tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56320072024-02-07T23:19:22.540-07:00FaithEdTechExamining the intersection of the Christian faith, education, and technologyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-83795987570581317732017-01-17T17:23:00.001-07:002017-01-17T17:23:08.348-07:00Be Sure to Play in Traffic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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All of our mothers at some point warned us about playing in traffic. They wanted us safe and secure and sought to protect us from the dangers that were lurking on a highway.<br />
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More recently, this "go play in traffic" phrase has been used to tell someone off or to get rid of them. A negative connotation has been built for this phrase.<br />
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As for me, I have made it an intentional point to play in traffic this year, and I hope other teachers have too. <br />
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When I get busy as an educator (which seems like it is just about all the time), I tend to remove myself from the bustle of school life in order to complete tasks. In other words, the temptation for me is to move away from the traffic in the building in order to think and work.<br />
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Work and reflection time is important, but so is playing in the traffic of school life. Hanging out in the faculty work room often leads to impromptu conversations about learning and life. Sometimes this is an opportunity to listen to the challenges of a colleague or to pray for them. Intentionally being a presence in the school halls opens provides chances for relationship-building conversations with students, or simply enjoying the fact that they are in our school.<br />
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Participating in traffic builds relationships, learning, empathy, and understanding. I still have the tendency to want to remove myself from the traffic of the school building, but being intentional about playing in traffic is very rewarding and an important part of a welcoming school culture for students and for our colleagues.<br />
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So go play in traffic today!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-66558203445899706922017-01-12T07:26:00.000-07:002017-01-12T07:26:18.507-07:00Learning Alongside Students -- My #PBL ProjectAs we enter the third quarter of the school year, the students in <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/lights-leadership-academy" target="_blank">Lights Academy,</a> our project-based personalized learning academy at <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/" target="_blank">Lutheran High School</a>, are preparing for their most significant project of the year. This year the focus of this project is some sort of innovation in an area of interest and passion for the student.<br />
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I have long thought about two things related to student projects. First, that I as a teacher should demonstrate my passion for life-long learning and make that transparent, and second, that the best way to have empathy for what students experience during the school day is to actively mirror their experiences in some way.<br />
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To that end, during the third quarter I am going to be completing a project alongside my students. My innovation is more of an iteration and it is related to the baseball research I do. Students will help hold me accountable and seek to ask probing questions to ensure that my project is the best that it can be, just as I do for them.<br />
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Linked below is my project planning document. We use these documents in <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/lights-leadership-academy" target="_blank">Lights Academy</a> to guide our inquiry and provide a path for deep learning. Each student has a similar document for their work.<br />
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ndkGu6xWiJP8Mp0CFbILnI9FvG8UVCHZMhhMzFlsvxw/edit" target="_blank">Dave's Project Planning Document</a><br />
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I am hoping to learn more about what my students experience as well as learn more about my own interests and passions through this project. I will likely be writing more about this process in future posts.<br />
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Do any of you intentionally create learning opportunities for yourselves alongside your students? If so, share your ideas as a reply to this post.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-51799845989361212452017-01-09T10:24:00.002-07:002017-01-09T10:27:25.900-07:00Lights Academy Project -- The Secret Guide to Getting HiredHere is a student project from a <a href="http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/cubs-kris-bryant-wedding-photos-410027095.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_CHBrand" target="_blank">Lights Academy</a> senior. For those of you not familiar with <a href="http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/cubs-kris-bryant-wedding-photos-410027095.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_CHBrand" target="_blank">Lights Academy</a>, this is the personalized, project-based learning academy I lead within <a href="http://lhsparker.org/" target="_blank">Lutheran High School</a> -- a place where students may pursue learning interests and passions of theirs with incredible depth. This is the third year of <a href="http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/cubs-kris-bryant-wedding-photos-410027095.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_CHBrand" target="_blank">Lights Academy</a>, and we continue to have some amazing results with students.<br />
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Below is found a YouTube video of <a href="http://kylevenberg.com/" target="_blank">Kyle Venberg's</a> project, entitled The Secret Guide to Getting Hired. It is designed to help high school students navigate the job hunting and interview process. Below the video is a link to all supporting material for this project.<br />
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<a href="http://kylevenberg.com/project/getting-hired/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to view all project material. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-29860221486848338672017-01-03T16:21:00.002-07:002017-01-03T16:21:39.572-07:00Words for 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my loyal and new <a href="http://faithedtech.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">FaithEdTech</a> readers!<br />
