tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9565528114642701362024-03-13T03:57:14.833-07:00This is My Teacher CostumeWelcome to the personal blog of Shauna Pollock, an educator living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-78851399209960294832017-05-18T12:48:00.000-07:002017-05-18T12:48:51.273-07:00The Blue Sky School CommmunityBlue Sky School is a school built for, of and as a community. Central to everything that we do are our students' voices.<br />
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I have always known that the existing schooling system needs deep change. Through all of my previous projects, I have tried to lead this change. There has never been quite enough space for my blue sky ideas. I am so thrilled to see my lifelong, audacious dream of a totally new type of school coming true with the support of a magical co-founder, Karen Hill, 100 Action Team members and tons of community partners. Blue Sky School is the experimental prototype school of tomorrow.<br />
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Watching our community work together to build something this huge is truly inspiring. The most amazing thing to see is our learners collaborating with one another.<br />
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Three of our incredibly talented and thoughtful community members wrote, directed, filmed and edited a video telling our story!<br />
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Our learners of all ages will be contributing to a <a href="http://blueskyschoolca.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">blog</a> documenting our ongoing learning and the process of building a school from scratch.<br />
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The collaboration, community building and celebrations have already begun, before we've even moved in to our amazing innovation centre! Blue Sky School opens for full-time schooling of grade 6-8 learners in September 2017 with a Pioneer Class of 12.<br />
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Learning happens when passion and empowerment meet. Blue Sky School is an independent not-for-profit coworking centre for learners of all ages. We nurture the next generation of changemakers and partner with today's innovative leaders.<br />
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For more information about Blue Sky School, visit us <a href="http://blueskyschool.ca/" target="_blank">online</a>.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sB2GXhZnWvo" width="560"></iframe>Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-47066844552221209882017-05-18T08:56:00.002-07:002017-05-18T08:57:47.108-07:00100 in 1 Day Ottawa<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<a href="https://www.100in1day.ca/" target="_blank">100 in 1 Day</a> is providing great ways for citizens of all ages to get involved in making our city a better place! Which intervention will you participate in?<br />
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Our friends at the <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-obj-id="391029675309" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=391029675309&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/parkdalefood/?fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Parkdale Food Centre</a> will be connecting neighbours by <a href="https://100in1day.ca/interventions/grow-a-row-donate-a-row/" target="_blank">giving our plant seedlings</a> </div>
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Our friends at Robot Missions are running a field test of their <a href="https://100in1day.ca/interventio%E2%80%A6/robot-missions-field-test/" target="_blank">garbage collecting robots on Petrie Island</a> </div>
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Hang out in the <a href="https://100in1day.ca/interventions/innovation-pod/" target="_blank">Innovation Pod</a>, a solar-powered, mobile lab at Innovation Centre Bayview Yards, and see VR, AR and 3D printing in action! </div>
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Learn about the future of libraries - <a href="https://100in1day.ca/interventions/the-future-of-sharing-lending-libraries-2025/" target="_blank">lending libraries</a>! </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Want to learn about<a href="https://100in1day.ca/interventions/pollinators-matter-at-the-fletcher-wildlife-garden/" target="_blank"> attracting pollinators</a>?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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Help paint a mural at a <a href="https://100in1day.ca/interventions/paint-party/" target="_blank">Paint Party in Sandy Hil</a>l </div>
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Join a group <a href="https://100in1day.ca/interventions/walk-talk-nature-and-mental-health/" target="_blank">hike to talk abut nature and mental health</a> </div>
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Participate in the launch of <a href="https://100in1day.ca/interventions/happy-ottawa/" target="_blank">Happy Ottawa</a> </div>
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At Mooney's Bay, make a <a href="https://100in1day.ca/interventions/paint-therapy-ottawa/" target="_blank">painting and raise awareness about mental health</a> and the power of art </div>
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<a href="https://100in1day.ca/interventions/mind-meditation-workshop/" target="_blank">Mediate at Major's Hill Park</a> </div>
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<a href="https://100in1day.ca/interventions/rhythm-jumpers-a-double-dutch-skipping-party/" target="_blank">Skip Double Dutch at Landsdowne Park</a> </div>
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Have a conversation in a <a href="https://100in1day.ca/interventions/public-living-room-project/" target="_blank">Public Living Room</a></div>
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Hang out in <a href="https://100in1day.ca/interventions/biohacker-space/" target="_blank">Biotown's Community Lab</a> to learn about biohacking </div>
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Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-82045280215730733622016-12-05T00:21:00.003-08:002016-12-05T00:21:44.084-08:00Breaking Ice and Facing the Tough Stuff: Day 1 of Big Ideas Fest 2016Challenged by my friend, Chris Stengel, I will be sharing my learning at Big Ideas Fest 2016 everyday on my (woefully neglected) blog. Chris has remarkably been blogging EVERY SINGLE DAY for<a href="http://blog.mtlsd.org/ViewPost.asp?I=32194&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook" target="_blank"> 2522 days in a row</a>. I think I can handle four days in a row.<br />
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<b>Lesson 1.1: Do work you love. Create a safe space. Build a community for yourself and others.</b><br />
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One of my favourite phrases of all time is, "Be the person you needed when you were younger." Today, I met some remarkable people living that mantra.<br />
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I ate brunch in a Yelp-recommended restaurant, The Red Door. Reviews said that it was not only an incredible gustatory experience, but a unique atmosphere as well. I was worried that eating alone might make me uncomfortable. I was totally wrong. When I arrived, the owner, chef and server, Ahmed welcomed me to an empty restaurant. I was surprised. The reviews described it as incredibly busy, often with a long wait.<br />
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Soon, I learned Ahmed's philosophy. The restaurant is HIS place. He expresses himself through the space, the food and his service. It feels like a wonderfully quirky home. Because he sees his customers as guests in his home, he has rules. He told me he had turned everyone else away that morning, but had a good feeling about me. This may seem like a strange business model, but he's run a successful restaurant for seven years with this philosophy. While I enjoyed his incredible, playful food, he welcomed other guests and it was not quite a dinner party, not quite a meal at a restaurant. It was a totally unique experience, where we all quickly felt like longtime friends.<br />
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Ahmed has created a remarkable little world that I was thrilled to enter for a long, leisurely Sunday brunch, all alone in an unfamiliar city.<br />
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I also met one of the featured speakers for Big Ideas Fest, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/lavendercourage" target="_blank">Lavender Courage,</a> a Twitch streamer. She shares her passions for video games and crafters with her "Courage Warriors" in 25 hours of live streaming on Twitch every week. Like Ahmed, she has created a safe space for herself and a community has formed around her. Also like Ahmed, she has clearly stated rules to welcome people into her "home."<br />
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Tomorrow, she'll be sharing more of her story with Big Ideas Fest on a panel sponsored by <a href="http://www.hackharassment.com/" target="_blank">Hack Harassment</a> and talk about inclusion and identity in her online work.<br />
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<b>Lesson 1.2: Education conferences are SO MUCH BETTER with youth participating</b><br />
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I couldn't believe it last year when I attended a huge education conference as a writer that I was told that students were "not welcome" to attend.<br />
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Last month, at the last minute, I brought an 11-year old former student as co-presenter to an education conference. She was the only student I saw as a participant. There were some groups who came to entertain the adult participants.<br />
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From minute one of Big Ideas Fest, the many youth in attendance have participated side-by-side with the less youthful participants.<br />
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Why do we gather to talk about youth without them present? If we are really "doing everything for the kids," how come we don't create professional development that includes them?<br />
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I have had some great conversations already with high school students at Big Ideas Fest. One of the opening activities was led by young men in the <a href="http://www.everforwardclub.org/" target="_blank">Ever Forward Club</a>.<br />
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In the evenings, there is a Youth Zone, a cozy room set up with snacks, for youth participants (of all ages, we've been promised).<br />
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<b>Lesson 1.3: An icebreaker does not have to be all fun</b><br />
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The opening session for Big Ideas Fest had all of the participants standing and sitting around the perimeter of what I think is a small ballroom (or a hallway leading to a ballroom, I'm still not quite sure). Led by <a href="http://www.everforwardclub.org/team" target="_blank">Ashanti Branch</a> and his Ever Forward Club members, we experienced a remarkably emotional process exploring <a href="http://www.everforwardclub.org/tmyli" target="_blank">the masks we live in.</a><br />
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Somehow, within the first hour of locking eyes on a room full of strangers, people were authentically sharing their vulnerabilities and empathizing with one another. A sense of community like this takes months to build up in a classroom (as my former students will remember from our "Crying Circles"), and Ashanti has created a set of exercises that fast forwards this.<br />
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We experienced, with rawness, that everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Just by looking at someone and the "mask" they project to the world, you miss that is really going on.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I felt extremely grateful for the gift in my hand. Someone's mask and the truths hidden behind it.</td></tr>
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We drew, wrote, had a "snowball fight," listened and shared, "You can't tell by looking at me, but..." The ice was shattered. There was laughter and movement, but the incredibly purposeful directions and thoughtful exercises were infinitely more powerful than any opening session or ice breaker I've ever participated in.<br />
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Ashanti has led more than 8000 people through this exercise. When he asked us at the beginning to understand that what we started with wouldn't make sense right away, but to trust that it would come together in the end, we did. He told us to trust that he wanted the best results. He got them.<br />
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<b>Lesson 1.4: Students need our love.</b><br />
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"If you care more about the subject you are teaching than<b> the subjects you are teaching</b>, you are going to have a disconnect." - Ashanti Branch<br />
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"Students need to guide their own learning and <b>be adored by adults</b>." - Bill Ayers<br />
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Ashanti started teaching and watched smart kids fail. It is through creating a safe atmosphere and by being a teacher who loves them that he reaches them. He contradicted the conventional advice to teachers where we are told to leave our own problems, emotions, worries and anxieties in the glove box of our cars before entering school. Our students appreciate seeing that we are human and, in fact, it creates a safe space for them to be human, too.<br />
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Bill Ayers, education theorist, activist and author, spoke to us about how to move forward and how to help us move our students forward. He said that, "Education is about sorting people into winners and losers. None of you went into teaching thinking, 'I'm gonna sort those little bastards.'" Helping students become the people they never knew they could be is exponentially more important than judging them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a lovely human man, that Bill Ayers.</td></tr>
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<b><br />Lesson 1.5: Don't shy away from the tough stuff.</b><br />
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I'm pleasantly surprised and relieved that people, participants and presenters alike, are not avoiding acknowledging what a dumpster fire 2016 has been. Instead of whining, they are identifying that there is a hard road ahead (<i>read: Trump and his baskets</i>), but that, particularly as educators, we are needed more than ever.<br />
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Bill encouraged us to, "Make it [our] business to talk to people [we] don't agree with." "Listen with the possibility of being changed. Speak with the possibility of being heard."<br />
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</style>Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-83124903064501162022016-05-09T17:16:00.000-07:002016-05-09T17:16:22.699-07:00Enroll at EPSOT Today - Ally Positions AvailableI recieved this delightful email tonight and got permission to share it with you. The author is <a href="http://rpabs.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Magno </a>(or Camden) a Superhero Learner in the Passionate Learner Experiment and sent his Ally request is a far more elegant and entertaining way <a href="http://teachercostume.blogspot.ca/2016/05/we-need-you-to-be-our-ally.html" target="_blank">than I did</a>!<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #e31c60; font-family: 'roboto condensed'; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May 08, 2016</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #424242; font-family: 'source code pro'; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Ally or Acquaintance,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: 'source code pro'; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My name is Camden, though many around here call me Magno, and my purpose is to support others. I do it for the feeling of society and personality, as well as the joy of making someone else happy. Whether that support is helping them with work, or taking care of something while they're busy, it creates a pocket of time for those people to feel collected, and successfully accomplish the task at hand. Enough about me, at this point in time I plan on making this note sound as “Cheesy Organization Campaign Flyer” as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: 'source code pro'; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am honored to select you as a candidate for an “Ally” position in the currently Beta-staged EPSOT Program. EPSOT is the Experimental Prototype School Of <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_649922367" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Tomorrow</span></span>, a small group of learning activists, hoping to change the world <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_649922368" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">in 24 hours</span></span>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: 'source code pro'; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have chosen you because I believe you are a good fit into our group. As an Ally, you can choose to contribute your own updates into the roster, or simply support our current members. Support does not involve money, and never will, though you can donate to our PayPal if you feel so inclined. (Just kidding) Support only means that you provide encouragement, easily by comment on our blogs, or constructive criticism to build our progress in learning.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: 'source code pro'; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope for you to share your ideas and support as the group and I do, and enjoy your time with us.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #424242; font-family: 'source code pro'; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sincerely,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #e31c60; font-family: 'roboto condensed'; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MAGNO / CAMDEN</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #e31c60; font-family: 'roboto condensed'; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Member of EPSOT</span></div>
<span style="color: #e31c60; font-family: 'roboto condensed'; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Base64: aHR0cDovL3BuZ2ltZy5jb20vdXBsb2<wbr></wbr>FkL21hbmdvX1BORzkxNjgucG5n</span>Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-34348248643986429992016-05-08T17:52:00.002-07:002016-05-08T18:07:04.458-07:00We Need YOU to Be Our Ally!<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1s3bv" data-offset-key="enr24-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HEtRw9KG9a8/Vy_hJKeYRbI/AAAAAAAAI24/CwIBk4BbOZQI3SotF4hKtNQw0xIHCZKQwCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-05-08%2Bat%2B8.59.53%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HEtRw9KG9a8/Vy_hJKeYRbI/AAAAAAAAI24/CwIBk4BbOZQI3SotF4hKtNQw0xIHCZKQwCLcB/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-05-08%2Bat%2B8.59.53%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">from: http://joshkilen.com/so-what-do-we-need-you-for/</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am working with a group of eleven 10-32 year old Superhero Learners to discover how we can change the world in 24 hours.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They are doing amazing things and I want to share with you what they're up to. Right now, they've been exploring their learning styles, strengths, areas of needs and interest. They are discovering their passions and will be designing Passion Projects soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am distributing Missions and Quest to the Superhero Learners and check in on them regularly as their Q (Quartermaster). They have great allies on their side. Their parents and friends are supporting them. We can always use more people looking in on us and cheering us on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you can spare a few minutes and visit one of (or a few of) these blogs and leave comments, please please please do so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All of us are better when we work together. Your ideas, comments, questions and input will help elevate our learning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Feel free to share these links far and wide!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Check out the Superhero Learner's Digital HQs (also linked on the right-hand side of this blog):</span><br />
<a href="http://abbyple.blogspot.ca/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Abby</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> a.k.a. Positive Pinky</span><br />
<a href="http://rpabs.blogspot.ca/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Camden </a><span style="font-family: inherit;">a.k.a. Magno</span><br />
<a href="http://edanhq.blogspot.ca/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Edan</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> a.k.a. Outrider</span><br />
<a href="http://epsotdigitalhq.blogspot.ca/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Fiona </a><br />
<a href="http://myepsotworld.blogspot.ca/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Gabby</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> a.k.a. Justice</span><br />
<a href="http://gracieple.blogspot.ca/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Gracie </a><span style="font-family: inherit;">a.k.a. Triple M Master</span><br />
<a href="http://brainybovine.blogspot.ca/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Hari</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> a.k.a. Brainy Bovine</span><br />
<a href="http://firepengy.blogspot.ca/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Hudson</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> a.k.a.Wolf</span><br />
<a href="http://xxpassionatelearnerprojectxx.blogspot.ca/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Hunter</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> a.k.a. The Amazing Meme Man</span><br />
<a href="http://jenple.blogspot.ca/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Jen</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> a.k.a. JemBot</span><br />
<a href="http://mydigitalhq.blogspot.ca/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Julianna </a></div>
</div>
Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-64314339368244660932016-04-25T19:42:00.001-07:002017-04-17T17:49:08.238-07:00If It Weren't For You<div>
<b>If It Weren't For You</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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If it weren't for you</div>
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I wouldn't have had a poster of Justin Bieber up in my classroom for a whole year</div>
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I wouldn't have spilled butter chicken all over the floor at CHEO</div>
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I wouldn't have been celebrated with flowers</div>
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<br /></div>
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If it weren't for you</div>
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Matt and Jeff wouldn't have had crowns to wear at a concert</div>
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I wouldn't have had a fight with a doctor the first time I met your parents</div>
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I wouldn't have understood unicorns</div>
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<br /></div>
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If it weren't for you</div>
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I wouldn't have gotten to be a Fairy Godmother</div>
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<br /></div>
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If it weren't for you</div>
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I wouldn't have known how proud someone could be to weigh more than 10 lbs at birth</div>
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Our conversation about "Kick a Ginger Day" wouldn't have been so meaningful</div>
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I wouldn't have been able to describe the smell and taste of the softest, ashiest cheese</div>
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<br /></div>
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If it weren't for you</div>
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Matt would have had to eat grown up food, instead of chicken fingers</div>
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We would have all shaved our heads</div>
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<br /></div>
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If it weren't for you</div>
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I wouldn't have made two of my most incredible friends in your parents</div>
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I wouldn't have known the kindness of strangers who made a beautiful dream come true</div>
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I would have felt guilty about how many Golden Palace egg rolls I can eat in one sitting</div>
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There are things that you think</div>
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And there are things that you know</div>
