I came across another technology tip this week. This one is really simple and is helpful for both you and your students. It is a fairly new feature within Google search that allows you to filter your search results based on reading level (isn’t Google so smart).

Teachers can use it to find grade appropriate articles and other reading materials for their students, and you can show your students how to use it so they can find easy to read information when conducting research.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Go to Google Search and enter in your query (I used George Washington in my example).

2. Look on the left-hand side of the screen under “All results” and click “More search results.”

3. After you click “more search results” other filter options will appear. About midway down the list, you’ll see an option for “Reading level” – click on it.

4. At the top of the page you’ll see the results by reading level choices. Now, you can select which level you prefer (basic, intermediate, or advanced).  Also, even after you make your selection, the choices stay at the top of the page so you can switch back and forth between reading level.

It’s little tips like this that I think are the most helpful. They don’t really take any more effort to implement, but make teaching and learning more efficient.

Try experimenting with other search filters too. Personally, I use the time filter a lot to find the most up to date information. For instance, if you’re looking for the most recent information on the presidential election, you can enter in your search words, and then select to only see results from the past week or even the last 24 hours. It’s really very handy and saves you from having to weed through a bunch of irrelevant stuff.

Google’s full of all types of useful tricks. I’ll try to gather up a few more for the next post.

Today, I went to the Huffington Post to find out the latest information on the school shooting in Ohio, and after taking a cursory glance at some of the other crime headlines, I was shocked to see how many of them related to schools and children/teenager violence.

Here are some of the headlines (remember, these are all on the front page of TODAY’s Huffpost crime page):

1. School Shooting Suspect Was Bullied, Came From Violent Home: Reports
2. Fifth-Graders Attempt to Poison Teacher With Coffee, Cupcake
3. 12-Year-Old Boy in Custody For Brandishing Loaded Gun
4. Teen Shoots, Kills Mom For Not Letting Him Hang Out With Friends: Reports
5. Was This Deadly Schoolyard Brawl Between 11 Year Olds Over A Boy?
6. Washington School Shooting: Prosecutor Seeks Probation For 9-Year-Old-Boy

Sure, not all of these things happened today or yesterday, yet they are recent enough that online newspapers are still talking about them, and this isn’t a fluke, things like this are happening every day.

My first reaction was, “what in the world is going on with these kids?” So, naturally I scrolled down to read some of the thousands of reader comments and became immediately sucked in. It’s not that most people’s comments are extremely intelligent, but even the utterly inane postings offer some insight into what’s swirling around in people’s heads. It seems most people blame one (or a combination) of four things: gun laws, parents, video games, lack of religion.

However, I’m not so sure the root of the problem is any of those things. Let’s look at each supposed source of responsibility one at a time.

Gun laws – Personally, I could care less if they banish guns altogether. Still, I don’t think it will stop the violence. People can still use knives, homemade bombs, black market guns, or other types of weapons. Just look at headline number 5, those girls were merely hand to hand fighting and someone ended up dead. Also, if guns are the problem, why weren’t school shootings commonplace 15 years ago when gun laws were more lenient?

Parents – I will concede that parenting is part of the problem; certainly not in every case, but many of them. It takes more than just putting a roof over your child’s head and not becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol to be considered a “good” parent. Perhaps many are too busy working and socializing on the weekends to take notice of their children. Still the question remains, why are so many adults turning into bad parents who are out of touch with their children? It seems there is an underlying issue here.

Video Games – Violent video games, movies, and music are not the cause of the problem, although they definitely don’t help the situation. No one can deny that repeated exposure to anything can lower its shock value; however, this isn’t enough to push a mentally stable person towards violence.

Religion – Self-proclaimed “religious” people perform crimes every day. I’m not convinced religion has ever stopped anyone from breaking a law, and how many wars were sparked because of religious beliefs? People have a way of rationalizing their own behaviors and are great at planning to repent later.

Now, I’m no criminal investigator or psychologist, but based on my humble analysis, violence in general, bad parenting, and poor mental health are just symptoms of an overarching problem – lack of community. Modern society and capitalism keep everyone working, working, working for more stuff in an every-man-for-himself type of environment.

