Eclectic Technology

Is the memorization of information an effective way for learners to retain information? According to brain research the answer would be no. It is critical that connections be made. This post by Jackie Gerstein discusses the need for:

* Context

* Increase context and relevancy

In the section on increasing context and relevancy you will find a visual of an Authentic Learning Matrix as well as a number of links to additional resources.

Has your role as a teacher shifted? Do you model being a learner with your learners? This post by Jackie Gerstein shares why it is important that the educator "needs to understand and be able to articulate and demonstrate the process of learning, him or herself."

How can you go about doing this. Gerstein recommends that "educators pick something new to learn and practice doing the following: (below quoted from the post)

1. Explicitly state and record the metacognitive process while learning.
2. Demonstrate and articulate the actual steps of learning.
3. Record the stages of artifact development.
4. Understand and embrace the iterative process of learning.
5. Use and demonstrate the self-evaluative reflection process.

Gerstein then discusses each of these five steps/procedures/strategies, providing links to additional resources as well as one additional visual as well as a video that looks at how the learning process is iterative (and may provide you with an idea you would like to do with your class).

How can you, as an educator, help students develop a growth mindset? This infographic from Jackie Gerstein provides provides a  look at:

* "the common beliefs of an educator who promotes a growth mindset"

* "common beliefs of an educator who promotes a growth mindset"

She also discusses the need for a teacher to become a coach when we look at mindset, providing a link for additional information that you may find helpful, as well as links to some of here previous writings on mindset.

Early in this post Gerstein states:
"Often, though, in schools the following tends to occur surrounding executive functions:

     1. There is an assumption that students possess these skills and 

         abilities.

     2. Students are punished if they fail to practice and use the skills.

As teachers when we think of executive thinking we may think of learners on IEPs or 504s, yet the tools that work well with students on IEPs and 504s also provide great support to our "regular ed students."

So the question of how we can help our learners who struggle with expectations that they may not have learned, such as "be organized" or "stay in your seat" or "raise your hand to speak" may not be understood.

In most schools the teaching of executive functioning skills is not the priority. Yet we do support technology and today technology provides a wide variety of support that is not expensive. This post goes on to share a presentation made by Karen Janowski, a teacher whom works with students with disabilities and knows her "stuff." (You may also be interested in exploring her website UDL Tech Toolkit at http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/).

As always Gerstein has included additional resources which include a link to the Newton Public Schools Assistive Tech website (and at this site they have a presentation designed for parents on the same subject) as well as a detailed list of tools to assist learners with to do lists/task management, time management, productivity and note taking, organizing, and more. Read through the post and find some tools to suggest to parents and learners that may help the learner be more successful in school this year.

We often hear of growth mindset and fixed mindset. Is there also a creative mindset? Jackie Gerstein suggests that there is a creative mindset in this post. Why? If a mindset is defined as "ideas and attitudes with which a person approaches a situation"  there is a list of "ideas and attitudes" that may be part of a creative mindset. The visual above provides Gerstein's list of some items she considers important for a creative mindset. The list is also below.

* Believes in one's own creativity

* Embraces curiosity

* Suspends judgement - silences the inner critic

* Tolerates ambiguity

* Persists even when confronted with skepticism and rejection

* Taps into childlike imagination; a child's sense of wonder

Each of these is described in more detail and links to additional resources are provided. There is also a short discussion conditions necessary to facilitate creative mindset in a classroom.

Jackie Gerstein shares nine questions that you might consider asking yourself as you design new units. Two are listed below. The infographic she designed, with nine questions is in the image above, and you can access a list of the nine questions as well as the infographic in her post.

* Will the learners get the chance to share their work with other learners with a more global audience?

* Will the learners find the learning activities engaging? interesting? relevant? useful?

Gerstein's questions help you focus on the learner.They may help you transform lessons in ways you had not envisioned.

After a break Jackie Gerstein has returned with a new post that looks at self-regulation. What does Gersteing mean when she talks about self-regulation. She lists eight characteristics. Three are below.

* Uses metacognitive processes

* Regulates and controls emotional and cognitive processes

* Manages time for one’s own benefit

After providing the list of 8 characteristic she shares strategies to help students "build and expand their self-regulation skills. Providing students with "metacognitive reflective questions both pre and post activity to help students learn about self-regulation.

Self-regulation has three phases, and she shares a visual about the three phases as well as clear descriptions.

The post goes on to cover additional strategies and also has an excellent SlideShare on Teaching Children Self-Reguation.

At the end of the post she discusses self-regulation as a 21st century skill and learning activities for young people.

As always Gerstein's post are chock full of additional links. Educate yourself and teachers in your building by sharing this informative post.