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If it weren't for you</div>
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I wouldn't have known that the worst thing about cancer was not scoring guys</div>
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I wouldn't have known how much strength could be in one person</div>
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I wouldn't have known the compassion that can be shown by children to their friend</div>
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I wouldn't have known the healing power of a horse</div>
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You used the word "irony" as liberally as Alanis Morisette</div>
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Loved Hallowe'en as much as I do</div>
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Refused any extra attention</div>
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And put a sign on your door that said</div>
<div>
"If you can't treat me like Molly,</div>
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Go away."</div>
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The people you really let in got to see so many sides</div>
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Your complex, multilayered personality</div>
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Wickedly funny</div>
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Brilliantly smart</div>
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Observant</div>
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Thoughtful</div>
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Sarcastic</div>
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Always surprising</div>
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A twinkle in your eye</div>
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The knowing look</div>
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That spoke of wisdom well beyond your years</div>
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<br /></div>
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If it weren't for you</div>
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I wouldn't have laughed till I cried and</div>
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Cried till I laughed</div>
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<br /></div>
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If it weren't for you</div>
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I wouldn't have the mask that was hand-painted</div>
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With a unicorn </div>
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And a neon rainbow</div>
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That took a private taxi ride</div>
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From an artist's house</div>
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To the hospital</div>
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Where it kept your head in place</div>
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<br /></div>
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If it weren't for you</div>
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I wouldn't have understood that bravery means</div>
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Saying "no" incredibly forcefully </div>
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To the people who love you</div>
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In their misguided attempts to support you</div>
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<br /></div>
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If it weren't for you</div>
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I wouldn't have known that courage</div>
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Is when you look out for others</div>
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Even when you're hurting</div>
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<br /></div>
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It it weren't for you</div>
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I wouldn't have seen an incredible side of my baby brother</div>
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And my husband</div>
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Or known that I could say thank you</div>
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And good-bye</div>
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<br /></div>
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If it weren't for you</div>
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More kids would be sick</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
---</div>
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<br /></div>
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In Molly's lifetime and memory, more than $150 000 has been raised to support the life-enhancing and life-saving treatments offered at CHEO. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<a href="https://cheofoundation.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=3977" target="_blank">Please donate to Team Molly</a><br />
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<br /></div>
<div>
---</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<i>I have learned a lot of lessons from a lot of kids. I suspect that some of them may even read this. Lest they think that I don't have similar stories about them I want to remind them that once you're mine you're always one of mine.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>The time is right for me to share some of my cherished memories of Molly.</i></div>
Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-5299712668196694552016-04-21T14:27:00.003-07:002016-04-22T15:20:27.205-07:00Life 101 with Prince<i>This post has jumped the queue because of the sad news of <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/21/entertainment/prince-estate-death/" target="_blank">Prince's death </a>today. </i><br />
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<br /></div>
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<b>Life 101</b> is a series of blog posts in which I document what I have learned from some of my favourite teachers, most of whom I have never met. Using their own words, I reflect on the lessons I learned from them about life. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Welcome to Life 101 with our guest teacher, Prince.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Gu45S4FWTI/VxkSio3HlAI/AAAAAAAAIz4/7wFlgJwpCFwTjYKqJ3pAgpDBIJxrZXzaQCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-21%2Bat%2B1.48.46%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Gu45S4FWTI/VxkSio3HlAI/AAAAAAAAIz4/7wFlgJwpCFwTjYKqJ3pAgpDBIJxrZXzaQCLcB/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-21%2Bat%2B1.48.46%2BPM.png" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Little Prince" by Sean Miller</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>1. Don't talk down to your audience (your students)</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
"When you don't talk down to your audience, then they can grow with you. I give them a lot of credit to be able to hang with me this long, because I've gone through a lot of changes, but they've allowed me to grow, and thus we can tackle some serious subjects and just try to be better human beings, all of us." - Prince</div>
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Prince looked at his entertainment in a way that beautifully parallels the way great teachers look at teaching.</div>
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Don't talk down to your students, believe that they'll grow and change along with you. Don't shy away from tough or serious subjects. Challenge your students, and you will all become better people. </div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<div>
<b>2. Don't be afraid to change if it's what works for you.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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"I don't really care so much what people say about me, because it usually is a reflection of who they are. For example, if people wish I would sound like I used to sound, then it says more about them than it does me." - Prince</div>
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<br /></div>
Know yourself. Know what you believe in. Live it. Don't worry what doubters or detractors have to say. If you're living and working how you want to, others' complaints won't matter to you.</div>
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Don't let yourself be defined by how others perceive you.<br />
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<br /></div>
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<b>3. People are people are people. Be confident in your own skin.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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"Cool means being able to hang with yourself. All you have to ask yourself is, 'Is there anybody I am afraid of? Is there anybody who, if I walked into a room and saw, I'd get nervous.' If not, then you're cool."</div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>(Author's note: I will never EVER be "cool," in Prince's definition. I am WAY too excited to meet way too many people.) </i></div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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<div>
<b>4. Invest in the future.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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"Sometimes it takes years for a person to become an overnight success." - Prince</div>
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<br /></div>
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Successful people put in work. A lot of work. A lot of work that no one else sees. If you look at someone else's success and it seems instant, it's probably not. They probably worked their tail off to get there. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Realize that if you want to be successful in your chosen endeavours, you will have to do a lot of work. Often behind the scenes. Work that may never be seen or understood by anyone else. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Just because it is the product that is celebrated, don't let yourself forget about the importance of the process. Value the work that you do working towards making your dreams come true. Other people will appear and celebrate you once you've "gotten there," but you need to remember that it takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears to make great things happen.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>5. Declare your own identity with pride.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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Names and titles are incredibly powerful things. </div>
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<br /></div>
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If you're lucky enough to have parents who are prescient and name you, at birth, "Prince Rogers Nelson," go ahead and drop the middle and surname and call yourself "Prince". Declare who you are, loudly and proudly.</div>
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<br /></div>
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If your name, your title or your position isn't working for you anymore, change it. Create a symbol that represents you. Combine aspects of your identity in it. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
If the binary of male and female doesn't work for you, reject it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Why not ask your students to create a symbol that represents their identity? Call the project, "The Students Formerly Known As" and create a bulletin board to honour Prince's memory.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>6. Empower youth.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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"Ownership, that's what you give your kids. That's your legacy." - Prince</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Teachers invest in the future by investing their time and energy in kids. We are so lucky to have the opportunity to have a remarkable legacy. Empower children to be the people they never knew they could be. That is the greatest gift we can give them.</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>7. Mentors and guides make us believe in ourselves, even through tough times.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
"There's something about having people around you giving you support that is - it's motivating, and once I got that support from people, I believed I could do anything." - Prince</div>
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<br /></div>
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As a teacher, you can be the person who believes in students, even before they believe in themselves. Guide and mentor them. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Appreciate and thank your mentors and supporters. Reflect on who you can turn to, not only to share the good stuff, but who you can come to with doubts, problems and tears. Reach out to them during a calm time and tell them how much it's meant to you.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Be the person you needed when you were younger. Offer up your support, expertise, and a listening ear to new teachers. Instead of paying back what you were provided, pay it forward. Formally and informally support and mentor students and professionals.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifpObzo3iOE/VxlFceM5XLI/AAAAAAAAI0c/FarW9dlKfpcP8Ha1Gs5CyGs3SPMYvWizQCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-21%2Bat%2B5.25.55%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifpObzo3iOE/VxlFceM5XLI/AAAAAAAAI0c/FarW9dlKfpcP8Ha1Gs5CyGs3SPMYvWizQCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-21%2Bat%2B5.25.55%2BPM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Wikipedia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<b>8. Get in your own groove, your zone, your flow.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
"You can always tell when the groove is working or not." - Prince</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Do things that you love greatly with great passion. Give yourself the space and time to get into a flow. When you are doing or making something that works, you can feel so connected and engaged that you completely lose track of time.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
When you are in the groove in the classroom, you can tell. Real-world connections come easily, students are sharing their ideas, the "A-ha" moments are coming fast and furious. If you have a few of those days a year, you are a lucky teacher. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you lose your groove, you <i>can</i> get it back. (<a href="http://teachercostume.blogspot.ca/2015/01/how-shauna-got-her-groove-back.html" target="_blank">see this post</a>)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>9. Make your own rules based on what you believe in.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
"A strong spirit transcends rules." - Prince</div>
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<br /></div>
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If the status quo doesn't work for you, challenge it. If you know yourself and you know what is best for you and your students, you can push the boundaries. You need to push the boundaries. Change is not made when everyone does the same thing the same way.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HVPuR8TzfHo/VxlFHf7o7YI/AAAAAAAAI0Y/B34GfZs7oAEA4sV3gHBP3KxMtvus3kf5wCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-21%2Bat%2B5.24.07%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HVPuR8TzfHo/VxlFHf7o7YI/AAAAAAAAI0Y/B34GfZs7oAEA4sV3gHBP3KxMtvus3kf5wCLcB/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-21%2Bat%2B5.24.07%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the Montreal Gazette</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>10. Customize your performance (or your teaching) to your users. </b></div>
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"Every audience is different." - Prince</div>
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Acknowledge that no matter how great your ideas or plans are, your users are the most important part of any performance, including those in the classroom. Every audience is different. Every class is different. Like Prince, be responsive to that. Give your students what they need. If you can't figure it out on your own, ask them!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UoyIE1tSjdQ/VxlFmQPKtrI/AAAAAAAAI0g/4ZJw-09AseIQHTTdH1HakZ3PAJrOZrVMACLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-21%2Bat%2B5.26.32%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UoyIE1tSjdQ/VxlFmQPKtrI/AAAAAAAAI0g/4ZJw-09AseIQHTTdH1HakZ3PAJrOZrVMACLcB/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-21%2Bat%2B5.26.32%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#squadgoals<br />
From The Muppets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>11. Demonstrate empathy.</b></div>
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"As human beings, we suffer from an innate tendency to jump to conclusions; to judge people too quickly and to pronounce them failures or heroes without due consideration." - Prince</div>
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Don't just put *yourself* in someone else's shoes. True empathy occurs when you can take yourself out of the equation all together and listen to someone else without judgement. Listen empty to hear what they're really sharing. </div>
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A wonderful gift to give to anyone is an ready ear, an open heart and validation. Don't always jump to conclusions or offer solutions. </div>
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Each of us can be a hero or a failure, depending on who is naming us. Don't reduce any person to one simple word. Understand that we are all complicated, multilayered human onions and value the diversity that exists within each and every one of us.</div>
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<b>12. Let go of grudges.</b></div>
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"I ain't mad at anybody. I don't have any enemies." - Prince</div>
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In the <a href="http://tiny.url/ple16" target="_blank">Passionate Learner Experiment</a>, my Superhero Learners have declared their Signature Strengths and Kryptonite. My Kryptonite (one of my weaker areas I am trying to fight off) is forgiveness. I hold onto grudges like they are indoor cats trying to escape from an open door. Prince could have called many people enemies, but let go of bad feelings. 2/2 Prince and Buddha's agree: holding onto grudges does nothing good.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AbgT15Gadvw/Vxk9NO3996I/AAAAAAAAI0I/QxMEBhzwTtAQR46hvDuBdAnlXL_p0rr7wCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-21%2Bat%2B4.49.40%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AbgT15Gadvw/Vxk9NO3996I/AAAAAAAAI0I/QxMEBhzwTtAQR46hvDuBdAnlXL_p0rr7wCLcB/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-21%2Bat%2B4.49.40%2BPM.png" width="218" /></a></div>
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13. <b>Be passionate. Share your gifts. Have fun while doing it.</b></div>
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"As long as I do not take myself too seriously, I should not be too badly off." - Prince</div>
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Play. Laugh. Imagine. Dream. Build. Laugh at yourself. Repeat.</div>
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<b>14. It costs you nothing to be kind to others. The impact you can make is limitless.</b></div>
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"Compassion is an action word with no boundaries." - Prince</div>
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Compassion is not just an noun. It's not a thing that lives on its own. Compassion can be a verb. It can be something that we do every day. You don't know what impact a kind word, a smile, a thoughtful question and a bit of attention can make. Don't limit the amount of compassion you show. </div>
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<b>15. Create safe and supportive places for children. </b></div>
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"No child is bad from the beginning, they just imitate their atmosphere." - Prince</div>
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Create an atmosphere that brings out the good in everyone.</div>
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<b>16. Believe in innovation and reinvention. Live it.</b></div>
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"I try not to repeat myself. It's the hardest thing in the world to do -- there are only so many notes one human being can master." - Prince</div>
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If a lesson works, that's great. If you can iterate on it and make it better, that's greater. Don't be a "one-note" musician, "one-trick" pony, or "one-idea" teacher. Challenge yourself. When you've achieved your goals, set new ones. </div>
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<b>17. Hold on to your inner child</b></div>
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"I'm still very much a kid inside myself." - Prince</div>
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Three year olds have it right. They are filled with questions, laughter, quick tears that let out the sad, fearlessness, wonder and endless curiosity. </div>
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Keep your inner three year old well-nourished and do the same for your students, whatever their age. Give them space and permission to play, laugh, cry, explore, build, take risks and fail.</div>
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<b>18. Make a thing. Then make another. Then keep going.</b></div>
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"Do you know how many hits I have? I can go on all night!" - Prince (at one of my all-time favourite live shows in Ottawa)</div>
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Put many things out into the world. Leave a mark.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9EoC0udsDUk/Vxqi5rvZWCI/AAAAAAAAI04/DhMKK2-JIXUq8Ym25vm8ru0Tlbp6OmQ4gCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-22%2Bat%2B6.15.59%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9EoC0udsDUk/Vxqi5rvZWCI/AAAAAAAAI04/DhMKK2-JIXUq8Ym25vm8ru0Tlbp6OmQ4gCLcB/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-22%2Bat%2B6.15.59%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="ng-binding ng-scope" data-ng-bind="internalImg.image_caption" data-ng-if="internalImg.image_caption" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #393939; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">2007 Superbowl Halftime Show </span><span class="wx-source ng-binding ng-scope" data-ng-bind="'('+ internalImg.credit + ')'" data-ng-if="internalImg.credit" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #393939; display: inline-block; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: 12px; line-height: 12px; opacity: 0.6;" title="Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images">(Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)</span></td></tr>
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<b>19. Anticipate the good, even while you're in the bad.</b></div>
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"There's always a rainbow at the end of every rain." - Prince<br />
<i>("Can you make it rain harder?" - Prince. You MUST watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NN3gsSf-Ys" target="_blank">this video!</a>)</i></div>
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While this is not factually true, it's awesome. Rainbows are basically the best thing ever. They're nature reminding us of beauty and magic and hope.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-16j4ENpUnqA/VxqjoKEGgMI/AAAAAAAAI1A/DX4JQfZZ6bArWVKrtYSV-dNMh4hM0Wd4gCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-22%2Bat%2B6.19.56%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-16j4ENpUnqA/VxqjoKEGgMI/AAAAAAAAI1A/DX4JQfZZ6bArWVKrtYSV-dNMh4hM0Wd4gCLcB/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-22%2Bat%2B6.19.56%2BPM.png" width="290" /></a></div>
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<b>20. Enjoy the time you have.</b></div>
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"But life is just a party, and parties weren't meant to last." - Prince</div>
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Goodnight sweet Prince, thanks for letting us in on your party.</div>
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What lessons did you learn from Prince's life? </div>
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Is there someone else you would like to read about in a Life 101 post?</div>
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<i>Disclaimer: I totally and thoroughly acknowledge that any quote can be taken out of context and interpreted in any number of ways. Above is a list of <u>my own</u> interpretations of messages from the guest teacher in this Life 101 lesson.</i></div>
Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-65435671257112591352016-03-28T18:41:00.000-07:002016-04-07T05:21:21.957-07:00The Passionate Learner Experiment Begins!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tatUfhUy7j8/VvncAdIpEnI/AAAAAAAAIx8/HrfYwy8Nxt0f7y_eRCidJK6rbL8CKN1Nw/s1600/IMG_2766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tatUfhUy7j8/VvncAdIpEnI/AAAAAAAAIx8/HrfYwy8Nxt0f7y_eRCidJK6rbL8CKN1Nw/s320/IMG_2766.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My Microschool's inaugural course, "The Passionate Learner Project" is underway. Tn incredible Superhero Learners (<i>who are currently in grades 4-12</i>) and their Parent Allies have taken a risk with me, as we experiment with a new way of learning!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQUCE5QemzQ/VvncGqkD0gI/AAAAAAAAIyA/9uAIbZ5fJ4wyfJjaQF6KRhKymEGCJGK9A/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-17%2Bat%2B7.43.21%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQUCE5QemzQ/VvncGqkD0gI/AAAAAAAAIyA/9uAIbZ5fJ4wyfJjaQF6KRhKymEGCJGK9A/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-17%2Bat%2B7.43.21%2BPM.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">Superhero Learners are using digital literacy skills to answer the question: how might we change the world in one day? They will complete 24 hours of work in the next 10 weeks. Together, we are creating a game that will guide their highly personalized and passion-based learning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">They are working their way through the several quests in Mission 1: You Are a Superhero. They are exploring what kind of teacher they need and what kind of learner they are.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Learners work their way through the Mission Dossiers I send to them at their own pace, in their own way.</span></span></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzPZ-I1EigXQ323Py8N2BvgnFW0pv3es0foFouctTgik7A8Bfzj2Jh5Wic__2mWHCTtY6LmYobkLFwND73BiQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the coming days, each learner will launch a Digital HQ where they will document their learning. I hope you'll follow along and add to the conversation! We need allies to cheer on the learners, challenge their thinking and add their influence. We are so happy to welcome <a href="http://lisapatersonyoga.com/about/" target="_blank">Lisa Paterson</a> as a Yoga coach to the Superheroes in Mission 2. If you want to be a part of The Passionate Learner Experiment as an ally, let me know!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To whet your appetite, I have to share one learner's approach to Quest 1.1
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5QhijzuUBCQ" width="420"></iframe> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 19.32px; margin-top: 6px;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We have space for a couple more learners to come on board if you know anyone who would like to play and learn with us!</span></div>
</div>
Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-57486290683078400302016-03-16T14:18:00.001-07:002016-03-16T14:27:17.681-07:0040 Ways to Teach About Global Education and Empower Globally Competent YouthIn our increasingly connected world and global economy, it is more important than ever to equip and empower youth with the skills and knowledge to be globally competent. They need to be taught how to learn about, communicate with and take part in their local, national and global communities.<br />
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Successful high school graduates should be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills, empathy, critical media literacy, cultural sensitivity and collaboration. They should have an understanding of the history of their own cultures and the world. They should know how to effectively use maps, charts and graphs to learn information about geography. They should be eager to share their stories and learn the stories of others, with open hearts and minds.<br />
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How can you empower youth with global competencies?<br />
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<b>Share Enlightening, Inspiring Content</b><br />
<ul><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BxXmTGBMYhw" width="560"></iframe>
<li>The video above describes what the world would look like if it was made up of 100 people. It's a great starting point for discussion about global inequities. There are further <a href="http://www.100people.org/statistics_100stats.php?section=statistics" target="_blank">statistics</a>, <a href="http://www.100people.org/wp/" target="_blank">videos and lesson plans</a> and <a href="http://www.100people.org/wp/the-100-people-project-an-introduction/" target="_blank">information about The 100 People Project </a>available online. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/This-Child-Every-Children-CitizenKid/dp/1554534666/ref=pd_sim_14_10?ie=UTF8&refRID=07RJKGT7W1S654C1EXGQ" target="_blank">This Child Every Child</a> - a book containing many more statistics that compare the lives of children around the world. </li>
<li>Jenny Buccos is an amazing human being and her <a href="http://www.projectexplorer.org/" target="_blank">Project Explorer</a> <a href="http://epcotclass.blogspot.ca/search?q=project+explorer" target="_blank">inspired a whole lot of great learning for EPCOT</a> class last year. She is leading a mission of creating 10 million globally competent youth by 2020. The free videos on her website are helping to do just that.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Connect Your Class With Other Classes</b><br />
<ul>
<li>One of the most powerful ways for kids to learn is from other kids. If you can, connect your students with students from around the world.</li>
<li><a href="https://education.microsoft.com/skypeintheclassroom" target="_blank">Skype in the Classroom</a> helps you connect with other classes, experts and virtual field trips. If you haven't tried a <a href="http://churchill209.blogspot.ca/2013/02/mystery-skype.html" target="_blank">Mystery Skype</a> yet, you have to sign up!</li>
<li>T<a href="http://theglobalreadaloud.com/" target="_blank">he Global Read Aloud</a>, run by my incredible friend, <a href="http://pernillesripp.com/" target="_blank">Pernille</a>, unites classrooms around the world, as they read the same book (there are choices based on student age) every fall. </li>
<li>Connect with Pen Pals. Start with reading the book <a href="http://dancingelephantstudio.com/visualart/books-2/same-same-but-different/" target="_blank">Same Same But Different</a> and brainstorm ways you and your students can find Pen Pals (Snail Mail or digital)</li>
</ul>
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<b>Participate in Global Initiatives</b><br />
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<li>In October, <a href="http://www.litworld.org/standupforgirlsblog/" target="_blank">Stand Up for Girls</a>. Learn about why so many girls around the world are not given an opportunity to have an education, and demonstrate your support for them by literally standing up for girls.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Learn About the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child</b><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aApQQwFY5JI/VunOIDSSCkI/AAAAAAAAIw4/ivKRQ1hicasEQBBcXpmmPul_-6ajDKTvw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-16%2Bat%2B5.20.18%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aApQQwFY5JI/VunOIDSSCkI/AAAAAAAAIw4/ivKRQ1hicasEQBBcXpmmPul_-6ajDKTvw/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-16%2Bat%2B5.20.18%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li>Share and post the <a href="http://www.unicef.org/rightsite/files/uncrcchilldfriendlylanguage.pdf" target="_blank">UN Convention on the Rights of the Child</a>, in child friendly language, in your classroom. </li>
<li>Illustrate and write about what each of the rights mean to you and your students. Years ago, I did a project where I collected drawings depicting the rights here in Canada and then had students in Lesotho, Africa, draw their representations as well. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.shereefitch.com/if-you-could-wear-my-sneakers/" target="_blank">If You Could Wear My Sneakers </a>- funny poems based on the articles in the UN Convention</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/For-Every-Child-Caroline-Castle/dp/0803726503" target="_blank">For Every Child</a> - beautifully illustrated depictions of the Rights</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Have-Right-Be-Child/dp/1554981492/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=07RJKGT7W1S654C1EXGQ" target="_blank">I Have the Right to Be a Child</a> - simple, colourful book exploring all childrens' rights. </li>
</ul>
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<b><br /></b>
<b>Learn About Micro Loans</b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Read the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Hen-Small-Difference-CitizenKid/dp/1554530288/ref=pd_sim_14_35?ie=UTF8&refRID=07RJKGT7W1S654C1EXGQ" target="_blank">One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference</a></li>
<li>Fundraise $25 (or $50 or $100...) and, as a class, invest in a real person. Visit <a href="http://kiva.org/">Kiva.org</a> and start a lending profile. You will be able to relend your loan over and over and over! My students and I have put under $175 into our account and that has allowed us to lend over $1000! </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FoqcunYFFqY/VunLRYpdx8I/AAAAAAAAIws/ZriGenBZEIMoESITPQBO3CyJtXAaotStQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-16%2Bat%2B5.07.33%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FoqcunYFFqY/VunLRYpdx8I/AAAAAAAAIws/ZriGenBZEIMoESITPQBO3CyJtXAaotStQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-16%2Bat%2B5.07.33%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Read Amazing Stories in Picture Books </b><br />
There are many incredible picture books that help tell the story of children around the world. Here are just a few that I love:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Malala-Brave-Girl-Pakistan-Iqbal/dp/1481422944" target="_blank">Iqbal and Malala</a> - The stories of an Indian boy and a Pakistani girl who demanded education and faced incredible violence from adults as a response. These stories open a students' eyes to how differently education is valued around the world.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/search?index=books&linkCode=qs&keywords=9780761319481" target="_blank">It's Back to School We Go: First Day Stories</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Malala-Yousafzai-Karen-Leggett-Abouraya/dp/1630833169/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words</a> - by now, you surely know about Malala, the youngest every recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. This book is, "a testament to the power of education to change the world for boys and girls everywhere."</li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B008EKOP90/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Nasreen's Secret School</a> </li>
<ul>
<li>"Young Nasreen has not spoken a word to anyone since her parents disappeared. In despair, her grandmother risks everyone to enroll Nasreen in a secret school for girls. Will a devoted teacher, a new friend and the worlds she discovers in books be enough to draw Nasreen out of her shell of sadness?"</li>
<li>There is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE9b1gR4YZE" target="_blank">video of this book being read</a> available on Youtube</li>
</ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rain-School-James-Rumford/dp/0547243073/ref=pd_sim_14_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=19DSRHT959DZGZEPRYD0" target="_blank">Rain School</a> - I was introduced to this story by one of my Bachelor of Education students who created a whole day plan based on this beautiful book. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKcr7OC-4YM" target="_blank">Video here</a>)</li>
<ul>
<li>"It's the first day of school in Chad, Africa. Children are filling the road. 'Will they give us a notebook?' Thomas asks. 'Will they give us a pencil? Will I learn to read?' But when he and the other children arrive at the schoolyard, they find no classroom, no desks. Just a teacher. 'We will build our school,' she says. 'This is our first lesson.'"</li>
</ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/This-School-Scholastic-Nonfiction-Readers/dp/0531214400/ref=pd_sim_14_13?ie=UTF8&refRID=19DSRHT959DZGZEPRYD0" target="_blank">Waiting for the Biblioburro</a></li>
<ul>
<li>"Ana loves stories. She often makes them up to help her little brother fall asleep. But in her small village, there are only a few books and she has read them all. One morning, Ana wakes up to the clip-clop of hooves, and there before her, is the most wonderful sight; a travelling library resting on the backs of two burros (donkeys) - all the books a little girl could dream of, with enough stories to encourage her to create one of her own."</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Learn About the Lives of Children Around the World Through Gorgeous Photography</b>e<br />
Again, this is by no means an exhaustive list. Here are just a few that I love:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--S-7LmREeRQ/VunObzN-V8I/AAAAAAAAIw8/s4kCzNGCe4UzjTtzCvqL_DeYNopytsRbg/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-16%2Bat%2B5.21.35%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--S-7LmREeRQ/VunObzN-V8I/AAAAAAAAIw8/s4kCzNGCe4UzjTtzCvqL_DeYNopytsRbg/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-16%2Bat%2B5.21.35%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Like-Mine-Children-Around/dp/0756618037/ref=pd_sim_14_37?ie=UTF8&refRID=07RJKGT7W1S654C1EXGQ" target="_blank">A Life Like Mine</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Children-Just-Like-Me-Celebration/dp/0789402017/ref=pd_sim_14_22?ie=UTF8&refRID=07RJKGT7W1S654C1EXGQ" target="_blank">Children Like Me</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Every-Day-Malala-Rosemary-McCarney/dp/1927583314/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=53TX2GP8VBC2EK1KQBD6" target="_blank">Every Day is Malala Day</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1590780930/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=1944687642&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1590786017&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=19DSRHT959DZGZEPRYD0" target="_blank">My Librarian is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the Worl</a>d</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-School-Rain-Forest-Children/dp/1590786017" target="_blank">My School in the Rain Forest: How Children Attend School Around the World</a></li>
<li><a href="https://store.owlkids.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=327" target="_blank">Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ryan-Jimmy-Brought-Together-CitizenKid/dp/1553379675/ref=pd_sim_14_13?ie=UTF8&refRID=07RJKGT7W1S654C1EXGQ" target="_blank">Ryan and Jimmy </a>- the true story of a young boy in Canada and his Pen Pal in Uganda and the water project that turned them into brothers.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shannen-Dream-School-Power-Series/dp/1926920309/ref=pd_sim_14_15?ie=UTF8&refRID=07RJKGT7W1S654C1EXGQ" target="_blank">Shannen and the Dream for a School</a> - this is the story of Shannen who demanded that the Canadian government create better schooling options for her and other aboriginal youth.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/This-School-Scholastic-Nonfiction-Readers/dp/0531214400/ref=pd_sim_14_13?ie=UTF8&refRID=19DSRHT959DZGZEPRYD0" target="_blank">This is the Way We Go to School</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Whats-Lunch-Andrea-Curtis/dp/0889954828?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0" target="_blank">What's For Lunch?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://jamesmollison.com/books/" target="_blank">Where Children Sleep</a> - the most popular book in my classroom for years, our copy has needed many repairs! You can <a href="http://jamesmollison.com/books/where-children-sleep/" target="_blank">see photos from the book online</a> and project them into your classroom to encourage discussion. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Share Your Stories</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>On your class blog, share what a day in life of your students looks like - use pictures, videos and/or writing.</li>
<li>Share your learning, projects and adventures on a class Twitter account.</li>
<li>Make videos and have a class Youtube channel to tell your learning stories.</li>
<li>Respond to people's comments, visit their projects and learn together.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Show Your Students That They Can Make an Impact</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aCC2fRNuJOE/VunOqMphK7I/AAAAAAAAIxA/yMccoj3KNJQEigda229co2ZhyqUj8IrFA/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-16%2Bat%2B5.22.35%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aCC2fRNuJOE/VunOqMphK7I/AAAAAAAAIxA/yMccoj3KNJQEigda229co2ZhyqUj8IrFA/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-16%2Bat%2B5.22.35%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://amysmartgirls.com/" target="_blank">Amy Poehler's Smart Girls</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Share stories of kids changing the world (<a href="http://churchill209.blogspot.ca/2012/12/14-of-most-inspirational-kids-of-2012.html" target="_blank">including this list from 2012</a> and <a href="http://churchill209.blogspot.ca/search/label/kids%20helping%20kids" target="_blank">these projects </a>by awesome young humans) </li>
<li>Fill some free time in the classroom by practicing your vocabulary or times tables (or a number of other topics) and, for every correct answer, the World Food Program gets rice to give to people in need. Play <a href="http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary/1485" target="_blank">FreeRice</a>!</li>
<li>Set up a class account on <a href="https://www.wegivebooks.org/" target="_blank">We Give Books</a>. For every book your your students read online (extra awesomeness for reading with younger or older Reading Buddies!), Penguin donates books to children who need them!</li>
<li>Ask your students what problems they want to solve and be a Collaborative Curator to support them. Curate great information and collaborate with them to make a plan!</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How do you empower your students and help them become globally competent? Share your ideas below!<br />
<br />
This post was inspired by this tweet:<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HoFRBPJXE6A/VunPnUcC2SI/AAAAAAAAIxQ/ZHuCHif8viAruiWT-3B4jN5BlIgJcy2Mw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-16%2Bat%2B5.26.30%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HoFRBPJXE6A/VunPnUcC2SI/AAAAAAAAIxQ/ZHuCHif8viAruiWT-3B4jN5BlIgJcy2Mw/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-16%2Bat%2B5.26.30%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thanks for spurring me into action, <a href="https://twitter.com/MissDenko" target="_blank">Sylvia! </a></div>
<br /></div>
Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-49386934504238318512016-03-15T20:12:00.002-07:002016-03-15T20:14:59.858-07:00Dear Grade 4-12 Student, How Can You Change the World in One Day?<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aUlExHX6_dY/VujO-J3pw6I/AAAAAAAAIvk/gcwszQXTHYw91dKzOsFbQI2oywwtjQ1dA/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-15%2Bat%2B11.11.17%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aUlExHX6_dY/VujO-J3pw6I/AAAAAAAAIvk/gcwszQXTHYw91dKzOsFbQI2oywwtjQ1dA/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-15%2Bat%2B11.11.17%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Grade 4-12 student,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-2a7f6102-7d65-b124-f44b-669fb783ec07" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Do you want a chance to be a part of a brand new learning experiment and be a model of how we can disrupt and design education in a way that REALLY works for learners?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You can be one of the first students at the Experimental Prototype School of Tomorrow (EPSOT) starting on March 22nd, 2016. There are four spaces left in the first cohort!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In 24 hours of online work, you will explore the question, “As a digitally literate person, what can I make in one day?” You will pick your own path to explore this question and can do the 24 hours of work at any rate you choose. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Your teacher, Shauna Pollock, will be your guide and collaborative curator, working alongside you to learn and practice new skills, discover new tools and apply your learning to a self-selected project. Your classmates in this first cohort will be on parallel learning journeys of their own and you will learn how to collaborate and communicate with them online.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This is a chance to hack your learning and help shape what education can look like in 2016. We will use digital literacy skills to help you uncover and explore your passion. You will be empowered to pursue a self-selected project and share it with a real audience.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Are you ready to take your learning to the next level? Email Shauna Pollock at </span><a href="mailto:shauna.pollock@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">shauna.pollock@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for more information on how to become part of “The Passionate Learner Experiment.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shauna </span></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1jZe_ZkqY4J3hW_zOyc4TIHFdCxbdExxBEyuhx_CsA7g/viewform?embedded=true" width="580">Loading...</iframe>Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-87409258547235249122016-03-14T20:36:00.002-07:002016-03-15T17:51:09.485-07:00Want to Join The Passionate Learner Experiment?<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Developing Digital Literacy to Make an Impact</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S4aCuhpVWoY/VueE_MEl8XI/AAAAAAAAIvQ/w8TMfarhhAkMgZLoGmTqVnjkud7Ur98-g/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-14%2Bat%2B11.43.08%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S4aCuhpVWoY/VueE_MEl8XI/AAAAAAAAIvQ/w8TMfarhhAkMgZLoGmTqVnjkud7Ur98-g/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-14%2Bat%2B11.43.08%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Where do ideas come from? Reading. Writing. Thinking. Those moments when I am not multitasking and have to focus on showering or driving. Conversations with amazing people. A need that has to be filled. Watching TV. Sometimes the ideas all merge and meld together and a truly beautiful one emerges. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the past several months, I have gotten to live in a world of my ideas more than ever before and it has been incredible. I have spent many hours alone, moulding my ideas, memories and stories into my book. I have gotten to talk to fascinating people who are following their dreams, innovating and making the world a better place. My ideas have gotten bigger and better through conversations with them.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have started a business that is dedicated to making learning experiences more magical. I empower learners to understand themselves, make discoveries and solve problems. I have been working with teachers, business owners, entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers. The group I love the most and miss the most is students.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have a dream to open a grade 4-12 physical school that takes everything I’ve learned through research and experience and apply it, creating a whole new educational model - a prototype that others can learn from and follow.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For a long time, I’ve been saying that’s my “Ten Year Plan” to open a school. Suddenly, I wondered, “Why wait?” Nothing happens overnight, but the first iteration of an Experimental Prototype School of Tomorrow (EPSOT) is formed in my mind and in files all over my computer. Why not bring it to life with a small group of motivated learners who can experiment with me?</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The First Iteration of EPSOT - The Passionate Learner Experiment</b></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is where you come in. My latest idea of how to make EPSOT come true right now might be my greatest one. This is an invitation for you and your child to join me on an exciting journey. On March 22nd, 2016 the families of the inaugural EPSOT class will meet and kick off a blended learning course answering the question: “As a digitally literate person, what can you make in one day?”</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the next several weeks, students in the course will choose their own learning adventures and be expected to spend twenty-four hours working on their projects.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will guide them through this experience, collaborating with them, curating information and learning with them through online media (such as email, Google Drive, Google Hangouts, Twitter, individual blogs, texting and/or phone calls). We will also have at least one virtual visit as a group to check up on progress and one in person event in Ottawa, Canada to celebrate and share our learning.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What I am offering is an individualized online learning experience for your child (grade 6-12) where they learn about Digital Literacy. They will learn important lessons through online learning modules that will require them to spend a total of twenty-four hours online, working independently (reading, watching videos, writing), responding to others’ work, collaborating (live and asynchronously) and sharing their discoveries. They will use their newly acquired knowledge of Digital Literacy to complete a self-selected Passion Project answering a guiding question that they will self-select.