Thursday, February 27, 2014

Fwd: What's up at NELMS 2-27-14



-- Gary Ackerman, Ph.D.


Begin forwarded message:

From: nelms@nelms.org
Date: February 27, 2014 at 9:06:13 AM EST
To: "Dr. Gary L. Ackerman" <gary@hackscience.net>
Subject: What's up at NELMS 2-27-14
Reply-To: NELMS <nelms@nelms.org>

February 27, 2014 - Weekly update from NELMS
nelms logo

magic in the middle image

Please note time is growing short for early registration.
For more information and/or to register click here.


Keys to Literacy -
The ANSWER KEY Routine for Extended Response

Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Holiday Inn Enfield/Springfield–Enfield, CT

Keys to Argument Writing

April 30, 2014
Holiday Inn Enfield/Springfield–Enfield, CT

For more information and/or to register click here.

Here is what attendees were saying after the "SOLD OUT" January 9 - Key Writing Routine event:

The quality of the presentation was excellent and provided clarification of many critical issues surrounding argument and its implementation.

This was the best PD I've ever attended. More "take-away" than I've ever experienced.

Plethora of strategies, usable templates, activities, and ideas I will definitely use. Shauna was an excellent presenter! Relevant examples and great analogies. Evident she is knowledgeable and in classrooms.

Shauna is the most effective presenter I have seen. She provides relevant examples and answers questions. She gave quality suggestions and has the ability to control a group well. She has made me interested in what else "Keys" has to offer.

Excellent support materials. This is the first PD where I am starting to understand argument writing.

To learn more about this conference download the complete flier by clicking here. acrobat logo
To download bios of presenters click here. acrobat logo
To download a registration form click here. acrobat logo

Plans for Scheduling Workshop

NELMS is planning a Middle Level Scheduling Workshop for February. Interested in attending? Please email at mjfawcett@nelms.org.


Have you remembered to renew your NELMS Membership?

Whether you would like to renew your NELMS membership or join NELMS for the first time you can get the information you need by clicking here!

From one of our sponsors

Washington, DC's premier hotel designed for students.
Featuring lodging, dining, indoor/outdoor recreation, and guided tour services.
www.4HCenter.org
Pamela Knapp
New England Representative

 

 

Join us on Facebook and Twitter

facebook logo


 

You are currently subscribed to nelms as: gary@hackscience.net
Add nelms@nelms.org to your email address book to ensure delivery
Forward to a Friend  |  Manage Subscription  |   Subscribe  |   Unsubscribe
Net Atlantic

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Fwd: What's up at NELMS 2-19-14



-- Gary Ackerman, Ph.D.


Begin forwarded message:

From: nelms@nelms.org
Date: February 19, 2014 at 2:01:25 PM EST
To: "Dr. Gary L. Ackerman" <gary@hackscience.net>
Subject: What's up at NELMS 2-19-14
Reply-To: NELMS <nelms@nelms.org>

February 19, 2014 - Weekly update from NELMS
nelms logo

magic in the middle image

For more information and/or to register click here.


Keys to Literacy - The ANSWER KEY Routine for Extended Response

RESCHEDULED for Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Holiday Inn Enfield/Springfield–Enfield, CT

If you have any concerns about this cancellation please don't hesitate to call NELMS at
978-557-9311.

For more information and/or to register click here.

Here is what attendees were saying after the "SOLD OUT" January 9 - Key Writing Routine event:

The quality of the presentation was excellent and provided clarification of many critical issues surrounding argument and its implementation.

This was the best PD I've ever attended. More "take-away" than I've ever experienced.

Plethora of strategies, usable templates, activities, and ideas I will definitely use. Shauna was an excellent presenter! Relevant examples and great analogies. Evident she is knowledgeable and in classrooms.

Shauna is the most effective presenter I have seen. She provides relevant examples and answers questions. She gave quality suggestions and has the ability to control a group well. She has made me interested in what else "Keys" has to offer.

