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Linked Learning: Better way to prepare H.S. students for real life w/ Multiple Pathways

Whats the big deal? This effort helps High School Students prepare for real life, both additional schooling afer high school and vocational readiness. This is opposed to simply delineating between college bound and career worker students, and hopes to utilize small learning communities to grow overall life skills for all students.

What is the Linked Learning initiative? Originally called “Multiple Pathways”, this is a effort by a consortium of public and corporate entities. It is a new way of teaching and learning, a new way to deliver curriculum, including online strategies.

Here is the latest draft ofthe initiative, Assembly Bill 2648 Multiple Pathways Report

More Info here on new Report, dated Jan 15 2010

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Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #6 “TimeLine”

TIMELINE      ————————————————————————

CONTENT AREA: HISTORY

GRADE LEVELS: MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL

A knowledge of chronological order of events is essential for students when

discussing complex causes and events in history. A document camera can provide an

excellent way to interactively practice timelines.

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Drawing of a timeline of the target era with no events listed

- Whiteboard or large sheet of paper that students can write on

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Draw a timeline with numbers of the target era. Do not include events on the timeline.

History Timeline without the Events

DURING

2. Using a document camera, project the image of the timeline on a surface that students can write on.

3. Assign students in groups to sections of the timeline.

4. Assign groups to find at least five significant events that occurred during the section

of the timeline that has been assigned to them.

5. Have group members come to the board to add their findings to the timeline.

6. As a class, check for accuracy and discuss significance of each event.

AFTER

7. Provide students with a similar blank time line to complete individually as homework or a quiz.

History Timeline for Students to Complete & Discuss

ADAPTATIONS

- As a review activity, allow students to consult notes, textbooks, and other resources.

- To increase the difficulty level, prepare a timeline that has time marked in even

intervals, but does not mark specific dates. Have students work in groups to identify significant dates as well as events to the timeline.

- This activity can also be used to review literature by placing events in a story in

chronological order.

January 19th, 2010 | Tags: 21st Century Learning, curriculum integration, digital learning, document camera, elementary, LAUSD, Los Angeles, Middle School, projector, Teacher Digital Workflow | Category: Curriculum Integration, Document Cameras - Visualizers, Elementary, High School / Secondary, History, K-12, Middle School, Projectors, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #5 Science “Categorizing Concepts”

CATEGORIZING CONCEPTS   #5—————————————–

CONTENT AREA: SCIENCE

GRADE LEVEL: MIDDLE SCHOOL

The following activity can be used to introduce or review examples of science concepts in categories, such as vertebrates and invertebrates. A document camera allows all students to actively participate.

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- One paper with the category names listed in columns

- Papers cut in small pieces with the names of different animals to classify into vertebrates and invertebrates

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Label the piece of paper with the category names, i.e. vertebrate and invertebrate.

2. Write the names of different vertebrate and invertebrate animals on each of the small cards (works best if there are enough examples for every member of the class).

DURING

3. Project the image of the diagram using the document camera.

4. Pass out a small card with the name of an animal written on it to each student.

5. Direct students to decide whether the animal on each card is a vertebrate or invertebrate, and place the card in the appropriate category.

6. Discuss as a class, making corrections to student classifications as necessary.

AFTER

7. As a review activity on a separate occasion, mix the cards and pass out to different students, repeat activity as listed above.

8. Create a few new cards with animal names that have not been previously reviewed as a class. Project the image of the cards using a document camera.   Assign students to categorize the animals for homework. To review homework the following day as a class, pass out the cards assigned as homework. Allow students to place each card in the appropriate category using the document camera.

ADAPTATIONS

- Instead of preparing the cards with items to categorize, have students create the cards by writing the name of an animal on each small card.

- This class activity can be easily adapted for other categorizing activities.

Clearly, document cameras rock!

January 15th, 2010 | Tags: curriculum integration, digital learning, document camera, LACOE, LAUSD, Los Angeles, Middle School, projector, Projectors, Science, Teacher Digital Workflow, Technology | Category: Curriculum Integration, Document Cameras - Visualizers, Middle School, Projectors, Science | Leave a comment

Grass Roots Group to fight LAUSD Arts Budget Cuts

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/01/arts-advocates-mobilize-to-fight-proposed-lausd-budget-cuts.html

January 7, 2010 | 10:00 am LA TIMES

A proposal to slash arts teachers from elementary schools in the L.A. Unified School District has stoked community anger and fomented a grass-roots movement to fight the cuts.

