Using Ted-Ed in Your Classroom

At first I was just going to send out this Ted-Ed Lesson for the Science teachers in the district, but then thought better of it. (Be careful before you start watching they are very engaging shorts for each element.)

Then I realized it has been a while since I have shared the Ted-Ed resources. I love how they have created a simple resource that can so quickly and easily be used to engage students, and even make them think. like this one.

The concept is simple start with a video and then ask some questions, all in four or less steps.

1. Watch
2. Think 
3. Dig Deeper
4. Discuss

Like the Dan Meyer's three-act lessons (More from Andrew Stadel here) the technology (videos, online discussions) isn't there to teach or assess it is just there to spark curiosity. 

The best part of Ted-Ed is the ability to take any video, either a current Ted-Ed, a youtube you found, or something your created yourself, and quickly add your own questions and discussions. I've created a quick example (it took all of 15 minutes) just to show you what you could make for your classroom. So if you have a few minutes, watch my lesson and then start the discussion, here or there, it doesn't matter.

Connected Art

In case you forgot (or just didn't know) October is Connected Educator month.

At the middle school Mrs. Lauer has taken the challenge and connected to an online community of Art educators. http://theartofeducation.ning.com/

Nings were a very popular place for educators to connect and share for many years, right up until the point when they decided to start charging to host the communities. On the other hand if a ning community is still going then you can be pretty sure the people running the thing are going to make it valuable to you.

So cudos to Mrs. Lauer for joining the ranks of the connected educators. The rest of us can follow along as she goes from a new blank flickr account (Staff are encouraged to follow this professional account) to one full of students examples like this one.

https://secure.flickr.com/photos/suzanne_tiedemann/collections/72157626708058663/