These are some of the links I've saved on Diigo recently. I will post more links from time to time on this blog.
Hope these are helpful to you.
5 Ways students can visually explore the news.
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/08/5-ways-students-can-visually-explore.html
15 Essential back to school apps.
http://mashable.com/2011/08/17/iphone-apps-students/
FableVision Learning Poster Gallery- Free mini posters
http://ht.ly/64h7C
Google Maps for Educators- A How To Guide
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/07/google-maps-for-educators-how-to-guide.html
A comprehensive list of Interactive sites for Kindergarten - 5th grade
http://askatechteacher.wordpress.com/great-websites-for-kids/
ENJOY
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Who moved my cheese: A glimpse of educators hesitancy with technology and my transition in life.
Not having written a post for Leadership Day since 2008 I felt compelled to participate this year.
My post is titled: Who moved my cheese: A glimpse of educator's hesitancy with technology and my transition in life.
The motivational book "Who Moved My Cheese" by Spencer Johnson deals with, at least by my interpretation, complacency, becoming too comfortable in life and our careers. Basically going to the same place for our "cheese," even though we know it may be out of date. We even realize it may not be the best but we continue to go back out of habit. When it's gone we wonder what has occurred. In most cases, we continue going back expecting the cheese to be there and when it doesn't magically appear, we moan and groan and wonder what will become of the future. The search for the new cheese must begin soon if we are to remain successful.
This parable can be applied to an educator's hesitancy with technology and the move to a 21st century pedagogy.We teach a certain way, class after class, year after year, even as times change we still return to the same place for the 20th century cheese. The reality is change has already occurred, the cheese has moved but some choose not to accept this reality. When colleagues explore and find new cheese, we may venture out with them but at the first sign of adversity we press the "easy button" and return to where we are comfortable, the 20th century. The cheese is still gone. We know we need to search for the new 21st century cheese yet we persist in banning, blocking and criticizing what we choose not to understand. We yearn for the past when teachers were the primary source of information and when students were taught there was only one right answer. We want a simpler time where memorizing dates, book reports and dioramas ruled the day.
The solution to this complacency lies in leadership. Administrators must be able to lead the way by supporting and modeling the use of 21st century pedagogy. Lifelong learning must be a key component in our teaching communities. It is imperative we remain a part of the learning cycle. We must be cognizant of the difficulty our students endure learning a new skill. The second decade of the 21st century is underway and the time has arrived for leaders to embrace the changes. We must lead teachers to the new cheese or at the very least support those teachers who have found the new cheese.
This book has been valuable to me in my educational career. The first time was 13 years ago when I transitioned from Head of School back into the classroom. The second time is now, as I transition from being a Principal, not renewed because of the school's financial situation, to an educational consultant dealing with implementing technology in the classroom. Personally, both transitions in my career evolved as finding my cheese after it had been moved. I am still in the process of searching but I do realize this is also a learning experience. While I miss the location of my last cheese, I realize it's gone. However, I am confident what lies ahead will be what I have been called to do.
My post is titled: Who moved my cheese: A glimpse of educator's hesitancy with technology and my transition in life.
The motivational book "Who Moved My Cheese" by Spencer Johnson deals with, at least by my interpretation, complacency, becoming too comfortable in life and our careers. Basically going to the same place for our "cheese," even though we know it may be out of date. We even realize it may not be the best but we continue to go back out of habit. When it's gone we wonder what has occurred. In most cases, we continue going back expecting the cheese to be there and when it doesn't magically appear, we moan and groan and wonder what will become of the future. The search for the new cheese must begin soon if we are to remain successful.
This parable can be applied to an educator's hesitancy with technology and the move to a 21st century pedagogy.We teach a certain way, class after class, year after year, even as times change we still return to the same place for the 20th century cheese. The reality is change has already occurred, the cheese has moved but some choose not to accept this reality. When colleagues explore and find new cheese, we may venture out with them but at the first sign of adversity we press the "easy button" and return to where we are comfortable, the 20th century. The cheese is still gone. We know we need to search for the new 21st century cheese yet we persist in banning, blocking and criticizing what we choose not to understand. We yearn for the past when teachers were the primary source of information and when students were taught there was only one right answer. We want a simpler time where memorizing dates, book reports and dioramas ruled the day.
The solution to this complacency lies in leadership. Administrators must be able to lead the way by supporting and modeling the use of 21st century pedagogy. Lifelong learning must be a key component in our teaching communities. It is imperative we remain a part of the learning cycle. We must be cognizant of the difficulty our students endure learning a new skill. The second decade of the 21st century is underway and the time has arrived for leaders to embrace the changes. We must lead teachers to the new cheese or at the very least support those teachers who have found the new cheese.