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This course will be highly dynamic and collaborative. I will create a framework for it and, together, the participating students and I will shape it to fit their needs and interests.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My hope is that this experiment will teach us all a lot. I hope that we will find that we can effectively use online tools to learn more than we’d ever imagined. I plan to use our discoveries and deliver this program to many more learners.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I need for you, as a parent or guardian, to be willing to jump into this experiment with me and support your child's learning. I need the learners’ commitment to participate in fun, interactive learning modules.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The course will be highly responsive to students' needs and can be completed at their own pace and will be shaped by their own ideas. They will explore and make discoveries about Digital Literacy. They will apply that to their self-selected project and create digital content to demonstrate their learning.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This course starts on March 22nd, 2016. If you know of a learner who would be perfect for this Passionate Learner Experiment, there are a few spaces in the inaugural cohort that are still available (as of March 15th, 2016). </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can contact me via this blog or email at shauna.pollock@gmail.com to get more information (including cost) and an online registration package.</span></span>Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-39540590988277940552016-03-13T19:23:00.000-07:002016-03-13T19:23:18.838-07:00The Emotional Rollercoaster of Following Your Dreams<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This post originally appeared on the <a href="http://www.maplesyrupedu.ca/blog/the-emotional-roller-coaster-of-following-your-dreams" target="_blank">MapleSyrupEdu blog</a></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I used to really, really love roller coasters. I was one of those kids and teens who would hop off of a ride, only to run back into line, ready to ride it again. Some of my happiest days were those at theme parks, when the crowd was so small that the line was non-existent and I could twirl my finger around in a little circle to the ride operator, and they would send me through the coaster again.</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-75e20e14-72ed-42aa-e071-20cea4d8a7e4" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In LA last fall, I rode a Universal Studios roller coaster four times in a row, just like this. I can’t believe I used to be able to ride all day. It took me hours to lose the dizziness I gained in four minutes of joy.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The last year of my life has been a real-life roller coaster, of the emotional variety. It’s been a roller coaster in the best possible way. It’s the emotional roller coaster of following my dreams.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You’re going to join me on a walkthrough of my ride, and the emotional ups and downs I’ve experienced. This is possible with the power of imagination, which I’m going to ask you to use for the next few minutes. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My ride started much like many roller coasters do. I had to slowly, laboriously walk up to the top, then trust the ride vehicle to take me safely up and down hills and through spirals and loop-de-loops. For twenty-two years, I walked towards the line-up for this rollercoaster. Along the way, I passed through schools and relationships. Then, I got in line for the ride. The line took me ten years. In those ten years, I passed through more schools, more relationships and got to bring hundreds of students with me on the journey up those stairs. I found a steady job, bought a house, got married, could explain my job in one word: “teacher” and felt pretty comfy.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then I got to the front of the line. A few things happened to change my momentum completely. I got a book deal and my husband got a new job. The book deal took hold of the operating controls of the rollercoaster and sped up all my dreams. Captain Handsome’s new job was in a new city. I took a 100% pay cut and undexpectedly, found myself in the seat of a ride vehicle without a seatbelt. The ride I thought I knew was history. Getting to the front of the line, I realized the ride I’d planned to take many years down the road was now was the one I was about to embark on, but at a much faster speed and without the security measures I’d expected. I’d always wanted to write a book. I like new challenges and new adventures. I was ready to see where this ride took me.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My husband had already started his ride and, taking a deep breath, I followed. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The ride has taken me ten months so far. The first drop was stomach churning and heart wrenching. I had to leave my amazing grade ¾ students, The Gladiator Snails, two months before the school year ended.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Several months of the ride were incredibly boring to anyone watching from the ground, expecting screams of terror or joy. My rollercoaster was quiet, passing through coffee shops, libraries and cafes. I rode, laptop burning a hole in my lap, fingers flying over the keyboard as I poured my heart into 115 000 words of my first book. Days, weeks and months on the coaster were quiet. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There were bumps and turns as deadlines loomed, editors gave feedback and my Alpha and Beta reader teams dissected my words. Despite what looked so dull from the outside, my screams came. Some of them were silent. Some were witnessed by my most trusted friends and family. I screamed with frustration. I screamed with self doubt. I screamed with relief.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some days, the coaster brought me high into the sky. I’d always wanted to share my stories and ideas, and my students’ stories and ideas with a larger audience. Getting to write a book allowed me to do that. Those days, all I could see what the big, blue sky.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My roller coaster has taken several long, low dips. I have had my breath literally taken away with really bad viruses that slowed down the speed of the ride and dragged me very low.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some days, my stomach was in my throat, as I freefell. I questioned everything I did and everything I thought and everything I wrote. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some days I dreaded having to face my computer and my thoughts. Some days I just wanted to get off the ride.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some days, the tracks were heading upwards, yet I felt like I was being pulled downwards. I got mad at myself for not being grateful for the ride I was lucky enough to be on.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For months, my ride was intensely private, almost as if the tracks of my rollercoaster took me through dark, lonely buildings. I felt quiet and invisible. Sometimes I forgot the world. Sometimes, it felt like the world forgot me.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then, the coaster would surprise me and I’d flip over, seeing the world in a new way. I realized that the coaster tracks were ones I’d built over the years and that, even though it felt unsafe and scary at times, that there were things guiding me on a strong path. I realized that the highest parts of my track were supported by people who love me and believe in me. I could see my former students and their families holding up the track. My husband was there to push my ride vehicle back up the tracks when it dipped and slowed. He could even lift it back onto the tracks when one wheel, or all of them, came off. My family and friends were there to build new supports as unexpected turns appeared. There were people there to believe in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Suddenly, the roller coaster stopped. My manuscript was finished, but not yet a book. The writing process was over. I had time to steer the rollercoaster in a new direction. I reconnected with people and with the world. I got outside more. I went on a trip. I worked to build other people’s rollercoasters and cheer them on as they rode.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A few days before I expected it to, the rollercoaster abruptly started again. My book was released. People who I hadn’t heard from in years started to stand alongside the rollercoaster tracks and cheer me on. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After the months of a quiet, solitary routine, I was riding through a bright, noisy world. It was the scariest part of the ride. People could see me now. They could even see into my head and heart through the words in my book. My track was being built faster than I could comprehend and I couldn’t come to terms with the new ride fast enough. I felt like I was watching someone else on the ride.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Trusted family and friends stepped in and slowed down the ride. They hopped into the ride vehicle next to me and rode with me. Through their eyes, I began to see more clearly where I had come from and what I had accomplished. They pointed out incredible directions that my ride could take next. I started to feel some of the pride they felt for me for myself. I began to breathe more easily.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was launched into the sky when I got the first photos of people reading my book. People shared what they were learning from my words. My students were excited to see themselves in the pages. Suddenly, I couldn’t describe my job in one word anymore. Now, I was an educator (out of the classroom) and an author.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The book finished, I was no longer actively authoring and I was happy to stick my hands in the air and be taken on a ride, celebrating what I had accomplished. Even though I was feeling more relaxed, there was no end to the ride in sight.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had to start building a new track. I had to steer my rollercoaster to somewhere new. The first, defined ride of writing a book had finished, but my journey had not. Once again, I found myself facing a huge drop into the unknown.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even though the first part of the ride had its ups and downs, I feel so grateful to have had the chance to get on. I feel so lucky that I got to the front of the line. I feel brave for having taken the risk of getting on a new ride. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Right now, I’ve taken the fast-track once again. My ten-year goal of opening a school feels to far away. I don’t want to stay on the same ride for ten whole years. Instead, I’ve skipped over the track I thought I’d ride and am creating a new one. Looking past the dip to the track of my new ride, I can only see a fuzzy picture of it. I know that there are lots of dips and bumps, spins and flips. I like the future I see ahead.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My job, once again, has become harder to describe. I’m becoming an alphabetical list of roles. I am now an author, a blue sky thinker, a consultant, a designer and an educator. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After a deep breath, the coaster starts again and I fly past the huge dip, stomach threatening to come out my mouth. Right now, I am riding directly up, looking into a big blue sky, seeing dreams begin to materialize in the clouds above me. I don’t know what will come next, but I can’t wait to see.</span></span></div>
Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-39473833400939623342016-03-09T18:43:00.003-08:002016-03-09T18:45:01.267-08:00One World About High School<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm starting to play with the responses to my <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1TfLH8idPsfhvqQCmbf7pmY_OC1FXYRMYk4WVhW9in2A/viewform" target="_blank"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl" style="color: #627aad; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">rethinkhighschool</span> survey</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The two images below represent the answers to two questions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19.32px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">#1. Describe your high school experience in one word.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">#2. Describe what an ideal high school experience could be.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OaPtYQ9LaRY/VuDe7ENHb9I/AAAAAAAAIu8/PEuV7jHsSYI/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-09%2Bat%2B9.31.40%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OaPtYQ9LaRY/VuDe7ENHb9I/AAAAAAAAIu8/PEuV7jHsSYI/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-09%2Bat%2B9.31.40%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Are you surprised at the results? What would you add?</div>
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Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-33003881529881156642016-03-09T15:34:00.000-08:002016-03-09T15:34:17.950-08:00Drowning in Drafts - a Poem I Made Up in My Car<b>Drowning in Drafts</b><br />
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<i>I narrated this poem onto VoiceMemo on my phone, in my car, on February 18th, 2016. Because I am so badly drowning in drafts, I'm only getting to typing it up now, almost three weeks later.</i><br />
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<i>Also, I have not shared a poem publicly since high school. Be gentle.</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dN2PbM7t-VM/VuCy5cm_drI/AAAAAAAAIuo/vg0Pegi-gNU/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-09%2Bat%2B6.33.33%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dN2PbM7t-VM/VuCy5cm_drI/AAAAAAAAIuo/vg0Pegi-gNU/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-09%2Bat%2B6.33.33%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you stock photography for this perfect picture.</td></tr>
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For many months<br />
I worked on a single narrative<br />
A single project<br />
I could forgive myself<br />
And excuse myself<br />
For not blogging<br />
Regularly<br />
<br />
But I came up with ideas<br />
Lots of ideas<br />
Which I added to lists<br />
Upon lists<br />
Which I have organized<br />
And prioritized<br />
And alphabetized<br />
And check listed<br />
And expanded<br />
And researched<br />
And narrated<br />
And sketched<br />
And texted<br />
<br />
Now, they wash over me<br />
Started as drafts<br />
Unfinished posts<br />
Unshared ideas<br />
They sit in my Any.do list<br />
On the notes on my phone<br />
Rambling ideas<br />
Rolling on top of each other<br />
Started as drafts<br />
In the draft folder on my blog<br />
On neon sheets of paper on my coffee table<br />
And Post-Its in my pockets<br />
<br />
Every time I don't write a post<br />
Another idea forms<br />
And I sink<br />
Further<br />
Beneath the drafts<br />
And I'm drowning<br />
Under waves<br />
Of ideas<br />
<br />
Every time I swim through the drafts<br />
Trying to pull my head above<br />
A new idea forms<br />
I cannot get to the top<br />
Because I cannot get to the top<br />
I give up<br />
And I stop swimming<br />
I stop writing<br />
I hide beneath the waves<br />
Of my ideas<br />
Half formed<br />
In drafts<br />
<br />
Even this poem<br />
Coming from my brain<br />
To my mouth<br />
To the VoiceMemo<br />
Will become<br />
Another wave<br />
Cresting<br />
Another wave in the digital ocean<br />
Of drafts<br />
Of ideas<br />
<br />
<i>(Ha! Past Shauna was wrong - I took a stroke, I kicked and I shared this one draft today!)</i>Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-70088412933525589672016-03-07T14:22:00.000-08:002016-03-07T16:13:54.880-08:00The Importance of Play - Games in the Classroom<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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I have been working with an incredible young entrepreneur in Toronto. Kevin Munn has worked in education for seven years. He has been a Child and Youth Worker, ESL teacher and tutor. I know that I would have loved to have had Kevin work with me and my students. He is responsive to student needs and interests, creating games for them to learn and practice skills. <span style="line-height: 22.08px;">Games helped Kevin learn when he was a student and he created games for the students he worked with. Students with a variety of academic, social and emotional needs responded positively, engaged in their learning. </span><span style="line-height: 1.38;">His games became popular with teachers and he created sets for them, even buying his own personal laminator to set up customizable games for them. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Handsome and my MIL tested the games before I brought them to the ESL class</td></tr>
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This year, Kevin's company, <a href="https://twitter.com/HungryMinds_SGB" target="_blank">Hungry Minds Academy</a> has created "Academy in a Box" - four fully-customizable card and board games for students. I have been using several of the games with my Hotel ESL class and the Syrian refugee youth have been able to understand and engage with them easily.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vE_hcNC0Fl4/Vt4EBFnzPbI/AAAAAAAAIsk/mIubxKrsuPk/s1600/IMG_1535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vE_hcNC0Fl4/Vt4EBFnzPbI/AAAAAAAAIsk/mIubxKrsuPk/s320/IMG_1535.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kevin is joining #cdnedchat tonight from 8-9 p.m. EST for a chat about the importance of play, particularly about why we should and how we could use board games in the classroom.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k42qqcyRZ_c/Vt4EHlkiFaI/AAAAAAAAIso/Wx8ADgfFTaA/s1600/IMG_2386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k42qqcyRZ_c/Vt4EHlkiFaI/AAAAAAAAIso/Wx8ADgfFTaA/s320/IMG_2386.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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He is passionate about empowering students to learn at home and at school and has done the research to back up his product line. Tonight, Kevin's questions are based on a five-year evidence based study (including the complied results of sixty independent studies) about the benefits of gameplay on learning.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wtaIAhbGk0o/Vt4XZ4O_B8I/AAAAAAAAItA/rOHNTDUw1BI/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-07%2Bat%2B7.05.04%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wtaIAhbGk0o/Vt4XZ4O_B8I/AAAAAAAAItA/rOHNTDUw1BI/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-07%2Bat%2B7.05.04%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Tonight's chat will ask you to read some of Kevin's discoveries before you share your own experience. We don't usually give you a sneak preview, but here are Kevin's questions and what we'll be talking about in #cdnedchat tonight:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Q1: </span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do you use games (esp board games) in your classroom?</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Games are inherently engaging to most students, but how they are used determines how effective they can be in a classroom. Teachers who use games deliberately have the best results.</span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Many game mechanics include an element of competition, but that can be downplayed, so that learners see that the competitive aspects are not the focus. <i>(Shauna's note: competition is not inherently evil, but competition and learning don't play well together)</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Q2: How do you use inconsequential competition in class?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.08px;">If games do not focus on important academic content, they will have little or no effect on student achievement. </span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Q3. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do you work essential academic content into games?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.08px;">The studies referred to found the most common error teachers make when using games is after the games are complete. Often teachers just add up team points and move on. They miss out on the opportunity to debrief to go over aspects that are now clearer, were most difficult at the time, etc. </span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Q4. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">How long do you debrief after games, and what do you discuss?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another boost in the effectiveness of games in the classroom was found in having students take notes on the game/lesson afterwards. Or to allow students to go back and correct homework, etc. with this new knowledge.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 22.08px;">Q5. </span>How can you have students reflect or act on what they learned from their participation in games? </b></span></span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1t1uTGsb03SxJWc2nZrThvYdSa-RdBRWUBATVyK-b3ik/viewform?embedded=true" width="590">Loading...</iframe>Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-41494162971107717902016-02-29T09:16:00.002-08:002016-02-29T09:54:52.023-08:00Blue Sky High - What If YOU Designed a High School?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Walt Disney encouraged people to think big. And then he encouraged them to think bigger. He asked them about their blue sky dreams. Look up at the sky. You can't see the end of it. That's how you should dream. There is no limit to how high or how big you can dream.<br />
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Right now, I'm blue sky thinking about high school.<br />
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My blue sky dream is to open a grade 4-12 inclusive, immersive, experiential school that caters to all types of learners and empowers them to be confident life long learners who can solve real world problems.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LC7ofZoMk7k/VtSDMV0YHaI/AAAAAAAAIqo/HEIdYiF_ozo/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-02-29%2Bat%2B12.42.45%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LC7ofZoMk7k/VtSDMV0YHaI/AAAAAAAAIqo/HEIdYiF_ozo/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-02-29%2Bat%2B12.42.45%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
I am researching the current structures and systems of public and private high schools around the world to learn more about how users (students) feel about their experiences there.<br />
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I would love to learn about your high school experiences, what worked and what didn't work for you as a teenage learner.<br />
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I would also love to pick your brain about what we could achieve in high school. Imagine that the existing systems and structures were wiped clean and you could learn in a way that works for you. What could high school look like, feel like and empower our students to do?<br />
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What if formal schooling could be more about preparing learners for their lives than preparing them for more formal schooling (<i>and all that entails, like standardized expectations, a focus on memorization of content and high-stakes testing)</i>? Imagine the possibilities!<br />
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One way that I am gathering user input is through a survey. I am also conducting one-on-one interviews, starting an online discussion group (on Voxer) and planning dream-building workshops. If you want to share your experience and ideas, or learn along with me, let me know!<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1TfLH8idPsfhvqQCmbf7pmY_OC1FXYRMYk4WVhW9in2A/viewform?embedded=true" width="580">Loading...</iframe>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Your input will be helpful for my personal research, writing, educational consulting work and eventual my own eventual Blue Sky High creation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">To start off, I am collecting your thoughts in a quick (5-10 minute) survey. Please fill out the embedded survey (also linked </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20src=%22https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1TfLH8idPsfhvqQCmbf7pmY_OC1FXYRMYk4WVhW9in2A/viewform?embedded=true%22%20width=%22760%22%20height=%22500%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%3ELoading...%3C/iframe%3E" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span><br />
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<i>This post includes (creative commons licensed) images that inspire me in my blue sky dreaming about schooling. These were included in a document I shared with artist Jeannette Langmead, in the creation of her masterpiece that is the cover of my book.</i><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DXfP-n1YSO8/VtR80TAtKXI/AAAAAAAAIqY/T_IlAX9bJ0s/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-02-29%2Bat%2B12.15.34%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DXfP-n1YSO8/VtR80TAtKXI/AAAAAAAAIqY/T_IlAX9bJ0s/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-02-29%2Bat%2B12.15.34%2BPM.png" width="213" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-90312933968121233392016-02-27T18:45:00.003-08:002016-02-27T18:45:49.206-08:00Welcome a Student Teacher Into Your ClassroomWelcome a student teacher into your classroom.<br />
