Dr. Smith
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Mineola High School
  • Courses @ Adelphi
  • Courses @ LIU
  • Presentations

Lessons Learned

My Last Speech as Principal @mineolahs

6/26/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Good Morning!

Welcome Members of the Board of Education, Mr. Gaven, administrators, teachers, our senior class advisors, families, and most importantly, the Mineola High School Class of 2022!  What a beautiful day to celebrate this incredible class… together again at the Tilles Center! 
  • Thank you Ava, Katherine, and Alvin, your speeches were incredible.
  • Thank you Rose, Grace, Izzy, Vanessa, James, Aidan, and Julia. Your voices bring so much joy to our ceremony. 
  • Thank you to the orchestra in the balcony… we can see you! And thank you to Dr. Messina and Ms. Campbell for leading these musicians. 

I can’t tell you how excited I am to be here with you all this morning!

Each year, as I look for inspiration when writing my graduation speech, I often find it in the most obscure locations. This year was no different. I was in Mr. Gaven’s office in the beginning of May and could hear faint music in the distance. The upbeat rhythm caught my attention and I opened the window to see where it was coming from. 

An instant smile came to my face as I saw our youngest learners, the pre-k kids, with their teachers, practicing a dance outside to Shakira’s “Try Anything” from the movie Zootopia. I thought about their innocence… I thought about how they were just beginning their journey… and I thought about what lies ahead for them in our fast moving, and unpredictable world.

When I returned home that evening, I dug into the lyrics… 

"I keep falling down
I keep on hitting the ground
But I always get up now….  to see what's next
Birds don't just fly
They fall down and get up
Nobody learns without getting it wrong"

This couldn’t be a better descriptor of the past 2 ½ years of our lives… A time filled with both tragedy and triumph. 

I have thought a lot about time lately… a topic that has allowed me to reflect ever since my dad gave me this pocket watch a few years ago. It was my grandfather’s high school graduation gift, passed down to me, and has been symbolic ever since.   

Time is a funny thing when you think of it. We are constantly hearing about it… living through it, or affected by it. Whether you’ve been told that you are right on time, it’s about time, you better take your time , or you are living through one strange time, time is a part of you. 

How often do we think about using our time better, and regret that we didn’t spend it wisely? How often do we wish time could slow down when we are on vacation, or doing something we enjoy? And How often do we wish time would speed up when we are forced to do something unpleasant?  Although we cannot literally turn the clock back, or speed it up for that matter, according to Actor, Jeremy Irons “We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they’re called memories. Some take us forward, they’re called dreams.” 

Your time machines have already created amazing memories together, and now as you step forward in time, you can begin to realize your dreams. So, take control of your time, live your own life, and maximize this valuable and limited resource. By doing so, you will never have to wish that you could go back and fix the things you did or didn’t do in the past.

So back to Shakira and our Pre K kids… the song got louder… and even more beautiful.  

"I won't give up
No, I won't give in till I reach the end
And then I'll start again
No, I won't leave
I want to try everything
I want to try even though I could fail
I won't give up
No, I won't give in till I reach the end
Then I'll start again
No, I won't leave
I want to try everything
I want to try even though I could fail"

Try everything my friends!  Don’t ever be afraid to fail. Over the past 13 years, you have come so far and accomplished so much.

Remember those accomplishments…  the ones you have achieved in the classroom…  the ones you have demonstrated in service to others, and the successes you have demonstrated on the athletic fields, courts, and stages across our district. These accomplishments have been nothing short of extraordinary.

As you move to the next stage of life, I have a few parting words of advice.
  • Never give up on your dreams. 
  • If you want something… Go for it! 
  • Work hard and discover what you are really made to do… your calling in life.  
  • Never confuse a job that will pay you… with a career that will fulfill you. 
  • Seize opportunities… or you will end up admiring those who did.

And finally, take the precious TIME you have to Enjoy this one last stop…  For it is How you spend your time that will help define who you are… and who you will become. 

Class of 2022! It has been an honor to be your principal. I am so proud of you all… And I can’t wait to see all you go on to accomplish. 

At this time, it is my distinct honor to welcome Mr. Patrick Talty, Vice President of the Board of Education. 
Picture
Picture
Picture

“We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they’re called memories. Some take us forward, they’re called dreams.”  ~Jeremy Irons


For the past 19 years I have been a building administrator in the Mineola Union Free School District. For the past seven, I have been the proud principal of Mineola High School. We have accomplished a lot as team during those past seven years, but most importantly, I have been blessed to have met and worked with the most amazing educators, families, and students! The relationships we have developed and the memories we have formed will last a lifetime. 

It has been a true honor!
Now... on to the next chapter!

Whittney Smith, Ed.D.
​#MineolaProud
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Seizing the opportunity to make learning real...

5/17/2020

0 Comments

 
Children are likely to become enthusiastic, lifelong learners as a result of being provided with an engaging curriculum; a safe, caring community in which to discover and create; and a significant degree of choice about what ​(and how and why) they are learning. ​ ~ Alfie Kohn
Where there are challenging times, there are also opportunities.  When the NYS Education Department cancelled the Regents exams, I knew there was an opportunity to address the constraints that many teachers feel around preparing students for a predictable, yet anxiety provoking summative assessment that occurs at the end of every June.  I challenged them to teach how they always wanted to and to engage students by making learning real, not just relevant... to have fun! Empower students by providing voice and choice... and shift from traditonal to authentic assessments.
​After Week 9... I sent the faculty the following request:
I am trying to put together a blog post about what is working during this period of remote learning. Being a part of our weekly Webex sessions has been, among other things, inspiring when I hear about the ways in which you are connecting with students and engaging them in different learning opportunities... 
Please consider sharing a conversation, anecdote, assignment, and / or student product that you have seen / experienced over these last 8 weeks (14 at the time of this post). 
I am looking for things that exemplify the Four Cs (creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, communication), student choice, voice, or anything that stood out to you. ​
​
Below are just several examples of student work, explanations from our amazing teachers, and anecdotes about learning from our incredible students. What you will see is that learning can be deeper, more exciting, and real when we empower our  students. Our challenge is to remember what is working and carry that momentum into the next school year. 

