Good questions are the backbone of every classroom. They initiate the best conversations and are mandatory for fruitful investigations, both scientific and artistic. I remember the simply revalation I had from asking a student, "Can you tell me more about that?" and having them pause a moment and then really think about what they had just … Continue reading Good Question!
Duolingo
If you are a language learner, you have probably already heard of Duolingo. I discovered it a couple of years ago and have used it on and off since then to augment my study of French. Over the past year I have also used it in the classroom. This post is to tell you why … Continue reading Duolingo
Way of the Master
It is with great pleasure that I share this site with you; Way of the Master. It is the final project that I completed for my Master of Education Technology from the University of British Columbia. The progress through the program is documented in this site which constitutes an ePortfolio of my learning and philosophy. … Continue reading Way of the Master
The Lost Thing
This little book by Shaun Tan is how I picture Dali would illustrate for his kids. Every picture has so much to look at! The story is ostensibly about a boy who finds an out of place, well, thing, on the beach. It had a weird look about it. "You know, a sad, lost sort of … Continue reading The Lost Thing
The (New) Way Things Work
I was first introduced to the works of David Macaulay by a friend with a big book about castles, cathedrals, and mosques. I was enthralled by the methods that our ancestors used to erect the architectural wonders of the world. Instead of removing the awe of wonder, it increased it by showing me the ingenuity … Continue reading The (New) Way Things Work
Sea of Dreams
Another great wordless book, this time by the enigmatic Dennis Nolan. Hey, I love books with words too, but these wordless books are great for starting interesting conversations with those less than enthusiastic about reading. Amazingly illustrated ones like this may make them think, "There be magic betwixt them thar pages!" And they would be … Continue reading Sea of Dreams
The Red Book
This little gem by the imaginative Barbara Lehman was a Caldecott Honor Book in 2005. It has no words, so children at all reading levels can enjoy it. It has many possibilities for predictive and descriptive activities as the ‘reader’ follows an intriguing story of a book about a book. Let me know how you … Continue reading The Red Book
Gaming the Curriculum
Gaming in the classroom, gamification of education, learning apps; the landscape of educational games has certainly expanded in recent years. Wading into the waters of games in the classroom can be a daunting task for a teacher already drowning in a flooded curriculum. I recently read Mindshift: Guide to Digital Games and Learning which is a great … Continue reading Gaming the Curriculum
What is Going On?
I was reading an article for a masters course on technology in the arts and humanities classroom. The author, Kiran Subhani, describes in detail an activity that she uses where students interpret what is going on in a photo. For example, regard the picture below from 2013 Pulitzer Prize winner, Javier Manzano: First she would have … Continue reading What is Going On?
Panorama-rama
Has anyone tried Google Cardboard yet? I love how it is making VR experiences available for everyone, especially cash strapped educators. Virtual reality is really in its infancy, but the availability of VR tools, like the cheap paper goggles offered by Google and the apps that utilize its simple concept, make it easy for a generation … Continue reading Panorama-rama
