Happy Cake Day, Milestomes.com

December 14, 2011 Milestomes.com was born with the blogpost "How Grades Change Conversations About Assessment & Achievement" I wanted to start blogging partly in fulfillment of my employer's requirement to submit an annual statement of professional growth, but mostly because I started Tweeting and reading other blogs. I wanted to be part of the conversation and the professional dialogue. [...]

Posted by milesmac on December 14th, 2012 | No Comments Posted in big ideas, Pedagogy

"Paper Blog Foldable" illustrates parts of a blog

Here is the finished product.

This little project helps students (and adults) get their heads wrapped around the vocabulary associated with blogging. Titles, banners, side bars, widgets, pages, posts, comments. Each is represented in paper form that concretely reflects how online blogs work.

Posted by milesmac on October 17th, 2012 | 4 Comments Posted in Pedagogy

8 Ways to Make Use of Your Teacher Web Space

I originally posted this on my class website for use in a presentation to my staff in January 2011. Some districts provide (and some require) teachers with web space for use with their students. Here are some suggestions, listed from least to most labour intensive. Feel free to share your own ideas in the comments [...]

Posted by milesmac on August 23rd, 2012 | No Comments Posted in Resources

Blogs and Twitter Engagement Detriment to Employment?

On an education related discussion board, someone asked for advice on how to increase their marketability as an already-qualified, but unemployed teacher. The poster asked about pursuing further qualifications at a university. Here is a portion of the surprising discussion that followed between me and another responder with very different opinions: Me: Consider your web [...]

Posted by milesmac on May 11th, 2012 | 8 Comments Posted in Pedagogy

7 Steps for Writing List-Based Blog Entries

After extensive experience and exposure to list-based blog entries, I have compiled the SEVEN comprehensive and authortative steps required to create a list-based blog entry. Identify a trending issue Collect or create statements related to the issue; increase authority by citing data and sources Compile the statements into a numbered list Count the number of [...]

Posted by milesmac on December 22nd, 2011 | No Comments Posted in Pedagogy

Professional Learning Reflections

In my district Annual Reflections of Professional Learning are, for many, a chore and can at times feel artificial. Of course the act of engaging in professional learning is not just legislated by our provincial government, but, more importantly, is professionally satisfying, keeps our practice fresh and students engaged. Because so much of our professional learning occurs [...]

Posted by milesmac on December 21st, 2011 | 2 Comments Posted in Pedagogy

Professional Learning Networks (PLNs)

I love this idea. Love love love it. First, I really love what I do for a living; I love watching students making sense of the world, I love working with colleagues on  projects, and I love professional dialogue. That's a whole lotta love! For the uninitiated, a Professional Learning Network, or PLN, is your [...]

Posted by milesmac on December 16th, 2011 | No Comments Posted in Pedagogy