The examples below are a representation of amazing things going on in our "virtual" classrooms and in the homes of our students. Intrinsic motivation increases, when students own their own learning... Our clubs are meeting as well as, as is our student organization and class officers. School buildings may be closed, but we continue to seize the opportunity to making learning real!
Social Studies 
Math
Picture
Click the picture for a link to the project
I've had some success with using Web-Ex debates/discussions to replace a Canvas assignment.  I gave my global students a selection of materials to explore in order to provide some choice. Videos, documents, images, etc.
Students who joined our Web-Ex and engaged in a debate about our decision to use the atomic bomb on Japan received credit for this assignment.
Students who didn't feel comfortable debating, were able to post their opinion on a discussion board.
It was a fun way to elicit more participation during the Web-Ex in a low stakes way and provide some choice for students.
​- Mr. Fretz (@JFretzMineolaHS)
Another example is a Change the World Project. The big questions are listed below and students have a wide array of choice regarding how they demonstrate their understanding -  video, art, music or writing. 
  1. How do you see the world right now? Is our current situation reminiscent of any other time in history?
  2. How do you WANT to see the world. What do you want the future to look like?
  3. How can we get there? How can we get from your answer in question 1 to your answer in question 2? What does everyone have to do? Leaders, families, children, etc.
The project description and choices are linked below. 
-Ms. McDonnell (@TMMcD09)
change_the_world_project.pdf
File Size: 60 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Picture
The Geometry team created a fun circles project where the students got to illustrate any picture they wanted that involved circles. They wrote the equations of their circles as an alternate assessment. I'm attaching some student work from that project. The beautiful thing about Geometry is how visual it is and the assignment tapped into the visual potential of circles by giving students an art project instead of a math test. Students were tasked with creating a graphic representation of anything they chose, using circles as their one compositional requirement. Students were assessed by their understanding of equations of circles on the coordinate graph and they were bound only by their own imagination and creativity! 

- Ms. Sloane (@betterbesloane)
- Ms. Grassie (@Grassiemath)
- Ms. Gutierrez (@Gutierrez_MHS)
- Mr. Haber (@BHaber36)

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
If you look at history,
innovation doesn't come just
from giving people incentives; it comes from creating environments where their ideas can connect.

-Steven Johnson
Fine and Performing Arts
Picture
The assignment above was submitted on Canvas by Joshua B. and relates to growth mindset in a musical setting.
Picture
My concert band students have been having great success using Canvas and SmartMusic. I have also been using a variety of sources on the internet such as Jazz at Lincoln Center's Jazz Academy Masterclass videos to engage my jazz ensemble students. I have received so many well-written and thoughtful assignment submissions from my students. I've been able to differentiate my instruction and communicate well with them via Webex on a group and individual basis. Also, I'm excited to be teaching a webex music class with our RISE students next Thursday at 10. I'm glad we are able to communicate and keep them engaged during this time.  
-Mr. Ratner
The video above is a  recording of one of Alvin T.'s SmartMusic assignments. SmartMusic is a web-based suite of music education tools that support efficient practice, helping musicians to develop and grow.
Picture
Students have been communicating regularly with Mr. Ratner via e-mail and sharing their experiences in concert band with him. Please also see attached letter written by Sam Levitan. It speaks not only to the connection to music, but also the relationship with the teacher.
Theater & Dance 
One of the things that I worried about over the past couple of months doing remote learning was how to still be able to take "performance" classes and still keep them exciting. I think the fact that my students are able to be so vulnerable, and that they trust each other, is what allowed our classes to still do similar things on video as opposed to in school. 
I really wanted them to be comfortable in front of the camera and the trust we built as a class really helped. The students are presenting, acting scenes, doing improv activities, working out, and dancing together! 
One thing I really wanted to give them was choice. By giving them choices for projects, such as choreographing a dance number, writing a proposal to put on a show, set/costume and lighting design, creating theatre lesson plans (for our future teachers) and writing scripts/monologues, this allowed them to choose what they wanted to focus on and they were excited to create and share with us! 
It makes me so happy and excited to see their faces and know that their passion for theatre and dance can still be exciting- even through a screen. Can't wait to be back together again!
-Ms. Oliveri (@AislinnOliveri)
Science
Chemistry
For me, one key component of remote learning is flexibility. We have to understand that some of our students have had extra responsibilities added to their plates, and students do not all have the same time available to work on assignments as one another. For example, one of my students has reached out to me to apologize for not completing all of her assignments. Her parents are still working, as is her older sister, so she has become full time child care for her toddler niece. With a toddler of my own, I understand how difficult it can be to get things done with a small child clinging to you at all times. After all, they can only nap for a few hours a day! She wanted to make sure I knew she wasn’t slacking off and told me she stays up all night sometimes just to try and get all of her assignments done.  I appreciated her honesty and willingness to talk to me about her quarantine experience.  While I cannot offer her any babysitting relief, what I can offer her is flexibility.  Allowing her extra time to complete her assignments and reassuring her that I understood her situation and that I knew she was doing the best she could.  I told her that health is more important than high school chemistry and to take her time with the assignments so she could get some sleep. She was extremely appreciative of my willingness to listen to her and simply offer some understanding and flexibility. While creating unique and enriching virtual assignments is of course important, sometimes our most meaningful successes are just being there for our students and showing them that we care about them.
- Mrs. Adamski (@mrsadamski1)

Picture
Mr. Wilkens' students created a comic demonstrating their knowledge of the Rock Cycle including their understanding of academic vocabulary by illustrating it.
Picture
Amplifying student voice in Ms. Kelly's class using Pear Deck and Webex.
Picture
It's all about relationships. The last class for these seniors in Ms. Kennedy's AP Biology class!
Creativity thrives on a consistent diet of challenges and opportunities, which are often one and the same. ~ Lee Clow
Science Research
The Webex (face-to-face) meetings with students have been awesome.  The attendance has been great. I am constantly inspired by the students.  They are present and willing to share. Of course some are having difficulties but even those students 'show up' for the class meetings.
Here are few of my and my students favorite assignments. 
​Please check out the link below.
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/scientists-have-turned-structure-coronavirus-music (Links to an external site.)
Scientist set the structure of Coronavirus protein to music. Which protein did they use?
What aspect of the structure did they use to set to music? Give some details.
But why would you set a virus to music?
I am looking forward to hear your impressions of music in our next class meeting.  Please answer the above three questions either as text or upload your answers in a pdf file.  
Many students were surprised at how calming the music was.  The students were surprised to see that by combining totally different fields (music and science) that scientist could learn about the structure of this protein.
SCIENCE IS EVERYWHERE
Please follow the directions for this assignment in the link below.
SCIENCE IS EVERYWHERE.pdf
Assignment: Upload your final product in Canvas. 
I hope everyone is thinking about the challenge competition.  I know the original deadline was May 31st but, I hope everyone is working on their ideas for submission. You can submit at any  time before the deadline. Notice new deadline below! (June 15)
Assignment:   Once you have completed your challenge competition submission, upload your entry here.  Remember you can submit anytime before the competition deadline.  I cannot wait to see how creative you are!!
Picture
The Crown Education Challenge theme is:
Hope during a pandemic. 
There are three tracks; Art, STEM, and Writing. Your choice! Do not feel obligated to choose STEM.
 The rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting millions of lives worldwide. Schools are closing, cities are locking down, and the economy is slowing. During this difficult time, we must remain hopeful. The Crown Education Challenge aims to encourage students to take a stake in this global challenge by responding to the theme of “hope during a pandemic.” The challenge is open for entries until June 15, 2020 at 11:59 PM PST. Please read the challenge rules (Links to an external site.) for more information. If you have any questions, visit the FAQ (Links to an external site.) page or contact us at info@crowneducationchallenge.org. Assignments 2 and 3 are included because when I introduced these assignments, the students were very excited.  Immediately sharing ideas and thinking about working in groups for at-home science (see examples above).
For hope during a pandemic, one of the students is planning on creating a dance to the cornoavirus music from the first assignment.
I heard the beginnings of rap songs, seen sketches of drawings and comic strips, and heard the beginnings of a story or scene from a play.  I cannot wait to see the submissions. 
 In addition I have attached a presentation video that I ask the Advanced Research II students to upload.
​- Dr. McGlade-McCulloh (@ellenmc2)

