Bonnie coaching Toni

Bonnie Barnes has joined the chat.

Toni McAfoos has joined the chat.

Toni McAfoos: HELLO Bonnie!

Bonnie Barnes: hi! sorry i'm late. had to get catfood at Walmart.

Toni McAfoos: No problem, I was just reading.

Bonnie Barnes: great! should i ask you questions or are you ready for them?

Toni McAfoos: It depends. Do I use one of my lessons, or do I ask the teacher I am mentoring first and then give you her answers? What did you do?

Bonnie Barnes: i used one of my lessons but i had already talked to the teacher about doing it.

Bonnie Barnes: i'd say use one you have.

Toni McAfoos: Ok. That's fine. Go for it.

Toni McAfoos: I will use one I'm am doing now in class.

Bonnie Barnes: ok.. first question.

Bonnie Barnes: Is the lesson teacher-directed or student-directed or a combination of both?

Toni McAfoos: I believe it is both. I am directing the students in how I to make a power point, what things I want them to do like slide transitions, animations, sound, video, etc., but I am letting them figure out how to do it by trial and err

Toni McAfoos: or. Is this what you meant? I've never been mentored before, so I am a little nervous.

Bonnie Barnes: that's ok. so you start out with teacher-directed... giving directions and then let them take over: student-directed?

Toni McAfoos: Yes.

Bonnie Barnes: do you have written instructions and oral instructions?

Toni McAfoos: I give only oral instructions, but I do provide an example powerpoint of what I am expecting before they begin.

Bonnie Barnes: great! so you clarify expectations up front?

Toni McAfoos: I suppose it would be a good idea to make a packet of a power point pointing out the various things I expect. I do clarify my expectations up front - number of slides and what they have to have on them.

Bonnie Barnes: do you use a rubric?

Bonnie Barnes: rather... do you have a rubric for this lesson?

Bonnie Barnes: i'm not very good at this!

Toni McAfoos: To be honest, I have sometimes, and sometimes not. The rubrics are sometimes very detailed and other times very simple. I think a rubric is only fair - so the kids know what I expect.

Toni McAfoos: You're doing fine.

Bonnie Barnes: ok... how about next question?

Toni McAfoos: I usually tell them what I want.

Toni McAfoos: next

Bonnie Barnes: Do you have an activity that covers "Students connecting learning to work or life: Domain I of PDAS?

Toni McAfoos: No, to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure what that is. However, I do tell the kids that many people use power points or something like them in the business world to present their ideas in selling products, services, etc.

Toni McAfoos: You must know this PDAS stuff good. Where can I get this knowledge?

Bonnie Barnes: that's it... relating how students can connect the skill to real life.

Bonnie Barnes: no... actually i'm trying to learn it right now... that's why i threw it in!

Toni McAfoos: You're so smart :-)

Bonnie Barnes: the best way to learn is to teach...

Toni McAfoos: Amen.

Bonnie Barnes: next question

Bonnie Barnes: What is your goal in making learning related to students' interests and characteristics?

Bonnie Barnes: another one from PDAS

Toni McAfoos: Well, what the students have to create is a children's book. It can be a fairy tale, or some story they make up. They are really storyboarding, so that in the slide show there is a conflict where they have to create a slide with

Toni McAfoos: buttons on it so that the reader can choose how they want the story to go.

Toni McAfoos: I get some great stories.

Toni McAfoos: The kids love the sounds and the pictures, etc.

Bonnie Barnes: sounds very interesting. i like the non-linear approach to the story.

Toni McAfoos: My goal is to get them to learn how to operate power point things.

Toni McAfoos: can't think of the word.

Bonnie Barnes: powerpoint animations or customized animations

Toni McAfoos: power point characteristics

Toni McAfoos: services

Toni McAfoos: yes

Bonnie Barnes: i haven't heard of services before. i call them objects... from my programming background.

Toni McAfoos: Okay, thanks, I'll remember that.

Toni McAfoos: objects.

Bonnie Barnes: What kinds of questions and/or activities do you have for challenging students and ensuring that they have learned the objective?

Toni McAfoos: When the students are done with their slide shows, they must present them to the whole class. This is when I can make comments and grade them according to a simple rubric.

Toni McAfoos: The students are so intertained, they forget it's a class.