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<b>The Why:</b><br />
<br />
As educators, we have the opportunity and the privilege to elevate our profession. Create a prototype classroom where you and your students can help teachers experiment and improve their skills. Mentor teachers that are new to the profession. Be the person YOU needed (and hopefully had) when you were starting your career.<br />
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Teaching can feel very isolating. You are often the only adult in a room with 20 or 30 people for 6.5-7 hours each day. Getting to be part of a team will not only empower a pre-service teacher, but will also enhance your own teaching.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n6OKer67BZM" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<br />
<b>The How:</b><br />
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Make a commitment. Promise your student teacher you will do the following things. Follow through and do them:<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-ecd50549-25bd-b934-0d78-8110c30d6703"></span><br />
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will provide you with ongoing, meaningful feedback in the writing and in person.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will make sure you know #youmatter and how important you are to me and the students.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will step back and let you make mistakes.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will push you outside your comfort zone.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will celebrate your successes with you.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will respect you as an individual and give you space to be yourself.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will share resources and ideas with you.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will make sure that you create a positive digital footprint.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">To get started, feel free to use/modify <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vQqpGgpgihaNDj88ROPt6qZN9r5RjCR0jCSWGupAK6Q/edit" target="_blank">this letter </a>as you wish (it is a welcome letter inspired by my weird and wonderful friend, <a href="http://hestheweirdteacher.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Doug Robertson</a> in his book, "He's the Weird Teacher").</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Why and how do you work with student teachers? What do you wish you had learned from or with your mentor teacher(s) when you were a student teacher?</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>This is one of my 330 (not exaggerating, in fact, that's where I lost count. There are probably 400 of them by now) posts in a series I'm calling "Purge the Draft," wherein I attempt to purge my draft posts by completing and actually posting them. Don't expect these at any regular interval. That's too much pressure.</i></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-77088592190396197942016-02-27T18:32:00.001-08:002016-02-29T10:16:20.415-08:00Educational Consultant for Netflix: Report #1: Fuller House's Mr. GeraldAs the newly hired Educational Consultant and Coach for Netflix, one of my responsibilities is to observe classrooms in action and report on the performance of teachers. Most consultants in non-demand <i>(aka physical schools, those not available on-demand on streaming services) </i>schools do not report their findings publicly. My new role, however, requires that I publish my reports here for the benefit of teachers (non-demand and on-demand alike) around the world. My report includes information (where applicable) about the career of the teacher; positive actions noticed during my observation; areas for improvement and questions or conclusions I am left with. My mandate is to support teachers in creating more experimental, experiential, engaging classrooms that excite learners and make them realize classroom magic.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hoJl40aQajg/VtJUAT5G-MI/AAAAAAAAIpg/DfIkXfvnP3U/s1600/IMG_2239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hoJl40aQajg/VtJUAT5G-MI/AAAAAAAAIpg/DfIkXfvnP3U/s320/IMG_2239.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Tonight, I had the pleasure of visiting San Fransciso's Van Atta Middle School. I sat in on Mr. Gerald's eighth grade Science class. I was directed to this classroom via <b><a href="http://thefullerhouse.wikia.com/wiki/Fuller_House_Wikia" target="_blank">Fuller House</a></b>, S1.4.<br />
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<b>About the teacher:</b> Mr. Gerald has led a long and varied career. He began his career as an insurance salesman (under the pseudonym, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqSYC_vwhDg" target="_blank">Ned Ryerson</a>), directed the William McKinley High School glee club "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0152377/bio" target="_blank">Rhythm Explosion</a>", was a principal on the<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0272575/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_119" target="_blank"> Day the World Ended</a>, had a stint as the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0064757/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_85" target="_blank">Assistant District Attorney</a> in Miami, and worked as an <a href="http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0294595/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_27" target="_blank">FBI Agent</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B4wa2EMYsUI/VtJVAL0ZShI/AAAAAAAAIpw/WlnUSvud4j8/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-02-27%2Bat%2B9.01.17%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B4wa2EMYsUI/VtJVAL0ZShI/AAAAAAAAIpw/WlnUSvud4j8/s200/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-02-27%2Bat%2B9.01.17%2BPM.png" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Van Atta Middle School Science teacher, Mr. Gerald</td></tr>
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<b>Stars</b> (things that this teacher did well)<br />
<b>I liked it when:</b><br />
-Mr. Gerald provided students with a hands-on learning opportunity by having them build models of active volcanoes.<br />
-Mr. Gerald used the whiteboards and blackboard in the classroom to post reminders for his students, including their school name.<br />
-the classroom is set up so that students can work collaboratively.<br />
-safety equipment is provided in the Science Lab.<br />
-when the sprinklers unexpectedly go off in the middle of the class, he embraces a teachable moment by saying, "As you're fleeing for your lives, take notice of how your projects are reacting to the presence of H20."<br />
-students have three requirements for their projects, two of which are clearly posted in the classroom, "Build an 'active' volcano" and "Write a report on the building process." Students also have to share their process orally in front of their classmates.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mor4mWYSmmo/VtJUATfWb3I/AAAAAAAAIpk/-Q6g7I2aGyE/s1600/IMG_2240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mor4mWYSmmo/VtJUATfWb3I/AAAAAAAAIpk/-Q6g7I2aGyE/s320/IMG_2240.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Planets </b>(things to plan for next time - <i>get it, plan-it?</i>)<br />
<b>Next time</b>:<br />
-Mr. Gerald was the last one in the classroom, students were gathered in their workspace several minutes before he arrived. He should work on coming to class on time.<br />
-Mr. Gerald can work on his relationships with students to help improve their engagement. When he entered the classroom and said, "Good morning," they all groaned.<br />
-All of the students had the same expectations and were completing the same project. Mr. Gerald should consider offering students more voice and choice in their learning, allowing them to showcase what they've learned in a self-guided, self-selected manner.<br />
-Despite there being seventeen students in the class, there are only six volcano models. Each student worked independently. I wonder if there is a staggered due date.<br />
-Although their project allows students to show their learning by building a model, their work was expected to be completed as homework. This resulted in one student's mother completing all her work. Even as she shares this with the class, Mr. Gerald only rolls his eyes and does not interfere. If he were to evaluate her project, he would actually be evaluating her mother's work.<br />
-Students should be reminded of when to use their safety equipment, so it doesn't just sit on their tables as they conduct experiments.<br />
-After the fire alarm and sprinklers go off, it takes Mr. Gerald several moments before he reacts and helps students follow fire drill procedures. He seems to be inattentive, as one of his students is able to escape through an open classroom window at this time.<br />
-Mr. Gerald offers an extra credit project that does not require much critical thinking. He asks students to "Summarize the environment around [their] world." He should consider pushing their learning further and asking them, for example, to reflect on how human activities impact the environment around them.<br />
-Mr. Gerald uses sarcasm with his students, and they do not respond positively. He could try other ways to build rapport with them, by getting to know them. There is a new student in his class who he calls only, "the new kid."<br />
-He points at a student and yells at him. Mr. Gerald should practice positive, progressive discipline and not let a student's actions cause him to lose his temper.<br />
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<b>Closing Thoughts</b><br />
Students often enjoy opportunities to demonstrate their learning through hands-on experiences, like building a volcano, as was the project Mr. Gerald assigned his eighth-graders. Science class provides many opportunities for students to learn experientially and relate their learning to the real world. They can use their scientific knowledge and the scientific process to solve real world problems. Mr. Gerald can take advantage of this to push his learners further. Instead of simply having all seventeen students build volcanoes, he could have each of them select different natural disasters to recreate through modelling and physical or chemical reactions. Alternately, the entire class could contribute a model or component to a 3-dimensional map of different landforms. The classroom could be set up with these models and students could go on a visit a small-scale version of a trip around the world.<br />
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Despite his wide variety of professional experiences, Mr. Gerald struggles to manage his students and engage them in their learning. I would like to see him bring more of his own experiences and passions into the classroom. He has experience in a range of fields, including legal work, police work, investigation and musical theatre. These skills could be integrated into his Science classroom. This may awaken the scientific passions of his students and help them to think scientifically instead of simply finishing assignments (or having their parents do their work) to earn a passing grade.<br />
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<br />
<b>Next time...</b><br />
Is there a television show or movie you've seen and noticed a classroom that could use a little more magic? Let me know who needs my consulting and coaching in the comments below.<br />
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<i>Note: all students and teacher have media permission and their names and images may be shared online.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Note: this is a completely fake job. I do not consult for Netflix in real life. In real life, I consume way too much on Netflix. However, my teacher brain never turns off. I decided to add a bit of creation to all my consumption. If you want real educational consulting and coaching, I can do that for you. Or I can write about your favourite (or least favourite) TV or movie teacher. I'll always have something good to say and I'll always have some ways to improve.</span></i>Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-49829403599300664972016-01-31T14:35:00.000-08:002016-01-31T14:35:02.855-08:00Finding Your Life's Purpose<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://blog.teach20s.com/2016/01/teach20s-week-5-professional-identity.html?showComment=1454278972089#c5439676783424786935" target="_blank">This post</a> was originally shared on <a href="https://twitter.com/msventurino" target="_blank">Mari Venturino</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/mr_b_teacher" target="_blank">Justin Birckbilcher</a>'s <a href="http://blog.teach20s.com/" target="_blank">Teach20s blog.</a> They are creating a community of young educators and mentors and share on their blog and on Twitter with the hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/teach20s" target="_blank">#teach20s</a>.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The post below is edited and partially excerpted from </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Classroom-Magic-Experimental-Prototype/dp/1941500706" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Creating Classroom Magic</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by the author. </span></i></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-b74a6e8d-99cb-2141-e116-7b4208e2a878" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4qPT1RaFxtk/Vq6LT5I74cI/AAAAAAAAIog/Uj352zEmra0/s1600/Week%2B05%2B-%2BIdentity%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4qPT1RaFxtk/Vq6LT5I74cI/AAAAAAAAIog/Uj352zEmra0/s400/Week%2B05%2B-%2BIdentity%2B%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin and Mari used the process described below to discover their professional identities.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mTjb92SN_9c/Vq6LR9oCsLI/AAAAAAAAIoY/ffZ_Xoa-g2U/s1600/Week%2B05%2B-%2BPollock%2BIdentity.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mTjb92SN_9c/Vq6LR9oCsLI/AAAAAAAAIoY/ffZ_Xoa-g2U/s400/Week%2B05%2B-%2BPollock%2BIdentity.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Invest a few minutes in yourself and your future right now. Take time to reflect on and expand your dreams; define your life’s purpose as a professional identity statement; and share this statement with others.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Consider what you want to do in this world and who you want to impact. Think about how you can have the impact you desire. Allow your imagination to run wild, come up with Blue Sky ideas (don’t put a limit on yourself, allow your thoughts to drift as high as a big blue sky). After you have imagined the possibilities, it’s time to make your dream clear so that you can communicate it to others. Many companies and corporations create a vision statement to provide a clear description of a dream. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">professional identity statement </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you will create today states your purpose. It includes a set of ideas that describe the future state of your personal or professional life. Consider what the best case scenario is for five, ten, twenty or more years from now. Dream big. That is your professional identity statement, or your </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">vision statement</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. For many years, the Walt Disney Company’s formal vision statement was: “We make people happy.” In recent years, it’s been changed to a much wordier statement that defines that purpose in an unnecessarily extended way. Ask almost any Disney employee and they’ll still tell you the vision of the company is those four simple word: “We make people happy.” I think that’s an extraordinary vision. Not only is it clear and concise, but it describes everything that Walt Disney aspired to do.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I discovered my life’s purpose, my own personal vision statement, nine years into my formal teaching career. I watched the ambitiously named “</span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVsXO9brK7M" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Know Your Life’s Purpose in 5 Minutes</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” TED Talk by film producer, Adam Leipzig (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">who, incidentally was an executive at Disney at one point in his career</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). In his talk, Adam asks five deceptively simple, but remarkably poignant questions. They led me to define my professional identity statement as a vision. You can do this right now. It could even take you less than five minutes, especially if you’ve given yourself time to dream. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who are you?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is the one thing you feel supremely qualified to provide to other people?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who do you do it for?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do these people want or need from you?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do they change or transform as a result of what you give them? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With those five questions, I defined my life’s purpose:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’m Shauna. I create safe, inspiring places for kids. They need someone who believes in them. I help them become the people they never knew they could be.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As an educator, your vision statement will likely reflect your desire to help others. “In order to make good on your chosen task, it’s important to have someone you want to do it for,” Walt Disney said, ”The greatest moments in life are not concerned with selfish achievement, but rather with the things we do for the people we love and esteem, and whose respect we need.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you have a professional identity or vision statement, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">live it</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Come back to it often. Share it. Post it - physically or online, or both. This week, share it on Twitter with the hashtag #teach20s. Consider doing what I did and using your vision statement as your profile description on your social media accounts.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your professional identity statement will help direct you when you’re feeling lost or don’t know what decision to make. You can refer back to it and modify it as your dreams change and grow. By defining your vision, you will find it easier to chart your path in life. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your vision is your definition of success.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Reflect on your progress often and celebrate all the things you do to live your life’s purpose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Reflect on your life's purpose. Guide your students to do the same. Share your thoughts below, on Justin and Mari's blog, on your own blog and/or on Twitter, using the hashtag #teach20s!</span></span></div>
Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-2738749442109905202016-01-12T20:08:00.001-08:002016-01-12T20:08:58.890-08:00Monorail Blog Crawl: Do You Believe in Magic?My blog post from Disney's Contemporary Hotel, on this monorail blog crawl I'll created for myself will be written a little differently than I intended. I planned to sit by Mary Blair's mural.<br />
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Instead, I'm on the last monorail of the night, passing said mural and posting from the Blogger app on my phone. </div>
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Things don't always work as I plan them. This was a pretty spontaneous plan and I didn't take transportation schedules into account. </div>
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One of my favourite aesthetics is retro future, which makes the Contemporary one of my favourite buildings on Walt Disney World property. It is one of the places that I feel Walt in. It matches his original EPCOT feel, and though it's outdated, I love what Walt's 70s version of the future looks like. </div>
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<i>(Monorail update: I seem to be alone on this entire vehicle. Cast members are poking their heads in and checking where I'm going.)</i></div>
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For me, a structure like the Contemporary feels like magic. I know that it won't have the same feeling to everyone. To me, It feels like a place that was built with a specific story in mind - the story of an optimistic, clean and efficient future. It also feels frozen in time. The building's architecture is very obviously outdated and attempts to update it interfere with the feel of it. Aside from repairs, I'd prefer if Disney embraced the retro-futurism and went all out with the outdated future theme. </div>
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I would like to see more elements of Walt's original EPCOT vision come to life in this hotel, as well as a resurrection of the <a href="http://www.yesterland.com/futurehouse.html" target="_blank">Monsanto House of the Future</a> (which, incidentally, I was discussing today with an educator who got to visit it). </div>
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<i>(Monorail update: I was, in fact, the only person on the last monorail of the night, at the literal last stop. This post is being finished in the 2nd floor lobby of the Polynesian. I know that doesn't count as a Polynesian post. I'll write one after this. Or maybe in the morning.)</i></div>
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The feeling of magic that I get visiting the Contemporary comes from, I think, a combination of nostalgia and wonder. I have a soft spot for the things that influenced me most heavily between the ages of 7-10. The things I feel in love with then hold such a special place in my heart and memory. Visiting EPCOT Center in those years left me astonished and inspired. The images and experiences I had there have always stuck with me. The future EPCOT Center promised me (like the one in Back to the Future) is the one I'm still waiting for.</div>
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To create magic for others, I like to do lots of little things. Right now, I'm waiting to see the impact of a little piece of magic on my cousins. In researching my book, I discovered one of my favourite ideas of all time. A parent describes "Tink Treats." They noticed that their children, upon visiting a Disney park, wanted to purchase souvenirs in the gift shops on property. If you've visited such a place, you've probably noticed, and commented, incredulously, about the prices. There is no denying that the theme parks are a revenue stream for Disney, and the merchandising game is strong. To combat their kids' requests and complaints, this parent devised a magical system of "Tink Treats." While their kids were out of the room, they placed pre-purchased (from a dollar store) items (many of them Disney branded, but only costing a dollar each) in their hotel room. Along with the surprises, they left glitter. The children learned that Tinkerbell visited their room and left them special treats for their next day of holiday. This reminds me of the feeling a child gets after the Tooth Fairy (or Santa, or the Elf on the Shelf) visits. Wonder, amazement and magic.</div>
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My past three Disney trips have been accompanied by Tink visits. She left treats for Gillian and Stephanie before Edcamp Magic in 2015. They shared a lot of their treats with kids they met on buses on Disney property. It's not hard to identify them as teachers. She left treats for my #DisneyCAST team: Ashton, Charlie and Travis/Tracy. In fact, the package they received at check-in and the Tinkerbell suite upgrade (to, literally, a Tink themed set of rooms) left them thrilled, puzzled and believing in magic. Tonight, Tink left a letter and treats for my little cousins to prepare them for their Luau tomorrow. I am eagerly waiting for a text from them, sharing their news.</div>
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<b>When was your imagination captured so that you felt wonder and magic? How may we do the same for the people we work with: students, colleagues and parents? </b></div>
Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-12019034682962770482016-01-12T19:27:00.000-08:002016-01-12T19:27:09.605-08:00Monorail Blog Crawl: Intentions for FETC 2016Sometimes I bring my computer to really cool places and write blog posts while surrounded by incredible things. Sometimes, that's just my local Starbucks or my couch, covered by my kitties who sabotage my writing at every turn.<br />
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Tonight, my computer and I are on a Magic Kingdom hotel blog crawl in Orlando, Florida. The Walt Disney World resort is the size of the entire city of San Fransisco. It's huge. Only one third of the property owned by Disney has been developed. Another third is set aside as green space, as stipulated by Walt himself when planning for his "Disney World" in the late 60s. That means that one third of the space they own can still be developed, effectively doubling the number of resorts, stores, restaurants, parks and attractions. As it is, you couldn't possibly explore the entire property in a single holiday. In my most recent visits, I've begun exploring areas I've never been. Tonight, I hope to visit the three hotels surrounding Bay Lake, the person-made lake attached to the Magic Kingdom's Seven Seas Lagoon. The best part about these hotels is that they are all connected by my third favourite type of transportation (closely behind Segway and helicopter), the monorail. My plan tonight is to visit the Grand Floridian, the Contemporary and finally, the Polynesian, and write a blog post in each resort.<br />