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The onset of a new year is often a time for reflection on the past and a renewal of efforts for future improvement. Perhaps you have seen the recent approach taken by those at <a href="http://myoneword.org/" target="_blank">My One Word</a> and other similar sites. This idea is to focus on one word for the year, selecting a word that allows one to proactively address aspirations for improvement in the new year. This idea has become quite popular, as evidenced by the growth of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/oneword" target="_blank">#OneWord</a> hashtag on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.<br />
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I thought about using this method of focusing on a single word for the year. Upon further reflection, however, I found this approach to be too limiting. After all, life has so many facets that it seemed awkward to select one word and then shoehorn all my other ideas and goals within that word. So instead I chose four words, setting my own pattern and approach to that idea.<br />
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Here are the words I selected:<br />
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<b>Worship </b>--<b> </b>honoring my God and Creator with greater joy, reverence, and awe in all that I do, and being conscious about consistently recognizing God's grace and provision in my life.<br />
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<b>Explore </b>-- being willing to step outside my comfort zone in trying new cooking recipes, investigating new neighborhoods in the metropolitan area where I live, reading a wider variety of books, and identify new ways to better serve my family.<br />
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<b>Reflect </b>-- making the effort to visit other classrooms in my school to evaluate my own classroom strategies, embed a reflective process more intentionally with my own classes and in my own professional work, and identify successes and challenges in using the words I chose for this year as action words.<br />
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<b>Write </b>-- a commitment to more intentionally share what I am learning, how I am growing, and with what I am challenged with others, allowing God to use me to help all whom I meet, in person or through digital technology, with these thoughts when possible, but more importantly, provide me with the opportunity to use my writing as a tool for reflection.<br />
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So there are my words for 2017. Do you have a word or words that you selected? If so, what are those words? If not, what might your words be? How might you best honor the gifts God has given you during the coming year?<br />
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<b> </b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-53956638433188598822016-11-14T10:26:00.001-07:002016-11-14T10:26:04.307-07:00Follow FaithEdTech by EmailIf you find value in what is shared here on <a href="http://faithedtech.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">FaithEdTech</a>, consider following this blog via email. That way you will not miss any post that aids your work as an educator, challenges conventional thinking, or points to the future in education.<br />
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Simply find the words "FOLLOW FaithEdTech BY EMAIL". This is located under the title banner on the top of the blog site on the left hand side.<br />
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Type in a valid email address for yourself and then press the Submit button. A quick verification email will then be sent to the address you submitted. Complete the verification and you are all signed up for <a href="http://faithedtech.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">FaithEdTech</a>. It is easy, fast, and allows you to never miss a post. Follow <a href="http://faithedtech.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">FaithEdTech</a> today!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-9835225989826410052016-11-11T07:27:00.001-07:002016-11-11T07:27:42.693-07:0011.11.2016 Links List<br />Here are some links that may be of interest to you as educators that I have recently discovered:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.pblsttims.org/" target="_blank">PBL at St. Timothy's</a> -- a website created by teachers at <a href="http://sttimslutheranschool.org/" target="_blank">St. Timothy's Christian Academy</a> in San Jose, CA, designed to share project based learning resources as well as their journeys as a school in embracing the project based learning model within their building.</li>
<li><a href="https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/04/14/how-giving-students-choice-during-the-day-can-create-unstoppable-learning/" target="_blank">How Giving Students Choice During the Day Can Create Unstoppable Learning</a> -- choice is an incredible motivator for student learning. It also provides opportunities for students to take control of their learning, with the guidance of their teachers.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.globaleducationconference.com/" target="_blank">Online Global Education Conference</a> -- an online learning conference for educators around the globe. Many interesting topics and education resources may be found here.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2016/11/5-map-creation-activities-for-geography.html#.WCSAt2WnZrJ" target="_blank">Five Map Creation Activities</a> --exceptional resources for any geography classroom or initiative.</li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-41987633862544036722016-11-10T10:07:00.001-07:002016-11-10T10:07:41.754-07:00School PBL WebsiteFrom my last post you know that I had the privilege of working with teachers and schools in the New York area last week. What you did not learn in the post is that one of the schools with which I have consulted for nearly two years, <a href="http://sttimslutheranschool.org/faculty-and-staff/" target="_blank">St. Timothy's Christian Academy</a>, was also a part of the learning event.<br />
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<a href="http://sttimslutheranschool.org/faculty-and-staff/" target="_blank">St. Timothy's</a> is using an interesting model for incorporating project based learning (PBL) in their school. Four days a week a regular curriculum is carried out in this school. On the other day, a significant portion of the school hours is dedicated to multi-grade projects.<br />