Toni McAfoos: entertained

Bonnie Barnes: do you give them the rubric up front so they know what is expected?

Bonnie Barnes: or how they will be graded?

Toni McAfoos: I have, but didn't this class. I will give them one this week so they can make appropriate adjustments before it is due. It's very simple.

Toni McAfoos: I think it would be wise to have one before starting.

Toni McAfoos: this is my yearbook class and I have been preoccupied with getting the yearbook done.

Toni McAfoos: I will go to rubistar

Bonnie Barnes: that's what i've done before... i was yearbook advisor for 4 years.

Toni McAfoos: This is my 12th year.

Bonnie Barnes: i loved it! but i gave it up because i had to do it in my spare time and i was also technology director, class advisor, etc.

Toni McAfoos: Ugh! too much.

Bonnie Barnes: you wear many hats at a small school!

Toni McAfoos: I would give mine up. I think that would be good wearing many hats. Do you like it?

Bonnie Barnes: i'm never bored!

Toni McAfoos: Do you go to many classes, campuses, etc. Or are you stuck in a classroomA?

Bonnie Barnes: i have 5 school districts or campuses... different one every day.

Bonnie Barnes: all grades, all subjects... pre-k through 12.

Toni McAfoos: What exactly do you do?

Bonnie Barnes: i'm called a technology integration specialist. i help teachers complete their technology competencies certification, do technology integration projects, curriculum development, staff development, set up wireless labs,

Bonnie Barnes: troubleshoot problems, etc. etc.

Bonnie Barnes: sometimes i'm just trying to chase viruses and update computers... some tech work... not really in the job description but it needs to be done.

Toni McAfoos: I would love to do your job. I am hoping our school will hire me for that position - which doesn't exist at this time. I should come watch you. Do you offer a lot of classes to the teachers so they can complete their technology

Toni McAfoos: competencies?

Bonnie Barnes: yes, state minimum competency from SBEC for Technology Applications... will be required for all teachers by next year i think.

Toni McAfoos: I'm interested in the integration projects and the curriculum development.

Toni McAfoos: That was my master's degree -- Technology and Curriculum

Toni McAfoos: Do you do what we are doing, to help the teachers?

Bonnie Barnes: i actually have a MBA with Computer Information Systems. I got into Education by accident.

Toni McAfoos: We have no one on campus or in our district that does what you are doing.

Toni McAfoos: Imagine that.

Toni McAfoos: How big is your district?

Bonnie Barnes: yes... i help them figure out how their lessons can be more integrated with technology... project based learning.

Toni McAfoos: Do you meet with a teacher a day, or do they come to you, or do you hold classes for that?

Bonnie Barnes: the 5 districts are very small.... Bluff Dale and Three Way... 65 students pre-k to 8th for the whole district!

Toni McAfoos: So you push project based learning in all classes?

Bonnie Barnes: Strawn is bigger with 250 students... pre-k to 12th.

Bonnie Barnes: yes, i really push project based learning. that is the best way for kids to learn today.

Bonnie Barnes: i encourage it in all classes.... social studies, language arts, math

Toni McAfoos: You are right. They are very small. Do you go in the classroom and teach technology for the teachers if they don't know how?

Bonnie Barnes: i try to get the teachers to collaborate on projects so lots of subjects can be covered in one project.

Toni McAfoos: Like power points?

Bonnie Barnes: yes, i go into the classroom and mentor for the teacher and work with them one on one and also in group staff development. Powerpoint is one that i am teaching right now.

Toni McAfoos: I see, about helping the teachers

Bonnie Barnes: should we get back to questions?

Toni McAfoos: Yes, I think so, we could talk all night I think

Bonnie Barnes: yes, i've really enjoyed this!

Toni McAfoos: me too

Toni McAfoos: Go ahead, next question

Bonnie Barnes: just a couple more.

Bonnie Barnes: how do you think your lesson promotes critical thinking and problem solving?

Toni McAfoos: I wish I had the fancy TEK numbers, etc. but I don't. I think the lesson promotes critical thinking and problem solving because the students have to figure things out on their own.

Bonnie Barnes: ok... do you have to put TEKS on your lesson plans?

Toni McAfoos: yes, but I don't have that with me now.

Bonnie Barnes: no problem.

