Dave McDivitt

I have been on summer break for two weeks now.  That is one of the nice things about working at Oak Hill….we always end the school year before Memorial Day.  Some teachers don’t like ending so early but I do.  Anyway, next year I will be teaching AP World Hisotry for the first time.  I worked up my syllabus and submitted it to AP College Board and was approved.  I am looking forward to this.  I plan on using Making History, The InQuizitor, and Blogging.  Blogging will be a very frequent tool in my AP course.  I will use it for my essays as well.  I haven’t decided if I will make the student blogs public or not but I will certainly update this site with how things are going.

Another thing that I have kicked around for a year or so.  I have been approached many times about doing some speaking for professional development for teachers.  For those of you who know me you understand that public speaking is certainly right up my alley…..but doing professional development for teachers is a very dangerous area in my opinion.  Too many times in my 14 years of public education we have brought in outside speakers for professional development.  Some have “earned” a hefty speaking fee and their value has been…..well……hard to find even by the most dedicated teacher.  I certainly don’t want to be a speaker that has very little value to the classroom.  Is gaming in the classroom, using 21st century technology in the classroom, and an old, bald, father of three, football coach in demand for professional development?  I don’t really know the answer to this question.  I am considering this and welcome all comments or advice about possibly starting this venture.

Other activities of my last few weeks include a trip to the Indy 500 with my father.  This year was my dad’s 49th Indy 500.  Next year we will have to do something special to celebrate his 50th.  The first pic is of my dad, brother in law, sister and me on pit road prior to the running of the race.  It is an incredible experience to be on pit road on race day.  The second pic is of Scott Dixon’s car.  A few hours later Dixon and his car were in victory circle.  I have grown up being and open wheel racing fan and was certainly glad to see Dixon win the race.  He is a good guy and easy to root for.  Probably the most memorable moment of the race was when Danica Patrick marched down pit road to go and get Ryan Briscoe who had knocked her out of the race.  She was ticked off and wanted a piece of him.  She took some crap for acting like a bi***…..but that was crap!  Tony Stewart acts like that in BORECAR all the time and everyone thinks he is a competitor……so Danica….kept getting after it! 

Well our game play sessions are now complete and I am in the process of debriefing my students and doing some assessments with them.  I certainly think that the excitement level of this years crop of students was possible an all time high.  I don’t know if they are hearing about the game now from other students in the building or not, some heard about the CBS story that aired a  year ago…..but whatever the reason I will take it. 

One of the things that has been going on in my classroom during this year is Professor Bill Watson from Purdue University has spent several days in my classroom observing, video taping, and interviewing kids that have played the game.  He also spent some time with me today asking me some questions.  I always love sessions like this because if makes me reflect a bit deeper than I think I normally would.  He asked me a lot of good questions but maybe the one that struck me the most was something to do with would kids learn from the game without the teacher.  Well the simple answer is yes.  They would certainly pick up some things with or without me in the room.  However, the better answer is they learn more with me in the room….or at least I like to think so.  I think the use of games in the classroom is only a portion of the puzzle that teachers need to assemble in order to attain best practices during the school year.  I like to think that me, the game, the student, and the material all play a vital role in the educational process.  The game does not, should not, or will ever replace the teacher in the room.  The art of teaching is not digital….it is human. 

I will share as much of the results as Professor Watson will allow on this blog.  Stay tuned through the summer for details on that.

It is hard to believe but this is my 4th year of using Making History from Muzzy Lane Software in my classroom.  We started playing the game yesterday and the excitement level of kids is the same as every other year…..very high.  More chatter about history class happens because of this game than anything else I do during the year.  Heck….our computer lab has windows that look out to the rest of the media center….and I had kids watching from the other side of the windows….salivating…..wanting to come in and play. 

Was the day smooth?  No, we had some tech issues early in the day to deal with.  I found a suitable solution so the second half of the day worked much better.  But that is the art of teaching….your plans are only as good as all the factors included in them….when one part breaks, is absent, or gets moved for a school convo…then the teacher has to mod his or her plans.  Is what I am doing this year ideal or best practices….no….but it is working so we are running with it.