This results in absentee parents who are chained to their proverbial desks, stressed out and just waiting for the weekend when they can find some type of release (often through alcohol or partying). How many adults and children are on some type of antidepressant – I bet it’s more than you might think. Kids are raising themselves, yet time is a luxury and few people have the time to reflect on their own lives to see what’s going on.

I’m not anti-modernism or capitalism; however, we need to consider the ways they breed isolation and devise ways to bring back a sense of community where people actually know their neighbors (and kids) and work towards a common good. People need to break the cycle of consumerism, so they can survive with less money and less work and are able to participate in family and community life.

I keep waiting for the straw that’s going to break the camel’s back and make people realize something has to change. How many more children have to die… or will people just get used to that too?

My tech find for this week is an animation service called Go Animate. Through their website anyone can make unique animated videos — no serious artistic or computer talent required. The service is free, although there is a paid version if you want to have more features.

For a classroom application, teachers can create funny or entertaining cartoons to explain concepts to students. Or even better, have your students make their own videos and present them to the class. This can be a great way to get them interested in the subject, and since they have to write their own scripts, they just might learn something. Also, students have a tendency to tune out when other students present traditional projects or reports, but who wouldn’t want to watch a cartoon created by a classmate?

There are always those who are really into cartoons and animation, and this program has some customization tools that will allow them to get creative. They can even record their own voices and do different impersonations… can’t you just picture a few of your kids really getting into their video?

The only problem with projects like this is that sometimes students waste too much time on the details. For instance, someone might spend an entire class period trying to fine tune the way their character walks across the screen — seemingly forgetting the fact that they still have a full script to write.

You can counteract some of this by giving them clear deadlines such as, “you want four slides done by the end of class” or “you want the entire script written and approved before the animating begins.” It can also help to put students into groups; usually there’s at least one student who will motivate the others to keep things moving.

For those who teach social studies or politics, right now on Go Animate they have templates and characters relating to the presidential election. You can have your students create mock debates or speeches to help them learn about the candidate’s different platforms. Plus, all the candidates have said enough bone-headed things that students will have no problem making the videos comedic; it can be like their own little SNL skit.

Here’s a little example of what they can look like (this one’s not too educational or funny, but it will give you an idea).

GoAnimate.com: 2012 Debates by thinking_voter

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It’s free and fun!

A lot of teachers are turned off of using technology because it sometimes feels as if it is more work or requires an extra step, and if there’s one thing teachers are lacking its time. However, usually the extra effort is all upfront then the technology ends up saving time in the long run and making things more simple.

If you thought the QR code suggestion from a couple of posts ago was cool, but were concerned that it might be too tedious to go to a special website, and plug in a bunch of individual URLs everyday then I have a  pretty nifty shortcut for you. Don’t worry, no software developing skills are necessary, and you don’t even have to be all that technically savvy.  All you have to do is create a spreadsheet, enter in a formula, and from then on you can automatically create QR codes right from the spreadsheet. Here’s how:

Setup Your Spreadsheet:

1. Login to your Google Docs. If you don’t already have a Google account, set one up – it’s worth it.

2. Select “create” and then “spreadsheet.”

3. Give a label to column A. This is where your messages and URLs will go, so name it something like “Messages and URLs.”

4. Next, label column B “QR Code”

5. In column A, enter in any information you want to direct to your students.

5. Finally, resize the columns and rows so they are larger (see below).

Put in the formula:

1. In cell B2 copy and paste the following formula:

=image(“https://chart.googleapis.com/chart?chs=150×150&cht=qr&chl=” & A2)

Once you press enter, a QR code will appear.

2. Bring your formula down to the cells below by clicking the small square in the bottom right-hand corner of the cell with the QR code and dragging it downwards (as far as you’d like to go).

3. Now, anytime you type something into a cell in column A, the adjacent QR code will direct people to that content. So, if it is a URL, when your students scan the code it will direct them to the website, and if it is text, the scanned QR code will deliver the message.

Once you have your spreadsheet setup, adding a QR code to things such as homework doesn’t take any more time than usual. Just make a habit of typing daily homework assignments into the spreadsheet and then use a projector to display it on your whiteboard or screen. Students then have the option of writing down their assignment the old fashioned way or scanning it with their smartphones.

Also, since everything is located in the Google Doc, you can easily share the spreadsheet with other teachers.

