Tweet This!

I have been using Twitter this summer as a social experiment for the classroom.  I have done two competitions so far. The first competition I created was based around the New Release of "The Green Lantern" and this was the question:
Which American figure would have the greatest superhero powers, and what would they be? Best answer wins tickets to see Green Lantern.
I had very little participate but the winning answer was quite witty and very insightful:
Alexander Hamilton-The power to create a force field around his body. Sadly, it malfunctioned when he got shot in the face.
I have used it to repost quotes, data, pictures, wierdfacts, and other statements made by twitterers such as: @usmission, @smithsonian, @cnnstudentnews, and other SS based groups/people.
My second competition I am giving away two Texas Rangers tickets and I am only trying to build a database of students who attend my school.  I would love to drive more of my future students as well as my previous students to my twitter site but I am finding difficulty.
I am not discouraged I am going to keep pushing video of the week, word of the week, and all of my other little ideas.
I am still reading Jeff Utecht's book Reach and it discusses twitter in there and I want to see how he uses it for learning.  Next objective is to use my google docs account to create a survey to see who all uses twitter and measure that to the people that have followed me.
I am getting excited to see what my summer end result will be and as always: Make Good Choices, Do Great things!

Should Outreach Programs be Supporting Public Schools? Or The Other Way Around?

        
This past week I, and few other men from my church went and fed a few volunteers and teachers at Fortress Youth Development Center.  Teachers, substitutes, and volunteers love food, especially free food.  Better than that, they love free food that comes with a thank you.  Let me tell you a little about what Fortress is:

•          Fortress Ministries was established in 1996 as an inner-city church outreach, serving the needs of Fort Worth’s Near Southeast residents and homeless population. Reaching out to the neighborhood with hot lunches, a food pantry, clothing giveaways, and a Sunday worship service, it soon became clear that there was a need for an after-school program as well.  The homeless community was being served very adequately by other nonprofits in the area, but it was clear that the children of the Near Southeast side needed more. Specifically, they needed social and academic resources that would help them overcome the trap of generational poverty and grow into productive adults. After much prayerful consideration, Fortress reorganized in 2005 and incorporated as Fortress Youth Development Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

          The first time I stepped into Fortress was long before it became a youth center.  Seeing the students and the teachers work with kids from pre-k to secondary was breath taking.  They were doing the same work I was doing for less pay and in much more difficult circumstances.  The thought of knowing that when I send a student home at 4:00 every monday through friday and they have a support system like fortress is so comforting.
         So, What are we doing to make sure that programs like Fortress are being developed through out the city?  What as educators are we doing to support our community?  As you can see the community is already stepping up to support us.  Sometimes, sorry, most of the time we are to consumed with our campuses, and districts to see that are communities are getting involved.
          These Outreach programs are key to the success of our students.  Especially our economically disadvantaged students.  Learning is a 24-7 verb.  It is being created all the time.  Yep, think about it.  Learning is something that is created!  So, learning needs to be an on purpose activity in your everyday planned life. 
          One way is to support your local youth development centers.  Help them, Help you!  Get out there and be active in learning.  Your school year doesn't end at the beginning of summer.  It now becomes harder for you to teach.  Help your students environment expand beyond the classroom walls you teach in. 

         I hope you will get a chance to make an awesome choice in learning this summer.  Make Good Choices, Do Great Things!!

Extending the school year through Social networking

          The school year has already come to an end. I have already packed up my room and Lila Grace came four weeks early. My first year at Bailey was a success and I have maintained my scores and created some EPIC learning experiences. Well, that is according to my students and preliminary scores. I have always looked for that extra learning experience that reaches more students.  I really would love to create an opportunity that reaches the student who I identify as the students that education an learning keep missing. I have come up with a social experiment for the summer and I hope it continues through the school year.

          The idea behind the project comes after reading a book called Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell.  He discusses the issues of poverty, education, and the length of the school year.  It is a great read and an eye opener for understanding how public education in America is so different from the rest of the world.

          I also follow Eric Langhorst, author of the Speaking of History learning log.  Eric is the 2010 State of Missouri Teacher of the year and teaches 8th grade American history in Liberty, MO.  Mr. Langhorst blogs and podcast on issues that cover using technology, and social networking for the learning environment.  His lessons and podcast extend his teaching of American History beyond the classroom walls.

         Another great innovative teacher I follow is Jeff Utecht, an international teacher and is currently teaching in Thailand.  He is  the author of the blog The Thinking Stick, and recently published, Reach: Building Communities and Networks for Professional Development. 

          My new idea is not innovative but it is creative.  I have decided to use twitter to reach beyond the walls of room 211.  My students spend countless hours using social media. Why not use it to widen the walls of learning.  Using twitter to create learning content will definitely push the walls.

So far the experiment is going well.  Here are my goals and ideas for using twitter:

Purpose:  Create an extended learning experience beyond the classroom for students and parents.

1. Goal:  Use twitter to help with classroom management and discipline 

• For example:  Let's say "Rebecca" is a regular classroom disruption in class.  Why not wait for the opportunity when Rebecca is participating or just did something that deserves praise.  TWEET IT!  Convince your parents at the beginning of the year to follow you and when they see that tweet:  "Rebecca is an Awesome team player!!!" and then give her praise again at home.  I am sure your discipline is going to drop and participation is going to increase.

    2.  Use twitter to create a learning light.  "Like a moth to a flame" The idea is to get students to come  to my twitter site for learning experiences not just to get simple information like test dates, and social event reminders.  Twitter is a great new tool for teaching.

• For example: Link videos, podcast, and photos that will not only enrich their learning experience but encourage the student to seek learning for themselves

My ideas for the summer are: 

Use twitter:

1. Regular updates, create contest with prizes to drive students to the site,  use not only history content but other core subjects and humanities. 
2. Guide students to student focused apps. and tools online
3. Update a reading log
4. Prizes would drive learning like:
1. movie tickets
2. Food gift cards
3. Ice-Cream
4. Tickets to UTA Omni
5. Dino Rock Passes
6. Rangers tickets

If you have any ideas how I can create more learning with twitter please comment.