Excellent support materials. This is the first PD where I am starting to understand argument writing.

tech conference flier

To learn more about this conference download the complete flier by clicking here. acrobat logo
To download bios of presenters click here. acrobat logo
To download a registration form click here. acrobat logo

Plans for Scheduling Workshop

NELMS is planning a Middle Level Scheduling Workshop for February. Interested in attending? Please email at mjfawcett@nelms.org.


Have you remembered to renew your NELMS Membership?

Whether you would like to renew your NELMS membership or join NELMS for the first time you can get the information you need by clicking here!

From one of our sponsors

Washington, DC's premier hotel designed for students.
Featuring lodging, dining, indoor/outdoor recreation, and guided tour services.
www.4HCenter.org
Pamela Knapp
New England Representative

 

 

Join us on Facebook and Twitter

facebook logo


 

You are currently subscribed to nelms as: gary@hackscience.net
Add nelms@nelms.org to your email address book to ensure delivery
Forward to a Friend  |  Manage Subscription  |   Subscribe  |   Unsubscribe
Net Atlantic

Monday, February 17, 2014

Computer science and schools


Computer science is different from computer literacy. Today, one can use a computer to access information, manipulate and analyze, create and share (be literate and efficacious with them) without the slightest knowledge of how it works. Understanding programs and networks (which comes from compute science) is a different kind of knowledge. NPR featured a story this morning about the crisis in computer science education.

Leaders in computer science education interviewed for the story described the lack of opportunity for all students, but in particular girls and African-American and Latino students, to study this field. They describe some efforts such as the Hour of Code and the efforts of start-up companies to fill this curriculum gap. They also describe principals whose ignorance is alarming.

To me the most important point made in the story was the disappointment among many business leaders that the Common Core State Standards lack any focus on computer science. While I am not a fan of industry-driven curriculum (in fact taking curriculum direction from business is a sure way to create schools no one finds satisfactory), I do see an opportunity to leverage this criticism of CCSS to support valuable experiences for students.

First, as I come to understand the CCSS I see many many flaws. The cognitive load of making sense of them is too great. I have yet to see the rationale behind their construct of  career and college readiness; I have yet to see studies validating their instruments. For those reasons, I believe the CCSS will damage schooling. If the lack of computer science curriculum can slow the implementation of this flawed system, then educators should take the opportunity.

Second, there are many existing computer science tools available-- for free! Scratch is my favorite, and any teacher (or student or parent or club leader) can create an account, follow the many user-created tutorials (the best ones are created by kids!) and start programming with elementary students. Free and immediately-available are very appealing aspects of teaching materials in every community.

Third, the pilot projects we can begin with tools such as Scratch are open-ended. There is a very low threshold for beginning and there is no ceiling limiting students' creations.

Students with experience creating and collaborating with Scratch ( or other non-limiting tools) will be truly college and career ready regardless of their test scores.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Fwd: Constructing Modern Knowledge News & Free Invent To Learn Book Offer

Look at the free boom offer in this message. A must-read for educators!

-- Gary Ackerman, Ph.D.


Begin forwarded message:

From: Constructing Modern Knowledge 2014 <gary@inventtolearn.com>
Date: February 10, 2014 at 1:45:31 PM EST
To: gary.hackscience@me.com
Subject: Constructing Modern Knowledge News & Free Invent To Learn Book Offer
Reply-To: Constructing Modern Knowledge 2014 <gary@inventtolearn.com>

Constructing Modern Knowledge News & Free Invent To Learn Book Offer
Share
Tweet
Forward to Friend
+1
Free copy of Invent To Learn book on Thomas Edison's birthday, February 11th. 

Check out all of the cool resources in this newsletter!
View this email in your browser

Early-bird Registration Ends Soon!

Constructing Modern Knowledge 2014 promises to be the world's premiere professional learning event for interested in learning-by-doing. Register today and save!

Spend four glorious days in Manchester, NH immersed in personally meaningful project development with a mountain of new technology, craft materials, books, toys, and a world-class faculty eager to support your learning.  

