Global Learning Ideas

Houghton-Mifflin loves out-of-the-box ideas on how to create global-scalable initiatives that can improve student outcomes across the globe.  To encourage truly unique ideas, Houghton-Mifflin has created a challenge to the world.  Who can come up with unique and globally-scalable ideas for improving learning?  To encourage serious participation, Houghton-Mifflin has recruited an all-star judge line-up and offering significant prizes to the best ideas.

Mobile Device-Centered Curriculum

As a child-led, project-based learning advocate, I’ve submitted a few ideas to the challenge on transforming student learning.  Because my extensive research shows that mobile devices are strategically one of the most important learning tools available (and cheaper than traditional computers), I’ve suggested a mobile device-centric curriculum.  I already have a significant body of curriculum content developed. With enough support, I’m willing to formalize the content and adapt it for public, private, and home schoolers.

Global Collaborative Network

Another idea I’ve contributed outlines a collaboration space where global students can work together to compose music, write poetry, short stories, solve math problems, share research data, and anything else they wish to crowd source. This space isn’t designed to improve skills, learn facts, or write Wikipedia-like articles. This is a creative space where students from around the world create or join creative projects where they flex skills they’ve already gained.  The resulting products are Creative Commons licensed to encourage participation.

Vote

If you’d like to see either of these projects become a reality, please  create an account at GEC and “Thumbs-up” these ideas.

Thanks!

Lunch and Learn

Sometimes lunch is really challenging.  Our youngster, who loves to move around constantly, cannot sit still long enough to finish his meal . . .  ever!  He’ll try to eat while standing, spinning, or even standing and reading, but not really ever just sitting.  Well, we decided to change things up a bit for lunch.  I enlisted little Mr. constant motion to help build an impromptu table and cushions on the floor near the computer screen and asked him to choose whichever TED video he wanted to watch while we ate lunch in our new spot.  It was a huge success.  Not only did he enjoy creating our space and choosing a cool video, he actually sat and ate his complete lunch without spinning or standing.  So, I guess we’ll do this again.  By the way, he chose the interesting and very appropriate video “Why Not Eat Insects?” by Marcel Dicke.

Personalized Learning Tools We Love!

Anything that allows you to interact with it in more than one way (or at least in a number of different ways) is a personalized learning tool as far as we’re concerned.  We’re sharing our list of our favorite really fun tools, projects, books, etc.

• WriteGuide – Designed specifically for homeschoolers but open to anyone, WriteGuide is the ultimate personalized experience.  WriteGuide is an online writing service that tailors your experience to your very own personal preferences.  Read our earlier review for more information about WriteGuide.
• Lightning calculations calendar is a unique calendar filled with mental math exercises.  The calendar is full of challenges and the author encourages you to skip ahead and work on the problems in any way you want.  Its fun and make a great gift, too.
• Little Blue School’s Treasure Island Unit Study is one of the best around!  There are tons of activities for each chapter of this book that really engage young imaginations.  Our homeschooler loved it!
• DanceMat Typing from the BBC is a really fun interactive website for kids learning to type.  Kids can even print a certificate when they’ve completed all of the levels.  What we liked about it (besides the fun accents and exotic music) is that kids can progress at their own pace and repeat levels as many times as they  like.  Plus, it’s free.
• MAKE kits – The Makershed site has an entire web page dedicated to kits you and your children can make together.  Many are electronics kits, but you’ll be surprised at the stuff you’ll find there.  There are kits in all price ranges, so there’s something for everyone.
• GeekDad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share – A great book that’s meant to be personalized.  Each project has suggestions (but they’re just suggestions) and the author encourages improvisation.

We’re Crazy About Child Led, Project Based Learning!

We are fanatical about child-led, project-based learning. Don’t misunderstand child-led learning to mean the child gets to watch Sponge Bob all day if he/she chooses! We simply work on projects that involve things our child is already enjoying. For example, now he’s obsessed with secret agents so we’re learning about spys in history, making secret agent tools, creating secret codes, and finding daily news articles relating to secret agents (there’s usually a story at least once a week on this topic!).

Project based learning means that we don’t sit and study things like english grammar, literature, spelling, vocabulary, or writing separately. We incorporate all of it into an actual project. For example, our son is writing a fictional story about secret agents.  So, for inspiration, we have him read aloud from  great  young adult fictional literature. As he’s reading, we assist with any vocabulary and pronunciation questions etc.   When he’s written a significant portion of his story, we take time to review grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.  Another great learning outcome from fictional writing is the opportunity to explore other languages and cultures.  In his story, one of the characters speaks French and travels to France.   So,  we’ve found some books and online resources about France and started learning the French Language.    The story is the project, but the outcome is so much more than the sum of its parts.

If you’re project based learners, what’s your story?

iPad in the Homeschool

The iPad is beautiful, and while it won’t replace your home computer anytime soon, it is a very cool tool for homeschool learning.  So far, we have used it as a white board, video player, educational game console, spelling/vocabulary learning tool, interactive geography explorer,  night sky discovery, researching chemistry facts, playing a virtual musical instrument, and as an e-book reader.

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Nintendo DS as Educational Tool

ABC News is reporting that Shigeru Miyamoto, video game designer at Nintendo, is focusing on turning Nintendo DS gaming devices into educational tools.  In Japan, people are already using Nintendo DS devices at aquariums and museums as tour guides.  Personally, I can’t wait to see what he comes up with because our young homeschooler LOVES his Nintendo DS, and it would be awesome to get good educational content for something so immersive.  I’m kind of a go-with-the-flow type, so I always look for ways to enhance learning where learning is ‘growing’ naturally.  After all, the millennial kids are digital natives who interface with electronic devices as easily as breathing air!

Richard P. Feynman ‘Fun to Imagine’ Series on YouTube

I noticed that Richard P. Feynman’s BBC TV series ‘Fun to Imagine’ was highlighted on TED.com, and is hosted on YouTube. For those of you who don’t know, Richard Feynman was a Nobel Prize winning American Physicist. His series is refreshingly informal, explaining atomic interactions in common language that kids can easily understand. Richard explains some pretty heady stuff here, but boils it down in such a way that makes it seem like nothing more difficult than anything else we spend time learning. This series is a treasure, and everyone should take time to watch the short videos. Watch the ‘Fun to Imagine’ Series