Life Long Learners - CIJE Style

Life-long Learners - That's the ideal we want our students to embrace. It's not so much about filling one's head with reams of information, but learning HOW to acquire information and knowledge as it is needed.  And, since we need to be able to do this for our entire lives, being a life-long learner is one of the major goals of 21st Century educational practices.

But, if we teachers are going to model best practices for our students, that means that we must become life-long learners as well.  The question is how can we do this with all of the time constraints that are placed on us?

The folks at CIJE (The Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education www.thecije.org) have asked this question and have come up with a few suggestions...

One idea is that we offer LIVE on-line sessions on topics and ideas that have been suggested by our member schools.  And, in the spirit of best practice, we deliver the information using the exact same tools, systems and techniques that our schools can use to create their own on-line presences for adult education, community learning or flipped/blended classes.

Since many of our schools are using the Google Apps For Education Platform, as well as iPads and Google Chrome laptops, our inaugural LIVE webcast topic was on... Goolge - its security issues and how that affects our schools' filtering systems.  To help facilitate the program, we were joined, LIVE on-line,  by a filtering and securities expert - Christopher Weimann - from the K12usa.com organization.

Using the readily available - and FREE!! (a great resource for our schools) - Google Hangouts on Air, we broadcast a full 40 minute session.  While this particular episode was geared towards IT coordinators, all of the 25 or so participants agreed that it was very informative and helpful.

Now, as every veteran teacher who uses technology knows, one must ALWAYS have a backup plan in place should the technology fail during a class.  We are no different and a it's a good thing that we planned that way!!  About 9 minutes into the presentation, our Google Hangout on Air experienced a crash.  Fortunately, we had a second laptop running on a completely separate network that we were able to quickly switch over to.  Even though our video was now relegated to two little squares at the bottom of the screen, the show went on and, if the feedback from the participants is any indication, was a great success! https://youtu.be/nm14Pq8JruA

Our next LIVE broadcast will be Wednesday, February 17th at 12:00 noon PST (3 PM EST).  We will be presenting a 30 minute practical lesson on how to "Flip" learning in classroom.  This broadcast is geared particularly for teachers and will have real-life techniques that can be used immediately in the classroom.

Subscribe to my blogsite or my Twitter to feed for more information.

As always, I solicit your comments and suggestions on the blogsite.

Regards,

Yossie

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog: www.technorebbe.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel

YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

A Watched Pot Never Boils - REALLY!!

OK, so I admit it...  My name is Yossie and I am a technology geek and a physics junkie!! (This is where you all say; "Hi Yossie!")

I have been a teacher for about 30 years now and throughout that time, my primary focus has always been on technology and science.

Why?

Well, because... SCIENCE IS JUST COOL!!!

Here is an example of really cool...

Are you a Dr. Who fan?  (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006q2x0) 

They have this character called a Weeping Angel.

These monsters are quantum (yes, as in quantum mechanics from physics) creatures that are really assassins and attack only when they are not being observed.  Blink - and bang - they've got you!!

Now, what if I told you that this is REAL!!!  No, no... not the monsters! The part about observations in the quantum world!

Ever hear of the Turing Paradox - also called the Quantum Zeno Effect? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_Zeno_effect). 

Here is the quick explanation... A group of scientists put some Uranium - you know, the stuff that is radioactive and decays really quickly -  in a petri dish and came back a few days later and... sure enough it had decayed!!

Now, the same scientists put some more uranium in a petri dish and WATCHED it.... Don't BLINK!!... and it didn't decay!!!  

WHAT??!!  Is that even possible??  Just watching something can change the fabric of the universe as we know it??!!

Well, according to Quantum Mechanics (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_quantum_mechanics) it sure does!!

I hear you! You are thinking: "Fine, cute.. but how do I use something like this in my classroom?"

So here is my suggestion...

When I taught Conceptual Physics - based on the books by Paul G Hewitt - to my 9th grade students, we took the first 5 - 10 minutes of each class to talk about cool concepts in science.  Since I taught in Jewish Day Schools, the topic was usually about new technology and science coming out of Israel.  After about  a week, I started to assign students to bring in topics that they had researched and before you know it, my "geek-dom" was increased exponentially!!

What you do think about his idea?  Can you see how it develops a student's HOTS (High Order Thinking Skills)?  As always, I solicit your comments on the blogsite.

Regards...

Yossie

PS

Two of my Heros in Science are the late Don Herbert - of Mr. Wizard Fame (I got to work with him in Calgary, AB when he was recording the last season of his tv show) -  and Paul G Hewitt whom I mention in this post.  Even though Paul is over 80 years old now, you can still find his stuff online.  Here is a link to his Wiki page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_G._Hewitt   A link to one of his famous conceptual physics videos - https://youtu.be/zWKiWaiM3Pw  and a link to his "Hewitt Drew It" youtube channel - http://hewittdrewit.com/iWeb/Home.html  His stuff is just inspirational!!