This book has been valuable to me in my educational career. The first time was 13 years ago when I transitioned from Head of School back into the classroom. The second time is now, as I transition from being a Principal, not renewed because of the school's financial situation, to an educational consultant dealing with implementing technology in the classroom. Personally, both transitions in my career evolved as finding my cheese after it had been moved. I am still in the process of searching but I do realize this is also a learning experience. While I miss the location of my last cheese, I realize it's gone. However, I am confident what lies ahead will be what I have been called to do.
Friday, July 29, 2011
A Different Summer Part 1
I started this post a week or so ago and I had so much to say I ended up separating it into a Part 1(now) and Part II ( next week). The blog will serve as my way of keeping you updated as I continue my job search.
As the weeks of summer continue to fly by rapidly, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the school year may begin with me sitting on the sidelines for the first time in 33 years. Opportunities have come and gone throughout the spring and summer but lately it has been very quiet on the job front.
Obviously there are a totally different set of emotions for me compared to past summers. I do have more time for myself and family, there's more time to think which can be beneficial but there is no sense of busyness for the beginning of school and that's where I'm struggling. I miss the sense of urgency, the anticipation of what lies ahead and the wondering if everything will go as planned. That's what I've done at this time of the year for over half my life. There is a sense of urgency now but it's different. It deals with the basic need of providing for my family, a situation of utmost importance but one which I have less control .
I have also come to the realization that my true mission in life has yet to be revealed to me. I am optimistic and have faith that eventually it will be revealed but the "eventually" part is frustrating to say the least.
I have definitely learned throughout this experience. I've learned the true strength of a relationship is proven during times of adversity, like the last 4 months. The relationships I tried to foster through the last dozen years have turned out to be strong and for the most part, ones I'll treasure forever. There have been a few that have surprised me both on the positive and negative side. I'll chalk the negatives up to a number of issues, the economy, the school climate and more importantly my lack of cultivating them as I should have. Regardless, I am richer for the experience.
I really appreciate all the prayers and kind thoughts throughout this ordeal. It truly humbles me to know so many of you care about my well being.
More to follow in the coming weeks!
Remember I tweet @gkosater
and my email is: gkosater@gmail.com
As the weeks of summer continue to fly by rapidly, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the school year may begin with me sitting on the sidelines for the first time in 33 years. Opportunities have come and gone throughout the spring and summer but lately it has been very quiet on the job front.
Obviously there are a totally different set of emotions for me compared to past summers. I do have more time for myself and family, there's more time to think which can be beneficial but there is no sense of busyness for the beginning of school and that's where I'm struggling. I miss the sense of urgency, the anticipation of what lies ahead and the wondering if everything will go as planned. That's what I've done at this time of the year for over half my life. There is a sense of urgency now but it's different. It deals with the basic need of providing for my family, a situation of utmost importance but one which I have less control .
I have also come to the realization that my true mission in life has yet to be revealed to me. I am optimistic and have faith that eventually it will be revealed but the "eventually" part is frustrating to say the least.
I have definitely learned throughout this experience. I've learned the true strength of a relationship is proven during times of adversity, like the last 4 months. The relationships I tried to foster through the last dozen years have turned out to be strong and for the most part, ones I'll treasure forever. There have been a few that have surprised me both on the positive and negative side. I'll chalk the negatives up to a number of issues, the economy, the school climate and more importantly my lack of cultivating them as I should have. Regardless, I am richer for the experience.
I really appreciate all the prayers and kind thoughts throughout this ordeal. It truly humbles me to know so many of you care about my well being.
More to follow in the coming weeks!
Remember I tweet @gkosater
and my email is: gkosater@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
I Can Seminar 2
Another great day working with dedicated professionals who are striving to be effective 21st century educators. Great discussion and participation from all that attended. I really enjoyed seeing some of you that I hadn't seen in a while. Here is the description of the 21st century students we teach:
Active learners who are instant pudding, 24/7, drive through, microwaveable, downloaded from the web, media driven, continuously connected students who don't just want coffee they want a Cinnamon Dolce Frappacino with Sugar-Free Syrup, low fat milk and a double shot of espresso.
Remember DropBox and Evernote a great apps to store documents in the clouds.
Discipline is all about consistency, relationship respect and relevance to the students.
Thanks for the great seminar. I look forward to working with you in the future.
Active learners who are instant pudding, 24/7, drive through, microwaveable, downloaded from the web, media driven, continuously connected students who don't just want coffee they want a Cinnamon Dolce Frappacino with Sugar-Free Syrup, low fat milk and a double shot of espresso.
Remember DropBox and Evernote a great apps to store documents in the clouds.
Discipline is all about consistency, relationship respect and relevance to the students.
Thanks for the great seminar. I look forward to working with you in the future.
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