Easy Peasy!

If you’ve been paying attention to the news, then you’ve probably noticed the controversial No Child Left Behind mandate seems to be on its last leg. Although it hasn’t been entirely dismissed, President Obama has allowed ten states to set aside the program for something with “higher, more honest standards,” and it is expected more states will eventually take him up on the offer.

This means that if a state can devise a more viable program they will be given permission to scrap President Bush’s famous act, and with this much leeway, I don’t anticipate NCLB will survive more than another year or two. Why would it when states are basically being given back their freedom?

Still, there are some, even within the Democratic Party, who do not agree with President Obama’s recent decision and feel it is merely taking a step backwards – landing us right where we were before 2002. After all, the mandate was enacted because students were falling behind academically, so why would reverting to our old practices have better results the second time around?

At the same time, sticking with NCLB also seems like a bad option – our students aren’t any more proficient in reading and math since its inception. Not to mention, it has caused an unnecessary amount of stress on both teachers and students who now feel that education is merely preparing for a series of tests.

So, what is the answer? How can we get these students back on grade level, and even better, equipped to compete in a global environment?

Some say discipline is at the root of the problem, while others believe there should be more incentive for teachers and a weeding out of ineffective teachers. But frankly, I don’t understand all the speculation. If you want to know how to run an effective school, then just take a look at successful schools and copy what they’re doing.

It is well known that private schools outperform public schools on many achievement and SAT tests, so why not take a cue from their playbook? Instead of focusing primarily on memorizing facts for a test, concentrate more on critical thinking skills, give children the “boot” if they are constant class disruptions, and don’t be afraid to fail underperforming students. Eventually, parents and students will realize they are going to have to step it up a notch and take responsibility for their actions.

Of course, there are no easy answers, but I don’t think it’s nearly as complicated as people make it out to be. What’s your opinion – I know you have one.

By the time I reached my junior year in high school, every time one of my teachers would turn on the overhead projector I felt like stabbing a pencil in my eye (at least it would get me out of class). The whirring of the fan, the glowing of the bulb, and the dimmed classroom lights were the tell-tale signs that things were about to get boring.

In college, PowerPoints became the presentation medium of choice, and I couldn’t have been happier. Finally! — some pictures, color, and animations… could it get any better?

Unfortunately, the novelty didn’t last. Now, it seems I’ve come full circle as just the sight of a PowerPoint evokes the same eye gouging response as the old overhead.

They’re everywhere! You can’t walk into a classroom, meeting, or presentation (and don’t even get me started about online schools) without the ubiquitous slideshow glowing on the far wall. Naturally, the best way to view the slides is with the lights lowered, but this only makes it easier to sleep through.

It’s true, teachers are urged to bring more technology into the classroom, but the PowerPoint has lost its luster; its heyday was a good ten years ago. Besides, how can darkening the room, reducing your ability to see everyone’s face, and offering a passive lecture improve student engagement? Not to mention, many students have a difficult time writing notes while simultaneously trying to keep up with what the teacher is saying and view what’s on the screen.

In addition to boring the audience to death, it also takes all the energy out of teaching. How are the students supposed to feel your excitement for the subject when you’re merely clicking away – barely deviating from your planned script? Many students choose to simply tune out, since they know they can just print out the slides later. Many teachers treat it as a presentation-of-what-to-memorize. Basically saying, “Here kids, write this stuff down so you can regurgitate it on the test.”  What’s worse, some teachers use it as a crutch, or as something to hide behind, to mask their lack of preparation. How many times have you heard (usually at the last minute), “Can I borrow your PowerPoint? I’ve been super busy.” If the slideshow has limited words (as it should), how does that teacher really know what message they want to get across?

To me, the most enthralling teachers are those who can captivate with simple chalk and discussion – scribbling their ideas and diagrams as they dance from one end of the chalkboard to another. It’s hard for students not to get sucked into such enthusiasm and momentum.

This is not to say you should NEVER use PowerPoint. Use it to show the occasional picture, chart, or graph, but find some other way to deliver the bulk of your lecture. Yes, this takes more work and requires you to put on more of a “show,” but your students will love you for it. And chances are, you’re sick of making slideshows anyway.

