Twitter Chat for Cycle #6

The chat has been archived at Storify.

Stories were discussed, and whose story is missing in how history and spaces are presented.

The idea of equity and access was discussed.  History isn't accessible to all and not in the same way.

We thought about what to do while out in the natural spaces (and what is allowed and what is discouraged).

 It has be thinking in new directions (outdoors) for technology class options!

Cycle #6 - Get Out!

It's summer.  It's July and it is sunny and hot.  These are the type of instructions we like to get!

 ... for Make Cycle 6, we want you  …. to get out of the house.That’s right. Power down that laptop, grab your sneakers or walking shoes, and head on out into the Great Outdoors and continue to explore the public spaces that surround you. You may need to bring a camera or mobile device with you, so we acknowledge that you might not be completely technologically untethered.

The final Make Cycle for 2015, facilitated by the US National Park Service, is designed to encourage you to head outside to your local park, or greenway, or bike path, or museum, or library, or street corner, or wherever the public you are part of comes together, #FindYourPark and document that public space for this week’s Make Cycle. The focus for this cycle is on the cultural, historical and/or environmental spaces of our communities. 

A great idea!  As usual, I would like to tie this activity to my own work at school.  This is something I struggle with - how do I get students outside of the classroom when what I teach is technology?!

Some resources I found, shared in the Cycle #6 Twitter Chat, and would like to explore:

Thinking of spaces...

I found this picture on Pinterest.  It comes with the following observation:  

"Loved this figure in the entrance area of a school I visited today. Made from scrap resources by the children and just indicating that 'we do really interesting things in here'.  Does your entrance area reflect your pedagogy?"

This has me thinking about how the public spaces in our schools reflect what is happening there (including my own education spaces).  Take a look around your spaces - what do you see and what does it say about what happens there?  Anything you would change?  When was the last time you sat there as a user of the space (a student maybe) and looked through that lens?

Cycle #5 - Stories and Spaces

It's all about stories this week as we think about public spaces!

For this make cycle, we invite you to create a digital story about a public space – physical or digital – that holds an important meaning to you or your community.

Because my educational role is all about technology, I turn to Storybird to reflect on my role as Internet Sherpa through the huge online public space.

Click HERE to access the story.  It's worth looking at (and it's short), go ahead - I'll wait.

So, what did you think?  What are the characteristics of a responsible Internet Sherpa? 

Cycle #4 - Systems

The task this week (Cycle #4) is all about systems according to the CLMOOC website.  Instructions include:

This week we will expand our thinking about systems and will attempt to tackle some of the ambiguity associated with complex systems. First, let’s begin with a simple definition. According to the dictionary, a system is “a group of interacting, interrelated, interdependent elements forming a complex whole.” There are many types of systems: human, behavioral, natural, technological, mechanical, mathematical, political, social, financial, transit, etc.

For this make cycle, we invite you to document, analyze and reflect on the variety of systems that influence your life personally and/or professionally. Use your creativity to document an existing system, access your ingenuity to improve an existing system or use your imagination to develop a unique new system and design a novel way to explain it. 

This took quite a bit of reflecting on my own part and I really wanted to try out a Museum template utilized by another participant (in her great Obscure Joys & Sorrows). 

I went and grabbed the template and although I didn't do as much customization, I got the general idea.

My system... the student brain.  A very complex system that every educator would love to understand.  My piece here does not do it justice, but it begins a journey for me.  I love the idea of presenting this topic as a workshop to staff with the museum as a "take away" for them.  Instead of a list of resources, they can explore some of the highlights by wandering around the museum.

North Slob (my new band)

I am fascinated by a fellow participant's post that included instructions for students to create an album cover for a fictitious band.  Walking through the steps on my own, this is my creation.

"Alternative Rock band North Slob is back on top with their signature sound.  The laid-back vocals and earthy tones ease listeners into this collection of stress-free sound."

It would be interesting to put together instructions that included vocabulary words, ideas about digital citizenship, or something else to bring an educational element to the activity for students.  The activity itself gives some wonderful creative license to students that is fun and entertaining.  Having a collection of their work could be displayed for the entire school to view.

F5F for Cycle #4

I have not had the chance to choose my #F5F each Friday, but after the Cycle #4 Twitter chat it was clear I needed to put one together.  Taking the opportunity to explore another resource (emaze), I assembled this presentation.  Click HERE to view it.

The conversation included ideas about light as a system, tides as a system, play (and how important it is to learning) as a system.  This got me thinking about the student brain.