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This school has made amazing progress in applying this model to their educational offerings. To that end, a group of their teachers created a website entitled <a href="http://www.pblsttims.org/" target="_blank">PBL at St. Timothy's</a> to share what is happening in their school. This site includes project links, lesson plans, PBL strategies and best practices, and student and teacher resources. Contact information is provided so educators may ask questions of these teachers and learn from their experiences.<br />
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Here is an example of what is happening in their school:<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-51848087378627260792016-11-08T10:40:00.001-07:002016-11-08T10:40:29.888-07:00Session Resources -- LSA ConferenceOn Friday I had the privilege of leading three sessions at the <a href="http://lsany.org/" target="_blank">Lutheran School Association (LSA)</a> conference at <a href="http://www.longislandlutheran.org/page" target="_blank">Long Island Lutheran High School and Middle School</a>. I facilitated a session on formative assessment and two-part workshop on project based learning (PBL) design.<br />
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As I do for all of my leadership sessions, I gathered a wide variety of resources for future use for participants. However, if you can benefit from these resources as well, that would be fantastic.<br />
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I particularly enjoyed leading the session on formative assessment since the process generated a lot of valuable discussion. In addition, participants seemed to appreciated the wide array of ideas an links connected to formative assessment -- ideas which may be immediately implemented in the classroom.<br />
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Here is the link to these conference resources:<br />
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<a href="http://dawblack.wikispaces.com/LSA+Conference+--+Long+Island+Lutheran+High+School%2C+November+4th%2C+2016" target="_blank">LSA Conference resources</a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-42146181784872622302016-10-11T13:54:00.000-06:002016-10-11T15:21:54.487-06:00LEA Convcation Sessions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The<a href="http://www.lea.org/Events/2016LEAConvocation.aspx" target="_blank"> Lutheran Education Association (LEA) Convocation</a> is being held Thursday through Saturday in Grand Rapids, MI. I hope to connect with many of you there as we celebrate the gift of Christ's ministry to children and families that we share.<br />
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Nearly two years ago I was tasked by <a href="http://www.lea org" target="_blank">LEA</a> to put together a learning strand for educators surrounding the idea of instructional design in the digital age. To that end, there are a series of four sessions I will be leading at the Convocation. Feel free to join us for any or all of these sectionals.<br />
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These sessions were designed to fit together and challenge all of us to consider the emerging design principles and elements that are now possible for learning in the digital age. What is different about the space for these sessions is that we will be using tables rather than the traditional speaker/audience format. Our space is designed to spur conversation with each other, peer learning, and instructional construction. In addition, in a traditional conference format (or even in our own classrooms) the learning is designed for a specific target group but may not fit the needs of many in that group. Through peer interactions, the learning becomes more personalized so that each educator has the opportunity to learn and grow in a way that fits their needs. In addition, these sessions are created to adapt to the needs of a wide variety of grade levels and school circumstances.<br />
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Each of the sessions will be held at the Amway Ambassador West space, found in the hotel adjacent to the convention center. Here is a brief overview of each session:<br />
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10:30-11:30<b> </b>-- <b>Technology and Instructional Design</b>: How has the digital age changed instructional design? How is it still the same? And what does a hot air balloon ride have to do with this topic? Come and find out.<br />
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12:00-1:00 -- <b>Digital Citizenship in the Digital Age</b>: What could/should digital citizenship look like in Lutheran school? What elements are essential across the grade levels? And what do tattoos have to do with all of this?<br />
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1:30-2:30 -- <b>Understanding and Applying Student Directed Learning: </b>What are the benefits of ceding a level of control of the learning process? How can we help students follow and pursue their God-given interests and passions? And what does O'Hare International Airport have to do with student learning?<br />
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3:00-4:00 -- <b>Instructional Design Workshop</b>: This is the time for YOU to practice, create, design, and get feedback for lessons and activities that you can use in the classroom immediately upon your return, applying technology and instructional design to meaningful and dynamic learning experience.<br />
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Please join us these sessions. I look forward to the learning and the conversations! <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-21574074289866706542016-07-06T13:48:00.001-06:002016-07-06T13:48:44.071-06:007.6.2016 Links ListHere are some links I have compiled over the past several days that may be of interest to educators. Many of these links I identified at the recent <a href="https://conference.iste.org/2016/" target="_blank">ISTE conference</a> in Denver. I am still going through materials and notes from that conference, so another links list may follow shortly. I hope you find something of interest and of us to you as an educator.<br />
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Here are today's links:<br />
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<a href="https://www.constituteproject.org/" target="_blank">Constitute</a> -- A site that has complied the texts of most major government constitutions of the world. A very valuable site for government studies.<br />
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<a href="http://safeshare.tv/" target="_blank">SafeShare</a> -- Looks to be similar to <a href="http://viewpure.com/" target="_blank">ViewPure</a>. Both are tools to "clean" <a href="http://youtube.com/" target="_blank">YouTube</a> videos so that ads and comments are removed. Great for showing video content in a classroom without worrying about what might pop up.<br />