Hey Paul - if you are reading this... Good Energy to you man!!  YF

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog: www.technorebbe.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel

YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

For whom the bell tolls - with apologies to Ernest Hemingway...

I was having a meeting last week with a group of students and my ever-present smartphone began to vibrate.  It was warning me that I had 10 minutes to my next appointment.  Two of the students' iPads also chimed as they were going to the same meeting.  This led me to ponder...

My wife, an international educational speaker and master teacher, has a concept that she refers to as the "silver platter syndrome."  You know, we do everything for our kids and they don't end up learning to do it for themselves.  She tells a story of being at a friend's home when two of the children asked their mother what 9 times 12 was.  My wife, seeing this a teachable moment, said to the kids, "Well, what is nine times ten and and two times nine?"  As their little faces scrunched up in deep thought, the mother called out "108!"  My wife looked over her shoulder and the mother had pulled out a smart phone and used the calculator. The children called out "thanks!" and went on their merry way.  Another teachable moment lost...

Here is a thought about what we can do to teach our students how to work with calendars, appointments and, at the same time, ditch the cattle herding school bells.  I would suggest that this idea could be treasure trove of teachable moments!!

The school can create a GAFE (Google Apps For Education) master calendar that has appointments pre-programed based on the class periods for the day.  This calendar would then be shared with all student and faculty.  When the period ends, the smart phones would buzz or chime. If there was a change to the schedule, it would automatically update for the students and teachers.  What a way to teach students how effectively use tech!

What are your thoughts on this?  Is this a good simulation of the real world?  As always, I solicit your input on the blogsite.

Don't forget that tomorrow at 1PM, I will be hosting a Google LIVE hangout on GAFE and security issues for filtering in schools.  Here is the link to Eventbrite where you can register.  tipe.eventbrite.com

See you all tomorrow!

Yossie

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog: www.technorebbe.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel

YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

Google - verb, noun or just your friendly neighborhood giant?!!

(Definition from dictionary.com)

GOOGLE

noun, Trademark.

brand name of a leading Internet search engine, founded in 1998.

verb (used with object), Googled, Googling.

(often lowercase) to search the Internet for information about (a person, topic, etc.):

We googled the new applicant to check her background.

verb (used without object), Googled, Googling.

(often lowercase) to use a search engine such as Google to find information, a website address, etc., on the Internet.

Word story

Founded in 1998, the website Google.com has become such an institution that in its short existence, it has changed not only the way we process the endless data found on the information superhighway, but also the way we think and talk about the Internet. 

So, there you have it. We can't even breath without Google being involved!

But, for us Educational Tech-folks, Google causes all sorts of interesting issues;  unauthorized YouTube videos, sending texts during class, filtering web results, beta software, unannounced changes... arrggg!!!!

One of the most commonly asked questions that I get from my world-wide network of schools is: "HOW DO WE HANDLE GOOGLE AND FILTERING??!!" 

OK, you asked for it, so here is the answer!!!

Join me - LIVE ON-LINE - on Wednesday, January 27th, 2016 at 1PM PST ( 4PM EST) where I will be speaking about Google Apps for Education and YouTube Filtering.

As with my past Live Hangouts, I will be inviting an expert in the field to join me to help answer your live questions - LIVE (did I say we are doing this LIVE??!!).  For this broadcast, I will be joined by Christopher Weimann - Internet Expert Extraordinaire - as my guest.

To get details and the link, please register at http://tipe.eventbrite.com

As always, your comments are solicited on the blogsite.

Yossie

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog: www.technorebbe.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel

YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

A new STEM project from CIJE is sure to make a lot of noise!!

Today, I had the privilege to be at Yeshivat Yavneh (http://www.yha.org/) to present a few professional development sessions on Flipped Learning.  During the sessions, I made mention of the grand-daddy of all screen capture/eLearing programs - Camtasia (http://www.techsmith.com/). To demonstrate the power of the software, I showed the group a video that was made by my son, Tuvia (Kano-Boy), and me for the CIJE organization (http://www.thecije.org/).

While my goal of showing this was to demonstrate how easy it is to make a quality filliped instructional video, the group was captivated by the content itself - a fully integrated tinker/STEM project: The Channukah Dreidel. (click this link to see the video)

This project is just one the many ideas created by CIJE's West Coast STEM coordinator, Dr Adrian Krag.