Chemistry & Physics

​​Physics and Chemistry teachers collaborated to create a group project for students to complete in lieu of a final exam. Students could choose who they would like to work with as well as what they wanted to do and how they were going to demonstrate their understanding.  The groups choose a topic that they learned about this year (see project description below). Then they choose ONE of the following media (see project description below) to express the information and concepts from the assigned unit. There is a grading rubric attached as well. 
-Mr. Musumeci (@Mrmusumeci_MHS)
​-Mrs. Adamski (@mrsadamski1)
Project examples include a children's story, demonstration videos, comic strips, and a song.
free_fall__childrens_story__caitlin.pdf
File Size: 1155 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

newtons_law_song__wagon_wheel__chris.mp3
File Size: 2591 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

motion_graphs_comic_strip_-_alessandra.pdf
File Size: 306 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

English
Instead of acting out the trial from To Kill a Mockingbird, the kids worked individually or in groups and pieced together one scene.  This exceptional example below  is Aimee's project.
-Mr. Smith (@dsmithela)
Picture
Demonstrating analysis and understand via multiple measures in Mrs. Bucchio's class (@Mrs_KBucchio)
Picture
Fusfoo is the platform for our school newspaper "The Questionmark." Click the picture for a link to our Channel - This article and many more are available for you to see.
Below is my Choice Week Project and some of the assignments I received from my student's. I wish I could send them all, it was the most responsive project to date and I was so impressed, and entertained while viewing their submissions! 
- Ms. Gross (@MsGross_MHS)
Picture
Picture
Picture
This is a picture of outside my Dad’s house. The day after I took this picture, we got the news that Mom was allowed to come home from her 10th neck surgery. I appreciate this picture because I feel it represents that even through the rain, something will always shine through. In my situation, I view the rain as the pandemic and my Mom’s surgery and I view the rainbow as my Mom coming home.
⬅️⬅️⬅️
​My students are currently sending me pictures for a unit I’m doing called “Appreciating the World Around Me.” The assignment was to send me a picture that they or someone they know took representing something beautiful, innocent, simple, etc. to represent their appreciation of their environment. We discussed how this is particularly important now. They are sending me beautiful pictures of sunsets, beaches, flowers, pets, siblings, etc.
~ Mrs. Zaffarese
The student and teacher work included in this post are a result of good questions, coupled with a lot of creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking... and this is only a sample. It is time to keep the momentum going and continue to seize the opportunity to make learning real. These skills, along with a sense of community, are the ones that students need right now. 

Finally, I leave you with a quote from Tom Murray (@thomascmurray) and a tweet from Mrs. Erika Meza (@MrsMezaMHS) to remind you that as we continue to push toward modern learning and the important skills our students need, we must always remember that remote or live, teaching and learning is all about relationships... 
Understanding the stories of others and having the ability to act on them in a supportive way builds the type of individuals our world so desperately needs.
~ Thomas C. Murray
Picture
0 Comments

Covid-19 Picture Journal

4/26/2020

0 Comments

 
A picture is worth a thousand words.  During these unprecendented times, I started to crowd source images from around my community that not only depict the difficulties and extreme struggles felt by many, but also the amazing way our region has come together and helped each other. There is still a lot of good to see in the world... help me add to this journal with pictures from your community!
Be Safe & Stay Healthy! 
#WeAreInThisTogether

Made with Padlet
0 Comments

A focus on Learning... in a "Remote" World

4/7/2020

0 Comments

 
​In high schools across New York State there is always talk of the Regents Exam. This exam has been the focus of teachers since 1878 when the first high school exams were given. On April 6, 2020, that changed... at least for the time being. 

Now what?  I think we now have the unique opportunity to focus on learning, not the test anymore.  While we rely soley on remote learning opportunities... our ability to leverage technology will certainly accelarate our ability to focus on student agency. Some cynics will say that without a Regents Exam, the students will not be motivated anymore, they're going to "check out." I don't think so. Instead, I believe we need to seize this opportunity and engage our students.  Remember that first and foremost we teach students, then we teach content... and remember, children are naturally curious, want to make connections, and desire learning things that are relevant to them; things that are real. 
Picture
Picture
https://mylearningnetwork.com/blooming-as-a-learner/
When we were thrust into this remote world as we walked out of our schools on March 13, 2020,  I sent an email to the faculty. I will never forget that email. Along with a remote learning planning guide, I sent teachers my phone numbers and those of my assistant principals', so they could reach us at anytime.  I wanted them to know that we cared about them as people first; we cared about their social and emotional well being just as we wanted them to care for our students and their families.
In the educational world we hear a lot about "Maslow before Blooms;" in other words, we need to take into account the hierarchy of human needs before the hierarchy of human learning. 
Next, I asked our educators to reflect on remote learning and consider the following while they focused on what remote learning would look like in their 'new' classrooms.

  • Emphasize Choice - allowing students to chose how they demonstrate their learning will increase completion and help them navigate misconceptions
  • Emphasize Learning and Not Grades - when students are not concerned about "the grade," they are more likely to learn the material on their own, rather than “collaborating” with others (unless that is what you intend them to do). 
  • Direct All Student & Teacher Tech Related Issues to Bonnie and Katie (they will route to the tech department if needed)
  • Last but not least (for now) —> If you are having difficultly reaching a student (e.g. they are not responding) please reach out to our mental health team. They are counseling students and are ready to assist in any way possible.
Never did I think that I would be writing this post on April 11, 2020 (20 days into an extended school closure) telling you that the Regents exams have been canceled. 

Now is the time to tap into student interests and passions.

​Now is the time to focus on strengths.

​Now is the time to give choice.
Picture
The Four Cs: The essential skills for modern learners.
Now is the time to leverage creation tools. Whether it is a product to create or a problem to solve, allow students to determine how they demonstrate and share their learning. 

