LHS Rocks

Our faculty brought the house down with this surprise dance routine to cap 2011 Homecoming.

New Feedback

Brittany Linder sent me this message last night concerning her college experience.  Keep in mind, she was sitting exactly where you guys are right now just last year!

Things go by quickly.  Take her feedback to heart (as I have done).

Hey Reynolds! Just thought I'd send out an email to you telling you of all of my academic challenges thus far, especially since I know you love hearing about how we're all doing (and later telling your current College Comp. classes).

Well, I'm four weeks into the semester here at Macalester, and my oh my, is the course-load rigorous. I haven't had any major papers or assignments just yet, except for my 20-minute long oral presentation due next Wednesday for my Intro to East Asian Civilizations class. But aside from that, I've mostly just had A LOT of reading. It's funny, when I think about it; I heard from so many college students last year in your class about how much reading there is, but you don't really seem to grasp it until you actually need to read it. Needless to say, I am behind in my reading--both for my Principles of Economics class, and my East Asian Civ. class. If I were to add up all the reading I do a day (if I were caught up, of course), I would probably need to read about...60 pages a day: 20 from my Econ. textbook, and then 20 pages each from my two textbooks for East Asian Civ. Oh, and that isn't even including my supplementary reading for Econ. That would be another 20 pages or so. But my supplementary reading isn't so bad. It isn't a textbook, so it isn't written in such a plain, tell-it-like-it-is format. I also greatly enjoy and am intrigued in the content; it reminds me of Freakonomics. I actually think you would enjoy this book, Reynolds. It's called, The Economic Naturalist by Robert H. Frank. It sounds boring, but it isn't really. It discusses different "enigmas from everyday life," and tries to describe the reasoning behind it using economic concepts. Some questions Frank addresses are, "Why is there a light in your refridgerator but not in your freezer?"; "Why do 24-hour convenience stores have locks on their doors?"; "Why do the keypad buttons on drive-up cash machines have Braille dots?"; and plenty of other questions just as interesting. Just thought I'd do a little advertising. 

Ack, long paragraph. Sorry.

Anyways. I'm enjoying my Japanese class immensely. It's pretty difficult, learning all the different characters, but it's a good kind of difficult. My music history course is also going well, as is my East Asian Civ. class. I really enjoy all of my classes, despite the vast amounts of work I have to do. I am struggling a lot in my economics class (Northland has nothing on Macalester). I have learned more in one month here in this class than I have in the whole semester at Northland. Sadly, Northland didn't really do too much in preparing me for Macalester--yet, I suppose I should have expected it, especially considering the vast difference in academic quality.

I would like to thank you, though, for everything you have taught me in College Comp. I and II. We had to write an essay during orientation week, mostly just as a placement test to see where we were skillwise in writing (I suppose it's a really big issue here at Mac). Those that didn't meet a certain standard had to take a writer's workshop. Thanks to your amazing teaching skills, I did well enough to pass, and thusly don't need to take the workshop. So, thank you for being such a great teacher. 

However, I would like to make one suggestion for your classes in the future, concerning citations styles. While I am very thankful for you teaching us MLA and APA, I, unfortunately, don't need to use either of those citation styles at the moment. Rather, I need to use Chicago/Turabian for my music history course. So, I think perhaps you should at least give a brief overview of Chicago/Turabian to your future classes. They may not need to use it that much, if at all, in the future, but if they do, I think they would really appreciate having a slight familiarity with the style (I know I certainly would have appreciated it). 

So, I suppose I should stop now. I wrote a lot, and I do believe I gave an adequate amount of information concerning my first month here. You are more than welcome to read anything from this email to the class, and you can edit it to your liking. It is a lot of...stuff, and the class doesn't need to hear about a book I'm currently reading. 

I hope my unnecessarily lenghty email brings you right back to editing and reading my lengthy papers. Enjoy!

~Brittany 

Power of the Flat World and Twitter

This morning I saw an interesting Tweet from one of my favorite writers and defenders of teachers, Diane Ravitch. Here is her website.

