What's the difference between accuracy and precision? - Matt Anticole Scientists (and engineers) are used to taking measurements and working with numerical data. With numerical data, we can try to identify patterns hidden in nature. With those patterns, we can begin to understand, predict, and perhaps ultimately control the world that surrounds us. What is the difference between a Number and a Measurement? Taking a measurement requires you to use a measuring tool of some sort: a ruler, a thermometer, a graduated cylinder, etc. What is accuracy? What can change the accuracy of a measurement? While accuracy is easy enough to understand, it does have an underlying weakness. Be careful though, some people assume that if you write a lot of digits after the decimal point, the measurement has to be accurate. What is precision? Several people who look at the same situation might choose widely different measurements to represent their interpretation of it. Significant Digits (or Figures) What are significant digits?
The Educator with a Growth Mindset: A Staff Workshop I had the great privilege of facilitating a staff workshop on growth mindsets for the teachers and staff at Carlos Rosario International School and more recently at ISTE 2015. Participants were given access to the slide deck in order interact with the slides and resources during the workshop. What follows are the activities along with some of the resources used during the workshop. It began with the viewing of a few “inspirational” videos. Exploring the Characteristics of Growth v Fixed Mindsets Online resources were provided and small groups (prearranged prior to the workshop based on teaching disciplines) were asked to explore and list the characteristics of both growth and fixed mindsets. They provided with a link to this The Educator and the Growth Mindset Thinglink (which contains lots of linked resources). They were also given: The participants were asked to bring their own devices. They were then asked to flip their tarps. Like this:
The How’s and Why’s of Going ‘Full STEAM Ahead’ In Your Classroom | EdSurge News EdSurge Newsletters Receive weekly emails on edtech products, companies, and events that matter. Giving children the tools to succeed in a rapidly changing technology-based economy is the key to ensuring their future success. What is STEAM? STEAM, an interdisciplinary spin on STEM that includes an “A” for art, is an integral part of influencing kids’ interest in STEM by allowing kids to explore these subjects through hands-on making. The STEAM movement has inspired new school systems, companies and organizations to create new and engaging learning experiences that have captured kids’ interest. Kids yelling about the Pythagorean theorem sounds like the STEAM movement is doing something right. Looking to find STEAM projects for your kids? Learning STEM subjects in a classroom setting isn’t always accessible or inviting for all learning styles. But... Transforming learning environments from STEM to STEAM changes the way kids see and think about STEM subjects.
9 things you need to know about being a good citizen in the digital world | Top of the Class Today, the majority of schools are using technology in classrooms, especially the internet. So it is important for the users of the internet to have a good sense of digital citizenship – how we represent ourselves through digital media is just as important as how we represent ourselves in society. The extent of information available in the internet, both good and bad, makes every teacher or caregiver responsible for teaching young children how to appropriately use the internet. The concept of digital citizenship is definitely gaining momentum throughout the world. Digital access This concept refers to becoming productive digital citizens by working together in order to ensure that no-one is denied digital access. Digital commerce With the increase in online buying and selling, a vast variety of goods are surfacing the internet. Digital communication The many ways of communicating with people nearby, or at the opposite side of the world, was once unimaginable. Digital literacy Digital law
8 ways teachers can talk less and get kids talking more If you do fewer teacher-directed activities, that means the kids will naturally do more talking, doesn’t it? Not necessarily. I have often found myself talking almost constantly during group work and student-directed projects because I’m trying to push kids’ thinking, provide feedback, and help them stay on task. Even when the learning has been turned over to the students, it’s still tempting to spend too much time giving directions, repeating important information, and telling students how they did instead of asking them to reflect on their work. 1. It can be uncomfortable to watch kids struggle to figure out an answer, but they need time and silence to work through it. 2. It’s easy to get in an instructional rut when you stand at the same place near the board all day long. 3. Cut down on conversations about bathroom/water/pencil sharpening/etc by teaching kids to use sign language to request permission: use sign language to indicate your answer back: yes, no, or wait. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Modern Learning Environments – the underlying philosophy to success | Karen Boyes Speaker Modern Learning Environments (MLE) are all the talk in educational circles right now. Schools, around the world, are knocking out walls and creating bright stimulating classrooms with multi purpose furniture and giving students access to technology. On the surface it looks fantastic, however I am concerned that without a big pedagogy shift, students will be simply just learning the same way many teachers have been teaching – just in bigger classrooms with new furniture. MLE’s are so much more than the bright new furniture and the technology. When moving from a structured, and often heavily teacher-dominated classroom, to a less formal student led environment it is paramount students understand their role and responsibilities as the learner and indeed the learning process. Here are five considerations that are vital to address for success. Be clear on your underlying philosophy of learning. Do you believe all students can learn? Create a safe environment by redefining mistakes and failure