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The first stop is <a href="https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/grand-floridian-resort-and-spa/" target="_blank">Disney's Grand Floridian</a>. I am currently sitting in <a href="https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/grand-floridian-resort-and-spa/mizner-lounge/" target="_blank">Mizner's Lounge</a>, snacking on a flatbread and listening to "The Pink Panther" as performed by a robust live band.<br />
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If you're wondering what I'm doing in Florida this time, you've come to the right post.<br />
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This week, I have the opportunity to attend <a href="http://fetc.org/" target="_blank">FETC</a> (formerly, the Florida Educational Technology Conference, now the Future of Education Technology Conference) as a member of the media. I have a chance to attend a huge variety of keynotes, presentations, poster sessions, discussion groups and visit with other educators and businesses over the next three days. I am thrilled to be here, as I've heard great things about this conference, but have never been able to attend.<br />
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Along with Sean <a href="http://www.magicpantsjones.com/" target="_blank">"Magic Pants Jones" Farnum</a>, I explored the enormous Orange County Convention Centre (10 000 steps a day will be no problem this week), picked up my press credentials and popped in on some great sessions on the pre-conference FETC Executive schedule. I got to see fellow Canadian, <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=george%20couros" target="_blank">George Couros</a>, invigorate a crowd of administrators with his keynote message of the innovator's mindset (also the title of his <a href="http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/5715" target="_blank">new book</a>). As always, George punctuated his points with entertaining and emotionally evocative stories and videos. He deftly ties viral social media stories to his big ideas of passion and innovation and celebrates the successes of others. The man knows how to capture a crowd. In fact, I noticed a member of the site catering staff enter to the room to clear away food and then stand in the doorway, rapt, as George spoke. Some of my takeaways from this keynote inclued:<br />
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<li><b>Understand your user to find creative solutions to problems</b>. George said, "Innovation begins and ends with empathy." By thinking about your student as your user, and valuing them as a customer with unique needs and wants, you will be more inclined to empathize with them and find ways to reach, engage and support them.</li>
<li><b>Don't shy away from sharing your story from a few negative interactions.</b> "We need to make the positive so loud that the negatives are impossible to hear," George reminded us. During a presentation to high schoolers, a couple of participants, after being encouraged to reflect live on social media, wrote some awful tweets. George saw them and considered asking everyone to stop tweeting. Instead, he spoke to the students about the power of social media and some started writing positive comments about the impact of his words and stories. So many positive tweets began to appear that the negatives were, indeed, drowned out. This very concrete example reminds me that the "squeaky wheel" can draw a lot of your attention, but not to shy away from something you believe due to negative perspectives or poisonous people. Instead, spread your message, seek feedback and choose what to learn from and what to focus on.</li>
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On the eve of a big conference, I try to take time to set some intentions and make a plan. At ISTE last summer, I did this in a <a href="http://teachercostume.blogspot.com/2015/06/twas-night-before-iste.html" target="_blank">poem</a>. <br />
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FETC officially begins tomorrow.<br />
<b>My Intentions</b> (some things that I plan to do to get the most out of my time here)<br />
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<li><b>Share my learning, live, on Twitter. </b>I have gotten so accustomed to using Twitter on a daily basis, that I assume every event I attend has a hashtag. If it doesn't, I create one. FETC is using the official hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fetc" target="_blank">#fetc</a> and their social media team is very active, retweeting content leading up to the conference. Because I am attending this conference as media, I am paying special attention to the twitter feed for the conference and plan to interact with other participants, as well as tweet out my learning for members of my network who are present, and those who may be following along at home.</li>
<li><b>I will blog everyday</b>. How many times have I made that promise? This week, I have incredible access to people and resources and want to take advantage of that and share as much as possible. Dozens of tweets each day help me to do that, but a blog gives my brain a little more time to stretch and my words more space to move.</li>
<li><b>I will carefully choose where to spend my time. </b>Unplanned, informal hallway and Blogger's Cafe conversations were some of my best learning moments at ISTE. They remain a priority. However, I've carefully looked over the massive FETC schedule (which is available online, on paper and in app form, for learners of all types) and highlighted sessions I'm interested in. I've taken those and added them to my schedule so that I can head towards them this week, but still be happy to be caught unawares by an engaging, in-depth, surprise discussion.</li>
<li><b>Discerning session selection</b>. I will choose sessions that strike me as innovative, interesting or though-provoking. I will avoid those that are device or platform specific; thinly disguised sales pitches (go ahead and sell me something, but do it honestly!); social media sessions delievered by edcuators without a discernable social media presence; ones that promise "487 ideas in 12 seconds" or any other combination of numbers. I want sessions that dig into interesting ideas and I want to learn from presenters who have a new way of looking at things, share stories and push my thinking.</li>
<li><b>Take care of my feet.</b> When I wake up in the morning or get up after sitting for a long time, it feels like I have skeleton feet. It feels like there is no fleshy padding and that I am walking on sharp bones. I learned that I have Plantar Fasciitis and my feet bother me not only after getting up, but also after walking around a lot. It's really glamorous. Massage helps, so does stretching. Instead of suffering through skeleton feet, I'm going to take care of my dogs. I brought my <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/706082/foot-rubz-massage-ball?s_kwcid=szenC6fgi_dc|pcrid|71495575085|pkw|surefoot%20foot%20rubz|pmt|p|google|main|NB&gclid=Cj0KEQiA5dK0BRCr49qDzILe74UBEiQA_6gA-rBNHyZgXhnh8aAwELCvikyjDGW8_KUm5EXnJoa1YSkaAi5V8P8HAQ" target="_blank">massage ball</a> and will pull it out periodically throughout the day and roll it under my feet, busting up the bubble wrap feeling that accumulates over the course of a day. </li>
<li><b>Not worry about being a part of everything</b>. As an introverted extrovert (I'll explain that to you later), being "on" at a big event like a multi-day conference where you know almost no one, is exhausting. If I'm not in the mood for a session or a social event, I'm giving myself permission to miss it. I like to experience lots of things, but I also need to listen to my body and give it some rest when it needs.</li>
<li><b>Puruse my personal passions</b>. Learn about: teacher entrepreneurs; educational consulting; people who have started alternate learning spaces; where thoughtful educators think education is heading in the future and how and if they want that to change. </li>
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<b>My Best Conference Pro-Tips (mostly as reminders to myself)</b><br />
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<ul>
<li><b>Carry business cards with you.</b> For easy access, stash the plastic sleeve with your nametag on your sweet conference lanyard.</li>
<li>A big conference can feel like information overload. <a href="http://www.teachinglikeits2999.com/" target="_blank">Jennie Magiera</a> shared the idea of writing <b>a digital top three list</b>. Create a Google Doc to take your notes for the day, and write the numbers 1-3 at the top of the page. Throughout the day, put your best pieces of learning in those slots. As you develop your ideas, or get better ones, replace them. You can write as many notes in the document as you like (and hopefully refer to them later), but the top three ideas are those that you can instantly see and helps to focus your thinking, remind you of actions to take and give you a shortcut to effective reflection.</li>
<li><b>Have a portable charger</b>. Tweeting, Voxing, texting, using maps and immediately searching for answers of any question that pops into your mind eats phone battery up quickly. Last year, I bought an <a href="http://www.sears.com/anker-2nd-gen-astro-e4-13000mah-3a/p-SPM3734798321?hlSellerId=27954&sid=IDx20110310x00001i&kpid=SPM3734798321&kispla=SPM3734798321" target="_blank">Anker portable charger</a> for about $40 (including shipping) n Amazon. It's the best money I spent all year. My little buddy has 2 USB ports and about 6 full phone charges. It's not light, but it's very manageable (almost pocketable) and is just what I need when I'm travelling.</li>
<li><b>Bring snacks</b>. This one is very simple, but it is so easy to succumb to conference hunger and chow down on overpriced underdelicious food at a conference centre. With a snack in my bag, I can stave off a growling belly and wait for something that will actually satisfy my tummy and please my palate.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>How May We </b>(some things that I am considering and want to find ways to take action on)<b>...</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b>How may we use sketchnotes as note-taking frameworks?</b> I sat with a group of educators from Utah today who had printed copies of Sylvia Duckworth's sketchnote about George Couros' Innovator's Mindset philosophy. Remember when people created Power Point presentations and printed out a copy of all the slides (but really teeny), with lines next to them to write your own notes? Though I would now consider those a waste of paper, I really liked using them to organize my notes. How may a presenter create a sketchnote (or any visual model) and leave space for participants to personalize it with their own thoughts and reflections?</li>
<li><b>How may we use participatory audience behaviours from Slam Poetry in presentations at conferences</b>? During <span style="background-color: yellow;">the</span> keynote today, I noticed people nodding their heads in agreement, chuckling and making small exclamations, under their breath. At a Slam, people call out their agreement, snap along with the poet when a line speaks to them and cheer at the end (and sometimes in the middle). What would it look and feel like if this was accepted (and expected) behaviour at a keynote or presentation at a conference like FETC? Would the audience feel more involved? Would the speaker feel more supported and learn from the immediate feedback?</li>
</ul>
</div>
Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-15958550640382296342015-12-31T16:38:00.001-08:002015-12-31T17:13:29.559-08:00Imagineering in 2015 - Reflections on #OneLittleWordLast year, I was invited, on Twitter, to select #oneword to keep me on track for 2015. Instead of long reflections on resolutions, I selected the word: Imagineering. I was mid-way through the year with my incredible grade 3/4 Gladiator Snails, and our class was known as <a href="http://epcotclass.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">EPCOTclass</a>- the Experimental Prototype Classroom of Tomorrow. To keep us on track, I chose to consider designing our learning with Imagineering (Disney's term for imagination and engineering, and the most imaginative, innovative wing of the Disney Company). I applied this word to my personal life as well, and had results that surprised me, most of all.<br />
<br />
<b>Classroom Application:</b> I loved the #OneWord challenge so much, I brought it to my class. To start our 2015, the Gladiator Snails selected #<a href="http://epcotclass.blogspot.ca/2015/01/what-were-up-to-this-week-january-12th.html" target="_blank">OneLittleWord</a> by writing lists of things they are good at and things they are working on. Each student looked at the lists and selected one word that summarizes them and the things they plan to work on for the year. To practice, we made up #OneLittleWord for Norman, one of our class Muppets. Norman doesn't know any Math and sometimes gets down on himself for it. The word we selected for him was "Positive." Each student generated a list of three steps they would take to help them reach their #OneLittleWord target. Once they had decided on their words, we learned about how shapes and colours can represent ideas and emotions. Students created watercolour paintings representing their #OneLittleWord, and we took photographs of them thinking about that word. The photos were glued on top of the paintings and joined by their words, then hung in the hall to remind us of our targets every time we entered and left Room 209.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>On this final day of 2015, I am going to do exactly the opposite of what I described in paragraph one and write a long reflection about my Imagineering year.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<b>Counting Down 15 Reflections About 2015, my Imagineering Year</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
15. <b>Collaboration.</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I worked with the members of: </li>
<ul>
<li>#<a href="http://teachercostume.blogspot.ca/p/comment-consortium.html" target="_blank">comcon</a> (a group of education bloggers who comment on one another's blog posts)</li>
<li><a href="http://teachercostume.blogspot.ca/p/think-tank.html" target="_blank">Think Tank</a> (a group of educators who met in person in Ottawa to discuss the future of education)</li>
<li>#<a href="http://www.cdnedchat.ca/moderators" target="_blank">cdnedchat</a> (a group of Canadian educators who lead a weekly Twitter chat for friends in Canada and beyond), who asked me to join them as a moderator this year</li>
<li>The Edcamp Magic planning team, who I've happily joined this year </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
14. <b>I left my home</b>.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Captain Handsome and a handful of friends, family and I redid every square inch of our little home in Ottawa over the past 7 years. I love that little house, but the Captain got a great job opportunity in Toronto and we moved. </li>
<li>I've spent the last 7 months getting used to my new home, as have my remarkably resilient cats. </li>
<li>I have a long way to go until Toronto and I feel like we fit together, but I am very happy to explore the city with my zoo, aquarium, float club, ROM and Warhol Museum annual passes. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
13.<b> I was part of <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/trending/thedress-social-media-time-wasting-trends-2015-1.3370156" target="_blank">one of the strangest Internet news stories of the year</a>. </b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I blogged about what it felt like <a href="http://teachercostume.blogspot.ca/2015/07/going-vir-ish-7-lessons-from-dead.html" target="_blank">going vir-ish after discovering #deadraccoonto</a>. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
12.<b> I visited two Disney Theme parks.</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I spent a total of 15 days at the "happiest place(s) in the world" this year. </li>
<li>I was incredibly fortunate to spend 11 spring days at Walt Disney World in Orlando, many of those days with my Scottish BFF, <a href="https://twitter.com/gillyp_dm" target="_blank">Gillian Penman</a>; my former student teacher, <a href="https://twitter.com/MissPepperanie" target="_blank">Stephanie Pimenta</a>(and her awesome family of Peppers!); my former UOttawa student, <a href="https://twitter.com/Miss_Brant" target="_blank">Kiera Brant</a> (and her incredible mom, <a href="https://twitter.com/GailBrantTerry" target="_blank">Gail Brant-Terry)</a>. </li>
<li>In the fall, I visited (for the first time in my life) the park Walt actually walked (and lived!) in, Disneyland. I travelled with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiEIyNwhV5Y" target="_blank">#DisneyCAST</a>, my brother Charlie, his partner, Ashton and their friend, Travis. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
11. <b>My grade 3/4s and I had an Imagineering Day to build a Global Citizenship Museum</b>.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Our school year was all about rethinking education and making sure that we created the best possible learning space and opportunities for all. </li>
<li>Together, we explored our passions, practiced design thinking strategies, improved our research and communication skills and considered ways we could change the world. </li>
<li>Students learned about citizenship in their own country and around the world and compared their lives to those of "Kid Citizens," children in a country of their choice. </li>
<li>Together with parents, other teachers, volunteers, student teachers, and of course, my students, we collaboratively created our learning unit and outlined the outcomes and success criteria for our project. </li>
<li>Our research culminated in a one day creation blitz, where volunteers (including members of my family, students' families and my former students) helped my grade 3/4s use their blueprints and plans to create models of their museum exhibits. </li>
<li>Later that week, we welcomed other classes and our families in to the Global Citizenship Museum and blew them away!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
10. <b>I did stand-up comedy</b>.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>No, there is no video. </li>
<li>Yes, it went well, which surprised no one more than me. </li>
<li>No, I'm not planning to do it again. It was for a project that I'll share more about soon.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
9. <b>I left my class with another teacher for two months</b>.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Captain Handsome headed to Toronto without me. Six weeks later, I had packed my classroom and house, and followed him. </li>
<li>My amazing Gladiator Snails were left in the very capable hands of a colleague, and I was lucky enough to stay in touch with them via email and Skype until the end of the year. I was so so lucky to teach that incredible group of students for nine months. </li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP3cTekfXgQ&feature=em-upload_owner" target="_blank">We did a lot of awesome things</a>. I learned a lot from my youngest class ever and was consistently amazed by their incredible minds, work and resilience. </li>
<li>For the first September in thirty years, <a href="http://teachercostume.blogspot.ca/2015/09/the-first-day-back-my-first-time-not.html" target="_blank">I didn't spend the first days of September in a classroom.</a> </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
8. <b>I participated in international PD</b>.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I attended my first two international (as in, not in my home province of Ontario or neighbouring province of Quebec) education conferences. </li>
<li>I presented an Ignite presentation and led (with <a href="https://twitter.com/melsa777" target="_blank">Melissa Eddington</a>) a "Weirds of a Feather" session at ISTE in Philadelphia. </li>
<li>I joined educators from around the globe at the first ever <a href="http://edcampmagic.com/" target="_blank">Edcamp Magic</a> in Orlando and got to co-moderate a Q&A with author <a href="http://www.keytothekingdombook.com/wordpress/" target="_blank">Jeff Dixon</a>. I helped out with collecting sponsorships and donations for this event and made a goal of gathering enough prizes so that every participant could go home with something. We accomplished this. </li>
<li>Attending these events were really incredible because I got to meet online friends in person and make brand new friends. It was so fun to see my online communities come to life. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
7. <b>I played.</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I went to Comic Con Ottawa with my former colleague, Erin (before she moved to the Middle East, fully trumping my 4.5 hour move!). </li>
<li>Captain Handsome and I attended a ton of comedy, including the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal. We saw some of our favourites, including (among others): Norm MacDonald, Neil Patrick Harris, Mark Forward (several times!), TJ Miller, Louis CK, Sam Simmons, Rhys Darby, Chris Hardwick, Sean Cullen, James Harnett, the cast of Silicon Valley, Chris Hardwick and John Mulaney. </li>
<li>We saw four Broadway shows: Fish in the Dark (and met the star, Larry David), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (twice, starring Michael C. Hall and then the original Hedwig, John Cameron Mitchell, who BROUGHT IT despite a terrible knee injury), and the absolutely heartwrenching Constellations. We saw Madonna in concert. </li>
<li>Our six-year old nephew cheered his lungs out at a hockey game and got to meet his favourite player (and played it WAY cooler than I ever have when meeting one of my heroes). </li>
<li>We watched movie premieres, with their directors and stars, at the Toronto International Film Festival. </li>
<li>We were in NYC the night of the SNL 40th anniversary, and got to see so many comedy heroes before and after the show (which we watched at a nearby pub). </li>
<li>I played in six Escape Rooms, three of which my teams escaped. I considered how to use Escape Rooms in education and led an <a href="http://teachercostume.blogspot.ca/2015/12/eduescape-escape-rooms-in-education.html" target="_blank">#eduescape chat</a>, coached teachers in designing these challenges with their students and put together a model for creating educational Escape Rooms.</li>
<li>My brother, our friend Tess and I created brand new ways to play Pokemon (including our, patent pending, Pokemeals). </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
6. <b>I celebrated the graduations of former students</b>.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I was invited to attend the high school graduation of my last class of grade 8s and cheered them on with tears in my eyes. </li>
<li>Via Periscope, I attended the grade 6 graduation ceremony of my last class of grade 5s. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
5.<b> I thought a lot about what it means to be a leader AND a woman</b>.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Attending ISTE, I was shocked at the inequalities in male and female representation in the high levels of education leadership. Most of the best selling education authors, well respected education leaders and speakers are men. </li>
<li>There are many underrepresented voices in education and edtech and a change needs to happen. </li>
<li>I thought a lot about where I see myself in the conversation and how to amplify my voice and the voices of others. </li>
<li>I collaborated with an inspiring group of brilliant female educators to come up with ways to share our ideas and stories and help others to do the same. </li>
<li>We have a long way to go in this area and I will continue to help diversify the landscape in the coming year. </li>
<li>Why does this need to change? <a href="http://teachercostume.blogspot.ca/2015/11/because-its-2015.html" target="_blank">Because it's 2015</a>. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
4. <b>I felt the love</b>.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I am pretty uncomfortable being the centre of attention, but, thanks to some exceptionally thoughtful friends and colleagues, I was showered in love this year. </li>
<li>My friends and family threw me two birthday parties (which included Chinese food, karaoke, steak and a pub, some of my favourite places!)</li>
<li>My Gladiator Snails and their families threw me a surprise going away party. As did the grade 6 members of my Leadership Club Executive</li>
<li>My former teaching partner and dear friend, Tiiu, threw together an enormous going away party with former students and their families at my favourite place in Ottawa, a kids' arcade. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
3. <b>I failed. A lot</b>.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Taking a lot of risks this year led to both successes AND failures. </li>
<li>Due to over-exhaustion, I got really sick and had to miss the premiere of the final film in the Hunger Games series. For the past four years, former students have filled a theatre in Ottawa to watch the films on their premiere night. I was devastated to miss the final premiere.</li>
<li> For the first time, I participated in NaNoWriMo, with the goal of writing the first draft of a 50 000+ word novel in the month of November. I didn't come close to completing "The Last Camp on Earth." </li>