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<a href="https://pixlr.com/" target="_blank">Pixlr </a>-- Free online tools for editing images.<br />
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<a href="https://www.cs-first.com/" target="_blank">Google CS First </a>-- Google's introductory tools for learning to code. Based on what I saw at <a href="https://conference.iste.org/2016/" target="_blank">ISTE</a>, look for these offering to expand in the future.<br />
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<a href="https://goformative.com/" target="_blank">Formative</a> -- A service that provides a variety of tools for formative assessments in classrooms. Since I have long championed formative assessments and have felt that these are underutilized by teachers, I look forward to experimenting with what this site has to offer. <br />
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Article: <a href="http://ajjuliani.com/the-future-of-learning-is-going-to-be-empowering-and-scary/?utm_content=buffer5dca0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">The Future of Learning is Going to Be Empowering (and Scary!)</a> -- This is a really interesting read for anyone connected to education, include parents, school boards, policy makers, etc. Personally, I don't find the future of education to be scary. Rather it is exciting! I am thankful to be alive and serving in education<br />
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<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/09/technology/the-spanish-town-that-runs-on-twitter.html?partner=IFTTT&_r=" target="_blank">The Spanish Town That Runs On Twitter</a> -- Fun read about one way social media is being used. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-82285724769133116452016-06-17T09:19:00.001-06:002016-06-17T09:19:26.474-06:00Your Thoughts Wanted on 9 Pieces of AdviceI enjoy reading the work of <a href="http://www.davidgeurin.com/" target="_blank">David Guerin</a> and recently he crafted a post entitled <a href="http://www.davidgeurin.com/2016/01/9-pieces-of-advice-every-teacher-should.html" target="_blank">9 Pieces of Advice Every Teacher Should Ignore</a>. In this post he took on some conventional wisdom for teachers and identified the flaws with the wisdom behind this thinking.<br />
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Personally, I agree with all of his statements. I would also add a 10th item that I often hear from veteran teachers: "Just use your lesson plans from last year." While there are elements that I use from year to year, I never just blindly use something from the past without examination and reflection. Why would I only plug in something with the past without considering my learners for that year. As a colleague of mine likes to say, "Do you want to be teaching 25 years or one year 25 times." For an educator to do the latter is unjustifiable, in my opinion.<br />
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What do you think of this list? Agree? Disagree? Are there items you would delete? Add? Share your thoughts as a comment to this post. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-33034987517236887872016-06-12T11:50:00.001-06:002016-06-12T11:50:10.143-06:00My Support of Schools and Ministries in 2016-2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Those of you who know me personally or who regularly read this blog know that I feel strongly about service both to my permanent Call at <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/" target="_blank">Lutheran High School</a> as well as service to schools and ministries at large. To that end, I make an effort to support other schools and ministries through consulting, faculty and staff development sessions, writing, and other such activities.<br />
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If you are interested in my support of your school and ministry there are some opportunities for this assistance, but my availability is limited, particularly during the rest of 2016. Feel free to review the right sidebar which notes upcoming events on my calendar. Note that 2017 is open so far, but my time typically fills up quickly.<br />
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As a result, if you are interested in having me work with your school and ministry, I suggest you contact me now <a href="mailto:david.black@lhsparker.org" target="_blank">here</a> so that we can talk further. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-20474462162665946342016-06-09T08:19:00.001-06:002016-06-09T08:19:44.999-06:00More on the Modern Realities in Education and #LuthEdA few weeks ago I crafted <a href="http://faithedtech.blogspot.com/2016/05/modern-realities-in-education-and-luthed.html" target="_blank">this post</a> about the modern realities in education and how they impact Lutheran education. My hope that sharing these thoughts, along side the <a href="https://medium.com/modern-learning/16-modern-realities-schools-and-parents-need-to-accept-now-64b98710e4e9#.djw5v0dbs" target="_blank">original post from Will Richardson</a> that sparked these ideas, a larger conversation might emerge that would be beneficial FOR those who care about Lutheran schools. <br />
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<a href="http://www.cph.org/" target="_blank">Concordia Publishing House</a> was interested in applying these ideas to Lutheran education as well. They offered me the opportunity to contribute to a four-part series that will break down each of Richardson's statements in his post and apply them to the Lutheran learning community. I am thankful for this opportunity to share ideas with a larger audience<br />
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The first post went live this morning. This will be my one contribution to this series, but we will also highlight and discuss the other three posts in this series on this blog.<br />
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Below is a link to my contribution. As you read it, do you agree with the thoughts shared? Disagree? How (if at all) do you see these ideas applying to Lutheran education? Feel free to add your own comments so we can work together and think through what is means to be educationally relevant and effective in this digital age.<br />