I learned of Diane from the John Merrow "Learning Podcast" episodes via iTunes. Those led me to buy her book, The Death and Life of the American School System.

When I began getting into Twitter, she was one of the first people I followed.

This morning, she had a very interesting Tweet about how using high stakes test scores to punish schools is tantamount to bullying. I totally agree. Her Tweet reminded me of a quote, so I responded to her.

Minutes ago, I just got an email notifying me that Diane had retweeted my tweet. What does that mean? Well, it means first that Twitter allows me to interact with a real player in the education reform movement. When was that ever possible before now?

It also means that now my message has been shared with her almost 20,000 followers on Twitter.

When else in the history of education has such contact and idea sharing ever been possible? Yet, how many schools, teachers, and administrators dismiss Twitter as a fad or distraction?

And as a result of this, I just received notification that another teacher just followed me, no doubt in response to Ravitch having retweeted my message.  My new Twitter follower has her own blog, which I know can add to my reading list and it's another contact and another way to develop professionally.

Not bad for a Wednesday morning.  And it's barely 9:30.  Given this flat classroom in a flat world, what will happen by 3?

What would your video capture

I think you guys will like this.

New Reading

Here is a new article for us to discuss. As you read it, please state using wiffiti, how Bauerlein would discredit this article and its claims.

Multi-Media Project

Here is a polleverywhere site I set up to let us publicly post our multi-media project concepts.

Let's see what you're going to wow us with.

Create interactive meetings at Poll Everywhere

The Learning Nation: Uphill both ways in a snowstorm

Here is our next reading. Read it and then using wall wisher (the link is below the story), please list three reactions to this article (reactions may be in the form of observations, questions, connections, or opinions). In addition to your three reactions, please have one post that includes a link to an outside source that adds to our discussion. I have included two examples: the first is a link to an article on the 12 things my generation needs to know about your generation (you might be surprised) and the second is a link to a video featuring one of my favorite educators and thinkers, Leon Botstein.

We will discuss your reactions to this in class on Friday.

The Learning Nation: Uphill both ways in a snowstorm: Yesterday, I read yet another article on "The Entitlement Generation" published in the Globe and Mail.  It was a scathing account of the you...


Here is the wallwisher discussion board.

http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/entitledgeneration

A possible multi-media project for position paper #1

If you are thinking of the multi-media project, one think Prensky talks about in "Engage me or Enrage me" is the need for schools to be more, well, engaging. He argues that kids plug in to video games outside of school because they are sleek, entertaining, fun, addicting, and captivating. I liken this to what Richard Gerver says in his book Creating Tomorrow's Schools Today when he says that we should makes schools into Disneyland.

Then I thought of this youtube video advertising the changes at this school in Newbrunswick.



Now here are some options -

1. Think of a class you have now. Make an iMovie trailer for it. Show how fun and engaging it is. Make students want to sign up for this class they way students want to play Call of Duty or travel to Disneyland (no small task, I know).

2. Create an iMovie trailer revolving around an issue in school or that you have studied that you are passionate about.

3. Take an issue that totally fails to engage you. Using digital media, make it engaging and interesting - the way the creators of the Newbrunswick ad makes their school district look interesting and awesome.

For those who are not interested in a video, you might wish to try the blogger format. Here are some examples from last year. See what you like and want to steal. See what you don't like and want to avoid.

Koop's Korner

Interactive World History

The Smartest Generation

Student Engagement

Here is an example of what you could do to make a subject more rich and complex via blogging, Wikipedia, and hypertext.

OR

You might want to experiment with infographs and creating them.

One last example from a former student who now uses her blog to expose others to her work.

Wiffiti Test Run

Let's use this as a test run of wiffiti -

Reactions to "Engage me or Enrage me"

Go to this link -

http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/rHgOWwKvCU

and leave some comments regarding the article by Marc Prenksy entitled, "Engage me or Enrage me."

To think about -

* How often are you engaged like this in school?
* Do you agree with Prensky's call for updating technology use in classrooms?
* How does he stand in contrast to what Bauerlein espouses?
* How can your relate some of these concepts to what happens here at LHS?

