What I Did on my Summer Vacation

Tony OdomTeacher

Of StudentsNew Hope Middle School

GAETI 2014

• Global Academic Essentials Teacher Institute

• Took place from 1 June – 30 June at Mississippi State University

• Hosted by the Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development

• Focused on Common Core, Technology, 21st Century Skills

Common Core: Myths vs. Reality• NOT a Federal Government takeover. • A collaboration of state-level administrators, education

professionals and business leaders.

• NOT “extra curriculum benchmarks.”• More like a method to teach the state benchmarks.

• NOT “re-inventing the wheel.”• Shifting the focus to skill-development, critical thinking and

literacy … (NOT “reading”).

21st Century Skills

• Critical thinking, logical reasoning: “How do you/we/they know that?”

• Using and evaluating evidence: “All opinions are not created equal.”

• Problem-solving: “Using your tools.”

• Inter-disciplinary collaboration: The purpose of PLC’s

Technology

• “Flipping the classroom” Shifting the focus from teacher-driven instruction to student-driven learning.

• Using available technologies to:

MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER!!!

Classroom Management:

• Canvas: A course management platform that is often used in online coursework and to augment face-to-face classes. Great for testing, quizzes, and all those handouts!

• Teacher Kit: An app for help in attendance, behavior, interventions, all the paperwork in app form!

• Remind: Send text reminders to students or parents WITHOUT DIRECT CONTACT between you and the recipient. Totally safe, legal and completely transparent.

Assessments and assignments

• Polleverywhere: Great site for students to text in answers (or use the website) for formative assessments ANONYMOUSLY.

• Bubbl: Make your own (or have your students make their own) flow charts and graphic organizers.

• Create WebQuest: As the name implies, you can create webquests for your students. Simple or elaborate as you like!

Safe and Educational Activities

• Kids.gov: Subject-specific video flash games. “Stealth learning!”

• Geoguessr: Drops them off (virtually) in the middle of nowhere and let them guess where they are!

• Duolingo: Learn Spanish, French. German, Portuguese or Italian using an app-based game.

Google

• Free Email• Make and store documents, powerpoints, and spreadsheets!• Shorten URLs for easy copy and pasting• Blog• Find scholarly articles• Geography (Maps and Google Earth)• And coming soon: Google Classroom