eTalk: March 2010

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

If You Were Being Graded . . .

NO apologizes for the repost here. I think this is an idea worth revisiting.

Several years ago, I was introduced to the concepts used by the Key Learning Community in Indianapolis, IN to evaluate student learning. Among all of the ‘grading’ systems I’ve ever studied, this one continues to impress me the most. And I profusely apologize to these wonderful educators for warping their ideas in this article. (And if you’d like to know what their system is, visit: http://www.edutopia.org/key-learning-community)

Today, I got to thinking about the idea of being graded for our own professional learning. Not just in terms of the ‘semi-annual evaluation process’ that many of us undergo in our local school district. But actually being graded for our own professional learning. You know what this means! Are you a professional learner? If the following Key were used to give you a ‘grade’ for your participation in professional learning, what mark would you give yourself?

+ Intrinsically Motivated: Shows enjoyment and involvement in activity for its own sake and for the learning provided, seeks self-improvement and new ideas on own, regardless of either external support and praise or negative feedback and punishment.

= Extrinsically Motivated: Responds to leader- or school-initiated activities and reward system; expects praise, monetary reward, or positive evaluation and promotion.

O Passive: little or no effort to participate.

X Disruptive: Interferes with others being able to participate.

Well?

Now, take this one step further. If you were grading your students with this Key, and the majority of them fell into the last three categories, what would you do to change that? It’s your classroom, your learning environment. What would you change?

This, then, leads you to MY conundrum. What am I going to change?

Sunday, March 14, 2010

History of e-mail

This infographic is interesting! How long have you depended on e-mail to communicate? Thanks to Larry Ferlazzo for pointing this one out today on his blog. The original can be seen at the Focus website.

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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

MACE Conference Ahead!

I'm heading to the MACE Conference in Manhattan, Kansas tomorrow! And I can hardly wait. It is always fun to get in a room full of educators and share ideas. Kay Good, library media specialist from USD 240, and I will be presenting a session on Using Web 2.0 Tools on Friday. Here are some links, if you would like to see the sites we will be sharing!

http://weblist.me/linda---top-ten-for-mace-2010

http://weblist.me/Mace-2010-0

http://delicious.com/lloutback/MACE10

http://de.icious.com/precious3591/MACE10