Inch Your Way
Innovation Toward By Kristi Bush
If I were asked to go into a room of people and lead them in innovative approaches to cooking, I would find myself completely out of my league! Although I have to make special gluten-free breads and dairy-free entrees, I am by no means equipped to lead others in the cooking arena. Ready-made entrees and gluten-free snacks are a lifesaver for me!! Perhaps this is how many educators feel when presented with the challenge of fostering innovation in their classrooms. They may be experienced in classroom management, immersed in their curriculum, and polished in their presentation skills but ill-equipped to provide what sometimes seems like “pie in the sky” educational opportunities for their students that qualify as “innovative.” An important step in leading
“An important step in leading teachers toward 21st Century teaching is pointing them toward the organizations and resources that will empower them to enhance their curriculum in the most efficient way possible...”
teachers toward 21st Century teaching is pointing them toward the organizations and resources that will empower them to enhance their curriculum in the most efficient way possible, while offering their students opportunities that will prepare them for the future.
Google
One of the first places that teachers should look for free, interactive, and constantly evolving resources is Google. Just yesterday, I had a fellow teacher ask me how one would go about even setting up a Google account. She was overwhelmed at the thought of trying to set up accounts for all of the different Google tools. I was able to give her the good news that there is just one login for the vast array of Google resources. Another teacher who was with us, Erin Busch-Grabmeyer from St. Louis High School, showed her how she uses Google docs to have a paperless AP
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English class. According to Ms. Busch-Grabmeyer, “[The students] share their essay with me via Google docs, and I can comment and critique it that way. When they have revised their final drafts, they email me, letting me know it is ready to grade. This entire process is effective because the technology seems to be motivating, both for myself as the grader and for the student... Having a paperless classroom is efficient, and effective.” In a third example, our Technology Director Jim Olson shared an email with me just this morning that explained how a person could create a folder in Google docs and share the entire folder of documents with a group from their contacts. What an efficient way to set up classroom or committee access to an entire folder of shared resources, all at once! For specific instructions on how to use Google tools... Google it! There are websites, videos, blogs, and more at your fingertips to get you going!
Discovery Education
Although I am a volunteer member of the Michigan Discovery Education Network Leadership Council, they don’t pay me to waive their flag! I am just a huge personal fan of the amazing resources that I find through their blogs, newsletters and websites. Discovery Education frequently provides lesson ideas and resources, as well as contests and activities that assist teachers in fostering innovative learning. Many schools in Michigan have access to Discovery Streaming, a web-based video streaming resource, but Streaming is just a small portion of what Discovery has to offer! They are quickly emerging as a leader in empowering teachers with free and low-cost resources. If you haven’t done
Conference 2012 | MACULJOURNAL
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