Reinforcement vs Motivation

This article got me thinking about how educators try to shape student behaviour. Incentives for mundane tasks do not improve self regulatory skills in the long term. We need to make sure that students are engaged and that tasks are meaningful.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/edtechresearcher/2012/09/can_incentives_make_students_secretly_hate_us.html?cmp=SOC-SHR-FB

I really like Daniel Pink's insight into motivation. Have a look at an article on my website.

Teacher Characteristics

After reading this article http://edudemic.com/2012/09/the-3-characteristics-of-a-great-teacher/, I believe there is another quality or characteristic of a great teacher and that is resilience. I absolutely agree with the author about the other 3 characteristics - relevance, rigor and relationships - but without resilience, I do not believe that the other 3 can be sustained over time. Dr. Robert Brooks speaks of the importance of developing resiliency in children. In order for that to occur, teachers must demonstrate that quality themselves. The challenge for leadership is to develop resiliency in staff in order to embrace the changes necessary for education to continue to be relevant, rigorous and with productive in the cultivation of relationships

File Sharing

I think this update for google drive has many possibilities for the classroom. Students can use their mobile devices to edit a shared document. What an easy way to enhance collaboration.

I came across a great resource for teachers looking to embed technology into their classrooms. It's a simple list of software resources from Richard Byrne. Each tool listed has a brief description and addresses a different need within a classroom. Have a look.
12 Awesome EdTech Tools for 2012-2013

Student Blogging

This is what I love about using social media for professional development - teachers can share experiences and expertise and we can learn about what we feel is relevant and necessary for us at any point in time. I have been encouraging teachers for some time now to use blogging as a vehicle to increase student engagement in whatever topic you are studying. Here is an interesting article by a teacher from Wisconsin on blogging with students.

http://www.pernilleripp.com/2011/05/14-steps-to-meaningful-student-blogging.html

As teachers we must use relevant mechanisms to access the curriculum in order to increase student engagement and prepare students for their future. We are responsible to deliver the curriculum in a manner that is relevant in today's world. Student blogging is a step in the right direction.