10 Cool Tools to Transform Student Learning

We know that engagement is the key to student learning; why is it then that so many teachers, especially foreign language teachers, still use very little-if any- tech in their classrooms?
Here are a few tools that will drive student learning through the roof!

1. Kahoot! My students can't wait to Kahoot! They love to create their nicknames and compete against one another. In addition, they practice concepts, vocabulary, and culture at the same time. There is now a ghost feature that allows your students to compete against themselves. You can also collect data to see which students are grasping concepts and those who still need support.
2. Tagxedo is a tool you and your students can use to create word clouds in customized shapes.

3. Yakit (or blabberize for android) is a fun way to have characters or photos speak, You could have them use target vocabulary or summarize a novel, or discuss a famous person.
4. QR codes: what a fun way to have kids explore text, vocabulary, and so much more! My kiddos did a project for our class novel, La Vampirata and they could not use PowerPoint or Word. They WOWed me!!! Some created websites on Weebly and created their QR codes. They posted the QR codes throughout the class and had teams go from one to another to "frontload" information prior to playing "Jeopardy". They were incredible!
5 weebly.com is a great resource for students to create their own websites. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to teach them digital responsibility. They need to learn how to site sources and how their words can be seen throughout the world. It is important for our students to realize how our words can impact others.
6. blogger.com   Having students publish their work online is an opportunity for students to be reflective people. You can create a class blog where they take turns reporting what was done in the class for the day. This can be a fantastic resource for students who are absent that day.
7. Connected Mind is a mind-mapping tool that allows you to insert links, videos, photos and much more! Real-time collaboration is not yet available but they are working on it!

8. BigHugeLabs has many resources for students and teachers...and it's free! Students can create movie posters for books read or create a motivational poster that describes their outlook on life, topics, etc. 

9. Aurasma is amazing! Students can investigate historical figures and create auras that explain that person's life, facts, etc. This is an extraordinary way to assess your students' learning.
10. Picmonkey is an online photo editing tool that enables your students to create unusual products but much more user friendly than Photoshop. Students can create projects, comics, books, etc. The possibilities are endless!

My students have astounded me with their creations! There's no question as to their mastery of the concepts through the use of these tools. Keep working on transforming your students' learning!

Agents of Change

Transform Academy is a new program created in Klein ISD that has enabled teachers invited, to "transform" teaching practices. This program has created quite a buzz in the district. I had the opportunity to participate in this elite group and I have to say it was such an encouraging experience! For years I have been making a push for a change in our attitudes towards learner-centered education which includes environment, teaching practices, and blended learning.
So often, educators tend to teach students in the manner they were taught. This might have been fine long ago, but today we have students that are innovators, problem-solvers, and unbelievably creative. We need to provide a learning platform that enables our students to create their own learning experiences. Most districts are reluctant to this philosophy due to accountability. I get it, but if our kids are retaining and truly learning rather than regurgitating, we have no worries when it comes to accountability so long as we are still providing our students with the standards.
Transform Academy also provided us with monies to transform our classroom environments. WOW! What an experience! We were able to try-out the furniture and speak with manufacturers to discuss any concerns we might have. My plans are to create a "language lab" format in my class since I tend to do stations, it is very conducive to collaboration.
I am looking into many options for technology as well. I love Steelecase's MediaScape is a product I would love to have in my classroom but it is just too expensive for a small-scale venture. I have looked into many products that might mimic these features and have come close, but I am not quite there yet.
Many educators choose to look away and continue doing what they have done since the beginning of their career. Teaching is ever-changing; therefore, doesn't make sense that our teaching practices must also change to meet the needs of our learners?

Transform Academy looked at the "whole student" approach. We focused on considering what exactly our students need to learn at their maximum level. Shouldn't this be what every educator does in his/her classroom (regardless of subject)? We explored new technology and approaches at how to best use these in classroom environments. There were educators from elementary, intermediate, and high school present. There was dialog as to what works at the varying levels and what does not.
I love the fact that these 31 educators had an experience of a lifetime to provide their students experiences that will enable them to learn to their full capacity.
Krimmel's theme for the Transform Academy presentation was "Agents of Change". We have seen how this experience has positively affected not only our students, but the excitement of teaching in the school. We really are Agents of Change and are thrilled at all the possibilities!