<li>I applied to go on an educator's discovery trip to Israel and to present at several conferences in the coming year. I got lots of lovely form and personalized letters of rejection in response.</li>
<li>I applied to be a teacher in my new city. Similar outcome. </li>
<li>I participated in a Back to the Future scavenger hunt. I missed the big prize by minutes. That's the one that hurts the most.</li>
</ul>
<br />
2. <b>I participated in the first <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V-ybi_tq8M&feature=em-upload_owner" target="_blank">Team Molly</a> bike ride without our team captain</b>.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>In Molly's life and since her death, her family and friends have raised more than $100 000 to help other kids with cancer. </li>
<li>The balloon release in the morning, signifying the incredible kids we lost this year, was highly emotional for all of us, but it felt great to be continuing the tradition, in Molly's memory.</li>
</ul>
<br />
1. <b>I wrote a book</b>.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>In March, I was asked by Bob McLain, of <a href="http://themeparkpress.com/" target="_blank">Theme Park Press</a>, to submit a proposal for a book that incorporated Walt Disney and teaching. It was the book that I'd been searching for in my research on Walt and EPCOT and I was thrilled to be asked. </li>
<li>He accepted the proposal, and within nine months, I had my 1.2 lb 304 page baby in my hands. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Classroom-Magic-Experimental-Prototype/dp/1941500706/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451580513&sr=8-1&keywords=shauna+pollock" target="_blank">Creating Classroom Magic: Using Lessons from the Life of Walt Disney to Create an Experimental Prototype Classroom of Tomorrow</a>. It's available on Amazon, both in paperback and digital versions. </li>
<li>Two of the most exciting things in the world are: seeing copies of my book on my bookshelf, reminding me of the result of the emotional rollercoaster of pouring my heart, soul and brain out; and getting messages on Facebook, Twitter and email from people as they discover the book and reflect on the ideas within. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<br />Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-47540989946115806162015-12-14T15:52:00.000-08:002015-12-14T16:17:27.966-08:00Using the Internet for AwesomeSome people hate Twitter chats. I am not one of those people, but I'm always interested to understand WHY people love or hate things. The complaint about Twitter chats is often that they are one-hour long echo chambers about the same topics that have been discussed over and over.<br />
<br />
I have benefited greatly from a huge variety of Twitter chats. When I first joined the initially overwhelming stream of discussion topics tied to #edchat hashtags, I liked the questioning format of: How do you define x in education? How do you use x in your teaching? What are the problems with x in education? What are some resources to learn more about x? I connected with interesting people, got to share stories from my classroom and was inspired to try new things.<br />
<br />
As I become more comfortable with online collaboration, 140 characters at a time, I want to push the envelope (like my friends <a href="https://twitter.com/MagicPantsJones" target="_blank">Sean</a> "#<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%232pencilchat&src=typd" target="_blank">2pencilchat</a>" Farnum, <a href="https://twitter.com/TheWeirdTeacher" target="_blank">Doug</a> "#<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23weirded&src=typd" target="_blank">weirded</a>" Robertson and <a href="https://twitter.com/MrLeBrun" target="_blank">Ross</a> "#<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/totallyrossome?src=hash" target="_blank">totallyrossome</a>" LeBrun). A few weeks ago, the incredible team at <a href="http://www.cdnedchat.ca/moderators" target="_blank">#cdnedchat</a> (<i>who l am thrilled to be a part of this year</i>) embraced the idea of a virtual escape room, and #<a href="http://teachercostume.blogspot.ca/2015/12/eduescape-escape-rooms-in-education.html" target="_blank">eduescape</a> was born. The chat bucked the convention and participants were issued challenges that they had to complete before unlocking the questions about how to create immersive, interactive experiences in their classrooms.<br />
<br />
When the other moderators at #cdnedchat invited me to host a chat about my new book, "<a href="http://www.creatingclassroommagic.com/" target="_blank">Creating Classroom Magic: Using Lessons from the Life of Walt Disney to Create an Experimental Prototype Classroom of Tomorrow</a>," I wanted to do something a little different. Because I believe strongly in practicing what I teach, I couldn't write a chat that stuck to the familiar format. Instead, I wondered if participants in a 60 minute chat could, in fact, use the power of social media and a PLN (Professional/Personal Learning Network), to make magic. Rather than talking about magic, we're going to try to make it. My hope is that we will be able to make a real change to someone in our hour together.<br />
<br />
One of the recurring themes in edchat conversations is how wonderful it is to be a "connected educator" on Twitter and how powerful social media is. I want to test those assertions. How powerful can our voices be?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4OFrRyi65do/Vm9PhLwPU7I/AAAAAAAAIkM/xxvma5VO5k8/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-12-13%2Bat%2B8.59.41%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4OFrRyi65do/Vm9PhLwPU7I/AAAAAAAAIkM/xxvma5VO5k8/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-12-13%2Bat%2B8.59.41%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In the 24 hours leading up to the chat, as I refined the format and questions, I tweeted to members of my PLN who I know have wonderful ideas and great networks. I asked them to both join us and retweet the invitation to the chat. Several retweets and comments have made me optimistic that we'll have a large crew present to:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Amplify</b> our voices, stories and ideas in real time</li>
<li><b>Be Brave</b> to share the things that mean the most to us, our students and our communities</li>
<li><b>Collaborate </b>to raise awareness or funds (or even items) for something we care about</li>
<li><b>Determine </b>causes, stories, issues and ideas that would benefit from our help</li>
<li><b>Empathize</b> with others</li>
<li><b>Find</b> ways to take action</li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>(extra points if you noticed how that list was organized!)</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Some things to think about that will help you participate in this chat experiment:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b>Let's do something unexpected</b>. Creating magic is about surprising someone, giving them more than they expected and filling them with wonder. How may we do that using Twitter?</li>
<li>I am going to try to create as much of a <b>collaborative learning space</b> as possible. If you have suggestions on how to make this better, please share them!</li>
<li>What do you think to yourself, <b>"I wish everyone knew about...."</b> (I wrote a post this summer after <a href="http://teachercostume.blogspot.ca/2015/07/going-vir-ish-7-lessons-from-dead.html" target="_blank">a tweet I posted about a dead raccoon went kind of viral,</a> exploring what I wish went viral, including #<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/unicorns4molly" target="_blank">unicorns4molly</a>)</li>
<li>The format may be a little different than you're used to, but we'll use <b>Q1/A1</b> to sort out our thoughts</li>
<li>The ideas and stories that engage us might be different. I'm not sure what the result(s) of this chat may be, but want to make sure that everyone feels good about what we accomplish together!</li>
<li>You will likely become engaged with other participants and want to <b>continue the conversation,</b> you can do so in the chat with the hashtag #cdnedchat, in DMs (direct messages) and/or long after the chat has finished. If you break off and have a conversation or planning session in DMs, please come back to the chat and share what you've planned!</li>
<li>It's totally fine if you have to <b>catch up once the hour is done</b>! We'll monitor the hashtag for a while afterwards!</li>
<li>Consider bookmarking interesting links that are shared during the chat so you can come back later and read further.</li>
<li>I hope that we can be productive, hopeful and have an impact in one hour. I know that we can do all of those things in a day, a week, a month, a year or a lifetime. I hope that you'll find something in this hour that you want to pursue well beyond it. </li>
</ul>
</div>
If you follow me on Twitter, you may notice that I often post videos, stories and pictures with the hashtag #DailyCry or a description of "all the feels" or the goosebumps said link produced in me. I search for and post things like this because I believe, despite everything, that humans are good. Watching the news, or even scrolling through a Facebook feed, it can be hard to remember this. In addition to exploring tough issues, I think we need to embrace and share the stories of people doing good, and, as Mr. Rogers said, "look for the helpers."<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-LGHtc_D328" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
Over the past week, there have been tons of wonderful news stories, and stories of helpers. Here are just a few I found:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-14/thousands-of-cards-for-arson-survivor-safyre-terry/7025272" target="_blank">Safyre Terry now has boxes filled with Christmas cards</a>. This young girl was badly burned and lost her family in a house fire caused by arson. She lives with her aunt, who shared a photo of Safyre, by a Christmas card tree, and a wish that the tree be filled up.</li>
<li>A <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/250-people-pay-forward-florida-mcdonalds-drive/story?id=35723193" target="_blank">Florida McDonald's Drive-Thru had a 250 person streak</a> of "paying it forward."</li>
<li><a href="http://www.si.com/high-school/video/2015/12/14/high-school-athlete-year-hunter-gandee-wrestling" target="_blank">Sports Illustrated's High School Athlete of the Month</a> is a big brother that led his community in fundraising to create an inclusive playground, so that his little brother, who has Cerebral Palsy, could play with his friends. How did he fundraise? He carried his brother on his back for two treks (totalling nearly 100 miles) he calls the "Cerebral Palsy Swagger."</li>
<li><a href="http://abc7chicago.com/news/girl-cyberbullied-for-her-cancer-gets-support-from-classmates/1117787/" target="_blank">Students are wearing orange</a> to support a schoolmate with cancer who was being bullied online.</li>
<li>Residents of a drop in and rehab centre, who are <a href="http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/children-s-wish-foundation-receives-help-from-some-of-calgary-s-homeless-1.2697194" target="_blank">homeless, donated money to the Children's Wish Foundation</a>. The money was raised by collecting and recycling cans.</li>
<li>High school students practiced empathy in a project called, "<a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20151210/news/151219957/" target="_blank">Walk a Mile in Her Hijab</a>" where students who don't normally wear a hijab spent a day wearing them.</li>
<li><a href="http://mic.com/articles/129991/this-8th-grader-invented-a-device-to-help-his-friend-who-was-struck-by-lightning?utm_source=policymicTBLR&utm_medium=main&utm_campaign=social#.Cz7XqWmEm" target="_blank">A grade 8 student made a video board to help his friend</a> communicate. Because he was struck by lightning, his friend was unable to communicate effectively. This young inventor created a device ethat his friend can control by moving his head to answer "yes" and "no." </li>
<li>This has been an exciting week in Canada, as the newcomers (Syrian refugess) that are sponsored privately and by our government begin to arrive to their new homes. Teach Kids News has an article about the n<a href="http://teachingkidsnews.com/2015/12/14/canada-welcomes-its-newest-residents/" target="_blank">ewcomers to Canada</a> (this is a great website that features articles written in kid-friendly language, and has curriculum connections for every news story.</li>
<li>A <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/children-choir-ottawa-arabic-song-1.3363217" target="_blank">children's choir</a> in Ottawa (my hometown) learned and performed a historical Arabic song to welcome newcomers.</li>
</ul>
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Some of the above stories have gone viral. All of them, and so many more, deserve to.<br />
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Who would benefit from our help? Let's figure it out together? Edvengers (<i>yes, I went there</i>) Assemble!<br />
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I can't wait to hear YOUR stories and help make some magic in tonight's #cdnedchat.<br />
<br />Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-47692357039798271242015-12-02T09:55:00.001-08:002016-03-25T07:59:38.421-07:00#eduescape - Escape Rooms in Education<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">My brother, Charlie (<i>this post is dedicated to him, the day after his birthday! Happy Birthday, Charlie!</i>) and his partner, Ashton introduced me to Escape Rooms nearly a year ago. We were in New York City for New Year's 2015 and they insisted that I come play an immersive game with them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">We spent an hour locked in a tiny apartment with a family we'd never met before and, together, solved riddles, puzzles and challenges to get enough keys to unlock a lockbox to let us out of the room.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Immediately, my teacher brain turned on and I began to think about ways to play with my students like this. The idea has continued to percolate as, in the months since I've:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.08px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.mindquestlive.com/#!games/c1edp" target="_blank">defused a bomb</a> with my little cousins in Orlando <i>(Shauna's Escape Rate: 100%)</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.08px; white-space: pre-wrap;">escaped from a <a href="http://www.escapemanor.com/rooms" target="_blank">deranged killer's wine cellar in Ottawa</a> <i>(SER: 100%)</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.08px; white-space: pre-wrap;">stayed captured in the <a href="http://smartypantz.ca/rooms/" target="_blank">scariest serial killer basement in Vancouver</a> <i>(SER: 66%)</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.08px; white-space: pre-wrap;">escaped from a dream in Vancouver <i>(SER: 75%)</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.08px; white-space: pre-wrap;">failed to find a detective's missing daughter in Vancouver <i>(SER: 60%)</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.08px; white-space: pre-wrap;">brainstormed with a teacher in Ottawa about how to turn her Hallowe'en Haunted House into an Escape Room for grade 1-6 students</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.08px; white-space: pre-wrap;">gotten totally derailed from an American Thanksgiving #totallyrossome chat in a side-conversations with educators about <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eduescape" target="_blank">#eduescape </a>- our ideas for Escape Rooms in education</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.08px; white-space: pre-wrap;">hosted a <a href="https://storify.com/shaunapollock/cdnedchat-tries-to-eduescape#publicize" target="_blank">virtual Escape Room</a> for educators in #cdnedchat</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.08px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tweeting about #eduescape has led to connecting with more educators who are keen to experiment with their students to use Escape Rooms in education. In preparing to talk to two Ottawa educators about their developing #eduescape plans, I put my thoughts down.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.08px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Below and <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1plNYUShXL9ms8lM6V8jBmXIB65MR5cm8nc5LyY9mUKM/edit" target="_blank">linked</a> is a summary of my research, thinking and development of how to use Escape Rooms in Education. There is a link for a Planning Template that you can use, as well as other resources to explore.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.08px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am so excited about this innovative teaching method. If I can do anything to help or support you as you experiment and prototype Escape Rooms in your classroom, let me know!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Escape Rooms in Education</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-480f89d6-63c4-85f0-8e12-e8ffd9fea7da" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Escape Rooms are live-action, team-based activities where players discover clues, solve puzzles and accomplish tasks in one or more rooms in order to accomplish a specific goal (usually escaping the room) in a limited amount of time.” (source: </span><a href="http://scottnicholson.com/pubs/erfacwhite.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scott Nicholson)</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In education, we can use the concept of Escape Rooms in a number of ways to excite learners and help develop their skills, teaching them content through immersive, engaging play.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why Would You Want to Use Escape Rooms in Education? </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Escape Rooms, students use gameful attitudes and teamwork to solve riddles, challenges and problems.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gameful Attitude:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jane McGonigal (author of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Super Better</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, link below) says, “Being gameful means bringing the psychological strengths you naturally display when you play games - such as </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">optimism, creativity, courage and determination </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- to your real life. It means having the curiosity and openness to play with different strategies to discover what works best. It means building up the resilience to tackle tougher and tougher challenges with greater and greater success.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Skills Developed</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: teamwork, delegation, communication, risk taking, attention to detail, perseverance, critical thinking, lateral thinking, time management, optimism, creativity, courage, determination</span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Advantages of Using Escape Rooms for Learning:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> engagement, fun, immersive experience, build sense of community, experiential learning</span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Curriculum Tie-Ins</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: the sky’s the limit! You can teach or practice any content through the storyline and/or challenges you incorporate in your Escape Room. There are obvious storylines from history and current events that can be used. Challenges can incorporate math, science, technology, art, reading, writing, finances, literature, music, geography, physical activity and other disciplines.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Planning an Educational Escape Room</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Key Elements:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A great Escape Room should include the following elements:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mystery</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to increase excitement, there should be a mystery, players have to wait to see what is in store</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a goal</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">set the purpose of the challenges - what are players trying to do?</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Possible concepts:</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">be an adventurer</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">carry out a heist</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">defuse explosive device</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">engage with supernatural</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">escape an unpleasant place</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">find a missing person</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">free another person or animal</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">gather intelligence</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">help create something (potion, cure)</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">investigate crime</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">military operations</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">send a message</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">solve a murder</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">solve a mystery</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">survive</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">opportunities for collaborative problem solving</span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">some challenges should need multiple players to solve them</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">multiple challenging puzzles </span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">variety is best</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">time limits</span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">many Escape Rooms have to be solved in 60 minutes</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">gamemaster (the “host” of the game)</span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sets the scene, tells the story</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">giving hints</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ensure that there is a fair experience and that challenges are working correctly</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">intervene only when necessary to allow players to engage with challenges, make discoveries and learn</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">debrief at the end</span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">gamemaster explains any unsolved challenges</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">discuss strategies that worked and didn’t work</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">how can the challenges be better in the future?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">how can players work better in the future?</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> exceptional</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Escape Room </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">may</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> also include</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> some</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the following elements:</span></span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a theme</span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">consider using an Escape Room as part of a unit and create it to match the time/topic</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a story or narrative</span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">giving the players context</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">build up a backstory</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">immersion</span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">suspend player’s reality and allow them to be in a different time or place</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">decor/decorations to transform the classroom</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">role playing (including a game master in character)</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">red herrings</span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">false clues to throw players off</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Possible Challenge Types:</span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">abstract logic (a puzzle, like Sudoku)</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">assemble a physical object (such as a tower or jigsaw puzzle)</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ciphers</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">counting</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">engagement with characters</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hand-eye coordination (such as hitting a target)</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hearing</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hidden messages (such as those written in “invisible pen”)</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">light (including black lights)</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">liquids</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">locks</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mapping</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">math</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mazes</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mirrors</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">morse code</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">noticing something “obvious” in the room</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">out of the box thinking (using something common in an unusual way)</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">physical agility</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">prior knowledge</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">research using information sources</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">riddles</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ropes or chains (such as undoing knots)</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">search for objects in images</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">search for physical hidden objects</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">shape manipulation</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">strategic thinking (like Chess)</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">team communication</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">touch</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">visual patterns</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">word patterns</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">word puzzles (such as crosswords and word searches)</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Consider:</span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you need players to solve challenges in a certain order?