Stories from the Classroom

I realized that it's pretty difficult to schedule podcast interviews when you have a new baby in the house with a somewhat unpredictable nap schedule, and I decided I wasn't going to cut into family time.

COURSES FOR TEACHERS I'VE BEEN CREATING

During the times the little one napped, I decided to create a new course called Create Successful Videos for Distance Learning.  

It's a 1-hour self-paced course to help teachers who need to create video lessons but aren't sure where to start.

Additionally, I spent time making changes to my classroom economy.  Since our school is completely remote until at least mid-October, I had to come up with

•  a whole new list of classroom jobs
• ways that students could spend their classroom money
• ways they could earn supplemental money.

I've added all of those resources to my course How to Teach Kids About Money.

That two-hour course was originally created with a normal classroom environment in mind, but many of the things still apply to a virtual classroom economy.

PLACES I'M PUTTING OUT THE MOST CONTENT

Once I completed the courses, I decided to focus my efforts on my Instagram and YouTube channels.

On my Instagram channel, I've been posting stories each school day about how I'm approaching that day of distance learning, often sharing tech tips along the way.

On my YouTube channel, I've been creating videos all about distance learning technology and lesson ideas.

PUSHING PAUSE ON THE PODCAST

With all of that going on, something had to give so I decided to pause the podcast until further notice.

CONNECT WITH ME

I'd love to hear how things are going with you and how I could help; what kind of content would be beneficial for you right now?

• Email | [email protected]
• Instagram | @gibsoneducation
• YouTube | /gibsonedu
• Twitter | @gibsonedu
• Website | thomgibson.com
• 'Create Successful Videos for Distance Learning' course | thomgibson.com/distancelearning
• 'How to Teach Kids About Money' course | thomgibson.com/classroomeconomy
• TeamEdu Newsletter | thomgibson.com/newsletter

I walk through six tips on how to ensure your summer is a time to recharge, including:

• strategies to wean yourself off of social media a bit
• what to think through when developing your evening routine to get more sleep
• how to start small when it comes to exercising each week
• where to start when it comes to preparing for the fall semester
• practical advice on how to structure your own professional development this summer
• ideas on creating connection with others, from those in your household, to your family and friends, to your extended network

Also, this will be my last podcast for the summer! I'll be back in August with more episodes to help you middle-school STEM teachers create meaningful and memorable experiences for your students!

RESOURCES

• Minecraft EDU
• Minecraft EDU podcast
• RoboCo robotics building game
• MarcoPolo video messaging app

CONNECT WITH THOM

• Twitter | @gibsonedu
• YouTube |/gibsonedu
• Instagram | @gibsoneducation
• LinkedIn | /thomgibson
• Website | thomgibson.com
• Email | [email protected]

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

1. Enroll in the How to Teach Kids About Money course for educators
2. Sign up for the TeamEdu newsletter
3. Leave a podcast rating & review

I got all these ideas from other educators on social media.  In this episode, I take time to reflect on these three projects.  I talk specifically about:

• how I had students create a TikTok as their final math summative grade
• my rubric for the TikTok project
• reflections on what I would do differently with the TikTok project if I did it again
• how I introduced the Rube Goldberg project for my robotics class
• how I incorporated Minecraft in the planning process for their Rube Goldberg project
• how we utilized our Zoom class time during the week they were working on the Rube Goldberg machine
• how I structured the financial literacy project where students sold items on eBay
• how one student made over $300 when he did the eBay project
• a bonus 'virtual yearbook' project I did with my advisory students

RESOURCES:

• Esther Burnat (where I got the TikTok idea) on Instagram - @estherbrunat
• Dr. Valerie Camille Jones (also did the TikTok project) on Instagram - @dr_vcjones
• My TikTok intro slides & rubric - TikTok Project
• Mr. Aguirre (where I got the Rube Goldberg idea) on Instagram - @jacksonmstech
• My Rube Goldberg intro slide show and grading criteria -  Rube Goldberg Project
• Piskel (pixel art animator) - Piskel App
• Mike Yates (eBay project idea) - FlipLife Article
• My eBay project slides, videos, and assessment criteria - eBay Project
• My virtual yearbook details - starting virtual yearbook template