Visit the legendary MIT Media Lab for a reception hosted by Dr. Mitchel Resnick, creator of Scratch and Director of the Lifelong Kindergarten Research Group before a big night out in Boston.

Spend time with the world's preeminent treehouse designer and star of TV's Treehouse Masters, Pete Nelson, and expert on play, learning, and creativity, Dr. Edith Ackermann, a protégé of Piaget, Papert, and Van Glasserfeld. 

Our expert faculty includes: Dr. Cynthia Solomon, co-creator of the Logo programming language; Eric Rosenbaum, co-inventor of the MaKey MaKey; Brian Silverman, designer of countless programming environments for learning; and Joey Hudy, called "one of the 10 smartest kids on the planet," by Make Magazine.

CMK participant experiences with Arduino, 3D printing, robotics, wearable computing, programming, design, filmmaking, music composition, invention, engineering, tinkering, and more add to a modern educator's toolbox.
 

"We need something like Constructing Modern Knowledge in every town and village..." - MacArthur Genius & legendary school reformer Deborah Meier.

We Booked Him Before the White House Did!


As the level of technical sophistication of some CMK projects increases each year, we needed to add some serious expertise to our faculty. That's why I have added master maker, Joey Hudy, to the exceptional CMK 2014 faculty.

Two weeks ago, The White House, invited Joey to be the guest of the First Lady of the United States of America Michelle Obama in her box for the annual State of The Union Address. In addition to the SOTU, Joey did a number of interviews with television stations, including CNN.

Make Magazine called Joey, "one of the ten smartest kids on the planet."

Since we confirmed Joey for CMK 2014, he was hired by Intel as the youngest corporate intern ever employed by the company. (Joey is 16 years-old)

Congrats to Joey! We can't wait to learn with you this July 8-11th!

FREE KINDLE VERSION OF INVENT TO LEARN

In honor of the birthdays of Thomas Edison, Jules Verne & Charles Darwin (all with birthdays within a week of each other), the Kindle (e-book) version of Invent to Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom is FREE! ONE DAY ONLY!

Read the book leading technology journalist Larry Magid called "the bible of the Maker Movement in schools".

On Tuesday, February 11th (Edison's birthday) the Kindle version of Invent to Learn will be free. (Start and end times are approximately midnight Pacific time.)

Please tell your friends and colleagues to go to http://inventtolearn.com/free to receive their free eBook.

Get Your Free Copy of Invent To Learn Feb 11th!

Upcoming Keynotes and Professional Development

Gary and Sylvia will be in a city near you!

Check the Invent To Learn Calendar


Congratulations Marvin!


Our friend, Dr. Marvin Minsky, one of the world's greatest living scientists is the recent  the $540,000 BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the information and communication technologies category. The award, second in prize money to the Nobel Prize, was for Dr. Minsky's pioneering work in artificial intelligence.
Each year at Constructing Modern Knowledge, Dr. Minsky has generously led "a fireside chat" for interested participants. This is another example of how CMK creates learning opportunities for educators unavailable elsewhere. We sure hope 2014 will mark Marvin's 7th fireside chat at CMK.

Media You Can Use

Video and articles by authors of Invent To Learn

Gary Stager Sylvia Martinez Sylvia Martinez & Gary Stager
[article] The Maker Movement Believes In 'Kid Power' (EdWeek)
[video] Making the Case for Making in
Schools (Maker Faire feature)

Gary Stager to Keynote NCCE Conference
 


Gary will deliver his new keynote address, "Making, Love, and Learning" at the 2014 NCCE Conference in Seattle, WA on March 14th. Click here for more information.


Gary Stager and Sylvia Martinez have been leading sold-out Invent To Learn Workshops around the world and are off to Mumbai later in February to lead a workshop at ASB Unplugged. Excited educators learned how invention, design, and making can transform learning, plus had a great time! Squishy Circuits, Robotics, LEGO, Wearable Computing, Arduino, Turtle Art, Cardboard Construction and more were all on the menu!

Gary will follow his presentations at the conference with another weeklong residency at The American School of Bombay. Over the next few months, Gary Stager will also keynote conferences in Marin County, California; Red Deer, Alberta; and Singapore.