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<a href="http://education.cph.org/the-lutheran-educator/lutheran-education-and-the-digital-age-part-one/" target="_blank">LUTHERAN EDUCATION AND THE DIGITAL AGE: PART ONE</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-78582778397077001822016-06-07T09:48:00.000-06:002016-06-07T09:48:13.232-06:00Digital Citizenship Resources for Teachers and StudentsDuring the last month of the school year I challenged by <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/lights-leadership-academy" target="_blank">Lights Academy</a> students at <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/" target="_blank">Lutheran High School</a> with a collaborative project. I often receive requests from teachers and schools for help with digital citizenship ideas and resources. Often educators who did not grow up with digital technologies feel insecure about helping and guiding students and colleagues in appropriate use of digital tools for learning.<br />
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My <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/lights-leadership-academy" target="_blank">Lights Academy</a> students embraced the challenge of identifying and sharing digital citizenship resources for teachers and students. They created a <a href="http://ladigitalcitizenshipresources.wikispaces.com/" target="_blank">Digital Citizenship Resources</a> wiki to share their findings. Articles, videos, infographics, and other content is categorized for four different age groups: <a href="http://ladigitalcitizenshipresources.wikispaces.com/Early+Childhood+Through+2nd+Grade+Digital+Citizenship+Resources" target="_blank">Early Childhood through 2nd Grade</a>, <a href="http://ladigitalcitizenshipresources.wikispaces.com/3rd-5th+Grade+Digital+Citizenship+Resources" target="_blank">3rd-5th Grade</a>, <a href="http://ladigitalcitizenshipresources.wikispaces.com/6th-8th+Grade+Digital+Citizenship+Resources" target="_blank">6th-8th Grade</a>, and <a href="http://ladigitalcitizenshipresources.wikispaces.com/High+School+Digital+Citizenship+Resources" target="_blank">High School</a>. It is hoped that educators will find this content useful as they navigate this digital age with their students.<br />
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Please feel free to peruse the <a href="http://ladigitalcitizenshipresources.wikispaces.com/" target="_blank">Digital Citizenship Resources</a> site to learn more about managing an effective online presence for both educators and classroom learners.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-41126302066523693592016-06-03T12:48:00.003-06:002016-06-03T12:48:49.665-06:00My Favorite PostI was reviewing old posts for this blog and came across this post from the past:<br />
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<a href="http://faithedtech.blogspot.com/2011/11/lessons-we-can-learn-from-lutheran-high.html" target="_blank">Lessons We Can Learn From Lutheran High School Volleyball</a><br />
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This may be the favorite post I have ever written. I certainly consider this a must-read post. Enjoy! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-21198250972244399042016-05-27T06:55:00.000-06:002016-05-27T06:55:33.528-06:00View Lights Academy Capstone Project PresentationsOn Sunday May 15th, <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/" target="_blank">Lutheran High School </a>hosted our first Senior Capstone Project Presentation Night for <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/lights-leadership-academy" target="_blank">Lights Academy</a> students. In case you do not know, <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/lights-leadership-academy" target="_blank">Lights Academy</a> is our accelerated project-based learning experience where students have the opportunity to pursue interests and passions in rich and meaningful ways. Each of my four seniors in this program completed deep research on a topic of their choice and presented their findings to our school community. I am very proud of each of these students for the quality of their research. In addition, each of these students will always hold a special place of respect from me as they were the first students to complete two years of <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/lights-leadership-academy" target="_blank">Lights Academy</a> work.<br />
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Here are the presentations:<br />
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Noah: Military technologies and their application to civilian life in the past, present, and future.<br />
Cayley: What makes Fortune 500 companies successful and how can any business learn from these principles.<br />
Tanner: The Currency of Food: What is needed for our society to truly make a difference in fighting hunger in our communities.<br />
Nathan: How professional baseball teams can win both on the field and financially. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-13427655121054187362016-05-24T08:05:00.000-06:002016-05-24T08:05:14.278-06:00Modern Realities in Education and #LuthEdI have written about the work of educational futurist <a href="http://willrichardson.com/" target="_blank">Will Richardson</a> before. There are times I believe him to accurately peg some of the issues in education. At other times he comes across to me as quite negative and almost grumpy.<br />
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A recent post of his entitled <a href="https://medium.com/modern-learning/16-modern-realities-schools-and-parents-need-to-accept-now-64b98710e4e9#.dowg7nkdj" target="_blank">16 Modern Realities Schools (and Parents) Need to Accept Now</a> shares a broad perspective on the intersection between society, technology, and education today. For me, this article seems like it would be a good conversation starter within Lutheran education as to how we even better address modern realities but also main true to the core mission of sharing Jesus Christ every day and mentoring young disciples.<br />
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One of the provocative statements Richardson shares is this:<br />
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<i>The middleman is vanishing as peer to peer interactions flourish. Teachers no longer stand between the content and the student. This will change the nature of the profession.</i><br />
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It would be great to have a number of Lutheran education thinkers break down statements like this. Do we agree or disagree with the statement? Why or why not? If the statement is true, how does this impact the classroom models used in Lutheran education? What does this mean for the teaching of the faith<i>?</i><br />
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We could do this for each of his sixteen statements. What I appreciate is that Richardson has provided us a framework for these discussions based on his research and observations.<br />
<i> </i><br />