Change

Change. For some, this is word is a nasty four-letter-word. I can understand complete as humans are creatures of habit. Is change necessary? You bet! Change is inevitable and we know it is coming. So what can we do to help our students meet those changes head-on? ¡Es obvio! We need to change our mindsets and how we teach our kiddos.

One thing to ponder: Are you teaching your students to learn? I know this sounds silly, but really, are you teaching your students to empower their learning or are you just teaching the subject? We must help our students learn how to learn.

I decided to throw out many of my "normal" routines and change everything. It was quite daunting...but so rewarding! Being part of Klein ISD's new program, Transform Academy, I had the opportunity to reflect on what I was doing and decide where I wanted my students to be based on the incredible experiences in Transform Academy.

I changed my furniture (due to generous funding by Klein ISD). Here are a few photos of my class. I am sure it will evolve many times over until we find what truly works. The desks are Ethos chairs from Haskell Furniture. I love these and saw the Steelcase version at TCEA a couple of years ago, but I love the fact that these chairs have desks that will pivot for a right-handed person or for a left-handed student. The Zynergy chairs are great for students who have trouble sitting still. I found the table at a ReStore location and finished it with a dry-erase finish. I have chairs on casters that telescope up and down and swivel around, so they have multiple uses.

Star Wars and Spanish?

Wow! It has been such a while since I've posted! There is so much information and resources I want to share with you!
My latest venture is being selected as part of a new program that Klein ISD has developed called Transform! Academy. We are "no-box" thinkers and have an amazing time collaborating and coming up with spectacular ideas for our classrooms.
They gave us some monies to us as we see fit to enhance our students' learning. Since my campus is a 1:1, I decided to focus on some unconventional technology as well as new furniture to create a cafe style atmosphere in my class. I am excited to receive all my collaboration technology and love the fact that KISD is so supportive.
I wanted to take a moment to chat with you on the different things you could do in your classes to make it fun and engaging. With the new Star Wars hype, it was so much fun to use the scene between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker to explain ser vs estar. You could bring in light sabers and really get into the presentation of this. I use a scene clip without sound and we act it out.
Here's the poster in my class:

I also use travel posters when we do our travel unit of the various planets in the Star Wars movies. We have a discussion in Spanish as to which planet they would visit and why. I put together a short video that serves as a travel commercial to each one of the planets/locations in the ads. As we discuss each planet, I play the commercial for each The kids have so much fun and it is completely relevant to them. Using pop culture is one way to reach our students and make things interesting for them.
You can also take a photo and use Yakit to have them speak for the character in the photo/poster. It is a great way for students to use the language and have fun with it!
¡Que la fuerza te acompañe!

The Future of Foreign Language As We Know It

As I was discussing Spanish III with my niece the other day, it occurred to me that if foreign language teachers continue in the direction many are heading, the future of foreign language as we know it is bleak at best. My niece mentioned how unfriendly her Spanish teacher is; which in turn was the deciding factor as to why she refused to continue in Spanish. The teacher's outlook on teaching Spanish has to do with "old school" beliefs that Foreign Language should be grammatically difficult as a means to challenge students. While I agree we should always challenge our students; it is the manner in which we choose to do so that will make the difference. 
There are many ways to challenge students in foreign language to stimulate higher-level thinking. Challenging students to find solutions to real global situations plaguing the areas being studied is one of my favorites. I love The Flat Classroom Project! It is the ingenious collaborative effort of Viki Davis and many others. If you are unfamiliar with Flat Classrooms, please, do yourself a favor and check out the many amazing things they have accomplished.
Foreign language teachers need to change their mindsets to match the students they teach. If our goal is student learning, how can we truly believe this, if many continue on the same path with little to no change? Students are no longer choosing to continue in the FL they had been studying. Instead, they are taking other electives after they fulfill the minimal requirement.
Here's the problem with the old mindset; kids are not choosing the conventional language classes and now that computer programming is now an option to fulfill the FL credit,  we now have competition; and compete we must!
Stir things up! Here is an amazing site that provides a multitude of ways technology can be used in a foreign language classroom.Use technology and have students LOVE our beloved foreign language!

