I’ve been looking into gamification and how it can help motivate students to have fun and learn Science. I would love to make certain lessons, projects, or activities look like a game to motivate students to learn boring things like vocabulary. I’d like to do that without points, badges or too many rewards. I’ve abolished …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/06/18/when-is-extrinsic-motivation-okay/
Jun 17
Looking for Ideas
I have this vision of something I’d like to do at the start of each class. I usually start by talking. I remind kids what we’re doing, where they left off the day before, and what the agenda or goals are for the current time period. I find this useful because my students only have …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/06/17/looking-for-ideas/
Jun 11
2011-12 Parent Survey
I’m looking for some feedback for this school year. What am I doing well? Where could I improve? I’d love to hear from my students’ families. You can take the survey by clicking on the following link: http://goo.gl/WpJ1n Thank you!
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/06/11/2011-12-parent-survey/
Jun 11
Alternate Reality Game
This past Thursday Nicholas Provenzano hosted a Twitter chat at #NerdyChat on the topic of Gamification (see transcript here). Gamification is the idea of using the best of video gaming in the classroom. Why? Watch a kid play a video game. Video games hook the player and motivate the player to persevere through failure and …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/06/11/alternate-reality-game/
Jun 04
Real Life
We talk a lot about preparing our students for real life. We entice them with the reward of high marks (A’s, 100%’s, 3’s and 4’s) and we threaten them with failure (F’s, 0’s, 1’s and 2’s). It’s easy to think that enticing kids with high marks works because of the kids who work hard for …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/06/04/real-life/
May 22
My Own Children
I blog and share posts about my dislike of standardized tests. I especially hate when these tests are made high stakes to determine what kids know and how well teachers are teaching. And yet both my kids take them. Why don’t I opt them out? My son is 15 years old, a freshman in high …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/05/22/my-own-children/
May 21
Week-Long Field Trip!
This week, May 21 to May 25, 8th grade teachers at my school will be taking over 85 8th graders along with 20 HS counselors to Camp David, Jr. on gorgeous Lake Crescent for an Olympic Odyssey outdoor education experience. One aspect of this trip that stresses out a bunch of our students, including yours …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/05/21/week-long-field-trip/
May 12
Magnify the Universe
This is so cool! Go from the observable universe to a hydrogen’s proton! Copyright 2012. Magnifying the Universe by Number Sleuth.
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/05/12/magnify-the-universe/
May 08
How to Make Social Networking Work
I’ve had mixed results using social networking media for class discussions. Because of that I haven’t even tried to have students use it for backchanneling. It’s hard enough to get them to listen as I give instructions and I don’t lecture all that much anyway. I’ve had this vision of engaging more students in class …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/05/08/how-to-make-social-networking-work/
May 07
The Scaffolding vs. Struggling Debate
Ronnie Burt wrote a blog post about a debate he’s been having with Sue Waters, Edublogger Debate: Scaffolding vs. Struggling – Can You Be Too Helpful? I found the topic quite intriguing as it fits perfectly into what I spend a majority of my time worrying about, Student Engagement and Student Discipline. So the question …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/05/07/the-scaffolding-vs-struggling-debate/
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I've presented at NCCE
2016, 2017, 2019, 2022,
2023, 2024, and 2025!
I presented at WSTA 2015!
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