Now is the the time to shift the paradigm  as we are  not going to take high stakes, multiple choice tests! Lets do what we've always wanted to do... make learning fun!
0 Comments

Remote Learning @mineolahs

3/14/2020

3 Comments

 
Remote learning (also called distance learning) requires increased student agency where students will work on their own and at their own pace. Digital technology gives students the ability to continue learning outside of the classroom as well as opportunities to learn from peers, share thoughts, read, watch videos, and interact virtually.  Furthermore, it allows the teacher to take on more of a facilitative role while empowering students through self-paced, self-directed learning. 
Live Meeting Time (Synchronous)​ 
These communication tools afford you the opportunity to host a live "lecture" or hold office hours for your class or groups of students. WebEx and Google Meet also allow you screen sharing ability. Finally... WebEx and Google Meet will afford teachers the ability to record their live meetings to share with their students at a later time.  Please take a look at these tips for "Minding your Manners During Conference Calls" as well as the "Do's and Don'ts of Video Conferencing."
  1. Google Meet 
  2. FaceTime 
  3. WebEx 
Picture
Meet
Picture
FaceTime
Picture
Webex
Picture
Picture
On Your Own & Guided Learning Time (Asynchronous)
 Asynchronous learning will occupy the majority of learning for students. This will occur through Canvas, our Learning Management System. Students will receive lessons, videos, assignments and learning activities through this platform that will be supplemented with the use of Mathspace and Actively Learn. Additionally, teachers may employ the use of the "tools to increase engagement" listed below.
Canvas - our Learning Management System (LMS) will house and distribute announcements, content, assignments, discussions, and videos.  Watch the video here to learn how to stay organized with remote learning.
​
Actively Learn - subject area reading resources with built in supports and progress monitoring tools for teachers
Mathspace - Interactive, standards and topic aligned math work with built in supports
Tools to Increase Engagement
​We are well poised to continue to use the tools that we have become accustomed to that increase student engagement and promote collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. 
The Google suite of apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides) that are part of our workspace accounts in addition to the apps below are just some of the ways our students will continue to stay connected and engaged in the learning process. All of our students have access to our KidOYO platform as well. Computer science students will have assignments and all others are welcome to contiue working on their digital portfolios and additional learning pathways. Of course, this is not an inclusive list, rather just some of the ways that learning will continue to be meaningful for students. 
Picture
Quizizz
Picture
Flipgrid
Picture
Padlet
Picture
Socrative
Picture
Pear Deck
Picture
Edpuzzle
Picture
Gimkit
Picture
Quizlet
Self-Care 
Look for regular announcements through Canvas from our guidance and counseling department that will promote physical activity and self care (see video here) while at home. We know how important physical activity and self care is and we don't want you to forget it either. 
​Ask yourself the following questions that address the 5 types of self care (physical, social, mental, spiritual and emotional):
​
  • Are you getting adequate sleep?
  • Is your diet fueling your body well?
  • Are you taking charge of your health?
  • Are you getting enough exercise? 
  • Are you keeping in contact with your family and friends (phone, FaceTime, text)?
  • What are you doing to nurture your relationships with friends and family?
Picture
  • Are you making enough time for activities that mentally stimulate you?
  • Are you doing proactive things to help you stay mentally healthy?
  • What questions do you ask yourself about your life and experience?
  • Are you engaging in spiritual practices that you find fulfilling?
  • Do you have healthy ways to process your emotions?
  • Do you incorporate activities into your life that help you feel recharged?
Enrichment Resources
Visit over 500 art museums & galleries around the world 
Curb Your Sports Hunger: Top Sports Movies on Netflix Right Now
20 Screen Free Things to do with Your Kids [or yourself] Indoors When School is Closed

Art BINGO (created by Bethany Nugent)
​
Visit 12 Famous Museums offering Virtual Tours
​
Yoga with Adriene
pParent Letters:
​3/17/20 - Remote Learning Letter to Families
3/20/20 - Update
​
3/27/20 - Update
4/4/20 - Update
​4/7/20 - Update
4/9/20 - AP Testing Updates
​
4/10/20 - Update
4/17/20 - AP Update #2
​
4/17/20 - Update
4/24/20 - Update
4/30/20 -  AP Update #3 (AP Testing Guide / Exam Day Checklist for Students)
 5/2/20 - Update
​
5/9/20 - Update
​
5/16/20 - Update
5/18/20 - AP Update #4
5/22/20 - Update
3 Comments

TedEd Weekend 2020

2/10/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
What an incredible day Saturday, February 8, 2020 was! I had the honor of spending the day at the Ted-Ed Weekend in NYC  along with Heather Dvorak, Assistant Principal at Mineola High School and Lindsay Audiino and Bette Sloane, two teachers at Mineola High School and the Ted-Ed Advisors. This is TED’s only official event featuring an all-student audience and an all-student Speaker lineup!

Why were we there? Two Words... Jennifer Moglia. Jennifer was one of 12 students from 10 Countries representing one of only two students selected from the United States to speak at this International event. (Below is a description from the Ted-Ed Blog).
Jennifer Moglia is a 16-year-old high school junior from Mineola, New York. Jennifer’s Talk is about her experience of managing an anxiety disorder through sports. She’s most proud of her involvement in sports journalism, and was thrilled to cover the National Women’s Hockey League’s championship game in 2018! When she isn’t watching or writing about sports, Jennifer loves to play ukulele, go to concerts, participate in poetry slam events, make macaroni and cheese, and spend time with her cats and friends. ​
Jennifer kicked off the event with her talk that was amongst talks about space, residential schools, spirituality, menstruation, perfectionism, autism, second hand trauma, and more... including a talk about being kind to the blob fish :). 
Between “sets” the educators in attendance were treated to a dialogue with Angela Duckworth whose Ted Talk, “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” has been viewed over 19 million times. Some key takeaways from our dialogue with her were:
  • We need to combine empathy with high expectations
  • Conditions where failure is honored are necessary 
  • People do not become great at something that bores them
  • Instead of comparing to others, we should be comparing our past self, to our current self, to our future self
  • ... and; I should be attending the Educator Summit hosted by the Character Lab (www.characterlab.org) 
To sum up my time at Ted-Ed, I am always inspired by our students when we give them the opportunity to explore their passions. We must continue to amplify student voice and provide increased opportunities to provide choice in terms of learning.  Congratulations to Jennifer Moglia and thank you to Lindsay Audiino, Bette Sloane, and the entire Ted-Ed team for cultivating a rich student centered program that celebrates the power of our youth. As our hosts from Ted-Ed reminded us, “The youth are changing the world... now.”
0 Comments