I have blogged many times about the use of this game and said many good things about it and other games in the classroom.  However, what is discouraging about computer games in the classroom is how they have only increased slightly in the last four years.  I talk to people every month who have heard about what I do.  They like it.  They are interested.  And some even start using a game or two.  But why are teachers not using games and technology to teach?  Every teacher desk has a computer on it……most schools have a computer lab…some have multiple labs.  Kids homes have multiple computers in them.  We take attendance with the computer, lunch counts with the computer, make bus schedules and master class schedules with computers, we make airline reservations with computers, print off boarding passes with computers, make car rentals with the computer, shop on the internet, turn our lights on and off with a computer, run our HVAC with a computer……but we teach with a white board and a marker……..does that seem right???????????  Sorry about the rant but it just doesn’t seem right.  We live in a tech world….we produce factory model kids……I think we need to change…..quicker.

Friday afternoon at Oak Hill High School was a professional development afternoon.  So our students headed home around 12:30 and the teachers and administration stayed for an afternoon of what we hoped would be a beneficial discussion with a group of students.  The idea was very simple….the administration had asked a group of students to stay for the afternoon (of course they were bribed a bit with pizza) and meet with teachers to tell us what they see as good things that teachers do in the building and what things that maybe they don’t like.  Students met with the principal a few times before Friday afternoon and they were given the ground rules, which included not getting personal, which the kids did great with.  Also, it should be noted that the kids asked to take part in this “town hall meeting” ranged from Freshman to Senior and also ranged from academically gifted to academically challenged.  We wanted a varied group of students to try to represent all points of view.

So how did it go?  Well, my group of teachers met with two groups of students and the discussions were very good.  We actually wanted more time together than was allowed.  There was plenty of give and take between teachers and students and no one got offended, no one got upset, no one got personal and the dialogue was very good.  So what did students say……..They like or want things like the following list of points I wrote down from students:

1. On-line stuff is good
2. Paperwork is boring
3. Mix things up to keep it fresh
4. Tell stories and experiences to make it real
5. Teach us how to study (maybe a bit surprising for me)
6. Hands on stuff is effective
7. Don’t lecture all period

And even stuff like

1. Enforce the dress code….too much skin and too much underwear is seen (that from kids!!)
2. We like Oak Hill…..teachers care about students
3. The Relationship is more important than the subject matter
4. We like coming to Oak Hill…..for the most part

Overall, I think the afternoon was fantastic.  I am one that believes we should do this every year with students.  Are all of their comments good……no….but all of my lessons are not setting the world on fire either….but listening to the people we spend the most time with is something that I don’t think we do enough.  Professional Development afternoons can be some of the worst times for teachers in public education……yesterday however, it was one of the best.

I wanted to share my first experience of using The InQuizitor with my world history class.  First, designing the quiz.  I asked a student I thought would be interested in designing the quiz to help me.  He was very enthusiastic about doing so.  He made a quiz of 30 questions over 1 chapter of world history.  In those 30 questions he made a few questions for just “fun” but for the most part the questions focused on the material.  So, the first use of the game is the amount of effort and I would certainly say learning that my quiz maker experienced.  Second, the rest of the students who played the game.  Between, guys and girls both seemed to enjoy the game.  I heard quotes like, “this game is awesome even though I don’t know the answers.”  But what continued to happen is that student after student kept taking the quiz over and over again.  Which obviously exposes them to material again and again.  There was a lot of chatter in the room, even some trash talking between students and certainly some competition to see who could get the high score.  I heard jubilant shouts of “Yes, I got it right!”  I also heard collaberation in the room….a student would say outloud….who changed the religion of England……and someone would shout the answer.  Overall, the level of enthusiam was very high.  Of course this is the first time I have used it with entire classes but my first impression is outstanding.  I certainly think using The InQuizitor in the right setting and wth the right frequency in class will be very beneficial. 

Oak Hill High School recently acquired The InQuizitor from 3MRT Software.  The concept of the game is very simple.  So simple that at times people have questioned me as to why would I want to use a quiz game in the high school classroom.  Well my answer has multiple levels:

1.  High school kids like the simple stuff.  I will never stop being surprised by how much 16 year old kids like to color or use stickers.  This is very elementary type stuff but you certainly can argue that kids are motivated by this.  I have two students in class right now that compare the comments they get from me on papers.  They have arguements between themselves about which comment is better “nice work” or “well done”……quiz games are simple but kids love them.  Also, The InQuizitor has a built in reward system…..some simple video game type stuff…..from my generation things like Asteroids or Space Invaders.  But kids love this stuff.  Every person that I have been with while using the InQuizitor has loved the simple shooter games built into the quiz.