Facing a budgetary shortfall of nearly $470 million in the upcoming 2010-11 school year, LAUSD is considering reductions across the board that include cutting 50% of the district’s arts specialists who teach a specific cultural subject, like music or dance, in elementary schools.

The move would result in an estimated savings of $14.9 million for the 2010-11 year.

The proposal recommends eliminating the remaining arts specialists in the following school year, resulting in savings of another $14.9 million.

The figures come from a December budget proposal from the district titled “Fiscal Stabilization Plans” that has been circulating on the Internet. The LAUSD board is said to be seriously considering the proposal, though it will probably review others like it before making a decision in late May or June.

Currently, the LAUSD provides a music teacher to elementary schools for at least one day per week for the entire year, according to the document. It also provides instruction in dance, theater or the visual arts on a regular basis.

There are an estimated 350 of these specialized arts instructors teaching in LAUSD elementary schools, said Arts for L.A., a local advocacy group.

Arts for L.A. is leading a grass-roots effort to halt the proposed cuts. The group is organizing a letter-writing campaign in which they hope to send 700 letters to LAUSD board members. It is also seeking the support of major L.A. museums and performing arts institutions to adopt a resolution to send to the board.

“We understand the enormity of the budgetary situation but the arts is important to a complete education. In order for our students to compete in the workforce, they need arts education,” said Danielle Brazell, executive director of the group.

“Any time you have a core program and take it apart, the chances are slim that it will come back.”

The LAUSD has been gradually whittling away its arts education programs. In late 2008, the board suspended the Arts Community Partnership Network, which brought professional arts groups into the schools to collaborate on instruction.

An online petition organized by LAUSD elementary arts teachers was launched in November to protest the most recent round of proposed cuts. The petition has so far accumulated more than 1,500 signatures.

– David Ng

Credit: Paul J. Richards / AFP/Getty Images

January 14th, 2010 | Tags: Arts Programs, budget, budget crunch, elementary, LAUSD, Los Angeles | Category: Arts Programs, Budget Squeeze, Educational Funding, Elementary, LAUSD, Los Angeles | Leave a comment

Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #4 Health “You Are What You Eat”

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT #4 ————————————-

CONTENT AREA: HEALTH EDUCATION

GRADE LEVELS: MIDDLE SCHOOL

Increase students’ awareness of food ingredients and percentages of nutritional components such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, protein, fat, sodium, and fiber by using a document camera to project the images of actual food wrappers.

This activity can be an eye-opening experience for everyone!

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Food wrappers that contain nutrition and ingredient information

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Assign students to bring in an item of food, or only the wrapper, that contains the nutrition and ingredient label.

DURING

2. Using the document camera, project the ingredients and nutritional label of the

food items or wrappers that students have brought in.

3. As a class, discuss the components of each food item displayed, calling attention to certain target concepts.

AFTER

4. Project several wrappers with nutritional information that have not already been discussed as a class. Have students discuss collaboratively which food is the healthiest based on the information given or have students write a paragraph critically analyzing the healthiness of the items displayed.

ADAPTATION

- Cut off the nutritional information of several food containers. Display using the document camera. Give students several choices of food names. Have students make educated guesses to match each product with its label based on the information given.

January 12th, 2010 | Tags: curriculum integration, digital learning, document camera, Health, LACOE, LAUSD, Los Angeles, projector, Science, Technology | Category: Curriculum Integration, Document Cameras - Visualizers, Health, Projectors, Science | Leave a comment

Grant Writing Ideas/Best Practices for Public, Charter, Private Schools

Grant Writing Notes                                                  Dave Boller | Troxell, Los Angeles, CA

Grants are important than ever, and more competitive than ever. But they are there, and with some smart effort, you can win them.

Once you do the first one, you’ll be doing more grants. Get started.

2 Approaches to Begin

1. RFP Search in specific georgraphical or subject areas

2. Create a Proactive Needs Assessment

Don’t spend time (waste time) on grants that don’t FIT what you want to do.

Don’t let needs assessment get too lengthy

You don’t necessarily need consultants to write it.

Informal needs assessment can work fine.

Steps in Needs Assessment

1. Clarify organizational expectations, goals, or objectives

2. Review current practices and though

3. Collect and analyze data

4. Identify areas of need

5. Determine where to start

Once you know your needs….Search for Solutions

-research and pilot projects

-Professional journals Ed Leadership, Edutopia…

.. pages in back of journals that list grants

-Gov publications, including web sites

(What Works in Public Education website)

-Stakeholder resources

-Software companies

-Be creative

Who (what position ) do you write too a big corporation?…

make a call first, find foundation manager or budget manager.