Would you, the readers of this blog, find value in digging down into some of these statements and building broader conversations around them? If so, let me know and share what you think might be the best way to accomplish this.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-76697267953047443052016-05-23T10:37:00.001-06:002016-05-23T10:37:32.722-06:00Resilience vs. GritI receive the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/" target="_blank">New York Times</a> on Sundays. I really appreciate all the features that are a part of the Sunday paper. Sometimes it takes me the full week just to get through all of them!<br />
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Recently in the Books section there was a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/08/books/review/grit-by-angela-duckworth.html?_r=0" target="_blank">review of a book by Angela Duckworth entitled Grit</a>. This caught my attention since this is a word that is used a lot in education to describe a quality we might like to see or develop in our students. However, there was some backlash to the book and its review, which led me to think more deeply about this term.<br />
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As a result of this reflection, I recently have been using the word <b>resilience</b> more than <b>grit</b>. It seems that <b>grit</b> as it is used today indicates that you can do anything you want to do if you just have enough <b>grit</b>. But is that true? Can I become a major league baseball player if I just have enough <b>grit</b>? Or does God-given talent still play a role? <br /><br />The reason I like <b>resilience</b> better is that there are times when my <b>grit</b> may lead me to realize that there might be a better direction for me -- on a project, personally, professionally, etc. I want my students to be able to persevere and thrive when they are faced with challenges, and sometimes that means redirecting their ideas and energies into something that is more beneficial given the gifts with which they have been blessed by God.<br /><br />
What are your thoughts about this? Agree? Disagree?<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-59928776476195585902016-05-05T07:56:00.000-06:002016-05-05T07:56:27.373-06:00Learning and Achievement<a href="http://willrichardson.com/7613-2/" target="_blank">This post</a> from noted educational provocateur Will Richardson got me thinking deeply about relationship between learning and achievement. I have read Richardson's writing for a long time. Many times I find him challenging and a bit abrasive. <a href="http://willrichardson.com/7613-2/" target="_blank">This post</a> was no exception.<br />
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The post was hard on schools, who he claims want to keep parents out of the loop about what learning is taking place in a school, and also on parent, who may not care engage their student in conversations about what is really being learned during the day. But one idea did resonate with me -- the idea that most of us (teachers, parents, and students) end up, whether we mean to or not, caring more about achievement than learning.<br />
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When parents look at an online grade program, they may see that a student received 18/20 on a quiz or 83% on a test. But this is a record of achievement. Does this mean that new or deep learning has taken place? Not necessarily. I've encountered many students during my career that were high achievers because they "did school well." They may have been learning deeply, but they also easily could have been simply completing the list of expectations in a timely fashion. In other words, achievement does not always equal learning.<br />
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But learning will ALWAYS lead to achievement, especially deep learning. Now the achievement may not always be in the form that is traditionally recognized, such as grades, GPA, or promotion to the next class. But it will be there, even in failure, because deep learning often results from initial failure (ask Thomas Edison!).<br />
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I guess this helps express while I feel so strongly about <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/lights-leadership-academy" target="_blank">Lights Academy</a>, which we have built at <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/" target="_blank">Lutheran High School</a>. <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/lights-leadership-academy" target="_blank">Lights Academy</a> focuses most specifically on the learning, at least in the design of the experience. Many students come in with their efforts placed on achievement first and leave with the understanding that the learning comes first. That is an important transition -- one that will serve them well throughout their lives.<br />
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This is not to exclude the idea of achievement, especially since this is measured as significant in many other areas of education (such as college admissions). But a student (or a school) who focuses on achievement first or solely will have a far less substantial and engaging educational experience than otherwise possible.<br />
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Agree? Disagree? Let's get a conversation going! Share your thoughts as a comment to this post.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-58466346089508067392016-05-01T18:26:00.003-06:002016-05-01T18:26:45.104-06:005.1.2016 Links ListI had a weekend where I was able to review a number of web-based links and resources. Here are some items that I found:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://iteach-and-ilearn.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-distinctively-christian-approach-to.html" target="_blank">A Distinctively Christian Approach to Teaching Science?</a> -- Some great thoughts about Christianity and science. I like the idea that that there are times when simply standing in awe of God's creation is important.</li>
<li><a href="http://cincyblend.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Cincy Blend </a>-- A group of teachers in Cincinnati share practical models and ideas for blended learning initiatives in elementary, middle, and high schools.</li>
<li><a href="http://boingboing.net/2015/06/06/why-minecraft-rewrites-the-pla.html?utm_content=buffer20f68&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">Why Mindcraft Rewrites the Playbook for Learning</a> -- A look at the many possible connections between Mindcraft and education.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Missional-Moonshots-Inspiration-Educational-Innovation/dp/1936830868/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1462148490&sr=1-1&keywords=missional+moonshots" target="_blank">Missional Moonshots: Insight and Inspiration for Educational Innovation --</a> I am currently reading this book by Dr. Bernard Bull at Concordia university Wisconsin, which takes and inspiring look at what might yet be possible for education, but more importantly, for learning.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/08/when-success-leads-to-failure/400925/" target="_blank">When Success Leads to Failure</a> -- A thought-provoking article about the ways we as parents and educators stress achievement over learning. We need to work together to find ways to help our students stay curious, asking good questions and pursuing those questions, through their lives.</li>
