Hack Learning

Two popular connected educators discuss the problem of the unconnected educator and share some Right-Now strategies for helping them plug in to incredible professional development on Twitter. This is Hacking Connected Education with Mark Barnes.

In Hacking the Test (Part 1), Mark Barnes explains how a test is NOT assessment and how teachers can shift the conversation about learning away from the test. In Part 2, Mark shares a story about how a second-grade teacher and his 7 year olds discover that a one-time test says nothing about learning, and they provide a better alternative to the traditional test. This is Hacking the Test (Part 2).

A simple tweeted picture ignited an ongoing conversation about education technology and its place in schools. Should we ban mobile devices in classrooms? Should we strengthen network filters? Or should we teach kids boundaries? Hack Learning creator and author of Teaching the iStudent Mark Barnes provides two simple steps for improvement. This is Hacking Digital Citizenship.

Mark Barnes explains how author/expert Mike Fisher reimagines teaching the Common Core, with his one-letter hack. Fisher replaces the "r" in "rigor", to completely change the climate of today's classrooms, even in a standardized world. Barnes wonders if it's possible to change other areas of teaching and learning by shifting the language in other trendy education words. He suggests that major change is possible if teachers work together to come up with other one-letter or one-word hacks. Share yours at #HackLearning on Twitter and at http://hacklearning.org.

It's time to stop punishing students for turning in their work late. Author/educator Mark Barnes explains why late policies cripple learning and discourage students. Barnes provides simple steps for encouraging students to budget their time and one step for Hacking the Late Policy. Wait till you hear how Mark Barnes suggests that you Hack your own late work policy. Learn more at http://hacklearning.org.

Learn 3 quick tips for improving your professional growth today. Bestselling author, educator, and creator of the Hack Learning Series, Mark Barnes, explains how you can access a limitless supply of powerful information from like-minded people, and put it in the palm of your hands, using tools you likely know but may not be using to their full potential. Learn more at http://hacklearning.org.

Would teaching and learning change if teachers treated all students like they were your own children? Author/educator and Hack Learning Series book publisher Mark Barnes shares one of his worst moments as a teacher--when he humiliated a student--and how that moment forever changed his teaching style. This is hacking rapport building.

Sometimes leaders need to make decisions on their own. Author/educator Mark Barnes explains how one poor school principal decision can inhibit learning, damage relationships, and cost a district a lot of money. Barnes then shares one simple fix for this big problem. This is Hacking School Leadership.

What if you had more time at work? Imagine an extra 2-5 hours on the job that are self-directed. Mark Barnes explains how every educator and private sector employee can have this extra time. All you have to do is move the workplace meeting to the cloud. Learn how a digital backchannel and bin can replace almost all meetings, building up to 20 more hours per month into your work days. We're hacking the meeting.

Mark Barnes identifies 6 reasons that teachers assign traditional homework and explains how to circumvent each reason and eliminate outdated traditional homework. In this brief episode, Mark Barnes explains how to throw out homework, while inspiring independent learning. Join Mark in Hacking Homework.