http://www.cocomment.com/comments/kwhobbes Copyright 2007 coComment.com 2009-11-26T08:15:19.264+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/images/logo4rss.gif http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=kwhobbes&conv=795578&comment_id=15475201 Kelly Christopherson What a great list. I would also include go2web20.com where you can see literally 100's of new tools that will let you do just about anything. I'll be sending this list to my spec ed teacher for her to look at. I am hoping to use more of these in the upcoming year with my students to help them share ideas and just be better able to access their information anywhere. I'm thinking of having the use eyeos.com, online desktop, for the class so they can save and access anywhere. Thanks for the tools! 2007-06-12T17:33:31.420+02:00 2007-06-12T17:33:31.420+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=kwhobbes&conv=744104&comment_id=14428192 Kelly Christopherson Well, as an administrator that teaches a communication class, I often find myself in the same situation. What I do, because these are students who can make decisions on their own, is let them. I post the expectations of the class, give the expectations of the assignments and what needs to be completed and then let them go. I remind them of deadlines and such, encourage them to get to work, give them suggestions but, ultimately, these students are old enough to make decisions in the confines of the classroom given the assistance that is provided. So, their marks reflect their work. They get upset and some are giving up but this is a lifelesson that they will be required to learn in a world where the internet is available at the same time you should be doing work. 2007-05-25T07:53:47.026+02:00 2007-05-25T07:53:47.026+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=kwhobbes&conv=598787&comment_id=11473537 kwhobbes Trev, I don't think that final exams are necessary. I believe that we have much better way of telling if a student has obtained the knowledge or not. As for the stress factor, I can put stress on kids at any time and see how they respond, I don't need a year end exam to do this. As for the rewarding of those that work, I'll beg to differ. As someone who wasn't in the high range in math, I worked harder than almost everyone in my class to get my marks. You aren't rewarding hard work, you're rewarding natural ability. Watching my own children, this has become obvious. We need to be very careful when we begin to say we're rewarding hard work with recommends because some of your top marks will not be from hard work at all. As has been pointed out, a pen and paper test only measures a specific type of knowledge. We need to break free from this standard and exam what students know not how well they answer my test. We are seeing that being able to score well on a test is not really an indicator of how well one will do in life after school. Take some time, go through Daniel Pink's book "A Whole New Mind" andbegin to look at the possiblilities. We really have to get away from these boxed in responses and ways of looking at the world. 2007-04-03T01:42:30.350+02:00 2007-04-03T01:42:30.350+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=kwhobbes&conv=540409&comment_id=10156616 kwhobbes Brian, I can relate. I don't know if there is a sure fire way to avoid missing that one thing. Sometimes, being human, means we can't catch it all - but my experience is that it all happens for a reason. The key, and this is just my opinion, is that you take whatever it is you are doing and treat it as the most important thing you are doing. If it seems you are doing something, only to get to something else, then don't do it. Go on to whatever is on your mind. So, the other day, I was suppose to be talking with a student about their actions at recess but I wasn't "there" - so I sent the him back to the room - went and did what was really on my mind and then went and talked over things with the student. Now, this worked grand because the student had to sit, knowing I was going to talk to him. He was cooperative and we were able to get to a solution pretty quickly. But I know what you mean about missing something. Sometimes I still ask why and what about the student who committed suicide. You're not all-knowing, all-seeing, all-fixing. Your are Brian who is doing his best. Do what you can, the best you can and then, when you go home, be there. Tomorrow needs to wait. It will get there soon enough! Hope this helps a bit! 2007-03-11T04:23:46.916+01:00 2007-03-11T04:23:46.916+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=kwhobbes&conv=514939&comment_id=9465932 Kelly Christopherson Couldn't agree with you more. All of that and some other stuff too! That is why, when we should be heading off to bed, we spend that little extra time reading or bloggin or doing whatever we do. It's our passion - something that very few people understand. Keep up the good work! 2007-03-01T05:41:08.649+01:00 2007-03-01T05:41:08.649+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=kwhobbes&conv=484764&comment_id=8785436 Kelly Christopherson Kimberly, I've spent some time reading through your blog. It is very informational and has some very good advice. I liked the conversation about the "cheater" and the "informant" that took place. Having a school blog myself, I wonder about the conversations that could take place but, thus far, my students only access the homework sections. I began blogging about 2 months ago and find it to be great professional development. I read different blogs and I'm always on the search for new "writers" that I can add to my reader! I'm not sure of the location of Gowanda School District but it sure looks like you have been doing a great job of setting a direction and then following the course. Your True Confessions blog was very true - as administrators we need to be reminded of the good when the not-so-good is swirling around. It's great to see an administrator who tries to stay focused on the positive - since that is what the people around you will feel. Keep up the great work! 2007-02-17T00:15:11.595+01:00 2007-02-17T00:15:11.595+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=kwhobbes&conv=453374&comment_id=8170483 kwhobbes Dan, I've had to do the same thing with my staff. I don't use the IWB as much now as when I had one in my classroom - the one we have is in our computer lab in the schoo. Having said that, I have been able to use it a bit. Maybe you could do a short survey before to see what the comfort level is amongst the group. Group people together to build a lesson, with some novices and some of varying ability and then have the group work on the IWB as a group with you helping to troubleshoot or give suggestions. Have the groups brainstorm ideas - posted on the IWB with somethink like bubbl.us or gliffy with someone besides you doing the recording. Save it, send it to the group via email. Offer to go assist teachers with using it. I find that if I get it out of my hands and get interactive, there is a greater chance someone will use it. Kelly 2007-02-04T23:03:31.730+01:00 2007-02-04T23:03:31.730+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=kwhobbes&conv=436271&comment_id=7659439 kwhobbes Dan, Good luck with it. I hope you have a great success. I know that I am trying to introduce the staff to wikis. They are not overly anxious to get involved - actually they are a bit overwhelmed right now. We have two new initiatives on the go - PLC's and reading with math soon to follow. We have just gone through a major amalgamation in our province and our new "super"divisions seem to be really keen on the PLC's and the whole DataDrivenDecision-Making process. Right now we're into SMART goals and Learning Plans. I feel like a lone voice sometimes. But, I keep on mentioning, sending reminders to administrators to check out the blog and the wiki. Take care, Kelly 2007-01-28T23:56:08.885+01:00 2007-01-28T23:56:08.885+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=kwhobbes&conv=436271&comment_id=7649290 kwhobbes Dan, forgot to ask if you have found your blog at school is inspiring other teachers or departments to get involved in such things? Kelly 2007-01-28T21:40:12.890+01:00 2007-01-28T21:40:12.890+01:00