How Millennial Are You?

I'm not sure how it happened, but my score actually went up this year!

Take the quiz here and see just how millennial you are. Be warned, Mr. Froiland holds the record low with 8.

Here is Enemy #1 - or the Prophet of Truth . . .

Jay Walking.  Placement Test.

How can you hope to compete?




Then there is the "myth of nostalgia" - Check this one out.

Sometime before class on Friday, leave your thoughts on one of these pieces in the comments below.  Please sign in with a username so I can give you credit for this assignment.

Questions for Dumbest Gen intro and ch. 1

Keep these questions in mind as you read the introduction and first chapter of The Dumbest Generation. Please be willing to discuss these in class next week.

1.  In your opinion, how true is this statement: "They've been programmed for success, and a preschool-to-college gauntlet of standardized tests, mounting homework, motivational messages, and extracurricular tasks has rewarded or punished them at ever stage"?


2.  What do you think of this statement: "These young adults have graduated from high school, entered college, declared a major, and lasted seven semesters, but their in-class and out-of-class punch cards amount to fewer hours than a part-time job"?

3.  Why would Bauerlein argue that you minds plateau at age 18?

4.  How does your popular culture, digital media, and social networks cut you off from world realities?

5.  Do you believe that an anti-intellectual mindset prevails among your peers?

6.  Why do young Americans excel at acquiring material possessions but fail at gaining adult skills?

7.  What are you thoughts on the long quote on page 37?

8.  Find one quote or statistic that you think best represents your generation.

9.  Find one quote or statistic that you think does not represent your generation at all.

10.  Finally, if you could plead your case to Bauerlein, what would say?  That is, how can you convince him of the strengths of your generation?

Exploratory Essay

Here is the topic for theme #1 -

* Choose a topic you are interested in. Then begin finding sources that allow you to explore the issue or topic in greater depth. As you learn more about your topic, chronicle what you learn about it. Using at least one source, explore your that topic.

You do not have to draw any firm conclusions, as this is an exploratory essay. Maybe you want to weigh both sides of an issue. Maybe you want to play devil’s advocate on an issue. Maybe you want to just learn more about a subject you have never had a chance to explore. Maybe you want to convince yourself that you have selected the right major or college. Maybe you want to research a subject in order to prove someone you know wrong.

Be sure to use your print source to help you explore your essay. Don't simply find a source and cite it in order to get them out of the way. Instead, use the source to help inform or guide the exploration of your position.

My example from last year -

Like many, I've been watching the tragedies in Japan. I'm particularly worried about the damaged nuclear reactors. I would have to see a repeat of the Chernobyl disaster.

So for my essay, I plan to explore nuclear power plants. Now that is pretty broad. To help narrow that down, I'm going to develop a specific position on nuclear power plants. My position will be how to best prevent them from melting down and unleashing massive amounts of radiation. I will let that position drive my exploration of the topic.

Another example from past classes -

I recall one student who was fascinated by the new iPad. They took the perspective of wanting to know if it could replace their laptop. They used that perspective to drive their exploration of the the iPad.

Another student wanted to explore the reasons behind school internet filters. They took the perspective of arguing against school content filters. Again, they let this perspective drive their research. However, because of their exploration, they actually realized that they were in favor of the content filter and wished for it to remain in place.

A final example, a student wanted to convince their parents to let her attend a college far away from home. She researched the university and the program she wished to major in and used that research to help try and convince her parents.

Exploratory Essay Examples

Here are several past exploratory essays.

Exploratory Essay - Death Penalty

Exploratory Essay-Macbook Air

Exploroatory Essay Imagination

Exploration examples

Here is Richard Feynman, nobel prize winner, describing - in a very exploratory way - how our eyes perceive light and how that allows us to experience reality in our own unique way. Just watch how he takes an incredibly complex subject from physics and makes it understandable. Also look at the passion and voice he uses in explaining the subject.



Here is another example from TED Talks. Clifford Stoll is brilliant. His TED Talk, I think, is the very personification of an exploratory essay. This is what exploration and passion looks like in human form. Enjoy.