For the last eleven years, I asked my students to fill out a survey about how they use technology. Although I am now teaching university students, I think I’m going to do a similar survey. The questions are both about technology use (have you ever…
Subscribe to YouTube Channel Here’s the transcript of the video: It was about eight years ago when the alarm woke me up at 3 in the morning. Except, it wasn’t an alarm. It was a newborn baby and I couldn’t calm him down. I remember…
It’s easy to bust on standardized tests. They suck. They’re boring. They’re virtually meaningless. They kill instructional time. But what’s the alternative? If we’re not using multiple choice tests, what are we using? If we want a more creative classroom, what types of assessments exist…
I have noticed that students often hate the revision phase. In the design thinking cycle, they go from research to ideation and building a prototype. It seems cool. They’re excited about what they made. But then when we switch to testing and revising, they get…
My Recommended Reading List on Creativity and Design Thinking I’m a big a fan of reading — especially in the summertime. Later in the day, when it’s blazingly hot, I usually have a quiet time. We all sprawl out on different chairs or couches and…
When I was a kid, I hated research papers. I hated the paint-by-numbers rules we had to follow. I hated the fact that I couldn’t choose the topic or ask the questions or find the sources. I hated the notecards and the binders and everything…
I’m a fan of digital writing. After all, I’m sitting at my computer typing right now. And yet, when it comes to my deepest writing, I nearly always scribble it out by hand. When I’m stuck, I doodle. When I plan, I sketch out webs….
A few years ago, I was a technology coach and I noticed a trend. Teachers tended to go through certain stages as they adopted and integrated technology. I have found these trends to be true of my own experience when it comes to certain platforms…
Why, yes, I am talking about AT&T Ballpark I’m passionate about seeing kids make stuff. This why I’m offering a free, short course this June called A Beginner’s Guide to Design Thinking. Spaces are limited, so sign up now if you’re interested. Last week, I spoke at a TEDx…
One of the biggest complaints I hear about Common Core is the push toward informational texts. This is often accompanied by the complaint that we are no longer allowing students to read for the sake of reading. Just yesterday, a teacher said to me, “I…
I’m a professor and a maker. Sometimes I make things. Sometimes I make a difference. On a good day, I get to do both.