Dr. Adrian Krag

Dr. Krag is one of those amazing people whose mind never turns off.  He is always thinking about new ways to engage students. Well, having had such success with the Dreidel project, the gauntlet had been thrown and  Dr Krag had to come up with something even better - AND HE HAS!!

 His latest project is a Gragger - a special noisemaker used during the Jewish festival of Purim. Below is a picture of a traditional "analog" Purim Gragger.

picture from http://www.groggers.com/

Now, when Adrian does something, he doesn't do it halfway.  He created a STEM project that incorporates science, collaboration, engineering, tinkering, soldering, electronics and a whole lot of fun!  

Enter "Gragger 3000..."

Gragger 3D CAD drawing 

Ok, so Gragger 3000 is my name for this project. Adrian doesn't have one yet!!  But as soon as he does, I am sure it will be awesome!!

So, check this out.... This hi-tech Gragger spins (just like a traditional analog one), makes a really great noise, is 3D printed, has a motor and a computer chip driven circuit board, and is assembled by the students! But this is only the device itself...

As an educator, I get so excited thinking of all the learning opportunities that flow from this idea. They are positively endless!

One could teach about circuits, electrons, motors, magnetism, 3D printing, manufacturing, motion and so on.

Are you a Judaic Studies teacher?  Well then, you could teach about Purim, minhagim (traditions), Talmud (Oral Traditions), Halacha (Jewish Law), Megilat Esther (the scroll of Esther that is read on Purim) and cap the whole thing off with each student making their own very unique AND COOL Gragger!! 

Hey, you could even make the whole project cross-curricular and combine this with both Judaic AND Secular studies!!

Not only is the concept cross-curricular, but it is also completely differentiated.  For older students, they can soldier and put the Gragger together from all of the individual components.  For younger children, one can pre-assemble the more complex pieces and just have the students complete the assembly.

Here is a pic of Adrian's working prototype:

This is why I LOVE working at CIJE; we create opportunities to stimulate the creativity of our children.

As always, your comments are solicited on the blog-site

Yossie

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

3D Print - Chocolate??!

In order to write this blog, I spend hours surfing the Internet, speaking with other Ed-Tech folks, joining dozens of PLN's and so on.  Often, I find myself on some very esoteric web sites researching the latest in Educational Technology.  For 3D printing, one of my MOST FAVORITE sites is Maker Shed (www.makershed.com).  These are the same folks that put out the "Make: Magazine" and the producers of the world renowned Maker Faire. (www.makermedia.com).  I could spend days just looking through all of educational products and - well - just some really fun stuff!!

So, imagine my geeky pleasure to see advertised a "universal fit" device that allows the 3D printing of "soft" material.  That would be printing material like silicone for making flexible gaskets, or flexible shock cases for cell phones.  You know, practical things.

Ah... practical shmackitkle.... I wanna print CHOCOLATE!!!!!

To watch the video - click here.

Anyone want to buy me one of these things?  I accept gifts!!! :-)

As always, your comments are solicited on the blog site!

Yossie

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

To "Tinker" or not to "Tinker, that is the question" (sorry Shakespeare...)

I recently had a discussion with a Head Of School ("HOS" -  hmmm... thanks Bonanza!!) about the value of tinker spaces.  What I was trying to do was explain how "tinkering" (especially in the pre-K to grade 4 environment) leads to engineering in the higher grades.  I also went through the standard discussion of 21st Century skills and the high level cognitive development that tinkering embodies.  It was a hard sell to get this HOS to see what I was getting at but, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words and so I showed this individual a great resource (Shout out to James Gapp from Harbor Day School and the InTELA.org PLN.) that I was just recently introduced to.

So what was this mysterious product that could convince a hardened educational administrator??

Kiwicrate!!  (http://www.tinker.kiwicrate.com/).

The point that really impressed me (a long-time STEM educator) was that this product is NOT another science kit!  I love how the designers packaged a whole, well thought out and TESTED kit based project/creative material, parent/teacher's guide, an age targeted tinkering magazine, and FULL WEB SUPPORT!  You can have a monthly subscription that costs less than a large kosher pizza!!  The subscriptions are divided into the following groups: Koala Crate: ages 3-4, Kiwi Crate: ages 5-8, Doodle Crate: ages 9-16+, Tinker Crate: ages 9-16+ (Tinker Crate is the one I have ordered for my 10 year old son - you can read about Tuvia's exploits in my "Kano Boy" blog post.. http://technorebbe.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-continuing-adventures-of-kano-boy.html )

Here is a video on one of the Tinker Crate projects.. one of my favorites as it involves projectiles and destruction!!!

So, what do you think?  Do you agree with tinkering leading to engineering?  How about the Tinker Crate?  As always, your comments are solicited on the blog site.

Regards....

Yossie

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel