Thoughts on Education, Leadership, and Life from an Outsider
“It’s easily the most contentious piece of real estate in the world. And there’s no hope—none—of ever talking about it without pissing somebody, if not everybody, off. Maybe that’s why it took me so long to come here, a place where even the names of ordinary things are ferociously disputed. Where does falafel come from? … Continue reading “Wednesday, May 15, 2024”
Greetings Starfighters, I’ve come to grips with something that will be very helpful when working with teachers and students going forward. I’ve come to understand that my brain works a little differently than others regarding visualization. I had just assumed that everyone sees images or even films playing in the inner theatre of the mind … Continue reading “Monday, May 6, 2024”
I wanted to share a few lesson ideas with a Groundhog Day theme in my weekly newsletter to teachers, but I also wanted to include some deeper learning competencies in those lesson ideas. So, I ran over to ChatGPT, gave it a prompt, and got these ideas. No, they’re not full lesson plans, but they … Continue reading “Groundhog Day Lesson Ideas”
Yes, it’s almost 2024, and schools are still fighting the losing battle against student cell phones in class. Sigh. Some schools have partnered with companies to implement the use of pouches that students are required to put their phones into at the beginning of the day and that don’t unlock until the final bell rings, while … Continue reading “Until We Fix This, We’ll Always Fight Against Student Cell Phones”
There, I said it. That’s my hot take. We need to get rid of AP courses. Why? Because they’ve been pushed down the throat of our education system for the past twenty years, pitched as an equity solution because we should be offering the best content to everyone. I agree 100% with that statement. Every … Continue reading “Yes, We Need to Get Rid of AP Courses”
As the new school year begins, it’s essential for teachers to equip themselves with the right tools to navigate the challenges ahead. Among these tools, books can be a great source of inspiration, guidance, and self-care. Here are ten books that every teacher should consider reading as they embark on a new academic year. The … Continue reading “Top 10 Books for Teachers to Kickstart the New School Year”
In a recent study conducted by researchers at Columbia University, a prototype AI writing-support tool named Scraft has been developed. This tool is designed to aid writing education by using recursive feedback mechanisms to encourage critical thinking. Scraft is not just a simple text-generating AI; it’s a sophisticated tool that asks Socratic questions to users … Continue reading “Scraft – An AI Writing Tutor for Language Learners”
Building a Second Brain The Zettelkasten: The Heart of the System The Zettelkasten method is a knowledge management and note-taking system developed by the German sociologist Niklas Luhmann. The term “Zettelkasten” translates to “slip box” or “note box” in English. Luhmann credited this system for his prolific output in his academic career, which included more … Continue reading “TeachMeet KY 2023”
The Innovating Pedagogy 2023 report, published by The Open University, explores ten innovations that have the potential to provoke major shifts in educational practice. The report is designed to guide teachers, policymakers, and educational technologists in making informed decisions about new forms of teaching, learning, and assessment. The report (available here) emphasizes that these innovations … Continue reading “Innovating Pedagogy 2023: Exploring New Forms of Teaching, Learning and Assessment”
When it comes to personal growth and learning, the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset is huge. In simplest terms, a growth mindset is when you believe that you can improve your skills with practice and hard work. A fixed mindset is when you think that your abilities are set in stone … Continue reading “Unleashing Potential: Understanding the Power of Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset in Education”