<li><a href="http://jakes.editme.com/futurereadyhack" target="_blank">Classroom Design Ideas</a> -- A list of resources that may help one pursue new and innovative ideas about classroom design.</li>
</ul>
I hope you find something of value from this list. Enjoy! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-85761795801220912942016-04-26T15:24:00.005-06:002016-04-26T15:24:52.296-06:00Recent Project Work From My Students: Part TwoIn a <a href="http://faithedtech.blogspot.com/2016/04/recent-project-work-from-my-students.html" target="_blank">post</a> last week I shared some project work created by my <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/lights-leadership-academy" target="_blank">Lights Academy</a> students at <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/" target="_blank">Lutheran High School</a>. Here are some other student-generated projects based on inquiry questions of interest:<br />
<ul>
<li>Want to know what Cooper thinks happened to the Malaysian Flight 370? If so, then take a look at his <a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1rTULZ8BunAViQTiizq6zoOvS9kIPoI-1tQ3rw1-5OrY/edit#slide=id.g11d008fad6_0_26" target="_blank">slides</a> and his <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vHRuwGy4cTmqheD9-UbZVcL_8fhMMYlP7PYwyrCcY4c/edit" target="_blank">explanation script</a>.</li>
<li>Madi researched the complicated circumstance of <a href="https://prezi.com/vmvdmtzdpmzw/how-do-people-impact-other-people/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy" target="_blank">How do People Influence Other People</a>? In addition to her Prezi she also shares a <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/18F1IYyEpyc_j3_s6Eup2qcmCdks9lq_wcEKQbiDvP2A/edit" target="_blank">strong script</a> as well as the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V4wAQ9m_E8xDtlvHzdwXDYXu6BYj0PEZhvd2nV0uF74/edit" target="_blank">list of works</a> she referenced in creating this project.</li>
<li>What does Disney do to maintain the family atmosphere in their parks? Find out from Whitney as she <a href="https://sway.com/AqBhcgHFhXGQnDfm" target="_blank">shares her conclusions using Sway</a>.</li>
<li>Noah completed a <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cbAaFVVpRmpGj-PSc1vhh_59ifvUVe0a6QT-U3QfkOA/edit" target="_blank">detailed study</a> of the strategies and tactics used by armies of the ancient world when they were at war.</li>
<li>Why do some airlines succeed and others fail? Nathan studied that issue and shared with all of us <a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1On62ixMAwir-UQPvJ2HdLp3oC1Tr3Y4dqlOhsDLzAQw/edit#slide=id.p" target="_blank">his presentation</a>. His script and text descriptions are available from a link at the bottom of <a href="http://nathanholdridge.weebly.com/projects.html" target="_blank">this page</a>.</li>
<li>Is brushing teeth important? Taylor seeks to share why this regular action is essential through her <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KP2NCPiLhEyqP5BhQrS7gz6QINQe1Zp5H2-5JellaOg/edit" target="_blank">document</a> and <a href="https://prezi.com/tonb0mawmrk_/untitled-prezi/" target="_blank">presentation</a>.</li>
</ul>
I will continue to share student work throughout the rest of the school year. If you have any questions for me or for my students, please <a href="mailto:david.black@lhsparker.org" target="_blank">c</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">ontact me here</a> and we will be happy to answer your queries. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-50066392311082799952016-04-18T11:43:00.002-06:002016-04-20T18:34:55.171-06:00Recent Project Work From My StudentsMy <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/lights-leadership-academy" target="_blank">Lights Academy</a> students at <a href="http://www.lhsparker.org/" target="_blank">Lutheran High School</a> have been creating some amazing work with their projects this year. Here are some highlights:<br />
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1. Morgan began her project by wanting to research the best strategies for teaching students with Down Syndrome. As she was studying this question she noticed a distinct attitude difference between these students and others in the school were she observed. This video, made together with the technical expertise of Kyle, another Lights Academy student, highlights the positive attitude of students who have more challenges.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="175" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/159305986" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="325"></iframe>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/159305986">It's A Choice</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/kylevenberg">Kyle Venberg</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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2. Here are links to another project from Morgan, this time looking at whether manned space travel to Mars is feasible at this time:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RZ9Ode6rD7Zukn6SxHmMwe0RMbi9RsO639lYuAnBgf4/edit#slide=id.p" target="_blank"> Presentation slides</a> (NOTE: We have worked extensively on design principles using the book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Zen-Simple-Design-Delivery/dp/0321811984/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460999884&sr=8-1&keywords=presentation+zen" target="_blank">Presentation Zen</a> </i>as a guide.</li>
<li>See the rest of her work on this project, including main ideas and citations, on <a href="http://morganwalker-portfolio.weebly.com/projects.html" target="_blank">t</a><a href="http://morganwalker-portfolio.weebly.com/projects.html" target="_blank">his page</a> (you will need to scroll down a bit).</li>
</ul>
3. Kyle also created a project on <a href="http://kylevenberg.com/the-effects-of-public-transportation/" target="_blank">The Effects of Public Transportation in Denver</a>. This project has an excellent web design connected with it.<br />
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4. Stephanie, who is involved with dance, studied <a href="http://dancers-and-eating-disorders.weebly.com/" target="_blank">the link between dancers and eating disorders</a>. This is very detailed work that is well-organized and designed.<br />