CONNECT WITH THOM

• Twitter | @gibsonedu
• YouTube |/gibsonedu
• Instagram | @gibsoneducation
• LinkedIn | /thomgibson
• Website | thomgibson.com
• Email | [email protected]

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

1. Enroll in the How to Teach Kids About Money course for educators
2. Sign up for the TeamEdu newsletter
3. Leave a podcast rating & review

I wanted to chat with someone about everything I had been reading online and seeing from schools around the world, some of which are beginning to open up after 3 months of remote learning.  Carl Hooker was the first person to come to mind.

Carl Hooker has been in education for 20+ years and is an Apple Distinguished educator, has served as a classroom teacher, instructional technologist, virtualization coordinator, director of innovation & digital learning, and founder of iPadpalooza, an educational technology conference in central Texas.

In today's episode, Carl and I chat about what the future of education may look like not only in this upcoming school year but what it may look like beyond Covid19.

• the transition from 'emergency remote learning' to 'how to do remote learning well'
• two best practices that have emerged so far in remote learning
• what some school schedules around the world are already doing
• what type of schools will thrive in this environment
• impacts of the current extended 'summer slide'
• psychological impacts on student of prolonged social distancing
• how schools in China are currently following santization & social distancing protocols
• what blended part in-class, part virtual-class could look like
• approaches of independent / private schools vs public schools
• what a 'delayed start' could look like
• schools that are already planning for a fully remote Fall 2020
• emerging possibilities for teachers & students who prefer remote learning
• changes to testing and assessment
• opportunities to differentiate in virtual learning
• optimal ratio of synchronous vs asynchronous time
• how to build community in the virtual classroom
• what a post COVID-19 classroom may look like
• equity and access; leveling the playing field for all students
• words of hope for educators who are worried, scared, and anxious about the future of education

RESOURCES:

• '25 Strategies to Engage Students on Your Next Zoom Meeting' by Carl Hooker
• 'The Coronavirus Pandemic Has Unleashed A Revolution In Education: From Now On, Blended Learning Will Be The Benchmark' by Enrique Dans
• Texas Education Agency on Adjusting School Calendars
• '9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They Reopen' by NPR

CONNECT WITH CARL HOOKER

• Website | carlhooker.com
• Blog | hookedoninnovation.com 
• Twitter | @mrhooker
• IG | @hookertech
• YT | Carl Hooker
• FB | Carl Hooker Fan Page
• Learning Unleased Podcast (ISTE) hosted by Carl Hooker
• Tech & Learning | Articles by Carl Hooker

CONNECT WITH THOM

• Twitter | @gibsonedu
• YouTube |/gibsonedu
• Instagram | @gibsoneducation
• Website | thomgibson.com
• Email | [email protected]

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

1. Enroll in the How to Teach Kids About Money course for educators
2. Sign up for the TeamEdu newsletter
3. Leave a podcast rating & review

My guest today is a teacher-of-the-year recipient and educator of 20 years.  Carolina Carner has been utilizing augmented reality in her classroom for several years in her middle school classroom.  Additionally she's worked with Google for Edu as a product expert in Google Expeditions, AR, VR, and Tour Creator.  She's THE AR/VR person to talk to when it comes to implementation in the classroom.

It was a fun conversation as she walked me through a litany of augmented reality apps, showing me their classroom application.  You hear me experiencing them in real time.