EDspaces 2019: Workshops and Marketplace

10/25/2019

1 Comment

 
Below are my notes and takeaways from my learning at EDspaces2019. The conference, held in Milwaukee, WI this year,  "the place where technology, space, and pedagogy converge." It was a great opportunity to see learning environments and hear from expert designers, architects, and educators.
​On Wednesday, I began by hearing from Glen Brook High School on their change process. Their video, “Learning spaces -we are listening” demonstrated the student involvement in the change process.
Perhaps not so ironic, Ryan Bretag, from the district, discussed why is change hard and related it to change's alignment to the grief cycle (Kubler Ross model). A Lott of work was done around he well-being dimensions and pedagogical drivers.
The Why is an Anchor, not an activity
  • Many voices
  • Check decisions around the why
  • Honesty + Awareness + perspective x Purpose = Y it is hard
  • Bring community in all the time
  • Storage kills other space
Mindset Matters - Culture eats process for breakfast
Think about a space where you think, create, recharge, collaborate = are those all the same space?
When thinking about change, pedagogical and environmental, partnerships matter - Create intersections that move you - who are the people that can help move us
  • Google
  • Steelcase
  • Mindfulness institute
  • Measure to improve not to prove - Glenbrooks survey results
  • Look at Steelcase education measurement tool.

On Thursday Morning I heard from Steve Olson - Superintendent - Community HS 155. He spoke about Career and Technical Ed: Learning Spaces for future jobs
6000 students in 5nsites (4 HS and 1 Alt) School is focused on real world relevance / partnerships with the community.
  • CTE spaces
  • Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
  • Start with why?
  • 4th Industrial Revolution
  • Head on a swivel or head in the sand?
  • What if we hire based upon skills and not degrees?
  • Dual enrollment credits
  • District 155 - Swiss automation lab
  • CNC and engineering
  • Robotics and drone technology
  • Made in your own backyard’ - Chamber of Commerce
  • Habitat for Humanity and seeds for the community

Business Education -
Incubator space - pitch to business leaders... room flexes for that
Changing the space to match the aesthetics of the work place
Culinary - certifications - serve safe certificate
Sanitation manager training and certification as well
Telling your story is important - adjust the website

Session 2
The Brown Deer Maker Way - inspire - Innovate _ Lead
10 miles north of Milwaukee
  • Design thinking classes
  • Falcon 3:15 - bring students in
  • Purposeful, thoughtful implementation
  • Develop partnerships
  • WDC Fab Lab Grant with PD
  • The what, the why, mad the how -
  • Einstein project - Dennis
  • Change instruction - purpose statement and mission - Learning Happens Everywhere
  • Middle-High school library - branding -
  • Movement studio
  • Breakout space
  • Constraints due to the environment - flexible seating, write on wall, LEGO wall
  • The marshmallow incident book
  • Breaking the silos - cross curricular
  • Mastery connect - standards based grading
  • Badging
  • 1 professional development day a month

Session 3
Engagement for the multicultural learning community
  • Sit-down with folks that look familiar to them 50 year school life cycle
  • Incorporate core values
  • Master planning process - set the ground rules really early
  • Madison - northeast edge of Portland Oregon
  • Designed for 1700 students
  • Most diverse neighborhood
  • ‘Bringing science to the street’
  • Using pictures to help in the design process
  • Virtual reality engagement
  • ‘Be where the students are’ - what do the students value?
  • Candy and food... students put up post it’s answering the prompt - “I'm proud to be a student at .... because...”
  • Seniors sat in camp chairs in the hallway with their lunch —- loved it
  • Engage all voices
  • Design Advisory Group - went to other schools that have been renovated and replaced
  • Authentic, on-going part of the process —- community outreach
  • Students in high poverty areas spend more time at school
  • Role play activity - ESL - PPS international youth leadership conference​

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
  • Put yourself in your students shoes
  • Pick: a space, activity, a feeling
  • Write: the space will...
  • what would you do with this information: report out
  • Can be done with magazine cuttings instead of pre made cards ​​
Outdoor Learning in an Early Childhood setting 
Nate Bosch - Landscape architect with GMB 
  1. Playing / Learning 
  2. Outside / Inside
  3. Unstructured / Structured 
  4. Natural / Constructed 
Time in nature, whether structured or unstructured, can blur the lines between play and learning 
European Forest schools - in Chicago Illinois as well 
Richard Louv - Pioneer of connecting back to nature 
academic environments becoming treatment spaces 
Little Hawks school - Holland, MI
  • robust playground area
  • Connect to the water
Strategies to incorporate nature in education:
  1. Nature is the primary classroom - connecting people to nature as soon as they arrive; make formal spaces feel informal; building is secondary to the site
  2. Maximize outdoor experience by simplifying indoor spaces - simple spaces promote active learning; space conservation / smaller footprint; utility functions can be educational and play space; mud room experience
  3. Holistic approach to nature-based education - natural materials in built environment; expansive views to outside environment; openness to outside; natural sunlight / effects on student behavior (south orientation)
  4. Create Dynamic outdoor environments - allow kids to be creators & self-directed; promote nature inclusion and invite the native (wild) in; flexible spaces for educators to engage students; allow room for the unpredictable
“Do what you can, with what you have.” ~ Teddy Roosevelt 
Tips: 
  • 10 different spaces for play/learning 
  • Looping walk ways 
  • Open grass area - to just run / roll 
  • Trees and shade - inclusivity / skin cancer / cool down 
  • Plant material - dynamic textures; edible items 
  • Outdoor storage 
  • Sheltered space - protected from elements 

21st Century Workplace Competencies: How can design shape student success? 
Gould Evans 
  • Inside higher ed survey - great graphic 
  • Arizona, Association of Colleges and Employers - Employer v. Student perception 
  • Lasso Bock - GPAs are worthless... 
  • Enterprise skills or transversal skills 
  • Gouldevans-edco.com 
  • Gen Z 
  • Alpha 
  • Competencies and Profile of a Graduate 
  • Human adaptability in relation to technology and change 
  • Missouri Innovation Campus - https://youtu.be/041UqIV9QgA
  • Adaptive and modular space
  • STEAM studio - in the office at Gould Evans - work with Rutgers University - Laura Evans
  • Power Skills and attributes - integrity, drive, ability to communicate
  • Come out of school doing nothing real
  • Portraits of a graduate - toolkit - 16 activity types
  • Lee Summitt School district has 5 competencies as part of their portrait of a graduate
  • Enterprise skill development ‘the competency project’ —— beta 
  • Connectingcredentials.org 
1 Comment

