Category Archives: Uncategorized

If I Fail More Than You, I Win!

I came across this quote from Seth Godin recently and I have been thinking about what it means in education.  You need to take chances and get out of your comfort zone to accomplish great things.

Consider the following…

Steve Jobs created more terrible technology than me – he wins!

Oprah Winfrey has asked more stupid interview questions than me – she wins!

LeBron James has missed more game winning shots than me – he wins!

Schools were set-up for the industrial revolution.  Do this activity, get it perfect, move on to the next task.  However, the jobs that our students will have in the future will not require them to do things this way.  Computers will do that work for us.  The new “connection economy” will reward the “artists”, the people who can come up with new ideas and make connections.  That kind of work requires that people will fail in order to really achieve the success they pursue.

Another way to think about this is a student gets an A on every assignment, in every course through school. They graduate and write their first blog post or create their first video and people say it is terrible they will not be able to deal with this failure. We need to teach them that it is okay to fail and provide opportunities for them to step outside of their comfort zones to do so.

Seth Godin – The Connection Economy

I love this quote from Seth Godin…

“The connection economy rewards little things, little connections, little followings.  So that if a programmer has 2000 people who read her blog and she is good, she does not need her job/company because if she is laid off she will have ten job offers tomorrow because she is connected and she has people who trust her.  One by one as people build these webs of connection and trust the guys on top have way less power than they used to.  Hence the people at the top have little power and it forces them to innovate.  We have seen this in the music industry, YouTube TV. etc.” (Seth Godin – Marketing Expert, The Connection Economy YouTube Video)

This is the new economy and speaks to the importance of blogging, making connections and making a difference in other peoples lives.  The industrial age, where jobs were broken down into small tasks so workers could be easily replaced, is finished.  Computers do those jobs now.  It is important to be creative and to do work that others cannot do.  You have the opportunity to “pick yourself” to do a job rather than waiting for some gatekeeper to allow you.  The internet allows you to reach your “tribe” of people.  If you have an amazing talent, show it off to the world.

PDF to Google Doc Conversion

• You can now convert a PDF to a Google Doc right in Google Drive in order to make changes to the document
• The file conversion is good for simple small PDFs but bad for large PDFs with images, tables and other complex formatting
• The following guide shows you how to upload PDFs into Google Drive and convert them using step-by-step instructions and screenshots

PDF to Google Doc Conversion Guide

Google Drive Share & Collaborate Video

This video explains how to Share within Google Drive and the benefits of collaborating in Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms and Drawings.

TOPICS

1. Share in Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drawings
2. Sending a Google Form
3. Share Options (Can Edit, Can Comment and Can View)
4. Share a Link
5. Copying a Doc
6. Files and Folders
7. Shared with Me
8. Protecting Your Work – Save as PDF

Google Drive Share & Collaborate Video

 

Canva Design Program Video

• “The easiest design program in the world” – The Webbys
• “Canva enables anyone to become a designer” – PSFK



Design Posters, Presentations, Cards and Social Media layouts using Canva. This video explains how to create an account and start using Canva in your classroom.  

Click on the link below…
Canva Design Video

Classroom Management Series #3 – Quiet Your Head / Mind

  • “Quieting Your Head” is like meditation and mediation has many known health benefits including reducing stress.

  • How do I do it? Take a breath and notice your breathing.

  • You will start to feel more relaxed.

  • It sounds kind of strange but the idea is to go beyond the mind to a place of stillness and peace.

  • After quieting your mind, you may find yourself more alert and able to focus better on your classroom assignments, activities and discussions.

Meditation Activity

  • We will take 5 minutes each day to sit in silence to quiet your mind.

  • What should you do during this silence? Try to focus on your breath.  Notice your breathing.

  • If you find yourself thinking of thoughts, bring yourself back to your breath as often as you can remember.

  • You will get better at calming your mind the more often you meditate.

Quiet Your Head Guide

 

Adapted from Eckert Tolle “The Power of Now”

Classroom Management Funny Series #2 – Quiet Your Faces

Classroom Management Funny Series #2

  • This strategy is intended to be fun
  • It is not designed to transform classroom culture but helps gain attention from students
  • Use it a few times throughout the semester (But don’t overdo it!)

Quiet Your Faces

  • Use “Quiet Your Faces” when attempting to get attention from a noisy class
  • It allows you to get their attention in a fun way because “Quiet your faces” sounds funny
  • It sounds like it could be inappropriate (similar to Shut Your Mouths!) but the beauty is that it isn’t inappropriate, which makes students laugh
  • It kind of stuns students when they first hear it (What did he/she just say?) so you can gain their attention, to give them instructions or to start a discussion

Quiet Your Faces Guide

Classroom Management Funny Series #1 – Pretending to Work

Classroom Management Funny Series #1

  • These strategies are intended to be fun
  • They are not designed to transform classroom culture but may help a few students to self-regulate
  • After teaching how to pretend to work, it is fun and helpful to remind students about it occasionally throughout the semester (but don’t overdo it)

Why? (For Teachers)

  • Students require different amounts of time to complete assignments
  • Students who finish early sometimes act inappropriately when given free time
  • Teach students how to behave properly (in a fun way) when given free time
  • “Pretending to work” (self-regulation) is a key skill, both in the classroom and the work world

Why? (For Students)

  • “Pretending to work” should be used after finishing your work! (Not Before or During)
  • Enjoy the downtime so you can relax and re-energize
  • Be productive without constantly being bombarded with more new work
  • If you pretend to work, your teacher will give you less work to complete
  • How you come across to your teacher or employer (How they view you) is very important
  • Self-Regulation is a key skill, both in the classroom and the work world

Keys to Pretending to Work

  • Stay in your seat
  • Be quiet
  • Keep a low profile (do not draw attention to yourself)
  • Make yourself look like you are doing work
  • Have a tool (pen, binder, computer mouse etc.) in your hand or nearby to enhance the appearance of working (especially effective technique)
  • (Advanced Strategy) Put an angry expression on your face because busy people are angry about all the work they need get done

How this Applies to the World of Work

Scenario

  • You have your first job working at at fast food restaurant. It is late at night and no customers have entered the store in over an hour.  You have 2 options…

Option A

  • You and your co-workers decide to have a food fight. Your manager hears you and suddenly find lots of items for all of you to clean.

Option B

  • Keep quiet, pick up a broom and look busy

Pretending to Work Guide