Bonnie Barnes: What kind of tools do you use to maintain appropriate pacing and sequencing? keep them on task/

Toni McAfoos: This is an area I could really get better in.

Bonnie Barnes: any tricks to the trade... like a timeline... that's one of the items for technology competencies.

Bonnie Barnes: i found a good template at www.microsoft.com or use a checklist.

Toni McAfoos: I usually give them the task and then tell them it is due in a week. This time I gave them 7 days to finish. I usually just look or walk around the room to make sure they are working during class and let it go at that. If I did

Toni McAfoos: a timeline, how exactly does that work?

Toni McAfoos: Thanks for the link.

Toni McAfoos: I'll check into that. Isn't a checklist much like a rubric?

Bonnie Barnes: www.microsoft.com/education has lessons and tutorials... i found the timeline at the template gallery.

Toni McAfoos: Hmmmmmm I will definitely look into that.

Bonnie Barnes: a checklist can be like a rubric but with specific dates for completing items.

Toni McAfoos: Like in this class that we are in now.

Bonnie Barnes: meeting deadlines is hard for many of us... including our students... i used to harp on that in yearbook.

Bonnie Barnes: as a journalist, i couldn't have excuses... deadlines are deadlines... you don't meet them.... your dead.... well not for real... but it feels that way!

Bonnie Barnes: sorry... misspelled your... that's a pet peeve of mine, too!

Toni McAfoos: I do too. I used to assign pages, then the kids complained that it needed to be broken down. So then I said all photos had to be turned in, captions, stories by certain dates, but that was really bad.

Bonnie Barnes: why?

Toni McAfoos: I did the school newspaper, I know about deadlines.

Toni McAfoos: Lets see

Toni McAfoos: I would say all photos for certain pages had to be done, but teachers wouldn't cooperate, activities weren't scheduled for the "on time" date, etc.

Toni McAfoos: Once the photos are in, the captions and stories are a piece of cake.

Bonnie Barnes: working with teachers is harder than with students sometimes. yes, i agree about the photos...

Bonnie Barnes: let's try another question.

Toni McAfoos: I still haven't figured that out.

Toni McAfoos: ok

Bonnie Barnes: What type of things do you do to encourage and support reluctant students?

Bonnie Barnes: guess this could apply to your teachers, too!

Toni McAfoos: I watch them and when I see them doing something really neat, I get them to show the rest of the class what they know how to do. I had a boy if Photoshop Elements figure out how to liquify photos. He was good at doing other thing

Toni McAfoos: s to with the software. I asked him to help other students. He couldn't do much of anything else, but he was really good at that. He was surprised cause he thought all kids knew how to do what he could do.

Toni McAfoos: As for teachers, I think incentives would work.

Bonnie Barnes: your idea with the boy is good.

Toni McAfoos: thanks

Bonnie Barnes: i do the same thing with my teachers... brag about how one has done something in front of the others... like in the lunchroom.

Bonnie Barnes: i call the ones who do well in meeting my deadlines... my GT students... and they just beam with pride!

Toni McAfoos: That works with teachers

Bonnie Barnes: i have deadlines for the teacher projects, too.

Toni McAfoos: How do they take that?

Bonnie Barnes: they fought it at first but i stress how important it is for them to be a role model for their students.

Toni McAfoos: good point

Toni McAfoos: You have to have good support from the admin

Bonnie Barnes: yes, i don't always have good support from the admin.

Toni McAfoos: that's too bad.

Toni McAfoos: If the admin doesn't think it's important, how are you supposed to do your job?

Bonnie Barnes: so i just learn to work around them.... i get the teachers to show the admin that it's important... work from the bottom up.

Toni McAfoos: if that works. ..

Bonnie Barnes: yes... it's a slower process but does work.

Toni McAfoos: that's good to know.

Bonnie Barnes: pretty soon the admin is the only one not on board and they get on board or feel like an outsider.

Toni McAfoos: do you have any incentive for the teachers to learn? Other than meeting the requirements?

Toni McAfoos: We haven't even started doing that here.

Bonnie Barnes: i sometimes bribe them... give door prizes for my staff development but don't have to do that now. they hate missing meeting with me...

Toni McAfoos: that's good!

Bonnie Barnes: i try to make my training or one on one session valuable... something they can really use.... i use that approach in the classroom, too.

