Debbie's English site
for teachers
Teaching in the 21st century
Welcome to my site begun in 2020
This is a work in progress. Stay tuned for updates
I have recently added a page of new resources to the Ministry of Education site. Many of these choice boards, hyperdocs, Google Slides and escape rooms do not appear on this site.
Here is a link so you can go there and make a copy of what you want.
My personal awakening...
When the pandemic struck , like teachers around the world, I was thrown unprepared into unknown territory; the world of distance learning. Luckily, I had a strong support system that got going to make sure the teachers were as prepared as possible in as little time as possible.
As I learned more, did more MOOCS and read more blogs and articles, I realized there was an entire universe of pedagogy out there I had been unaware of.
I have begun an amazing journey and much of what I have discovered is on these pages. Thank you to all the teachers who have shared their experiences and knowledge.
My advice to any teacher landing on this site:
There are an almost infinite number of cool apps that teachers can use for blended or distance learning. So we may lose sight of the forest for the trees. Recently I realized I feel like I have a jigsaw puzzle of 1,000 pieces on my table and am overwhelmed. My advice to you, and me, is to take it slowly.
You should have an LMS (learning management system) like Google Classroom, a platform for synchronous lessons (like Zoom) and two or three go to favorites. Less is often more. Only when YOU and YOUR PUPILS are comfortable with your basics, then get familiar with and try out another one. The first links I have put here are my basics, Google Suite. Below them you will find many more.
But remember, the tools are only that, tools. It is important not to confuse tools with teaching or education. I hope that the following pages will help you figure out both how to use these tools, and how to plan and implement successful lessons.
Good luck!
Debbie
"Our vision is of a new world of learning based on the compelling truth that improving education is the key to the survival of the human race. It's a world of creativity, inspiration, and ambition informed by evidence and experience.
It's a world where students become lifelong learners and develop 21st-century skills. It's a world where innovation is the rule, not the exception. It's a world where schools provide rigorous project-based learning, social and emotional learning, and access to new technology. It's a world where students and parents, teachers and administrators, policy makers and the people they serve are all empowered with a shared vision to change education for the better.
We call this place Edutopia, and we provide not just the vision for this new world of learning but the information and community connections to make it a reality."
21st Century skills are 12 abilities that today’s students need to succeed in their careers during the Information Age.
“We live in a fast-changing world, and producing more of the same knowledge and skills will not suffice to address the challenges of the future. A generation ago, teachers could expect that what they taught would last their students a lifetime. Today, because of rapid economic and social change, schools have to prepare students for jobs that have not yet been created, technologies that have not yet been invented and problems that we don’t yet know will arise.” Bri Stauffer on March 19th, 2020
The twelve 21st Century skills are:
Critical thinking Media literacy Creativity Collaboration Communication Information literacy
Technology literacy Flexibility Leadership Initiative Productivity Social skills
ultimate-guide-to-teaching-21st-century-skills-secondary-schools.pdf*Press on any pictures on the site to go to the website, watch the video, read the article or look at the slides.
How can I adapt my teaching to distance learning and blended learning?
A choice board is a graphic organizer that allows students to choose different ways to learn about a particular concept. In addition, you can require that students complete items from the choice board in a specific way, such as choosing three choices in a row, or you can let students choose at random. The level of difficulty of the activities can vary or stay consistent.
One of the greatest things about technology is how it allows us to differentiate instruction for our students. We no longer have to set our classroom up to keep all students doing the same thing at the same time. each student is given an individual playlist of assignments to complete, based on their individual needs.
Bitmojis can be used to send to friends on WhatsApp or email. But have you thought about building a virtual Bitmoji classroom for back to school? When you teach virtually, this is a fun and helpful option for you and your students. The interactive elements allow them to click through to see assignments, documents, and websites.
Video lectures at home? Homework in class? Welcome to a new world of active learning where teachers can be there when students need them.
More Useful Tools
Here is where you will find more useful apps and tools that are not part of G-Suite
more...