EDspaces 2019: Keynote with Tony Wagner

10/24/2019

0 Comments

 
The annual EDspaces conference and expo is billed as the place "where space, technology, and pedagogy converge" and it did not disappoint. In it's 24th year, the conference in Milwaukee, WI featured designers, vendors, and educators of creative and innovative learning environments from across the globe. 
In the opening plenary Session, Tony Wagner, one of the true visionaries in education, kicked off the conference  with a video describing the future of work.
He asked the audience to think about what can human beings do the robots and AI cannot do?
and further described the shift from a knowledge economy to a world that does not care what our students know; instead to a world that cares about what can they do with what they know.
Next, Wagner described his research that became his 2012 best seller ​Creating Innovators: ​The Making of Young People WhoWill Change the World. His interviews of highly innovative twentysomethings and their "ecosystems" ​(parents, teachers, and ​
Picture

The Future of Work
Picture
mentoring influences) brought him to several conclusions, among them were that the skills you need to succeed in a competitive academic environment are not related to innovation era. 
What must we do differently to prepare students for the innovation era?
  • Ask for evidence of a problem solved or failure and learning associated with it. 
  • Look for creative problem solving abilities - we are born this way - young children ask 500 questions or more and everyone is an artist .Then something happens... school. 
In fact, the students identified as creative innovators became innovative despite university and educators who were influencers were outliers in their educational institutions.
Next, Wagner identified 5 contradictions in education:
  1. Measuring and rewarding individual achievement - innovation is a team sport 
  2. Silos of knowledge - Not a single real problem can be solved within an individual academic discipline 
  3. Culture and structure of the classroom where knowledge of an indivual, compliance, are valued and students are consumers - The world demands that you seek out information 
  4. F- Word (failure) We grade kids on the mistakes they make - Innovation demands failure; iteration - this is fundamentally how we learn - we learn more from our mistakes than our successes; we learn from trial and error; use A, B, and Incomplete (B is performance standard as evidenced by a body of work; A is reserved for real human excellence) - How many want to fly with a C- airline pilot?
  5. Motivation. We use fear (failing, embarrassment, not getting....) - This does not bring out the best in us. The innovators had intrinsic motivation. - both parents and teachers focused on play, passion, and purpose.
Next steps/food for thought:
  • Does state have an educational R & D budget?
  • Accountability 2.0 - selective assessments every 3 years with demographically similar students 
  • Every student has a digital portfolio that shows progress over time
  • Every student demonstrates mastery badges on a transcript — what can they do
  • What content are kids learning? What skills are they learning? How are they being motivated to do their best work?
  • What if we make our work public? 
  • Statewide profile of a graduate - what is the assessment for the attributes on the profile? 
  • Develop local performance assessments 
  • What are our recent graduates doing? What did we do right? What would have helped you?
  • Internships
  • Have students keep question journals? Or concerns?  - then give them time & space to explore those questions 
  • College admissions process does not encourage innovation - consortium transcript; test optional 
  • The skills you need for work today are the same ones you need for active citizenship, life long learning, and creative leisure ​
0 Comments

What happened to all of the toll takers?

10/22/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
When I recently drove across the Throgs Neck Bridge  and noticed that the toll booths had been replaced by fancy overhead structures with cameras and flashing lights, I couldn’t help but wonder… what happened to the toll takers?
​

If you do a Google image search, you will have difficulty finding any pictures that document the removal of the booths… they just disappeared; well, not exactly (as you can see I don't get out much). If you do travel that road every day and see the change happening, then it is not such a surprise. However, as someone who does not regularly travel over the bridge, and many don't, I woke up one morning, drove over the bridge from Long Island, and realized the landscape has changed; and with it, many jobs that used to exist.

I think of this as a metaphor for education. If we don’t look at the changes that are happening around us and do something to prepare our students while educating our communities, then change will always come as a surprise.

As a high school principal, it is important to me that we seek change and offer opportunities for our students that prepare them for the world outside of our schools.  We must continue to innovate and prepare students for a “modern world,” a world where our students will face opportunities and challenges that are developing at a rapid pace.  If you notice, I chose the term “modern world’ purposefully as we are nearly 20 years into the 21st century. The skill sets that students need today and the jobs that will be available for them are drastically different than the world I grew up in.  
2022 Skill Outlook
Growing
  • Analytic thinking and innovation 
  • Active learning and learning strategies
  • Creativity, originality and initiative 
  • Technology design and programming 
  • Critical thinking and analysis 
  • Complex problem-solving
  • Leadership and social influence
  • Emotional intelligence 
  • Reasoning, problem solving and ideation
  • System analysis and evaluation 
Declining
  • Manual dexterity, endurance and precision
  • Memory, verbal, auditory and spatial abilities 
  • Management of financial, material resources 
  • Technology installation and maintenance 
  • Management of personnel 
  • Quality control and safety awareness
  • Coordination and time management
  • Visual, auditory and speech abilities 
  • Technology monitoring and control
Source: Innovate Inside the Box (information taken from the World Economic Forum)
This should lead us to think differently about the purpose of school and the goals we have for ourselves and for our students. How are we preparing our students?
  • Focus on the Four Cs - Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Creativity are skills necessary across all content areas and are sought after by employers across all disciplines. 
  • Build Emotional Intelligence (EQ) - Incorporate Social-emotional learning to hone our own emotional states and those of our students.  These skills help us with our relationships and allow us to build empathy, trust, and the non-academic skills needed for success in life.
  • Teach Computational and Design Thinking - Computational thinking is so much more than coding in that it fosters logical thinking and problem solving. Design thinking stresses ideation and reasoning skills that promote innovation through iteration.
  • Empower Students - So much more than engagement and student voice, empowerment offers choice and builds the capacity for students to develop their passions, experience real-life situations, and a love of learning. It is about ownership and agency. 
Picture
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us and we cannot simply focus on the basics or rote learning. Simply knowing the facts isn’t enough. We must remain, as my drive over the Throgs Neck Bridge demonstrated, ready for change or we risk becoming irrelevant, or worse... obsolete. ​

“Our job is not to prepare students for something. Our job is to help students prepare themselves for anything.” - AJ Juliani (Empower)
0 Comments

#SXSWEDU2019

3/6/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
I find writing to be a great way for me to synthesize my learning and reflect on my experiences.  This year, I had the opportunity to travel to Austin Texas for the SXSW EDU Conference.  I arrived on Sunday, March 3, to begin 4 days of learning and connecting with thousands of educators and thought leaders from around the world. On the line to register, I met Leland Melvin. Of course, I didn't know who he was at first, but the lady registering  him outed him by loudly.  So, what do you do then.. you take a selfie with him, buy his book, and see him speak.  ​ I will talk about his message and impact later in this post.  
Picture
So... back to Sunday evening.  The  Special Olympics opened the evening with a reception that featured a series of writable glass walls in aa large conference room space where participants could add their response to the question, "What does inclusion mean to you?"  We also had the opportunity to talk to representatives and teachers who explained the Unified Chamption Schools program.  After the reception, it was time to start planning the week.  Just to put this conference into perspective,  the schedule is a 164 page with a table of contents.  There are so many choices, it is overwhelming.  There is even an app to help you organize your day.  

