Two Simple ‘Add-ons’ to Get More Out of Formative Assessment
Two simple strategies that are easily applied across a wide range of classes.
I’m Not Being Negative
There’s a difference between the negative and the critical person…and that’s important on Edutwitter.
Just Call Me Teacher
Let’s stop with the shallow attempts to rebrand the teaching profession.
Laissez-faire Questioning in the Classroom
How can a laissez-faire approach to questioning impact learning?
Fighting for Our Profession
You’ve got to fight…for your right…to have sound pedagogical philosophy.
Making Learning Simpler, not Easier
We should be striving to create simpler classrooms, not easier classrooms.
Vaccinations and Learning Styles
We haven’t stayed current on our vaccinations and now learning styles is showing itself again.
From Unknown to Known in the Classroom
How can analysis of formative assessment lead to more deliberate studying and more efficient and effective study habits?
Would You Rather? Education Edition #1
Would you rather have a great explanation with no retrieval practice OR decent explanation with well-designed spaced retrieval practice and interleaving?
Retrieval Practices’ Impact on Test Anxiety and Stress
How does retrieval practice affect student’s perceived test anxiety?
How does stress impact the recall of information encoded via retrieval practice?
The Value of Twitter on the Education Profession
Why should teachers use twitter for professional growth?
A Different Kind of Post
I received a harassing email this week. I responded by showing my class.
An Explicit Conversation with my Students
A great conversation with my students to discuss proper classroom and study habits.
The Most Important Question in Education
What is the most important question in education?
What if Better isn’t Better?
When you know better, you do better…but what is better?
Putting the Cart Before the Horse
I fear we’re doing it wrong…education, that is. We live at a time when 21st century skills and edtech are
I Just Want to Have a Conversation
*This is basically a glorified footnote of my post earlier today — On Being Wrong…you may want to read it
On Being Wrong
Social media became much more useful when I stopped worrying so much about being right or wrong.
What’s Your Learning Style? A Quick Survey
Take a quick survey to figure out your learning style.
Cursing in the Classroom
Knowing about the curse of knowledge can help teachers avoid the curse of knowledge.
Brain – Book – Buddy: A Strategy for Assessment
A simple and widely applicable strategy to assess student understanding.
I Tried Flexible Seating
My thoughts on an experiment with flexible seating in my classroom.
It’s Not Really About Learning Targets
This is about learning targets, but it’s not really about learning targets.
Learning on the Field and in the Classroom
What can athletic coaching teach us about a properly run classroom?
Retrieval Practice in the Collaborative Setting
How are the benefits of retrieval practice affected by the collaborative setting?
Progressively Traditional
Today, I’m meeting with some pretty big names in education, technology, and social media and I’ll admit I’m a bit
Censoring Edutwitter
Be wary of the censoring of ideas on twitter.
A Focus On Learning, Not Fun
Is your lesson focused on the learning or the fun?
The Most Dangerous Phrases in Education
When taken out of context, several popular quotes can be dangerous for the classroom.
GUEST POST – Regulating the Routes to Knowledge: The Traffic Light Review
A simple activity students can utilize to assess their learning and direct their studying.
On Changing Minds
What would it take to change your mind?
A Swell(er) Chat with My Students
How we solve a problem can show our level of understanding.
US and UK Edutwitter — An Ocean Apart
Why is twitter on either side of the Atlantic so different from the other?
Student Choice, Intuition, and Poor Study Habits
When given the choice, do students choose effective study habits?
On Future ‘Skills’ and Jobs
The future of jobs and necessary ‘skills’ isn’t as some would have you to believe.
Element Interactivity in the Classroom
How should element interactivity affect instruction?
The Value of Failure in the Classroom
The Value of Failure in the Classroom
Leveraging failures on formative assessment for learning
Who Knows Who Knows Best
Who Knows Who Knows Best: A Response to Sec. Devos’ Recent Statements
Learning on a Prayer
Learning on a Prayer
What does the classroom say about the learning?
Writing A Better Multiple-Choice Question: What Does Research Indicate?
Writing A Better Multiple-Choice Question: What Does Research Indicate?
Building Relationships Through Content Presentation
There’s no need to build classroom relationships before beginning the presentation of content.
On Responsible Social Media Use
Teachers on social media should post statistics responsibly.
Opposing the Herd in Edchats
How can one successfully oppose the herd in edchats? Here are some helpful tips.
Out of Cite, Out of Mind
Teachers should be critical of statistics they see on social media.
An Acceptable Normal
“Thanks for making me feel normal.” I never knew what those words would mean to me.
On Implementing New Tech in the Classroom
What do I consider when met with the possibility of using new tools, gadgets, or strategies in my classroom?
Teachers as Critical Consumers of PD
What do I carefully consider when met with professional development?
Credit Where Credit is Due
What people and readings have most changed my classroom?
The Swiss Cheese Summary
An easily applicable/modifiable activity to assess student’s learning.
Maximizing the Effectiveness of Multiple-Choice Qs
A simple and adaptable activity that maximizes the effectiveness of multiple-choice questions.
Relationships and Learning: Clarification on a Popular Quote
How important are relationships on learning? Depends on what you mean by relationship.
A Quick Thank You to my Students
My students are awesome…and they create a great environment for me to teach.
The Myth of Passive Learning
Does passive learning exist? Does it create a false sense of learning?
In Defense of Lecture in the Classroom
Lecture shouldn’t be purged from the modern classroom. Read to find out why it’s still central in my classroom.
Common Sayings in the Classroom
What phrases do you say frequently in your classroom?
Assumptions about Learning in the Classroom
How does assumption of learning affect the classroom?
How can teachers and students work to avoid assuming in the classroom?
Engagement in the Classroom
What does engagement look like in the classroom?
2 Evidence-Based Learning Strategies
The following article originally featured on Edutopia January 23, 2018 at the following link: https://www.edutopia.org/article/2-evidence-based-learning-strategies Spaced and retrieval practice help students
A Discussion about Learning in the Classroom
A discussion with students about learning and knowing when we’ve learned.
A More Concrete Classroom
How can the use of concrete examples increase retention of material in the classroom?
Simple Activity to Prepare Homework in the Classroom
I’ve written a bit about this before…homework. It isn’t a bad word. I see it discussed often on edutwitter. While
Less is More: Simple Formative Assessment Strategies in the Classroom
Simple formative assessment activities to improve the classroom and student learning.
Cognitive Load Theory and Applications in the Classroom
This article discusses the basics of cognitive load theory and how I apply this theory in my classroom.
The Pyramid of Myth
This article discusses the myth of the learning pyramid; providing anecdotes and research to dispel the myth.
A Review of Optimizing Learning in College: Tips from Cognitive Psychology
A review/summarization of a journal article that discusses how we learn and how students should study successfully.
Effective Debate in Edchats
I’ve been on the blogging scene for just over a year. Due to my beliefs on what education should look
Why Isn’t researchED More Popular in the US…Yet?
“ ‘I didn’t come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you
365 Days As A Blogger
Exactly one year ago today, my first ever blog article was published by the wonderful researchers/educators, The Learning Scientists. Since
Easy Application of Spaced Practice in the Classroom
I’ve written at length about many learning strategies (dual coding and retrieval practice, for example) that positively impact our student’s
A Day at researchED NYC
I recently returned from my first researchED experience in Brooklyn; perhaps you saw the hashtag #rEDNY17 floating around twitter lately.