If cell phones DID exist during my secondary schooling, you can bet your sweet cheeks I’d be texting, surfing, words-with-friendsing, and USAToday-ing till my battery died. Fact is, I can’t recall all that much about those years with the exception of two to three teachers (like most). The vast majority of lectures, readings, and worksheets were motions I went through; small stages of comatose until (like Pavlov’s dogs), I heard a bell ringing to queue my next movement. Survey your students today, and they’ll likely say the same.
If you’re a teacher today, the “cell phone battle” is one you’ve likely taken one of three stances on. First, you’re opposed, finding little to zero value in their use. Next, you’re indifferent, and it doesn’t really matter when, how, or if they’re used at all. You might take it up, you might not – you’re just putting in time. As long as it’s not disrupting or getting in your way, it doesn’t exist to you. But Third, you may be seeking new and interesting ways you can harness that enthusiasm toward effective learning. The cell phone battle isn’t a battle at all for you. You’ve recognized technology isn’t going away and you seek meaningful ways to engage your students.
And if you’re on the fence (or looking to lean closer toward choice #3) – here’s a few ways you can engage your students for that small window of time you have with them each day.
- Allow students to answer questions directed at you by seeing who can “Google” it first. Encourage web browsing and surfing, but direct where it’s going. Even if you know the answer, let an eager student take the credit. You’ll find monitoring isn’t NEAR as big an issue when you’re saying, “SURE, you can use your phone in here.”
- Pair ‘em up! There’s always more than one way to find the answer, and two searches are better/faster than one. Plus, there may be students who find the race for information a healthy competition they haven’t enjoyed in previous learning environments.
- Encourage your students to add to what you’ve taught them! While you’re teaching, ask students to elaborate or expound on the topic. If you’re discussing the fall of communism in Russia during 1991, ask for other details that need to be shared to understand the BIG picture.
Don’t forget it’s YOUR DOMAIN. Set the proper time and place when phones can and can’t be used and you’ll find that more times than not – your students will respect the boundaries. Take the opportunity to teach the value in having up to date information at your fingertips and watch a transformation take place in your classroom. Do it tomorrow.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Monday, November 22, 2010
Are You Experienced?
“…Have you ever really been experienced?”
- Jimi Hendrix
In many cases, people gain respect and appreciation by simply putting in time at something. I’d venture to guess there’s a person you work with who’s, “been there forever”. I’m guessing they're fairly likable, get their job done and are reliable (always have been). But in other cases, these people should have moved on a long time ago. Not to be mean, but they’re taking up a valuable position a more eager (no, not always younger) person would love to have. How many people can you think of even getting recognition, not for BETTER job performance, but for simply making it year after year? That’s certainly admirable I suppose, as most working adults will change careers multiple times before the age of 30. But when comparing the two characters…who would YOU rather mimic? Would you like to be the employee improving their professional career each year or be the person who’s simply been at their job longest?
I remember being told that 20+ years of repeating your 1st year experience doesn’t make you a successful teacher. True enough. I don’t think any of us would claim optimal performance at anything after only a year. Still, how many of us are determined enough (or have the work-ethic) to keep getting better when we’re surrounded with people getting by on status-quo? The famous words given credit to Einstein say; “the mark of insanity is repeating the same action over and over again, expecting different results.” We all want positive and successful results, but few like the personal change involved to get it. Truth be told, this is a commentary on human nature in many ways. Because we all enjoy our comfort zones and would enjoy better jobs, houses, and overall success in life. And we’d love to wake up one day and see that’s it’s happened with little to zero effort.
See only by learning from, and then adapting/changing from our experiences can we ever claim to be better at what we do! That’s a universal fact. Those of us unable to recognize where we’ve failed or need improvement will always just be “putting in time”. It may be a hippie 60’s song, but we all need to ask ourselves how experienced we really are.