Day 1:
I started the day with a walking tour of Austin.  It began early and we saw several sites such as William Sydney Porter's home. For those of you who don't know him, he has written many stories including The Gift of the Magi and The Ransom of Red Chief to name two under the name O. Henry. It was cold and I cut the tour short... but not before learning that the guide works for a company called Tipster Tours.  This company takes people on free, no reservation, walking tours in cities around the country. From their website, "You pay what you like after the walk. You decide. We truly believe that if we do our best to create a great experience for people…without demanding anything in return…good things happen. Positive energy is created, which is beneficial to all!" So Cool!

Picture
Back at the conference, I decided that a good place to start was at the "First Time to SXSW EDU Meet Up."  This session was packed and led by Dan Ryder (@WickedDecent) and Lakita Edwards (@ArtsHumana).  The session was packed with newcomers like me and the facilitators provided opportunities for us to meet and talk.
Additionally, they shared tips like:
  • Explore the Festival
  • Experience Austin
  • Prepare to be amazed and catch #onlyatSXSWEDU moments
  • Share the Spark / Tell your story 
  • Ask your fellow attendees what brings them to SXSWEDU
  • Honor the power of the personal connection
  • Embrace the Arts 
  • and much more... 
   I was ready... at least I thought so. Lakita left us with several thoughts: I filled my schedule (remember it is 164 pages long) and off I went.  The exhibit hall, AI and Machine Learning, Remixing Virtual Reality (VR), OnRamps to College Success, Using Technology to drive Pre-AP success, and Timeless Learning, a Campfire formatted conversation with Pam Moran (@pammoran) and Ira Socol (@irasocol).  What a whirlwind of a take... I was completely overwhelmed and felt like I was running from workshop to workshop so as not to miss anything that looked interesting... While that was not effective, I did reflect on many takeaways:
  1. ​​​Students who take dual credit classes are 2x more likely to enroll in college
  2. There are about 300,000 AI practitioners and researchers worldwide, but millions of roles available (Forbes, June 2018)
  3. We must leverage and improve our academic networks with colleges.  Football coaches and Band directors do it,  show should we.
  4. Pre AP courses will be available to all schools in 2020.  
  5. VUCA stands for Volatile, Unpredictable, Complex, and Ambiguous, and it descibes the world we live in.  This world requires us to be open, embrace possibilites, be transformative, and be imaginative.
  6. Noise attracts kids, and repels [some] adults.
  7. No two schools should replicate the exact same thing as there are not the same.
  8. Children from poverty know different, not less.

" Connect, Reflect, and Have Fun! "
~Lakita Edwards (@ArtsHumana)
Day 2
Well, after a crazy day one, I did some reflection.  I perused the catalog and scaled down my expectations... not my expectattions for learning, but rather than breadth, I wanted depth. 
​My Day Two Schedule:
  • Keynote: Turning Challenges Into Opportunities: The Ashesi Way
    • Patrick Awuah Jr., delivered the morning keynote where he described his return to Africa to create a new future there with a focus on changing the leadership core.  His focus was on student government and creating ownership of the mission.  Identifying the problems that existed an enacting an honor pedge that would not tolerated corruption and unethical behavior was where they began and transparency and collaboration with institutions outside of Africa using technology to amplify human behavior.There focus has become the need to teach love, compassion, ethics and how to ask questions - how to learn for a lifetime.    
Picture
  • Coffee Break
    • The Coffee break that took place daily inside the "Meet up Pavilion" and was a great opportunity to grab a cup of coffee and connect with like minded educators. 
  • How do We Get Effective Principals at Scale?
    • This session was facilitated Lora Dever, a graduate student whose research is focused on developing effective Principals.  She has concluded that leadership matters and that principals' influence is second only to teachers at the school level.  We need to "hold each other able" and assume collective responsibility for the improvement of our schools.  

Picture
  • Inclusive Coding for Kids with Special Needs 
    • Christopher Harris (@Principal_H) and Jennifer Duda (@DynamicDuda338) along with Andre Van Rooyen, a Neuropsychologist facilitated this discussion and deep dive into the strategies for inclusive coding, a language that transcends reading abilities.  They offered several resources including Tynker, Anki Cozmo, Sphero, Parrot Mambo, and Ozobot Evo among others in order to encourage "errorless learning."  They even suggested an trip to a local Apple store to help facilitate learning.  Start as a group where the teacher models, suggested Duda, and then fade the prompts until students are independent.  These two have long been members of my Twitter PLN and it was great to meet them face to face.  