He will also be speaking at the ASCD and NSBA national conferences.

Contact us to arrange speaking, PD, or workshops for parents or teachers.

Innovative PD Funding Tip!

Three high schools partnered to bring Gary Stager in for a day of professional development, and hands-on design workshops.


"Inspirational"... "helpful"... "lively"... "provocative"...  "stirring" ...."practical" ... "dynamic"... 

Plan Ahead!

Book now for hands-on workshops, innovative professional development, school consulting, and more.

Fantastic Ideas


Our friend, Dr. Leah Buechley - inventor of the Lilypad micro controller and e-textiles pioneer - has co-authored a beautiful new book filled with practical and fun soft circuitry projects perfect for the classroom.
Yes, Gary Taught 120+ 6th Graders and Their Teachers to Program AT ONCE!
Over four days in Hong Kong this past December, Gary Stager taught more than 500 kids and their teachers to begin programming, including in this class at The Canadian International School of Hong Kong where Gary taught the entire 6th grade for several hours. In each case, Gary led a completely different activity in each classroom in order to create multiple models to inspire teachers.
Books, Toys & Electronic Gifts for Makers

Bought the Book?
Get the Kindle version for only $2.99!


Invent To Learn is part of Amazon's new Matchbook program. If you already purchased a print copy of Invent To Learn, you can buy the e-Book version, complete with hundreds of hot links, for just $2.99.

Click here to learn how.

Hot New Book!


The San Francisco Exploratorium has just published a spectacular new book, chock full of project ideas, and with a conductive ink cover, called, The Art of Tinkering. The book is a must-have for creative parents and educators.

Hot New Book!


The San Francisco Exploratorium has just published a spectacular new book, chock full of project ideas, and with a conductive ink cover, called, The Art of Tinkering. The book is a must-have for creative parents and educators.
Gary Stager will be in Asia in mid-April and return to Australia & New Zealand in late May - mid-June. Email gary@stager.org if you're interested in speaking, PD, or consulting.

Download and Print the CMK 2014 Registration Brochure
 

Tod Machover's Robot Opera to Be Simulcast Nationwide on February 16th!


At last year's Constructing Modern Knowledge, guest speaker Tod Machover, shared elements of his acclaimed "robot opera," Death and the Powers." Machover's opera was a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Music.

The Dallas Opera will be presenting this modern marvel this weekend (Sylvia and I will be there) and the opera will be simulcast to theaters across the USA on Sunday afternoon (3 PM Eastern). Click here for specific information.

Dallas Opera Enters Sci-Fi Space with "Death and the Powers" (Dalllas Morning News)

We Had HIM First Too!


USA Today named Constructing Modern Knowledge 2012 Guest Speaker Casey Neistat, the Best YouTube Channel of 2013!

Congratulations to Casey on this award, his latest films, and recent marriage!

Learn with the Star of TV's Treehouse Masters!

 
Each year, Constructing Modern Knowledge creates the opportunity for educators to interact with experts at the top of their professions and CMK 2014 will be no exception. In addition to Dr. Edith Ackermann, Professor Mitchel Resnick, and other surprise guest to be announced, CMK 2014 will feature the world's most preeminent treehouse designer, Pete Nelson - author, architect, hotelier, environmentalist, entrepreneur, and star of the popular television series, Treehouse Masters, on Animal Planet

Copyright © 2014 Constructing Modern Knowledge, All rights reserved.
We would love to share educational ideas, news, links, book recommendations and inspiration with you a few times per year via email newsletter. Your privacy and time is precious to us so we promise not to abuse the trust you extended by sharing your email address with Gary Stager, Invent To Learn, The Critical Friend Newsletter, or The Constructivist Consortium in the past. You may opt-out at any time and you will never receive another correspondence. Thank you so much for your interest in making the world a better place for children and learning!

Our mailing address is:
Constructing Modern Knowledge
21825 Barbara St.
Torrance, CA 90503

Add us to your address book


unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 

Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp