How Do You Know What You Know?
I was recently asked this question:
What advice would you give to a young adult student who can’t tell whether she knows the material?
The Illusion of Multitasking and its Impact on Learning
How is the illusion of multitasking negatively impacting students’ learning?
Growing a Brain Dump
How can growing a brain dump lead to more efficient and effective study habits?
Going Goal-Free During Formative Assessment
How can removing goals during assessment lead to better thinking with/about class material?
Three Practices to Avoid in the Classroom
No matter your subject or student’s level, here are three practices to avoid in the classroom.
The Gilded Age of the Classroom
The gilding of the classroom is only cheapening the learning experience for our students.
Three Tips for Surviving in Teaching
This profession can be overwhelming. What have I learned in 14 years of teaching that have decreased stress/anxiety and helped me enjoy teaching so much more?
Pumping the Brakes on Innovation
Sometimes innovations aren’t very…innovative.
What makes an innovation in education worthwhile?
Recall or Recognition Questions When Retrieving?
When reviewing, should recall or recognition questions be provided for students to answer?
A Great Day Of Teaching…Or Was It?
How do you know when you’ve had a great day of teaching?
Who’s to Blame?
If a teacher gives an assignment that is copied, who’s to blame? The teacher or the students?
An “Ah-Ha” Moment with Spaced Practice in the Classroom
I was recently given the perfect chance to show my students how powerful spacing practice can be on retrieval of material.
Building A Web Of Knowledge
How is learning information like building a spider web? Why is this important?
Fighting the Good Fight…Against Neuromyths
A recent article took a look at an intervention attempting to curtail the proliferation of neuromyths among teachers.
Edtech…We Have A Problem
Some statistics on effectiveness of edtech don’t quite add up.
There’s Been A Misunderstanding
Never judge a book (a research article) by its cover (its title).
Two Questions About Learning
A colleague asked me two questions about learning. Here are my answers.
Practicing to Boredom in the Classroom
Maybe boredom, when used as an indicator of learning, can be quite useful in the classroom.
The Struggle is Real
I’ve been stuck, lately…unable to really write anything. This is me trying to get the frustration off my chest.
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.