We explore:

• using AR for math manipulatives like fraction strips
• how to fill your classroom up with a solar system
• using AR to study wild animals up close
• how AR can build community and give students voice
• exploration of cells up close
• using AR to HOLD A BEATING HEART IN YOUR HAND!
• common mistakes teachers make when starting to use AR
• how to use AR with one device or many
• strategies for getting more devices in your classroom

RESOURCES:

• #arvrinedu on Twitter for all things AR & VR in the classroom
• Google Expeditions (Carolina’s favorite app and resource for AR)
• CoSpaces (STEM, coding, social sciences, literature, languages, and maker space applications)
• Hologo (the math fraction strips)
• Eureca AR (the solar system research)
• Flipgrid AR (the video introduction application)
• Quivervision (the colored-cell-brought-to-life)
• Mergecube (holding the skull and beating heart)
• Mergecube Remote Learning Resources
• BBC Civilisations
• Time AR (Landing on the moon & Amazon forest)
• @JaimeDonally on Twitter for more AR & Vr in the classroom
• @GoogleARVR on Twitter

CONNECT WITH CAROLINA CARNER

• Twitter | @carnercarolina
• YouTube | Nerdy Teacher Tech Talk

CONNECT WITH THOM

• Twitter | @gibsonedu
• YouTube |/gibsonedu
• Instagram | @gibsoneducation
• Website | thomgibson.com
• Email | [email protected]

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

1. Enroll in the How to Teach Kids About Money course for educators
2. Sign up for the TeamEdu newsletter
3. Leave a podcast rating & review

I reached out to a handful of people on Twitter who had done distance learning for at least a couple of weeks already.  Student engagement is one of the biggest challenges in distance learning. While I originally just asked for their best tip, I love that thoughts and guidance on how to increase student engagement was a part of each of their answers.

In the episode, my guests are:

Andrew Chiu | Hong Kong
Middle-School Digital Design Teacher
*just finished his 10th week of distance learning*

CJ Reynolds | New Jersey
High-School Literature & History of Hip Hop Teacher

Mark Rogers | Texas
1st Grade Teacher

Sam Kary | California
6th Grade Humanities Teacher

They share the following:

• the simplify, simplify, simplify approach Andrew takes
• practical tips in communication, organization, and video conferencing from 10-weeks of trial and error
• how CJ hooks his students right at the beginning of the lesson
• how Mark keeps his 1st graders connected to one another without video conferencing
• how Sam structures engaging at-home projects that are differentiated and support students each step of the way
   

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Some of CJ's green screen lesson hook videos
• Hyperdocs resources that Sam referenced
   

CONNECT WITH THESE EDUCATORS

Andrew Chiu

• Twitter | @chew_ed

CJ Reynolds

• Get his new book 'Teach Your Class Off'
• Hear a previous episode of the podcast CJ was on where he talked about how he uses social media in the classroom.
• YouTube | /realrapwiththereynolds
• Instagram | @realrapwithreynolds
• Facebook | /realrapwithreynolds
• Twitter | @realrapreynolds

Mark Rogers

• Hear about the looping project Mark is doing with his students in a previous episode of the podcast
• Twitter | @rogersmarkd

Sam Kary

• Check out one of the resources Sam created that I contributed to | Student-podcasting project for remote learning.
• Twitter | @newedtechclass
• Facebook | /newedtechclassroom
• YouTube | /newedtechclassroom
• Website | newedtechclassroom.com
   

CONNECT WITH THOM

• Twitter | @gibsonedu
• YouTube |/gibsonedu
• Instagram | @gibsoneducation
• Website | thomgibson.com
• Email | [email protected]
   

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

• Enroll in the How to Teach Kids About Money course for educators
• Sign up for the TeamEdu newsletter
• Leave a podcast rating & review

My guest today is a passionate math educator who has sought to teach learners in this exploratory manner and in a way that the students feel they are capable of understanding mathematical concepts deeply.