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5. Carrie looked at <a href="http://denverzooproject.weebly.com/" target="_blank">whether the animals in the Denver Zoo have appropriate care</a>.<br />
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6. Cody studied how nuclear weapons have changed the world, and shared the counter-intuitive thought that these weapons may contribute to a more peaceable planet since the consequences of using them are so horrific that nations are very hesitant to actually use the devices. Here is Cody's work:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1gIbEJjzyEziLZ99_C90NAbSKuzYmOfNQqfLB-gGf1Ek/edit#slide=id.g847b2369d_0_133" target="_blank">Presentation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_kiyYVEKFAkWr5uMeSXqTRRA4GUMsX4XC3FYxuACw2Q/edit" target="_blank">Introduction and History</a></li>
<li><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ne1ALoPE3Bv_Ru8lgjBdhEJlBUMIsz6upiOC2Ff_su4/edit" target="_blank">How Nuclear Weapons Work</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/18J8s2NSHlXLLgN72kyMmQxHIlbrSCOhI6UQr4RMFJyE/edit" target="_blank">Effects of a Detonation</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ta8cHfeJsLkXF5w44a4dzEkAW3f2X_EIOZbvDTD4kC0/edit" target="_blank">How Nuclear Weapons Have Changed the World</a></li>
<li><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PMSnToGMXtbhF4y0wiMI-OBohYUqvACwXclwC3lZjHk/edit" target="_blank">Conclusion and Sources </a></li>
</ul>
I will be sharing more student work in future posts. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-89837892696487441212016-04-13T16:15:00.000-06:002016-04-13T16:15:38.397-06:00Blogging Blahs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BjOQhHV7NwiAae34DeYy8zQjS6b1VvAGW7LRiRWs5GhW9-qsHORL2GRxExJRubqbCyt8B4KB1jlRCExXoJ7OS2OYRwjHkneJlLp3VFXCMCXYXU01exGTg86Y9UmJaQROGUWr/s1600/blah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BjOQhHV7NwiAae34DeYy8zQjS6b1VvAGW7LRiRWs5GhW9-qsHORL2GRxExJRubqbCyt8B4KB1jlRCExXoJ7OS2OYRwjHkneJlLp3VFXCMCXYXU01exGTg86Y9UmJaQROGUWr/s200/blah.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
Yep.....I've got them. I've got the blogging blahs.<br />
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Usually I am excited to share a new thought or challenge conventional thinking. That has not been the case lately.<br />
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I am trying to figure out why this is happening. Do I no longer have anything interesting to say? Am I becoming complacent as an educator which leads to complacency as a blogger? Is a sense of inadequacy setting in, thinking that my voice is not meaningful? I'm not sure. Maybe it is one of these items. Perhaps it is all of the items to some degree. Or it could be something I have yet to identify. Who knows.....<br />
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So I will simply share this post as a window into something we all go through at some point in education and life. I am not immune.<br />
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I want to grow. I want to serve God and others. I want to lead. Am I doing that as best as I can and does blogging, which has always been a place for me to work out my ideas and share new thoughts, still have a role in this?<br />
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Stay tuned!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-68362745936680312012016-04-11T12:38:00.000-06:002016-04-11T12:38:42.126-06:00Faith Insights -- 4.11.2016I keep a journal of faith insights that I receive from the Holy Spirit as I study God's Word, usually in the mornings. I got to thinking that there is no reason why I should keep these to myself -- that they might bless someone else in some way. To that end, here are some faith insights I received in my study this morning:<br />
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<li>Jesus has already won the victory (Revelation 5). The wording here is so celebratory and joyful that one cannot help but look forward to the day when we are together for ever with our God.</li>
<li>The only reason we can take a breath is because there is light (connect to the idea that Jesus is THE Light of the world — John 9:5). Actually, this insight came from a weekend sermon, but it caused me to look more deeply at the significant of light for both life and faith.</li>
<li>The present time is the day of Christ; now is the time of grace; now He must be about His own and His Father's business. That same spirit must live in the followers of Christ, that must characterize all their efforts for the spread of the Kingdom and all their work in the interest of the kingdom of God. Every bit of time, every ounce of strength should be thrown into this most important work. There should be an urgency for carrying the message of Christ -- an urgency I do not always feel.</li>
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What are some faith insights that have filled you recently? Feel free to share them as a comment to this post. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632007.post-40097253245874353302016-03-22T07:47:00.004-06:002016-03-22T13:43:21.369-06:00Questioning: The Springboard for PBL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wtfJUYCV-qUtfgTgzL12ejXrPdyBCUdyGmVa9ItVcTf081U8sCK8uvzNXG8inv850jc7fAMv8abAWpeYDN9gF2Ia8OF2LZKDi4kWGdLSQup9UtSg99Jd-SMfUu2k3oOrDpuF/s1600/question-701-question-mark-design.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wtfJUYCV-qUtfgTgzL12ejXrPdyBCUdyGmVa9ItVcTf081U8sCK8uvzNXG8inv850jc7fAMv8abAWpeYDN9gF2Ia8OF2LZKDi4kWGdLSQup9UtSg99Jd-SMfUu2k3oOrDpuF/s200/question-701-question-mark-design.png" width="200" /></a></div>
As I work with schools it is clear that one of the most challenging elements for a successful Project Based Learning initiative is to really practice asking good questions. This is easy to overlook but essential for pushing students to continue a path toward deep curiosity and inquiry when they run into roadblocks.<br />
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When students hit roadblocks in their work this deficiency seems to appear. Since deep questioning is not always practiced in advance, learners are not always sure how to proceed. Questions provide a path for the future inquiry, and often students do not have this clear path.<br />
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I firmly believe that good questioning skills provide the springboard for excellence in PBL. I will be writing more about this in the coming week, sharing ideas for practicing this skill. And it IS a skill -- a skill that needs to be regularly honed, practiced, and applied, so that curiosity and inquiry may be fostered and perfected.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0