- Jimi Hendrix
In many cases, people gain respect and appreciation by simply putting in time at something. I’d venture to guess there’s a person you work with who’s, “been there forever”. I’m guessing they're fairly likable, get their job done and are reliable (always have been). But in other cases, these people should have moved on a long time ago. Not to be mean, but they’re taking up a valuable position a more eager (no, not always younger) person would love to have. How many people can you think of even getting recognition, not for BETTER job performance, but for simply making it year after year? That’s certainly admirable I suppose, as most working adults will change careers multiple times before the age of 30. But when comparing the two characters…who would YOU rather mimic? Would you like to be the employee improving their professional career each year or be the person who’s simply been at their job longest?
I remember being told that 20+ years of repeating your 1st year experience doesn’t make you a successful teacher. True enough. I don’t think any of us would claim optimal performance at anything after only a year. Still, how many of us are determined enough (or have the work-ethic) to keep getting better when we’re surrounded with people getting by on status-quo? The famous words given credit to Einstein say; “the mark of insanity is repeating the same action over and over again, expecting different results.” We all want positive and successful results, but few like the personal change involved to get it. Truth be told, this is a commentary on human nature in many ways. Because we all enjoy our comfort zones and would enjoy better jobs, houses, and overall success in life. And we’d love to wake up one day and see that’s it’s happened with little to zero effort.
See only by learning from, and then adapting/changing from our experiences can we ever claim to be better at what we do! That’s a universal fact. Those of us unable to recognize where we’ve failed or need improvement will always just be “putting in time”. It may be a hippie 60’s song, but we all need to ask ourselves how experienced we really are.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Furry Children
I'd be remiss if I didn't have at least one post for 2009. While others utilize this free Google service for networking, blogging, and meeting new people, I've shunned it. Shame, shame. I'm sure there are others. In fact, I'd be curious (actually, now I AM curious) what percentage of people leave Blogger, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, and other accounts inactive for long periods of time...say, 6 months to a year?
Anyway, I now have two dogs. Check that...WE have two dogs. My wife and I decided on a French Bulldog after seconds of deliberation this 4th of July. We took Zoey back to DFW, a black/brindle squatty-body, and laughter ensued. It took about five months before we decided she needed a friend. Enter Kimbo, a second cream colored male French Bulldog. They have become, yes, our furry little children. With the exception of work and church we take them just about everywhere. They're a hit at the local dog-park and love when company comes over.
They've taught me a few things:
- Naps are necessary
- Take time to play
- Watching from a distance is usually wise
- Always stay close to the one you love!
Anyway, I now have two dogs. Check that...WE have two dogs. My wife and I decided on a French Bulldog after seconds of deliberation this 4th of July. We took Zoey back to DFW, a black/brindle squatty-body, and laughter ensued. It took about five months before we decided she needed a friend. Enter Kimbo, a second cream colored male French Bulldog. They have become, yes, our furry little children. With the exception of work and church we take them just about everywhere. They're a hit at the local dog-park and love when company comes over.
They've taught me a few things:
- Naps are necessary
- Take time to play
- Watching from a distance is usually wise
- Always stay close to the one you love!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Thinking Outside the Box
“Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple; that’s creativity.” - Charles Mingus
I’m so cliche I can’t even think of an original title. Creativity has never been a strength of mine. In grade school and junior high, when given a reading assignment, I always chose non-fiction. I remember book reports that were assigned. Bobby Orr, Muhammad Ali, and Jimi Hendrix were a few I presented. Other kids would report their stories, telling us about a boy who lived in a peach (maybe he ate a Giant Peach?), while I told them about a boy who taught himself to play left-handed guitar on a right-handed instrument.
I suppose you can’t change what interests you, but you should always be willing to work on your weaknesses. Creativity requires bravery. There’s a fine line between greatness and idiocy when it comes to creativity, but you have to be willing to put yourself out there. Try finding ways to think outside the normal ways of operation. Don’t be lazy. You can’t go wrong with what you know to be true, or what you’ve read will work, but don’t believe there’s not an alternative. Who can argue with doing something good that’s already been established? No one. But we’d all rather be copied than to copy, wouldn’t we?
I start teaching soon, and can foresee necessary creativity. It may be tactics, strategy, or just learning ideas. Somewhere along the way, a new idea needs to be presented for better effectiveness. In almost every area of life, there’s a need for creative thinking. I’m not looking to change the world or teaching profession by some break-through strategy or development, just a moment or two, creating something worthwhile and beneficial. And somehow, in some way, I suppose we’re all after that.
“This is your one opportunity to do something that no one has ever done before and that no one will copy throughout human existence. And if nothing else, you will be remembered as the one guy who ever did this. This one thing.” - Sam (Natalie Portman) in “Garden State“
I’m so cliche I can’t even think of an original title. Creativity has never been a strength of mine. In grade school and junior high, when given a reading assignment, I always chose non-fiction. I remember book reports that were assigned. Bobby Orr, Muhammad Ali, and Jimi Hendrix were a few I presented. Other kids would report their stories, telling us about a boy who lived in a peach (maybe he ate a Giant Peach?), while I told them about a boy who taught himself to play left-handed guitar on a right-handed instrument.
I suppose you can’t change what interests you, but you should always be willing to work on your weaknesses. Creativity requires bravery. There’s a fine line between greatness and idiocy when it comes to creativity, but you have to be willing to put yourself out there. Try finding ways to think outside the normal ways of operation. Don’t be lazy. You can’t go wrong with what you know to be true, or what you’ve read will work, but don’t believe there’s not an alternative. Who can argue with doing something good that’s already been established? No one. But we’d all rather be copied than to copy, wouldn’t we?
I start teaching soon, and can foresee necessary creativity. It may be tactics, strategy, or just learning ideas. Somewhere along the way, a new idea needs to be presented for better effectiveness. In almost every area of life, there’s a need for creative thinking. I’m not looking to change the world or teaching profession by some break-through strategy or development, just a moment or two, creating something worthwhile and beneficial. And somehow, in some way, I suppose we’re all after that.
“This is your one opportunity to do something that no one has ever done before and that no one will copy throughout human existence. And if nothing else, you will be remembered as the one guy who ever did this. This one thing.” - Sam (Natalie Portman) in “Garden State“
Monday, July 28, 2008
Death Of A Salesman
My name isn’t Willy Loman, and I’m not suicidal. I am however, leaving behind a chapter in life that’s taught me a few things I can use in the future. Account Executive is the title found on the bottom of my emails, but lets be real…I’m a sales-guy. I spend my days talking with HR managers and recruiters about their hiring/recruiting needs. I share our features & benefits, convincing them they’ll find no better place to fill those needs than at one of our career fairs! Some take part, but the majority don’t. Sales is a a numbers game. Still, it has it’s rewards. After all, who doesn’t feel good after you’ve just talked with someone for 5 minutes and now paid your cell phone bill for the month.
(Photo by Dave Caudil)
But back to the whole death thing. This is my final week at Ineedajob.com, before she gets a kiss on the cheek and a, “Welp, see ya later!” When I think about it though, I’m really just embarking on a new kind of sales position. My new email tag will simply read, Teacher. I’ll have to prove and convince a new boss and co-workers I know what I’m doing, and more importantly, sell a portion of America’s youth on world geography and historical events. And as with any “sales” job, we’re all in search of the best way to market and advertise our product/service. As a first year teacher, my marketing campaign will have to be great!
Below are a few lessons I’ve learned that I plan on taking into the classroom on my new “sales job”…
Reward Your Target Audience - The kids that show they appreciate your service and efforts deserve recognition, don’t they? Without playing favorites, you can surely find a way to keep your customers wanting more and later becoming your best refferals. They’re great resources to convince non-buyers.
It’s a Numbers Game - The #1 cliche of sales is certainly true. Not everyone will buy into, or be interested in what you have to say/offer. That doesn’t mean you quit or give up though. That doesn’t mean a “NO” stops you in your tracks. It may often be a moment of bad timing, or perhaps just a cost they can’t factor into their budget. Some will buy, and you’re always looking to raise that number!