PB4L School-Wide / Welcome - Positive Behaviour for Learning PB4L School-Wide looks at behaviour and learning from a whole-of-school as well as an individual child perspective. The framework is based on international evidence. The Positive Behaviour for Learning School-Wide framework, otherwise known as PB4L School-Wide, is helping New Zealand schools build a culture where positive behaviour and learning is a way of life. The framework can be tailored to your school’s own environment and cultural needs. It’s not about changing the students; it’s about changing the environment, systems and practices you have in place to support them to make positive behaviour choices. PB4L School-Wide is based on the Positive Behavioural Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework developed at the University of Oregon in the 1990s. Read more . . . Return to top ^
2015 Science Academies Register Now Three years old and growing.... Since 2012 the Sir Paul Callaghan Science Academy (The Academy) has run an intensive four day professional development programme that provides a forum for exchange, encouragement and dissemination of “best practice” primary science teaching. We are now seeking registrations from primary and intermediate teachers. Now with a contract from the Ministry of Education, along with the continued investment of NZOG and NZASE, we are able to offer “zero course fees” and schedule significantly more Academies in 2015 and 2016. [Indivdual schools will still need to pay teacher release time (if any), accommodation, travel and meals]. Academy Dates Cromwell Mon 13 – Thu 16 April (school holidays) Nelson Tue 19 – Fri 22 May Wellington Tue 23 – Fri 26 June Auckland Mon 13 – Thu 16 July (school holidays) FULLY BOOKED Auckland Tue 1 – Fri 4 (school holidays) FULLY BOOKED Hamilton Tues 15 – Fri 18 September Hastings Mon 5 – Thu 8 October (school holidays)
The Power of Twitter: Personalized PD At Your Fingertips | The Golden Age of Education Have you ever wanted to be in two places at the same time? Do you often feel as if you’re being pulled in three directions? In my roles as teacher, technology staff developer and father of four I frequently feel this way. Saturday was a good example of this as there were two education conferences in the NY Metropolitan area that I really wanted to attend, but family responsibilities prevented me from going to either of them. However, Twitter made it possible for me to “be” in three places at once! Long Island Connected Educators Summit 2015 (#CELI15) Teachers’ College Reading and Writing Project 88th Reunion (#TCRWP) Learning NEVER Stops on Twitter The awesome power of Twitter allowed me to participate in both conferences simultaneously while at my son’s snowy LAX practice. Six Take-Aways From My Personalized PD Session on Twitter: This is just a little taste of what I learned in one afternoon of riding hashtags. Like this: Like Loading...
IntoScience - secondary school science education Literature circles / ELP years 5–8 / Comprehension / Reading / Reviewed resources Many teachers use literature circles as a way of encouraging their students to think and talk about a wide range of literary texts. A literature circle is like a book club for students. Small groups of students read the same text independently and share their interpretations and personal responses with others in the group. found a passage particularly impressive, interesting, or confusing;want to ask the group questions about the plot, characters, or information;want to clarify their thoughts about the theme or meaning of the text;found the language or writing style impressive or memorable;can relate an event or episode in the text to personal experience;can relate the text to other texts on the same topic or theme or by the same author. Literature circles enable students to extend their comprehension and critical analysis skills as they explore, in depth, texts by a particular author or on a specific theme.
Mathematical Habits of Mind | Edutopia We all have them, some good and some bad. We pick them up from friends, family, and even strangers. But we may not recall who we picked them up from or when they began. Because we've practiced them over and over, these seemingly thoughtless repeated habits or behaviors, the pathways in our brain have become so broad, fast, and efficient in carrying them out that we do them automatically without even thinking. Our classrooms are full of them. Experienced vs. According to Levasseur and Cuoco (PDF, 80KB), it's the mathematical habits of mind, or modes of thought, that enable us to reason about the world from a quantitative and spatial perspective, and to reason about math content that empowers us to use our mathematical knowledge and skills to make sense of and solve problems. Far too many students can be classified as inexperienced problem solvers who don't know what to do when they don't know what to do. Practice and Experience
A Parent's Guide for Getting Girls Into STEM Careers Edutopia Readers, I'm Dr. Rob Garcia, a former high school dropout turned PhD. As a kid growing up poor in Humboldt County, I had no idea what Engineering was. No one ever took me aside and said, "Engineers create things and get paid a lot of money and have awesome lives." The only messages I got were, "The police came by looking for your uncle again, don't tell them anything." High school was awful for me. The reason I'm sharing this is because I want great things for your children and I want to give you every resource to encourage your daughters to get high paying, successful STEM careers if that's their passion. My journey was unnecessarily difficult and I want better for your teens. By some weird twist of fate, I ended up teaching high school Engineering in San Diego for five years. Keep in mind that STEM careers can be mistakenly thought of as boring or not feminine or female friendly. My ADD was kickin' pretty bad in high school because I was a tactile learner. Projects Resources Dr.