Posts by John Hardison
Educator Resuscitation 101: A Prerequisite for Summer Learning
I need to admit something. I am dead. Dead-tired. Exhausted. Fatigued. Drained. Emotionally and physically spent. And no, I don't need a trusted colleague to play an armchair psychologist. My cheese is not off its cracker. Things aren't that bad.
Blended Learning That Is Truly Blended
Even though blended learning is erroneously becoming synonymous with online, digital learning, it is arguably the most intriguing and perhaps the least mastered of all current buzz words.
Infinity: The Size of Today’s Classrooms
There was once a time when contemplating tearing down my classroom walls fancied me wearing a yellow safety helmet and operating a wrecking-ball wielding crane machine.
22 Power Cards to Revolutionize a Class Discussion
The traditional model was not working. They needed a change. So, my colleague and I turned to some trusty characters and powerful forms of expression. How do characters like Santa, Yoda, Superman, and Socrates sound? What about powers labeled nose-to-nose, apps, sing, and resurrection? Sound boring?
A Teacher’s Heart and Foundational Data
Please allow me to write honestly and drop it like it’s hot for a moment. To put it bluntly, I am afraid. You see, I have a recurring nightmare that often leaves me drenched in sweat with sky-rocketing blood pressure and my nerves shot. This dream, made unpleasant by a persistent sound of the mouse click, usually catapults me to an upright position in bed, only to stare into the darkness and whisper to myself, “Thank, goodness. It was just a dream.” Or was it?
Padlet: Today’s Digital Sheet of Paper
Even if you had only attended one class in your entire life, more than likely you have been asked, “Can I borrow a sheet of paper?” Some laid-back, often-tardy-to-school classmate probably gave you some excuse just as the rest of the students began diligently scribbling down resemblances of the teacher’s key lecture points. If you are anything like me, you half-reluctantly handed over a sheet of paper and chalked the very minor loss up as no big deal.
SoundCloud + QR Codes = A Gallery of Students’ Voices
Not too long ago, a few clicks of the mouse had me calculating how I could improve an already-strong lesson plan. My calculations led me to a solution. Although it won’t be the next “E=MC2,” it did solve a huge, logistical problem in the assignment details. The equation? Well, it’s quite simple. SoundCloud + QR Codes = A Gallery of Students’ Voices.
Flip a Class & Create a Movie: A Dream Come True
Recently, one of my dreams became reality. Our literature class, affectionately dubbed Studio 113 by students years ago, was granted our wish. In fact, the goal for next year’s American Literature Honors students is to flip a class and create an original movie. It’s a dream come true.
Part 2: 36 Smart Ways to Use Smartphones in Class
In continuation of last week’s article, Part 1: 44 Smart Ways to Use Smartphones in the Classroom, here is a newer list of thirty-six additional ideas to help leverage the power of these tech gadgets into the learning environment. In this blog post, I have attempted to avoid any redundancies, and I sincerely hope my endeavors were successful.
Part 1: 44 Smart Ways to Use Smartphones in Class
Tired of battling the use of smartphones in class? Disengage from the battle by engaging students in lessons that integrate these powerful gadgets.