You’re Easily Forgotten - In my mind, I remember our conversations and those moments I almost made the sale. That same knowledge isn’t always shared by the other end. Out of sight, out of mind. To resolve this, it’s necessary to keep in front of people/students, and always be on their radar.
Call Reluctance Kills! - It’s easy to get discouraged and back away. It’s never real difficult to retreat. The seed will die if it isn’t cultivated…always. A follow up is required for growth, and a “NO” can’t change your attitude or overall objective. You’re there for the sale, and again, to have as many buyers as possible. There’s never enough.
Ask For the Sale - Sure, the features and benefits might be great, but not everyone will say, “sign me up.” It may take different approaches or a little push to get the results you want. Be careful to not be over-bearing, but it should be known…I want your business!
Wish me luck!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Testing...Testing
The benchmark for intelligence has long been measured by what we know as our “IQ”, or Intelligence Quotient. I’ve never known it to be much of a standard, and it’s far less notorious than your SAT, ACT, and GPA scores. IQ registers a person’s reasoning ability rather than education or knowledge. But before 1912 and German psychologist, William Stern, how did we know Plato, Aristotle, Da Vinci (est. IQ score of 220), or a host of other so-called geniuses were THAT intelligent? Certainly, their accomplishments speak for themselves, but I wonder how well they’d do on our modern “standardized” tests?
I was curious, so I took my own IQ Test online. In my research (10 minutes), I found that you can accomplish whatever score you’d like based on what that given site is selling! There doesn’t seem to be a standard “IQ Test”, but instead, a litany of promotional marketing sites that front their sales-pitch with a free test. I didn’t take any of these. I can’t honestly believe an accurate IQ score goes hand-in-hand with 5 DVD’s for $5.
My score on http://www.iqtest.com/ was 137, which I feel fairly good about. After all, that number fits into the ”very superior intelligence” category. But still, I’m not quite sure of it’s overall legitimacy.
I had always been told a score of 160 = Genius. I think Albert Einstein receives credit for this. This made me double-y curious, so I looked to the wide world of Google to find more answers (they’re always credible, right?). Below are just a few names you might like to compare yourself to:
I was curious, so I took my own IQ Test online. In my research (10 minutes), I found that you can accomplish whatever score you’d like based on what that given site is selling! There doesn’t seem to be a standard “IQ Test”, but instead, a litany of promotional marketing sites that front their sales-pitch with a free test. I didn’t take any of these. I can’t honestly believe an accurate IQ score goes hand-in-hand with 5 DVD’s for $5.
My score on http://www.iqtest.com/ was 137, which I feel fairly good about. After all, that number fits into the ”very superior intelligence” category. But still, I’m not quite sure of it’s overall legitimacy.
I had always been told a score of 160 = Genius. I think Albert Einstein receives credit for this. This made me double-y curious, so I looked to the wide world of Google to find more answers (they’re always credible, right?). Below are just a few names you might like to compare yourself to:
- Madonna = 140
- Hugh Hefner = 152
- Bill Gates = 160 (Calculating “Biz Smarts”?)
- Tony Romo = 124 (Scored a 30 on the “Wonderlick”)
- George Bush Sr. = 98
- George Bush Jr. = 125
- Kim Ung Yong = 210 (worlds highest)
- Muhammad Ali = 78 (taken by the U.S. Army…hmmm??)
- Lee Harvey Oswald = 118
- James Woods = 180
- Stephen Hawking = 160 (Yeah, but can he do a pull-up?)
- Quinten Tarantino = 160 (”Kill Bill” equals E=mc squared)
As with everything else in life, you can always find someone worse off (dumber) or better off (smarter) than yourself. I’m sure my score went directly to the heads at MENSA for my opportunity to join the ranks of comedian Steve Martin and actress Goldie Hawn (yes, Goldie Hawn). I might even use it as a resume builder and provide a comparison chart to show I’m a better “reasoner” than President Bush and Tony Romo. Look for my name in headlines somewhere, doing something greater than these two hacks. : )
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