MORE - MORE - MORE!

     As educators, it just seems like we are asked to do more and more with less and less. Expectations are high for teachers to meet the needs of the nation's children. The lense into the future is where k-12 educators live. They are in the trenches of creativity and innovation. We are ahead of the curve. Why? Because we get the learners first. Higher education needs to go into the k-12 classrooms in their cities and states and see first and how educators are using innovation and technology to teach the "new learner" The new learner has never existed before. They have never known a world without technology. They are "on" all the time and connected. They want to be given an outline of what they need to do with an outcome and then work their way into the answer. It is about the experiences. These learners don't want to be lectured to or hovered over by a teacher. They do want to know the teacher is there to help scaffolded them through struggles - the zone of proximal development. Millennials are many of the new educators and the iGeneration just started college. Who is next? Time will tell, but there is no time to lose and we have to think about the "more" differently - more positively.

Teach More

     If we think about teaching more, it sounds like it could be more work. But more is a big picture idea. It is how the world really is, not separated topics, like math and science. If you think about your content, ask yourself how can I teach more of the big ideas. How is my subject connected to real life. Some might call this project based learning, service learning or learning by design. It really is designed you know. We have to purposely create instruction for learners to experience why the heck it matters. If you don't get buy in for why it matters "to me" then you lose the learners of today. 
     For me, Edmodo online learning platform is more than a classroom for students. It is a fairyland of new ideas and resources for teachers in the Edmodo Spotlight. I have taken courses like the CTE Workshop Course created by teacher leader Christie Collins for Gamifying Instruction with Google that gave me training, experiences and, opportunities to apply learning and create artifacts all for free at my leisure. I used what I learned to integrate new ways for students to show mastery using technology.  During our mid-year break I discovered another learning opportunity in Edmodo Spotlight shared by Mariana Garcia, another amazing educator, the 5-day Photo Challenge to improve Your Skills This Winter Break. I took the challenge and was entertained over break and realized, students are taking pictures all the time. But are they the right pictures for a portfolio? I created a course in Edmodo using the 5 day challenge as a model for students to learn how to apply some basic photography concepts in portfolio development. This was a great activity to get back into the swing of learning after winter break. Students were engaged and finding out that selfies don't really meet the standards for quality photography. Since then, they are more aware of photos they take, apply principles and are beginning to create professional portfolios of their artifacts. Through this, I discovered KQED another Edmodo Spotlight resource for teach professional development. I love it, because it has courses for free chunked instruction in learning digital media literacy skills. 

Communicate/Collaborate More

     The 21st century skills for communication and collaboration are critical for educators and students. Edmodo can help apply these skills. Professional Learning Communities (PLC) are a way for learners to gather together to discuss, share, problem solve, analyze and create together. These can be done face-to-face or digitally. Edmodo can be used to network, create small groups, share resources and create resources. There is a new PLC button for all your connections in Edmodo so you can message and collaborate with each other. District PLC groups can be automatically generated. The site manager could create PLC small groups for grade levels and content to share resources, voice concerns, have discussions and do book studies to name just a few ideas. Small groups can be created for professional development training for the school or district. Teachers can use small groups within a course or project to put students together for activities or differentiated instruction. Co-teachers can be added to a small group for Special Education intervention and scaffolding. Google tools can be integrated into the small groups and activities for students to collaborate and create artifacts. Teachers can make connections with educators in other countries by learning about them through Spotlight or in the Topics are of discussion and build relationships of collaboration for themselves and for student projects.

Listen More

     When we think about listening more, it can be in discussions, which we are used to, but it can also be "listening" to a story such as A Day in the Life shared by Global Oneness, an Edmodo Spotlight publisher resource provider and still free. When we listen to people's stories from around the world it helps us to develop empathy. When students discuss these stories it helps them develop understanding and awareness. Hopefully igniting a desire to be a part of change in the world. Another publisher The World's Largest Lesson has many lessons available on Edmodo Spotlight to address poverty, sustainability and climate change. The world has many voices, but educators have to take a moment to listen and help students listen so that they can hear what part they can play in change. Edmodo helps to break the barriers of new learning opportunities. 

So What More Can I Do?

Well, consider Edmodo for teaching, collaborating and listening more...differently:)