For those teachers who are always looking for more ways to bring technology into the classroom (and isn’t everyone), here is another idea – QR codes.

In case you’re not sure what they are, here’s a quick lesson:

Lately, it seems QR codes (or quick response codes) are everywhere, and even if you don’t know what they do, you’ve undoubtedly seen them. They are little squares that resemble traditional grocery store-type barcodes, and they look something like this:

Typically they are used as a marketing strategy for businesses, and they usually show up on signs, packaging, business cards, and other advertisements. The intention is consumers will scan these codes via an app on their smartphone and receive some type of reward such as a coupon, recipe, more information, or some other type of deal. However, a great many of them just send you to the company’s home page, which is a waste of time. But, that’s a discussion for another blog.

How Can Teachers UseThem?

So, how can a marketing tool work for teachers? Well, the cool thing about QR codes is they are totally free to generate, and you can have the code direct users to any URL, text message, phone number, contact info, or video of your choosing. There are several free QR generating sites online, so just choose one you like. They are all really easy to use; simply enter in the URL, pick your preferred code size, and voila – you have a QR code!

Basically, they are merely a vehicle directing people to something you want them to see or have. Here are a few ways teachers can use them:

• Contact info: At the beginning of the year when you’re giving parents your phone number, email address, and website URL , why not include a QR code so those with smartphones can quickly download your info. Besides being a time saver, they look kind of curious, so parents who normally ignore school papers may be enticed to check it out.
• Post one in the hallway : If you want to show other students, teachers, and administrators what you’re class has been up to, then print up a large (full paper size) QR code and post it in a conspicuous place. Have it direct to something your class has created together (class wiki, project, video, online scavenger hunt, photos, etc.).
• Assign homework : One of the main reasons students don’t do their homework is they forget to write it down. When you write their homework assignment on the board also include a QR version (remember, the QR code can send a text message). Students will love the chance to bring out their phones in class, and once they scan it, the assignment is saved in their phone for later retrieval.
• Learning stations:  Of course, not every student has a smartphone, so if you’re going to do this you’ll probably have to divide the students into groups; just make sure one person per group has a smartphone. As the students move around to the various stations, the QR codes can direct students to online activities, related websites, videos, hints, etc.
• Extension activities: Place a QR code on the bottom of an assignment and allow early-finishers to follow it to another activity, video, or question. Incorporating a bit of technology may spark more interest in optional extension assignments.
• Study guide: Before a big test, assign some type of practice test or review activity. Next to each question place a QR code that directs students to information about the question. This could be to a page in the online textbook, to a website where you’ve used Diigo to highlight pertinent facts, to online class notes, or to any other digital location. Students can either use the QR codes to check their own answers, or you could grade the assignment yourself and students could use the codes to study missed questions before taking the test.

Really, once you start thinking about it, there are endless ways to use QR codes. Just remember to use them as an option and not as the only way to do things, because not all students will have access to a smartphone.

I know you’ve got some other ideas about how to use QR codes. Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

All great teachers know that they are really perpetual students. They must continually expand their subject knowledge and skills if they hope to evolve as teachers and as individuals. However, with so many school demands, there are not many hours left to devote to betterment. For example, I don’t know any history teachers (who are real history buffs) who wouldn’t love to settle down with a book full of intriguing non-fiction stories about the past — but, who has the time?

Luckily, I found a solution to this a few years ago … audiobooks. It is kind of my nerdy indulgence, but it has allowed me to “read” tons of books that I otherwise wouldn’t have had time for. I no longer dread things such as commutes, house cleaning, and other mindless chores since I know I can continue with my book.

The only problem is audiobooks are expensive, so I had to slow down my consumption. While looking for something free to listen to between audiobooks, I stumbled upon quite a few really great podcasts (which brings me to the point of this post).

By far one of my favorites is Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History. Every few months Carlin does a podcast where he discusses some interesting point in history. However, he doesn’t just tell you what happened — he really digs into the story and talks about unique details, personalities, and how specific events shaped our current world. It really is good stuff. Sometimes I find my attention fading during History Channel type documentaries (and those have pictures), but never while listening to Hardcore History — I am always rapt from beginning to end. I know it must sound like I work for the podcast, but I don’t … I just really like it.

