I teach 6th grade Math, Science, STEM, Robotics, and Esports in the lovely Pacific Northwest in a small, rural town called Chimacum. My goal is to help students discover that all learning is life-long and that 21st century tools can be used for work as well as fun.
Jul 22
[This is part of a series of posts I’m writing as I reflect on another online course I’m taking this summer, Stanford University’s EDUC115N How to Learn Math. Sure, I’m a Science teacher but I have taught Math so I’m familiar with Math instruction. Besides, we do use Math in Science so it’s not like …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/07/22/pendulum-swing-or-the-answer/
Jul 18
Back in December when I heard there was interest in starting a 1:1 iPad program in my district I jumped on the idea. I got with the middle school teachers (all nine of us) and I asked if they wanted to pilot a 1:1 program in our school. Everyone was on board so I started drafting …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/07/18/11-ipad-program-proposal/
Jul 16
Do you like math? If not, why not? Do you think that you are good at math? Can all kids learn math? Is what we’re doing in school math? If you’ve ever had these questions or know people who hate math or feel that they can’t do math then this Standford U free online course …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/07/16/math-for-all/
Jul 14
I’ve been obsessed with preparing a new method of gamifying my classes for the upcoming school year this Fall. I’ve written a bunch of posts sharing my journey to make a Results Only Learning Environment (ROLE) classroom that runs like a real life computer game using the 3D GameLab (3DGL) interface. I added more quests …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/07/14/almost-ready-for-fall/
Jul 09
After planning possible 6th grade activities, I put them into the 3D GameLab (3DGL) interface ready for kids to Beta test in the fall. So far I have 73 quests in several different chains with room for some student choice. The benefit of having no grades is that kids can really pick and choose what …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/07/09/8th-grade-year-plan/
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/07/08/machinima/
Jul 08
I have experienced video game addiction. When I first played World of Warcraft (WoW) I was addicted. I was addicted to leveling up and to gaining the next best skill, attribute or ability. With other games if there cheats I would use them. I had to level up, get to the top level and win. …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/07/08/game-addiction/
Jul 07
Not sure, jury’s still out on that one for me. In my brief, 22 year career, I’ve tried incentives such as grades, stickers, beans in a jar, lotto tickets, class money, awards all the way to abolishing all of those, even the grades. The change to no rewards and punishments worked, but not as well …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/07/07/badges-do-we-need-them/
Jul 07
In both my reading of ROLE Reversal and learning how to use the 3D GameLab interface to gamify my classes the concept of student autonomy and choice is very important to create a student-centered experience. Kids need multiple pathways for learning and for demonstrating their learning. That needs to be balanced by the need for …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/07/07/whole-class-vs-individual-vs-small-group/
Jul 06
The idea of badges and achievements in gaming is a problem for teachers who have abolished extrinsic motivators in their classrooms. In 3DGL there is a Badges section, an Achievements section and an Awards section. I’m really conflicted by the awards section because it’s more like rewards than badges and achievements in my eyes. I …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/07/06/rewards-and-gaming/
Cohort 7!
I'm a Curipod Ambassador! :)
I've presented at NCCE
2016, 2017, 2019, 2022,
2023, 2024, and 2025!
I presented at WSTA 2015!