</span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Does the solution for one challenge lead to something else (for example, do you have to unlock a box that holds a magnet before you can use the magnet to remove a key from a maze?; do you need the code for a padlock that opens a box with a clue for another puzzle?)</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How many players are needed to solve each challenge?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How can you immerse your students in the story </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What guidelines and rules do you need to set?</span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">do players have to take turns?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">outline areas or objects that are off limits</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">make sure players know that they won’t need to break anything to solve challenges</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some people are concerned with the name “Escape Room” in an educational context. Here are some possible alternate names: Adventure Room, Challenge Room, Mystery Room</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Will you incorporate a penalty for any hints? </span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you may subtract time if players use hints</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is your success/escape rate?</span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Balance how difficult the overall challenge and individual challenges are</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How can we prove that this is learning?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are the Success Criteria/Expectations?</span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">go through your standards/curriculum and make a list of what expectations you will address</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To Make This More Student-Led</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use Design Process </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(loosely based on </span><a href="http://www.gv.com/sprint/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Design Sprint</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from Google Ventures)</span></span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Define</span></div>
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Collaboratively, define the problem </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How may we (HMW)</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">create an interactive, immersive adventure with multiple challenges that addresses X standards/expectations?</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tell a story that players can be a part of through active play?</span></div>
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</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who are our users? What do they need from us?</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Set a deadline: when do we want to launch this?</span></div>
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</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unpack</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Share what you know</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brainstorm essential elements of Escape Rooms</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Share experiences or stories about Escape Rooms</span></div>
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</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Split the task up into steps</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Share </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WHHzoCBVwhaS3XTsIJP-ogFPNNaWpXkYSem59wIAZ70/edit" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Planning Template</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to help guide your students</span></span></div>
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</ul>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rapid Brainstorming</span></div>
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a group, share ideas for themes, storylines and individual challenges</span></div>
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">accept and record all ideas</span></div>
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</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Individually, students use “Crazy 8s” model to brainstorm and iterate ideas</span></div>
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remind them of the HMW question (from “Define”) they are solving</span></div>
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each student folds a legal-sized sheet of paper in eight</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In each of the eight sections, they have 30 seconds to visually represent an idea to solve the HMW question</span></div>
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</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Develop an Idea</span></div>
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tell the “User Story”</span></div>
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Individually, students consider their eight ideas and pick one to develop</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each student creates a three panel storyboard developing the story for that idea (you can give them a template with three boxes, a page with three large sticky notes or have them create their own)</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the storyboard should have the HMW question at the top and the story should be clear to a viewer without any further explanation</span></div>
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</ul>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feedback</span></div>
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students look at their peers storyboards and offer written or verbal feedback in the form of “I liked it when...Next time…”</span></div>
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</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Decision Making</span></div>
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">through discussions and/or voting (anonymous or public), decide on which (and how many) ideas to develop further</span></div>
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</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prototype</span></div>
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students revise their storyboards and create rapid protoypes of their ideas (make props out of paper, show challenge through dramatic play, etc)</span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are protoypes and should be created so that they communicate the purpose of the element, there is a focus on testing the idea, not in creating something flawlessly beautiful</span></div>
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</ul>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Test</span></div>
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students test each others’ prototypes and offer feedback in the from of “I liked it when...Next time…”</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Iterate</span></div>
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students make improvements or rework protoypes</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Test</span></div>
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students’ test each others’ iterations and offer feedback</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">repeat as many times as needed</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Put it Together</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students’ contributions are combined to solve the HMW problem</span></div>
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</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Provide product/service/experience to users</span></div>
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</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use the ideas above to think about your Escape Room and then fill out the details in this </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WHHzoCBVwhaS3XTsIJP-ogFPNNaWpXkYSem59wIAZ70/edit" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Planning Template</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hosted an #eduescape Twitter chat for #cdnedchat. If you want to see how to fill out the Planning Template, here is the plan for that game: </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OI7GBpIs99SauMhN4GFNDxpnlEZf4jcKyeBQJ811qmg/edit" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#cdnedchat Escape Room</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resources</span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WHHzoCBVwhaS3XTsIJP-ogFPNNaWpXkYSem59wIAZ70/edit" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#eduescape Planning Template</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(make a copy and fill in your own information for planning)</span></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eduescape" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#eduescape</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on Twitter</span></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Escape Room Madness” - blog post by grade ⅚ students in Tiiu Tsao’s class in Ottawa </span><a href="http://www.leagueofgeniuses.blogspot.ca/2015/11/escape-room-madness.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">League of Awesome Geniuses blog</span></a></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><a href="http://scottnicholson.com/pubs/erfacwhite.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peeking Behind the Locked Door: A Survey of Escape Room Experiences</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” - white paper by Scott Nicholson</span></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.breakoutedu.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breakout Edu</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - platform for immersive learning games</span></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FnuTNxHuIc" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breakout Edu interview</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - video of founder James Sanders </span></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1WMdnusP9CUWjk3W442JKYQeezf3B7Wm3EfKUI-WtRrg/edit#slide=id.p" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breakout Edu Game Facilitation Presentation</span></a></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/SuperBetter-Revolutionary-Approach-Stronger-Resilient-Powered/dp/1594206368" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Super Better </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- book by Jane McGonigal</span></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><a href="http://www.newsweek.com/2015/05/01/art-escape-room-323150.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Art of the Escape Room</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” - article </span></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.gv.com/sprint/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Design Sprint</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Google Ventures </span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-956552811464270136.post-28031582558451259802015-11-06T18:16:00.002-08:002015-11-06T18:16:54.557-08:00Because It's 2015There has been much talk of Justin Trudeau's "mic drop" moment this week.<br />
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For the first time that I can remember, I am excited about politics, and Canadian politics at that. Many of my friends and family are too. Justin Trudeau was elected as our 23rd Prime Minister on October 19th of this year and my Twitter and Facebook feeds have been filled with excitement, hope and lots of memes about our new PM.<br />
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He and his new Cabinet were sworn in on November 4th, two days ago.<br />
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It was a historic event for many reasons:<br />
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1. Justin is our first ever second generation Prime Minister. His dad, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trudeaumania" target="_blank">Pierre Elliott "Trudeaumania" Trudeau,</a> was our fifteenth Prime Minister and a media sensation. Justin is already following in his father's footsteps on both counts.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lfsnY3egCUw/VjufLfeEYCI/AAAAAAAAIhg/tU5SCTHx6co/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-11-04%2Bat%2B12.06.38%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lfsnY3egCUw/VjufLfeEYCI/AAAAAAAAIhg/tU5SCTHx6co/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-11-04%2Bat%2B12.06.38%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
2. The announcement of the Cabinet Ministers included Justin following through on his promise to appoint an equal number of men and women. For the first time in Canadian history, we have gender parity in our federal Cabinet.<br />
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3. Some big changes were made to the titles of the Minister's portfolios, filling people with hope that our new government will make issues important to Canadians and the world a priority. We have a Minister of Immigration, <b>Refugees</b> and Citizenship, a Minister of Indigenous <b>and Northern</b> Affairs and a Minister of Environment and <b>Climate Change</b>.<br />
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4. I was glued to the TV and Internet, following political news. Although I vote in every election, I have largely been apathetic about Canadian politics. Suddenly, I'm not.<br />
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The "mic drop" moment occurred when Justin, unlike his predecessor, took time to address the media immediately following the swearing in ceremony. He was asked why it was so important that his Cabinet be gender balanced. He replied simply, "Because it's 2015." The gathered crowd erupted in cheers. In the days that have followed, the Internet has also erupted in cheers.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MxWL-ksZE4s" width="560"></iframe>
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Watching the <a href="https://amp.twimg.com/v/0c42419e-b008-4e7f-8953-b29224876140" target="_blank">ceremony</a>, I was captivated by the short commentary being made by newscasters as each new member of the Cabinet approached the front of the room for their swearing in. Their ages and backgrounds varied widely, and the diversity of this group of individuals was something I'd not seen before. Not only are 50% of the appointees female, but they vary in: age; place of birth; hometown; marital status; sexuality; religion; skin colour; former professions (a teacher, doctors, lawyers, a social worker, athletes, scientists, a geologist, a police officer and war hero, professors, entrepreneurs, economists, journalists and writers, volunteers, community leaders, an orchestral musician, an astronaut); culture (we have two First Nations Cabinet Ministers); health (there is a Minister who has battled breast cancer twice); abilities (one Minister is quadriplegic, another is visually impaired) and life stories (one Minister was falsely imprisoned in another country for two years, another is a refugee to Canada).<br />
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I searched for a complete list of the Ministers, their job titles and facts about them. Finding none, I took Chris Hardwick's advice and made a thing. I Googled each member of the Cabinet and sought to find out their full name, new job title, hometown, age, place of birth and additional interesting information. This I called "Special powers." Many of the Cabinet Ministers had only local news articles and a Liberal campaign page as I began my search. In the minutes and hours that followed, I discovered that busy Internetters were creating Wikipedia pages for each of them, even as I sought information elsewhere. I've been able to return to those and get information that I was unable to find elsewhere. Eventually, I finished the 31 cards, one for each of the 30 Cabinet Ministers and one for our new Prime Minister. I have called them <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zQFO-Xdtt5mXDe-gEXwRuvLfz3GrYItZPfynFzup_ko/edit" target="_blank">Canada's Cabinet Trading Cards</a>.<br />
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I Skyped with a former student the day after he attended the Swearing-In with his class. He excitedly showed me the work they did in class to follow-up. He had marked the hometowns of each of the Ministers on a map of Canada and tallied how many males and females were in the Cabinet. This nine year old was as excited as I am, and had watched the historic event live, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.<br />
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Right now, I wish I was in the classroom. There are so many things I'd like to share with my students.<br />
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<ul>
<li>I would like to take the trading cards and give one to each of my students, assigning them to that Cabinet Minister for the year. I would have them research their portfolio and follow the news to see the changes they proposes throughout the year. I would encourage the student to write letters to that Minister, sharing what they learned and any advice they could share. </li>
<li>I would print two sets of the trading cards and teach them how to play "Guess Who" with their new Cabinet.</li>
<li>I would have them order the Ministers by age and then do math about that. Find out when they first started in politics, figure out how many years of experience they each have.</li>
<li>I would have them attach the Ministers to the locations of their hometowns on a Canadian map. Then, we'd find the birthplaces of those Ministers born outside of Canada. </li>
</ul>
<div>
Fortunately, I have awesome friends who are still in the classroom and excite me with stories of how they are teaching their students. My former teaching partner and soul sister, Tiiu, is now the Prime Minister in her grade 5/6 class. All of the students, after witnessing the swearing-in first hand, have selected ministerial positions for their class and had a raucous swearing-in ceremony today. After posting the Cabinet Minister Trading Cards on Facebook and Twitter, I have had friends add to the document and share it with other teachers, suggesting ways to use the cards. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJC3xwr15FE/Vj1YUYivxZI/AAAAAAAAIhw/-QYgISUbdM8/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-11-06%2Bat%2B8.41.52%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJC3xwr15FE/Vj1YUYivxZI/AAAAAAAAIhw/-QYgISUbdM8/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-11-06%2Bat%2B8.41.52%2BPM.png" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiiu's class' Ministers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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Back to the reason for this post. Gender parity was a priority in our Cabinet because it's 2015. Gender parity is important in education for the same reason. You can tell by looking around almost any elementary school that there are a higher percentage of female than male teachers. Search for the names of principals and vice principals at those same schools. You'll notice that there are a lot of men who take power positions. Look at the lists of those in power at a board or district level, and you'll see the female names continue to decrease. Attend a big teaching conference, especially one focused on technology, and look at the names and photos of the speakers. You will notice that most of them are men. Why does this disparity happen? There are so many possible reasons, and I'm not OK with any of them. </div>
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If Justin Trudeau can assign 50% of his Minister positions to intelligent, strong and successful women, we can surely do the same in education. We need to make it a clear priority to balance out gender (and race, and sexuality, and religion, and physical ability, and age) in the most powerful and visible positions in education. </div>
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50% of the population is female. 50% of our students are female. More than 50% of our teachers are female (<i>some recent numbers that I was able to find show that:</i><i> in <a href="http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-503-x/2010001/article/11542-eng.htm" target="_blank">Canada</a> in 2006, 84% of elementary and preschool teachers and 57% of high school teachers were female; in the US in 2011-12, 78% of teachers were female; on a table created by The <a href="http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.PRM.TCHR.FE.ZS" target="_blank">World Bank</a>, listing gender balance of teachers from 2011-2014, most countries have a significantly higher percentage of female teachers</i>)</div>
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Like the Canadian Cabinet now having a wider variety in voices at the table, we need more equal representation in the education conversation, at all levels.</div>
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The new Canadian Cabinet shows us what change can look like. We need to follow the excellent role modelling and make it easier and more comfortable for women to share their voices. </div>
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Some excellent resources are available, if you want to learn more. </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Read about and reflect on <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/opinion/sunday/speaking-while-female.html?_r=1" target="_blank">Speaking While Female</a>. Consider the gender biases present in the structure of meetings you attend. Are the female participants barely heard? Are they judged to be too aggressive if they speak out? Do men in the meetings take their ideas and get the credit?</li>
<li>Follow the hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChangeTheRatio?src=hash" target="_blank">#changetheratio</a> and add your own observations to it. Next time you are at an education conference or professional development event, observe the ratio of male to female participants and presenters and reflect on how you feel about it. </li>
<li>Check your <a href="http://twee-q.com/" target="_blank">Twee-Q</a>: enter your Twitter handle (or anyone's, for that matter) to analyse the proportion of recent retweets, based on whether they came from a male or female's account. Consider, as a connected educator, whose stories you are celebrating and sharing. </li>
<li>Consider ways that we could accept blind applications to conferences. Instead of putting a name and gender on an application, assign applicants a number. Selection committees could chose based on merit of ideas, not preconceptions about the individuals sharing them. </li>
<li>If you're a woman, <a href="http://leanin.org/" target="_blank">Lean In</a>. Get more involved. Don't let yourself sit back. Become empowered to be confident and believe in yourself. </li>
<li><a href="https://www.levo.com/ask4more" target="_blank">Ask4More</a>. Demand equal pay for equal work in all fields.</li>
<li>Explore "mansplaining" and do what you can to <a href="http://time.com/3666135/sheryl-sandberg-talking-while-female-manterruptions/" target="_blank">stop the cycle</a>.</li>
<li>Share other ideas and resources you have with your communities, in person and online.</li>
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Our classrooms are full of young children who see themselves in the world around them. Seeing our most powerful governing bodies become more representative of them and their families can give them a lot of hope. They can see themselves in positions of power. Starting in their classrooms and school buildings, they need to see a more valued and diverse population of leaders. Why do we need to do this now? Because it's 2015.</div>
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Shauna Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853791710208137251noreply@blogger.com0