Additional educational grant information sources

-business

-journal lists

-local grant makers (find their “Mission Statements”)

-state agencies

-foundations

-title programs

-SIGs

Use creative Boolean strategies in search engines. See search engines listed here at smart-schools.com in addition to Google.

Try http://www.zuula.com as you can search all major engines in addition to Google.  We will post more on smart web searching later. But it can help you find the “needle in the grant haystack” you’re looking for and increase YOUR chances of scoring the grant.

Be creative in your thinking….get what you want and still satisfy the grant makers.

Getting Organized

Print RFP including all instructions

Form a grant writing team…DON’T DO IT ALONE

Form a list of partners.

Read all instructions, including rubrics and grant-maker goals.

Set up a timeline.

Assign responsibilities.

Gather data.

Begin writing.

Invite an employee from the grant offering company to help !! Great way to keep on-target and build rapport.

Writing process

Divide into sections:

(can get grant writer help..but write the cost into the grant with % to grant writer)

Abstract

Intro

Needs

Goals & objectives

Activities and personnel

Evaluation

Budget

Communicate with your grant maker along the way. Even if you don’t have a serious question…email a question or a call or visit, that way you accomplish them getting to know you…they know you’re working on it, you can bounce ideas off of them.

Utilize resources from nearby colleges/community. Sometimes leverage them for specific projects in their training…help each other

Matching funds….?…

go to local businesses to secure matching funds…

FINAL STEPS

Double check requirements. Don’t risk losing it

Edit one last time

Let the grant maker know that the grant is on the way

Follow submission format

Send multiple copies if requested

Turn in on time

If mailing or facing, request a receipt

Make it happen

Follow the proposal

Stick to the timeline

Spend only the original budget, or request a modified budget

Collect data

Document the project with notes, photographs, video, and testimonials

Celebrate

Give credit

Communicate

Share information

Complete all reports & evaluations on time

Thank partners and the grant maker

Plan for sustainability.   Look for ways to sustain the project….it is a personnel and time issue after the grant is all done…keep it alive and plan for it.

Individual schools probably even more eligible than district…more emotional, closer to the source, individual children.

OTHER NOTES

At Risk/poverty and Spec Ed money available ARRA

-research based not brand new..proven as successful

-list WHO will be doing after school program, must have one certified teacher at least to give program credibility . Grant can pay teacher

-“Race To The Top” funds ARRA be distributed on a competitive basis

Hope something here helped you.

Let’s do this!

January 7th, 2010 | Tags: budget, budget crunch, Charter Schools, grant writing, LACOE, LAUSD, Los Angeles, Professional Development, school marketing, Technology | Category: Budget Squeeze, Charter School Marketing, Education Technology Plan, Educational Funding, Grant Writing for Education, LACOE, LAUSD, Los Angeles, Magnet Schools, School Choice Reform | Leave a comment

Quality Education Projector for under $500

Wow. Projectors just keep getting better and less expensive. I remember the days of three gun projectors that cost $12000 and more. Well, here is a new model from Hitachi, long considered one of the high quality leaders in 3LCD projectors, much better than those older $12K projectors, that sells in the $400-$500 range to education clients in Los Angeles!

3 Year Warranty. New model.

This does miss a couple of bells and whistles that the latest mid and high-end models have like more powerful speakers and multiple VGA inputs, but this unit has everything a teacher needs at a price we’ve never seen before.

Long lasting lamp with eco mode, 2200 ANSI lumens, 3 Year warranty, whiteboard mode, template function and more.

Solid Hitachi reputation. 3 Year education warranty, something you don’t get from a retail store.

See http://www.trox.com

“Choose a Troxell Location” Drop Down Menu

and find Dave Boller for LAUSD and LACOE pricing.

January 6th, 2010 | Tags: 21st Century Learning, budget, budget crunch, Charter Schools, curriculum integration, digital learning, document camera, Hitachi, LACOE, LAUSD, Los Angeles, projector, Projectors, Technology | Category: Advanced education technology, Budget Squeeze, Interactive Whiteboards, LACOE, LAUSD, Projectors | Leave a comment

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Linked Learning: Better way to prepare H.S. students for real life w/ Multiple Pathways

Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #6 “TimeLine”

Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #5 Science “Categorizing Concepts”

Grass Roots Group to fight LAUSD Arts Budget Cuts

Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #4 Health “You Are What You Eat”

Grant Writing Ideas/Best Practices for Public, Charter, Private Schools

Quality Education Projector for under $500

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