Besides just being entertaining, it can also help your teaching. I find the best way to get students interested in history is by telling them some of the strange and obscure facts about a story. For instance, you can tell them Idi Amin was a dictator who killed hundreds of thousands of people and, surprisingly, they will forget this (they’ve heard it all before). However, if you tell your students he was a dictator who killed hundreds of thousands of people and was said to have kept severed heads in his fridge, they will remember his name forever. I guarantee even when they’re grown with computer and paralegal jobs, they will remember that story This is kind of a gruesome example, but you get the point — you always need a hook.

Hardcore History is full of such hooks. The most recent episodes are free or you can pay for older podcasts (usually $0.99 to $1.99). The shows are available for download on his site, dancarlin.com, or in the App Store.

If you decide to listen, let me know what you think and what episode is your favorite.

It’s true, schools and their various programs always seem to need more money, but how many fundraisers can we take before they start to lose their effectiveness?

In a typical school, on an average week, it’s not uncommon for the basketball team to be selling wrapping paper to pay for their next trip, the wrestling team raffling off a computer so they can buy new singlets, the student council peddling candy for the upcoming dance, plus the ever-present donation box for the school’s chosen charity. And on top of all that… the teachers and staff are tempted (almost weekly) to pay $5.00 to wear jeans on Friday. Of course, the money earned from “jeans day” generally goes to a good cause, but how much of one’s paycheck should they give away? For example, consider a support staff worker at the school (teacher’s aid, special ED helper, etc. – basically a non-teacher or administrator). Many of these people make around $10.00 per hour.  When they participate in jeans day, they basically give up a half-hour of work for the privilege of wearing jeans… it doesn’t seem very fair.

The simple answer is to just say “no” when you are asked to contribute. However, that is easier said than done. If you refuse too many times, people start to think you are stingy, non-caring, or not a team player.

Expenses aside, the abundance of fundraisers make them seem less important to the students and parents. When they are announced, the students tend to tune out and parents simply glance at the flyers, think “ugh, not another one,” and toss the paper in the trash. Sometimes even the people who do want to donate just get busy and think they’ll “get the next one.” Then, one fundraiser bleeds into another, and the “next one” people planned on supporting never surfaces.

Overall, the never-ending fundraisers are a disservice for everyone. People are asked to spend too much and worthwhile charities get lost in the mix. Perhaps schools should limit the number of fundraisers that each program can do per year, and ensure that each group comes up with a different money making plan (you can only buy so many containers of cookie dough). And what’s so bad about letting teachers wear jeans for free every now and then — just out of appreciation?

When your students return from winter break, it usually takes a while to get them back into their usual routines, and in some ways, it feels like a whole new school year. I find this is the ideal time to evaluate what we have learned up to that point and what we hope to accomplish. To help your students realize their own goals, set aside some class time to discuss New Year’s resolutions.

Like most people, children are either overzealous in their goals, or they just don’t care at all; and both mindsets usually lead to failure. Learning how to set resolutions is vital to success. So, before beginning any discussion on specific goals, first talk about how to make them work. Suggest the following:

1.  Choose only ONE goal. If you have too many, you lose your focus.

2. Set a specific goal. Don’t just say “I want to do well in school.” Instead, choose something more precise such as “I will do my homework every night.”

3. Set a realistic goal. Don’t choose something like “I want to make an A in this class” if you currently have an F. Instead, simply try to earn a passing grade.

4. Have an accountability buddy. Pick a friend from the class, a parent, teacher, or someone else in the school who you report to about your progress.

5. Celebrate every small success. Each time you move closer to your goal, give yourself a reward or at least a pat on the back.

6. Ask yourself every day, “what can I do today to help reach my goals?”

Once everyone understands how to set a resolution, have all of the students choose a goal and write it down on a piece of paper. Try to make a big deal out of it so they understand its importance. I like the idea of taking up all the resolutions and sticking them inside some kind of box or time capsule. Then, at the end of the school year you can take out the papers, pass them back to the students, and chat about who accomplished their goals. Even if they weren’t successful, you can still turn it into a learning experience by discussing what may have led to their setbacks.

This activity is a great way to set the tone for the rest of the year and to get the students serious about learning again. Not to mention, knowing how to set goals is a skill they can use for the rest of their lives.