  • Distraction? Educational Esports as a Learning Tool
    • Esports are growing in their popularity across the country. It enables learning while students get to do what they enjoy.  UC Irvine currently offers 13 full scholarships for esports.  Online clinics are available on Twitch that support the ELA based curriculum available on www.esportsfed.org.  Like traditional sports, esports also teach students persistence, grit, and scientific reasoning.  Current research shows a strong connection between video games and learning.  The club components include: club charter; mission, vision and values; code of conduct; toolkits; competition; coaching; curriculum and online workshops; beyond the game challenges; fundraising; and a network. 
  • The Right Stuff is the Never Give Up Stuff
    • ​​​Leland Melvin (@Astro_Flow) was simply amazing. His inspiring story focused on his journey in life that began with his mother reading books to him such as The Little Engine that Could and Curious George and moved to the chemistry kit he was given as a child that sparked his curiosity.  "You never know what you are going to do in life, and never know the skills you will need," he said. 
Picture
Picture
This attitude led him to become an at NASA, an organization he said, works really well together.  From there, he experienced tremendous challenges, including losing his hearing in a pool training exercise, that he overcame to be able to make several space flights.  He encouraged the audience to use what kids love in order to teach them more effectively.  His website, lelandmelvin.com has more about his current work as well as many inspiring videos.  Don't forget to check out the "stupid astronaut tricks." And finally, don't forget the "man in the yellow hat" from Curious George who symbolically represents the people in your life you constant lift you up and are there for you. ​
  • The Science of Science Podcasts 
    • Nate Butkus, an 8-year old young man has developed a passion for inspiring kids with his science based podcasts. His show is called "The Show About Science" He does his research on YouTube and has done interviews with many current scientist while also appearing on national television. He too reminded the audience to never let anything stand in your way.  https://soundcloud.com/the-show-about-science
i Stands for Experiential Entrepreneurial Semester
  • Ranked #10 by The Princeton Review, Tec de Monterrey College in Mexico focuses on entrepreneurial development. The focus for students is to start a business, using their passions, in a semester long effort where the class meeting times are modified to facilitate this model of learning.  There is also a strong mentoring component that has led to success. It follows the Tec21 Model that assures the development of solid, comprehensive exit competencies that will help to solve, in a creative, strategic manner, the challenges of the present and those the student will face in the future.  The exit competencies are:​
    1. Evaluate - the coherence, relevance and risk of the business model
    2. Integrate - necessary resources for the development of a product or functional service
    3. Specify - the value proposition through the development of a product or functional service
    4. Implement - customer acquisition strategies
    5. Communicate - entrepreneurial project effectively to clients, investors, mentors, and work team 
    6. Integrate - personal and entrepreneurial team strengths 
Picture
Day 3
Day 3 was going to be a day of networking with educators, visiting the vast exhibit hall, seeing several speakers , and then engaging in two hands-on workshops.
  • Young People Win: Rethinking Advocacy in a New Era
    • This presentation was a conversation between news reporter Dan Rather (@danrather), and David Hogg (@davidhogg111), co-founder of March for Our Lives. The conversation focused around what David called "sensible gun control" and community based violence intervention, two of the goals of the March for Our Lives Movement.  He pointed out several facts that included regulations on toy guns being more regulated than the real ones as well as the lack of research funding around guns and laws that protect gun manufacturers.  When asked to be objective about what he has accomplished as well as what he is most proud of, David pointed new laws that enable courts to disarm people as well as the rise of youth voter turnout.  Dan Rather ended the meeting with a favorite quote of his, "Hearts can inspire other hearts with their fire."
  • A Gift of Literacy: A Conversation with LeVar Burton
    • Reading and literacy are a birthright according to LeVar Burton (@levarburton)as he talked about the importance of reading in his home growing up.  Not only did his mom read to him, but she modeled reading for him. "If a child can read, they can accomplish anything," said Burton. Skybrary, a newly released app is a supplement to the reading experience available in the app store, developed by LeVar and his team and now part of the Reading is Fundamental network. Our love of reading is cultivated and connected to our passions. and we need to give all students both choice and access.  
  • Using Tattoos to Teach the Essay Writing Process
    • This workshop, presented by Jonathan Chin was intended to teach the group exactly what the title indicated... 
    • The Task: with your group, please design a meaningful tattoo for me.  It will go on my forearm and/or hand.  It can be any size you feel appropriate, and any color among the sharpies we have, etc.
    • Ground Rules: (1) you can use your smart phone or device to look me up.  Note: I go by both Jon Chin and Jonathan Chin. (2) Your group can ask me two questions total.  Make sure they are worth asking. (3) You can use scrap paper to sketch and develop your ides.  In the last 10 minutes, nominate one artist to transfer the tattoo to me.  
    • The idea behind the task was to introduce students to low and high stakes tasks, asking questions, using primary sources, online research and source credibility, engaging creativity and the visual sense, and symbolism, all while empowering students by changing the power dynamic
  • Developing Creativity in Every Classroom (Presented by Adobe) 
    • This workshop, was a hands-on workshop around design thinking.  The design challenge was: How might educators encourage students to identify creative solutions to real world problems in their community? We were reminded that 72% of hiring managers say that students aren't prepared, lacking communication, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration skills (Adecco's "State of the Economy and Employment Survey) 
    • Visit the Stanford d.School 
    • Stoke Deck
    • The Ever Forward Club
    • The Masks We All Wear - Ashanti Branch TexMarin
    • Additionally, explore the following Apps... Spark Post, Spark Video, and Spark Page
"Limits force us to rethink how we are working and push us to new heights of creativity."
~ Ed Catmull

Finally... The exhibit hall was vast and featured everything from start-ups to colleges and universities, new technology products, furniture, and a mobile fab lab.  Several of my stops included:
  • 3Doodler
  • Brainly
  • Breathe for Change
  • Catchbox, Inc.
  • Edmentum
  • H2O for Life
  • Muzo Furniture
  • Noise212 Labs, LLC
  • Oculus
  • Sketchup
  • Sli.do
  • Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools
  • V/S America
  • zSpace, Inc.

Day 4 
The last day of the conference began and ended for me with Jennifer Gonzalez's (@cultofpedagogy) keynote, and she was nothing short of spectacular.  Her talk (on her birthday by the way) was titled "The Aerodynamics of Exceptional Schools" and used the forces that work on an airplane (lift, weight, thrust, and drag) as an analogy to the forces that affect school progress. 
To effect change, she offered nine tips once you define some really precise goals.  In the picture, you can see the differences between you plan and reality, but notice that the little flags can be interpreted as little victories along the way rather than obstacles.   ​
Picture
Picture
Build in time for bumps along the way.
  • Take a Breath - Instead of rushing to implement a new idea, slow down and take time to get clear on what you want.  What problem will this solve?  What are the obstacles? Do I have any proof that this idea will work?  Can I find a guide? Can I get advice from someone else who has already done something like this? What is my long-term vision; a big "why"?
  • Find Allies - Introducing a new idea is hard to do alone. You will have greater success if your on a team, even if it is a team of two.  See the first follower video below for some inspiration to help multiply your enthusiasm.
  • Set Precise Goals - Without precise goals, all we have are dreams.  The SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely) model, coupled with backward design, will increase our success rate. 
  • Expect Bumps - Our plans never end up following the smooth path we plan.  If we expect bumps, we will be less surprised by setbacks and can build in buffer time along the way. 
  • Invite - Ask questions rather than giving directives. What do you need to make this thing happen? Try voluntary piloting or offer choices to get the ball rolling.  
  • Validate - recognize and affirm the feelings of another.  It is not the same as agreeing with them but rather a way to acknowledge that these thoughts and feelings are real for them.
  • Be Transparent - when you are transparent about your goals, your work is more approachable and instead of feeling threatened, people will be curious, ask questions, and join you.  Transparency can be in the form of a newsletter, blog, video, meeting, etc.
  • Praise - Find ways to pull people in based on their strengths.
  • Dig Deep - When you are tired, and want to give up, start thinking like an elite athlete and dig deep; if you really believe in what you are doing, it's worth the fight!
Jennifer's full presentation can be seen here: https://youtu.be/3s_NkSEWJZg 

The Restaurants & Culture

Some new books for the reading list:

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The sun sets on a week of learning! Thank you SXSWEDU...
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Categories

    All
    Advisory
    Growth Mindset
    Mentoring
    Rapport
    Relationships
    School
    Students

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    March 2017
    May 2015
    August 2014
    September 2013
    August 2013
    March 2013

    Whittney Smith, Ed.D.

    Dr. Smith is the Principal of Mineola High School in Garden City Park, NY.  He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Ruth Ammon School of Education at Adelphi University.

    View my profile on LinkedIn

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Mineola High School
  • Courses @ Adelphi
  • Courses @ LIU
  • Presentations