Toni McAfoos: smart

Toni McAfoos: any more questions?

Bonnie Barnes: have you thought about having your students show their powerpoints to the little kids... like a pre-k or kindergarten class?

Bonnie Barnes: do you think that might make their presentations more valuable?

Toni McAfoos: No. I did years ago, but getting to the school, etc. would be a lot of work.

Toni McAfoos: Perhaps if the kids had to make a technology portfolio, it would.

Bonnie Barnes: yes, i forgot... we're all on one campus.

Toni McAfoos: we're only 7th and 8th grade

Bonnie Barnes: a technology portfolio is a great idea!

Bonnie Barnes: do you think they could take it with them to high school?

Bonnie Barnes: like on a cd?

Toni McAfoos: I think they should, yes.

Toni McAfoos: However, the high school doesn't require it.

Bonnie Barnes: that's a great idea anyway. it would give them pride in their work.

Toni McAfoos: I think as kids master things on technology, they should create a portfolio that travels with them over the years. Then when they graduate, they have proof of everything they've done.

Toni McAfoos: Even writing skills, tables, charts, etc

Bonnie Barnes: very good! like a resume.

Bonnie Barnes: resume of technology skills.

Toni McAfoos: Yes.

Bonnie Barnes: do your students like to do more projects with the powerpoint after this lesson?

Toni McAfoos: I'm sure they would, but they don't get anymore technology in our school, so I try to teach them other projects - excel, etc. Perhaps other teachers take them to the lab to create projects, or maybe they will do a report for anot

Toni McAfoos: her teacher. Our teachers just don't think of things like that. It's sad. Usually just papers are all they do in the regular classes.

Bonnie Barnes: your lesson has language arts in it... what about a collaborative project with a language arts teacher?

Toni McAfoos: I have thought about that too, can the students do something in my class that would count in another too?

Bonnie Barnes: yes, they could get two grades for both classes.

Bonnie Barnes: that's technology integration.

Toni McAfoos: I will look into that. Problem is, I only have one class with this kind of freedom. All my other classes are keyboarding classes and I teach how to type MLA style

Toni McAfoos: There is no time for anything in those classes.

Bonnie Barnes: yes, you are limited in the other classes... but you could also do some keyboarding projects.

Bonnie Barnes: second half of the year.

Bonnie Barnes: or is it a semester?

Toni McAfoos: I only have them one semester

Toni McAfoos: This is high school credit

Toni McAfoos: I have to follow the high school curriculum

Bonnie Barnes: that's harder in one semester.... especially with curriculum limitations.

Toni McAfoos: Yep

Bonnie Barnes: i like the flexibility of the small schools.

Toni McAfoos: I think Iwould too

Bonnie Barnes: how do you think you might improve this lesson after all of our chat? any ideas that you might use?

Bonnie Barnes: maybe not improve but change... i think it's a great lesson!

Toni McAfoos: I think making the rubric and a timeline would be good.

Toni McAfoos: I think also, more structure on writing the children's book too

Bonnie Barnes: ok... if you need any help with those let me know. you probably could teach me a thing or two, though.

Bonnie Barnes: is the book their own creation?

Toni McAfoos: They can create from their own head, or write a story they know with a different slant

Bonnie Barnes: do they use clip art or make their own drawings?

Toni McAfoos: both

Toni McAfoos: I let them scan

Bonnie Barnes: how do you cover copyright issues?

Toni McAfoos: their own photos.

Toni McAfoos: copyright is addressed sometimes in this lesson, and sometimes in another. Since this is my yearbook class, they've already gotten an ear full on copyright.

Bonnie Barnes: good! copyright is hard to get through to them at that age.

Toni McAfoos: and their parents

Bonnie Barnes: yes

Bonnie Barnes: ok... you are probably tired and hungry by now... i know i am.

Toni McAfoos: Not too tired, and not hungry. But my bottom is tired!

Toni McAfoos: I need to wiggle.

Bonnie Barnes: mine, too!!

Toni McAfoos: Thanks so much Bonnie, I enjoy working with you.

Bonnie Barnes: thanks for all the time today.... got me out of cleaning house!

Toni McAfoos: I think we finally got it.

Bonnie Barnes: thanks again.... talk to you later!

Toni McAfoos: okay, Bonnie, bye

Bonnie Barnes: bye