My Adventures at the 2014 TCEA Conference

Sitting here at the 2014 TCEA Conference, (Texas Computer Education Association), has my mind reeling with incredible ideas for the "World languages tech takeover". Yes. I said it. It's about time foreign language classrooms transform into engaging learning spaces. We have the capability of transforming learning as as we know it. If you haven't experienced a TCEA conference (or any tech related conference)...I highly recommend you do! I have heard inspiring stories of learning through the use of Twitter, Animoto, ebooks, classroom design, QR codes, and many many others.

The big focus this year in the Digital Square, thanks to the incredible efforts of Scott Floyd, was learning spaces and how learning can be transformed by creating an environment that is powered by collaboration. I know... I know... many of you are thinking, "Oh great, not another new idea that will soon fizzle out." What I found were incredible individuals with proof that students' learning improves when the learning spaces are inviting and centered on collaboration. There were some intellectual conversations circling this topic; as well as, one of the questions we have all asked at some point; how do we get "buy-in" from administrators and teachers unwilling to give up the traditional classroom design? There is no easy answer but we must be empathetic and work to educate these individuals by collecting and presenting data; lending an empathetic ear; and provide them with a support net to help with transitions. Christian Long and David Jakes facilitated the discussion in regards to learning spaces and design thinking.

It was refreshing to see how willing many administrators present at these sessions want the change for their schools.

Now,at this point, you should have noted a tone of favoritism towards this new concept of how the classroom environment impacts learning. There is a distinct difference between learning spaces and traditional classroom designs. Companies today are searching for innovators and individuals that collaborate well in team settings. 

Let's take a look at the two:

These two photos demonstrate learning spaces. Students are engaged and working collaboratively.

  

The traditional classroom model invites direct instruction which does not foster a collaborative atmosphere.

As a World Language teacher, it is my duty not only to promote language acquisition, but also to provide a learning experience that will produce creative collaborative individuals capable of intellectual thinking and problem solving.  I challenge you to use engaging and thought-provoking lessons to help prepare our students for the future. 

"We have 19th Century equipment, must move into the 21st Century but we still have a 20th Century mindset." -Tom Whitby Do we have a challenge ahead of us? You bet; but anything worth getting takes hard work and determination.

 Be an agent of change! Create a learning space for your students where the seamless use of technology will yield incredible results!

Flipped Classrooms...LOTE Style!

It has been a while since I have posted and there are many new technology resources out there for foreign language teachers! One important concept that is sweeping education today is the flipped classroom. This concept is not about the videos per se, but a way to get students engaged in their learning. For those of you unsure of a flipped classroom, watch this video by Aaron Sams. There are many tools available today to help with videos and animation if this is the road you choose. This one has many resources already created by fellow FL flippers! The key to success is to remember that this concept is not about the video. If you do not have resources to create animated videos, no worries! You can be as successful with a simple video to impart what you want your students to know. A couple things to keep in mind: keep them short and impart humor! Oftentimes, you can find incredible videos on youTube that will serve the pupose perfectly. No need to reinvent the wheel! Another resource for flipping your classroom is the TedEd website. There are fantastic videos you can customize to your teaching. Now, as far as LOTE teacher are concerned, we are still the pioneers. The flipped classroom gives us more application time in the classroom which means more exposure to what we want our students to master. The beauty of this concept is this: when the kids need to apply what they have learned, you are right there to help them so they do not practice incorrectly! It is much more difficult to correct inaccuracy that has been practiced over and over than to teach and model correctly and practice initially. Another advantage is that students can watch the videos, pause, and rewind as many times necessary to help with mastery. The final point I will make in regards to flipping your foreign language classroom is the fact that it caters to all levels of learners. Those that master the concepts quickly can move on. Those who need more time, can spend more time learning and mastering the concepts. It is a win-win for educators. There are many resources for you on the web. I hope you take the time to consider even using this method some of the time in your classroom. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the results!