Laura K Spencer, Ed.D.

Tag: #21stCenturySkills

  • BurnBook – An App Created for Bullying?

    BurnBook – An App Created for Bullying?

    Photo from 10News: http://goo.gl/HcKI4E

    I shared the below information with my management team today as Burn Book seems to be the latest and greatest way for high school students to cyber bully. Feel free to modify and use if needed.

    But more importantly, I encourage you to read this blog post by a high school student about the impact these types of apps have on people: http://goo.gl/Ls4Tv8
    By now, most of you have probably heard of an app called BurnBook.

    Burn book allows students to anonymously post comments about anything. They choose their school, and then start posting. There are a lot of mean comments about other students and teachers being posted on the app, and occasionally threats to the safety of the school’s campus.

    I began monitoring the app the other day, and so far, it seems to be focused on high schools. 

    The high school district personnel have started a campaign to talk to students on all their campuses about the seriousness of posting threats on the app. Because of this, there may be a temporary increase in student curiosity as older siblings come home and share the information. And this morning San Marcos responded to a school threat posted via the app (http://goo.gl/kP8f9z) so that will be on the news this evening. 

    Unfortunately, we can’t block access to the app because students are using their own devices to access it.  What we can do, however, is remind students about the impact cyberbullying can have on others. And also let students know that anonymous does not mean untraceable – IP addresses are recorded by the app and can be used to trace people posting serious threats.

    More Information: 
    Burnbook App CEO Promises Change After School Threat – http://goo.gl/Hqwahm 
    Burnbook: Can An Annonymous App Have a Conscience – http://goo.gl/Nsy1RC 
  • Technology is Not the GrandMaster of the Ticker Tape Parade

    Technology is Not the GrandMaster of the Ticker Tape Parade

    High School Student’s FB this morning

    On #CAEdChat Sunday night, we discussed ways to “pimp” our lessons so that students walk in the door jazzed to learn. Dave Burgess, author of Teach Like a Pirate, shared that he always asks, “Here’s my lesson…now how can I make this come ALIVE?! How can I create an EXPERIENCE?” 

    So often, I see teachers who drag the technology out of the cupboard and expect the students to start the ticker tape parade. 

    But students are bored, just like the high school student who posted the above FB pic this morning from his class.  Technology is not a ticker tape parade for them. But learning should be!

    As student Alex Bockert explained during #CAEdChat, “Don’t start with all the actual work/research to be done – start with why this project will rock.”

    So how will you make learning rock today?

  • #STUVoice – 2015 East County TechFest Keynote

    #STUVoice – 2015 East County TechFest Keynote

    My daughter, a high school junior, recently keynoted an ed tech fest. Because I feel odd talking up my progeny, I’m going to copy/paste a write-up shared in her district Superintendent’s newsletter: “she shared her school experiences with technology and challenged the teachers in the theater to provide a wide array of technology-driven opportunities. She emphasized that students need to be prepared for a digital world and our schools are an essential part in that development.”
    There was a lot of great feedback from the teachers that participated, but in an effort to make the conversation global, I’d love to hear what you have to say as well.
  • The Times They Are A-Changing, But Not in That Classroom

    The Times They Are A-Changing, But Not in That Classroom

    Come mothers and fathers, 

    Throughout the land

    And don’t criticize
    What you can’t understand
    Your sons and your daughters
    Are beyond your command
    Your old road is rapidly agin’
    Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand
    For the times they are a-changin’
    – Bob Dylan

    My daughter is dual enrolled in high school and college. Today was her first day of the Spring term for her college class. I’m jealous, because she chose “History of Rock Music” for her history elective. To spend time learning about Jimmy Plant, Ringo Starr, and Janis Joplin instead of reading the Louisiana Purchase agreement? Heck yea, sign me up!

    In my mind, I pictured her walking in to an eclectic environment hosted by an aging wannabe rock star, or perhaps even Jack Black. I expected to walk home to a daughter spouting off about hidden messages in lyrics, or sharing about the seedy underworld of the British rock movement. Or perhaps we’d argue if the Beatles had a larger influence on American culture than Elvis or Jimmy Hendrix. I wanted to spend the evening dusting off my record player and sharing Led Zeppelin, relishing in the sound the needle makes as it swoosh, swoosh, swooshes across the record. But alas, that is not how the day transpired.

    Instead, this happened:

    I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but I still have to ask how long we are going to fight against technology. And in doing so, fight against the learning needs of today’s students? In the words of Bob Dylan, “The Times They Are A-Changing:”
    Come gather ’round people
    Wherever you roam


    And admit that the waters

    Around you have grown
    And accept it that soon
    You’ll be drenched to the bone
    If your time to you is worth savin’
    Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone

    For the times they are a-changin’
  • NASA Embodies the 4Cs

    NASA Embodies the 4Cs

    I mentioned in my last post that I am at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena today as a kick off #NASASocial event for the Orion launch. The Orion launch marks the start of our journey to Mars; the next step for humans to explore the solar system.

    I had the privilege of asking a question live during the event, which was shared on NASA TV. My question was about how the different NASA satellite locations, like JPL, contributed to the Orion launch. I won’t go in to the answer, except to say that the different locations, with different expertise, provided some of the technological advances and component pieces for Orion.

    Why is this important? Because it stresses the importance for students to learn the 4Cs. Obviously, collaboration is critical for NASA to undertake this important mission. Not only are they collaborating with their own personnel, but they are also collaborating with commercial flight companies, like Boeing and SpaceX, and local, specialized businesses to create the parts that are fabricated for the mission. Without creativity, Orion would not exist. What started as a dream and a question is now a reality. That’s due to creative geniuses using their critical thinking skills to turn that dream in to an actual product launch. And communication? Well, I’m sure you can picture the amount of emails, phone calls, presentations, texts, webinars, etc that transpired between all of these entities to put this entire mission together. It’s incredible when you look at the big picture that created tomorrow’s Orion launch.

    Our students today will be the astronauts that travel to Mars. Are you preparing them with the 4Cs for that jouney?