#havpassion LBWA

PROLOGUE

“In a gadda de vida, baby..” — Iron Butterfly, 1968

#havpassion

A week ago there was this #EduCon thing: a gathering of educators back east, Philly maybe. I wasn't there. Even so, thanks to the marvels of the Internet and social media I followed along via this thing called a backchannel. A backchannel, as I understand it, is the chatter that goes on among a presenter's audience whilst they're presenting. Only this chatter takes place online through apps like a Twitter.

One session on having passion resonated (#havpassion). My takeaway is that we, everyone actually, should try finding what brings us joy and fulfillment. Once found, we should integrate it into our lives as much as possible.

LBWA

Learning by walking around (LBWA) listening and sharing with others has been the bulk of my professional development (PD) efforts the last 15 months. #havpassion reminded my that like #tlap (Teaching Like A Pirate) I should take courage to heart when I go into uncharted waters. Being a Navy veteran I know that at the end of an adventure lay an amazing sea story. Stories like ideas are at their best when they're shared.

We all learn when we share. This is true even when our understanding is incomplete. In A Gadda Da Vida was gibberish when I first heard it. Sharing my interest in the song with friends I learned the lyrics. Walking around and sharing has benefitted me immensely throughout my life.

EPILOGUE

While reflecting on #havpassion I came up with an idea. Told via Plotagon (animation and storytelling app) over several brief video clips, I describe an outline of what a new hire orientation learning activity might look like. Feel free to take a peek.

 

 

Favorite Teacher

PROLOGUE

“The Major..” — CDB (Christina Davies Beeson)

FAVORITE

I met CDB in 1971. I was a high school sophomore enrolled in her College English 2 section. I hadn't chosen to be in her class; some clerk in the office had decided that she and I were a good fit. Surprisingly enough, I didn't realize until much later, we were.

(Photo credit: San Bernardino Sun-Telegram)

CDB was the first Teach Like a Pirate (TLAP) teacher I'd ever met. She was in your face dynamic. She expected results.

TEACHER

Back when I taught multimedia production and Flash development I copied her style: creative presentation to engage students, setting high expectations for assignments that students thought up themselves, and being accessible. When I design learning experiences engagement and interactive are my watchwords.

EPILOGUE

I didn't learn about TLAP until 2013. It amazes me how what was old (CDB's approach) is new again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unordinary

PROLOGUE

“If you want a different outcome than you're used to you should try something different.” — seen on Twitter

UNORDINARY

Inspiration, motivation, a kick in the seat of the pants: Take your pick or add your own. Navasota (Texas) Intermediate principal/lead learner @techninjatodd has a way of making things happen. Hearing that he was doing another Educators Learning Series I couldn't help but sign on. His first challenge is about goals for the new year.

He suggests we identify #onelittleword that expresses what we will try to do this year. Mine is #unordinary.

Adopt an unordinary approach for your PD

I went un rather than extra because we're not talking major change and commitment all at once. I look at it as making subtle changes a day at a time.

EPILOGUE

My inspiration for this comes from author and teacher @donwettrick who suggests one “starts small.”

 

Sow Your Work

PROLOGUE

“For everything there is a season..” — Eccliastes 3:1

SOW

Here's an idea that I think will lead to fruition. Explaining the instructional design process to others can be challenging at times. Visuals can help make selling ideas and strategies easier.

Freytag's Pyramid offers a way to diagram stories. Modified just a little bit I think it offers instructional designers an appealing easy to understand way of presenting spaced learning strategies to customers.

YOUR WORK

Each segment of the pyramid is listed below.

1. A Tantalizing story hooks learner and presents topic material ~ 20 minutes
2. B Learner chooses a practice problem to work through
3. C Review practice with all learners
4. D Resolve issues
5. X Activity ends

EPILOGUE

I tried it out in a meeting last night. It seemed to take. The conversation afterwards moved towards “What ifs” from “And then”. Good thing?