Mornings with Hine

Workshop  Anthony Speranza- Coding with Scratch Click above for link to see the slideshow from the workshop. Scratch - Anthony introduced us to CS First  that if you scroll down to the logos of art etc and click on them it takes you to projects and lesson plans, particularly under the gaming heading. I'm not new to using Scratch and he reiterated the idea that scatch has been around for 5 years or so but has had very few updates as it was so well made. The kids learn about coding and how to get a sprite to move. I question the relevance of it for students and how they can use the skills to transfer them to other areas. An interesting and practical workshop none the less. My takeaways - Get the kids onto Scratch using the website - Let them play - Set a task that is achievable ie how can you get the sprite to move around a track in a game? - Give ten commands and get them to try the ten commands to code. 

Keynote  Lindsey Wesner- Once upon a time Told her story of growing up, how she struggles to introduce technology. To try something innovative, something out of the comfort zone. Innovation- What do you understand innovation to be? Innovation is change that unlocks new value- Jamie Notter Has to mean new and better. Unlock new value other wise we waste other peoples time and money. Learning to ask questions before we rant and jump to conclusions. Ask what social media they are using, how they document their lives. What if we gave our students a platform and context that they can document? What if we told our students that they are accomplishing great things? How might we leverage this culture of digital documentation? Asking when you are told to teach a topic: How can I do this differently? We all have stories to tell. I wonder what education would look like if we all had time to tell our stories? What's your story? Teachers shape the narrative of education in this world. The ...

How has a connection you made yesterday, influenced what you will change in your teaching tomorrow? I went to a YouTube session knowing that my students use YouTube. I was wanting them to be able to use YouTube responsibly, knowing their content and digital footprint is long lasting. I connected to Patrick Green and some other teachers to create a YouTube video. Patrick inspired me as to how I can use YouTube in my class effectively. The students will be able to learn how to use the tools to make a movie, edit and use it as a platform to share their learning.

Patrick Green-  Keynote Two schools that he went to: Da Vinci Innovation- Students go to school 2 days a week and learn from home 3 days a week. Go to parents work beside their parent. Sequoyah- Mixed grade classrooms. Held students back twice before age 12. Everyone had mandatory repeat grades before they move on. Leadership development, kept kids if the teacher suited them. Relevant teachers who are leading the charge in their classrooms. Taking on the role of the learner. Got over themselves and their content. Is what I'm teaching transferable?  Wasting students time learning things like a bibliography. If they can find it on the internet they can access it themselves. Relevant teachers know students can access the internet. Don't waste their time telling them what they can find themselves. Not making students do what adults wouldn't do. Book- The End of Average. Todd Rose. One size fits no one. Meet students where they are at learning, tools, devices, apps. Suppo...