In my conversation with Kevin Moore, we explore:

• how one teacher helped him begin to view himself as a mathematician
• his journey from traditional education to the micro-school model
• how the physical space can foster the learning he hopes to see
• how it's MORE than just the physical space that helps foster the learning he hopes to see
• what our roles is and is not as math educators
• how to redirect incorrect work without just giving away the answer
• Kevin's favorite questions to ask students
• and much more.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Cathy Fosnot - Amazon books for various grade levels
• Jo Baoler - Mathematical Mindsets
• YouCubed - youcubed.org

CONNECT WITH KEVIN MOORE & LONG-VIEW MICRO-SCHOOL

• Website | long-view.com
• Math PD | The Number Lab Co-Lab - thenumberlab.com/co-lab
• Twitter | Long View Micro School - @long_view_atx
• Instagram | Long View Micro School - @long_view_atx
• Twitter | The Number Lab - @thenumberlab

CONNECT WITH THOM

• Twitter | @gibsonedu
• YouTube | /gibsonedu
• Instagram | @gibsoneducation
• Email | [email protected]

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

• Enroll in the How to Teach Kids About Money course for educators
• Sign up for the TeamEdu newsletter
• Leave a podcast rating & review

Watch the video of this podcast - https://youtu.be/BpSlAy2nPd0

TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 - Life with a newborn
• 6:11 - Daily schedule during quarantine
• 10:03 - Future podcasts
• 12:28 - Distance learning in the country
• 15:38 - New content for teachers (livestreams, courses)
• 18:42 - My distance learning plan so far
• 20:24 - Tips for making the most of self-quarantine time

CONNECT W/ ME ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING

• [email protected]
• Twitter | @gibsonedu
• YouTube | /gibsonedu

In this Q&A show, we discuss:

• How do you support students & help them master content after they've scored low on a test?
• How do you find time to prep, grade, plan without using all of your free time outside of school if you don't have a prep period?
• How do you correct students & stimulate competition in a robotics classroom?
• Any suggestions for a successful long-term subbing experience in 6th grade math?

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• 10 Grading Time Hacks podcast episode
• Tips For New Teachers : Stop Working! video
• #mtbos Twitter community [math resources]
• YouCubed Teacher Community on Facebook [math resources]

QUESTIONS FOR NEXT TIME

Email me at [email protected] with your questions for the next Q&A show.  Put 'For QA Show' in the subject line.

CONNECT WITH THOM

• Twitter | @gibsonedu
• YouTube | /gibsonedu
• Instagram | @gibsoneducation

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

• Enroll in the How to Teach Kids About Money course for educators
• Sign up for the TeamEdu newsletter
• Leave a podcast rating & review

Today I chat with two educators who are all about Skype in the classroom. Jeni Long & Salleé Clark (who go by the dynamic duo name of Jenallee) are two Microsoft Innovation Educators with over 36 years in education collectively.

In our conversation, we discuss:

• how teachers are using Skype to supplement the work they're doing in their classes by Skyping in experts to speak with their classes or having their classes Skype with another classroom around the world.
• how to interact with schools around the world when the time zones don't match.
• how your students can be video pen pals with other students (great language learning application)
• how your English language learners can use video to share their home culture with the classroom
• the technical aspects of running a Skype chat
• where to find vetted educators / safe contacts to chat with your class
• Class jobs so everyone has a role during the chat

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Main Skype in the classroom hub | education.skype.com
• Flipgrid for non-live video | flipgrid.com
• Skype in The Classroom on Twitter | @skypeclassroom
• Microsoft Innovative Educator hashtag | #mieexpert

CONNECT WITH JENI LONG & SALEÉ CLARK

• Jeni Long on Twitter | @JLO731
• Salleé Clark on Twitter | @salleeclark
• Jenallee on Twitter | @jenallee1
• The Jenallee Website | www.thejenalleeshow.com

CONNECT WITH THOM

• Twitter | @gibsonedu
• YouTube | /gibsonedu
• Instagram | @gibsoneducation
• Email | [email protected]

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

• Enroll in the How to Teach Kids About Money course for educators
• Sign up for the #TeamEdu newsletter
• Leave a podcast rating & review