlightened", "liberated" even.

We are far removed from the thought that a computer is for typing a paper or for use during free time.  We are far removed from technology being "clunky"--dialup, anyone?--or complex.  I still remember 6th grade computer programming and spending a quarter of the year making an image that looks Wreck-it Ralph.  Am I stamping "old" on myself?

As a parent of 4 boys, my emphasis is on getting my own kids, as well as my students, as much exposure and use of different devices as possible.  I want them using computers, tablets, Chromebooks to enhance their learning.  Why?

• Experiential
• Hands-on
• Multimedia/multidimensional
• Intrinsically motivating
• Higher level thinking skills (just by using technology to solve problems)
• Enhances problem-solving
• Enhances decision-making and tool selection
• Collaborative
• Preparedness for the future

Sounds like game skills, right?  Wrapped up in this desire is the fact that my generation--meaning parents of school-age children--have had 30 years of exposure to technology.  Remember the Apple IIe?

Second, I think the increased emphasis on gaming comes from our move towards the Common Core.  I grabbed this snippet from an elementary standard in math:

The more I look at these practices, I see games...all sorts of games.  Particularly games that involve "leveling" or meeting more increasingly complex tasks as you increase in level.

RESOURCES

For those of you concerned, IXL Math is a game.  Into the Book online site is a game.

Other resources and ideas:

• Minecraft is the new "addiction" for children.  Look at how it can be used for education.
• A webinar for using World of Warcraft in the classroom endorsed by the DPI.
• A collection of games and how they can be used.
• Fantasy Football--fun game for math skills!
• Try Strat-o-matic basketball or baseball to challenge students in math.  Incredible levels of higher level math involved in statistics-based games
• Candy Crush (I am truly addicted).  Great test of mental strategy, pattern matching, planning for the future, goal attainment.  Any app (e.g. Angry Birds, for instance) can be used like this.
• Simulation, turn-based games either online or on a device... Tank Battle 1944 and Civil War 1863 are two that I play regularly.  These are awesome for strategy, planning, knowing your resources, etc...

Let me know of interesting game ideas.  Would love to hear how you use games in your classroom.

Just a reminder that games are good for adults too.

It's All Shiny and New (Google Tip)

By far, my favorite, "shiniest" part of the Google Chrome browser experience is the extensions and apps.  The second best feature, in case you are interested, is the security...no random toolbars!


Chrome provides an excellent, customizable browsing experience with a wide variety apps and extensions through the Chrome Store.

• Apps...programs the run directly in the Chrome Browser.  These can include games (Angry Birds, anyone?), software like Evernote and many other programs.
• Links...apps that are really just links to the online website of a cool tool.
• Favorites...you can turn your favorite websites and tools into a Chrome app icon...COOL!
• Extensions...apps the run in the Chrome browser but that generally run all the time.  Normally, once installed an icon appears on the top right of the Chrome window.  Many of these are utilities for smoother operation.

My favorites extensions:

• Awesome Screen Capture...easy screen capture tool that lets you select the part or parts of the screen you want to capture.
• Boomerang for Gmail...excellent way to write an email and save to send for a later date.
• Scratchpad...quick and efficient way to take notes
• Google Hangout...who doesn't like to Hangout?  Much of my work collaboration with colleagues is through Google Hangouts.
• Evernote with Web Clipper...clip sections of web pages, add notes, edit, etc...
• Reviews of others
• More Reviews

My favorite apps...or at least the start of my list!

My Own Personal Checkdown

A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure to have a dinner conversation with Ian Jukes as part of a district meeting to discuss technology planning for districts.  During this conversation, I was struck by how profound Jukes' comments were and how completely out of sorts his vision was with the actual state of affairs in most districts.  The question I always came back to was "HOW are we going to implement this?"

Three years and a shift to an entirely different type of job (thanks to CESA 6's vision), I am not saying "how, how, how" any more.  I don't view technology as the "essential", the tool and the end product.  The world is changing, our students have changed and my own view of education and technology has changed (hopefully "matured").

In  Literacy is Not Enough: 21st-Century Fluencies for the Digital Age, Lee Crockett, Ian Jukes and Andrew Church hit the heart of the matter immediately:

• Independent and creative thinking are the most important aspects of learning
• We need to teach our students to not need us by the time they graduate (progressive withdrawal)
• Learners must master problem-solving, not content
• Emotional intelligence (relationships, people skills, street smarts) are equally important as cognitive intelligence (content, book smarts)
• Education should be immersed in our new digital world.  We need to leverage our students' realities to be successful
• Student learning and assessment is a portfolio of performance, demonstrations and applications to solve real-life problems
• Education must strive for relevancy

Sound familiar?  Creative thinking, problem-solving, project-based, real-world application, performance  and production... Sounds strikingly like a general summary of the Common Core Standards.  

As a techno-nut, IT instructor and media specialist, this greatly affects how I view everything I do with classes, teachers and during staff development.  It's not teaching the tool, it's teaching HOW the tool makes us stretch, HOW the tool makes us achieve, HOW the tool helps us think more creatively...HOW...HOW...HOW.

Took three years, but I finally got my answers to all those HOW questions.

If you are interested in this book, please let me know.  Love to share it.


More of Ian Jukes