2.  Another reason I like the InQuizitor is that building a quiz is very simple.  This is an aspect of the game that I am getting ready to use with some students.  I am going to let them build a quiz or quizzes about our next chapter.  I have students that are excited about the opportunity.  It is certainly nice to see a student be excited about a project……and a project that they WANT to do.  That is really the power of gaming. …motivation.

3.  Quiz games are great because almost all teachers use them already.  It may be “quiz bowl” during football season….It may be Jeopardy or whatever.  But kids do like to show off what they know.  They like the competition and it certainly is a break from the normal routine of school. 

These three reasons explain why I like The InQuizitor.  You can read more and find out more about The InQuizitor from 3MRT software or following the link in the sidebar to We Are Teachers.

I recently read an article in THE Journal about 21st Century technology in the classroom.  The article focused on how the gadgets that are now available to kids are not the problem but the lack of manners that kids, and adults for that matter, have with the use of them.  In my school cell phones are supposed to NOT be seen during the school day.  We don’t fight a kid having a phone we just ask the kid not to use it during the school day.  But when the bell rings to end the day then kids are welcome to pull them out and text away.  That rule is fairly common these days and is well known in the school with kids and their parents.  However, I occasionally catch a kid with their cell phone out and they are reading and responding to a text.  Who is that text from……….well a lot of the time the text is from one of their parents.  Overall I am not offended by this exchange of information except when it is a disruption, which is rarely is.  So should our focus be on banning 21st century technology or should it be on educating kids when, how, and in what manner should these technologies be used? 

Just wanted to post and let anyone who is interested know that I have joined an online community called We Are Teachers.  You can link up to my page on the sidebar and check it.  The site is still in Beta stage but will soon be fully operational.  I will be discussing the use of games in education, sharing ideas, how I lesson plan with games etc…

Edubloggin Research

Jeff Felix, who is the Superintendant at Bonsall Union School District in Bonsall, California conducted some research on Edublogging while working on his PhD.  I am quoting a portion of an email I recieved from Jeff after his work was completed.  With full disclosure in mind, I was a part of his research group.  I am attaching a short version of his work at the top of this post.

“The study on teachers in the United States who are using blogging as an
instructional practice has finally been completed. The study shows that
teachers perceive a significant increase in student learning through
motivation for assignments and through deeper thought processes. Students
seem to enjoy the connectiveness of their work to other subjects and to each
other. This collaboration encourages a deeper relationship with their peers
and with the teacher. Other studies have shown these relationships produce
more student learning especially in minorities and students of low
socioeconomic backgrounds. It also seems that teachers see the benefits of
this practice. They have increased their use of blogging year after year,
which seems to show they feel blogging has great relevance as a classroom
tool.”  –Jeff Felix December 2007

I sent out my first mass text to students today.  The process was fairly simple.  I asked any kid that wanted to sign up for the texting reminders to give me their phone number and their provider.  I then created a group in my email address book.  Each number was entered with its appropriate email address.  For example 1234567890@vtext.com for verizon wireless.  A reader of this blog mentioned the website Twitter.com as a way to do this as well.  I did look into twitter and it certainly looks like an easy way to do this reminder idea.  A kid can sign up on their own and set preferences for their reminders.  They can get a text or an email reminder.  All I would do is log in to Twitter and post a message.  The the student would receive a text or email the choice is theirs.  But for this first round of texting reminders I am going with the email list. 

Today I have a large percent of students gone on a field trip.  So I sent a text to the group to remind them that our world history test is going to be on Tuesday of next week.  Now will any of this have an impact of student performance on the test?  But is that really the issue?  I am not sure how to answer that question.

Over the past few days I have been working on this idea of texting students reminders of important things.  My idea is to text a message to students the day before a test or when an assignment is entirely a take home assignment.  The later doesn’t happen with a lot of frequency in my class but does from time to time.  So I will not be texting kid for every little thing.  So I sent around a sign up sheet for kids to sign up.  The response was very good.  I had around 48% of my sophomore world history students want the text reminder.  The biggest reason for not signing up………don’t carry a phone.  My plan is to do this all via email.  I can set up a group email, which in all honesty will take me 10-15 minutes to type it all in.  Then when the reminder is to be sent I can write one email and send it to all of them.  Total time in a reminder……less than I have in this post…..probably 30 seconds.

Positives, Negatives and somewhere in between:  I have shared this idea with several teachers in the building.  The positives……a pro technology teacher said “Great idea, can I steal it from you?”  Absolutely you can.  We had a very good discussion about the good and the bad.  A teacher who is less tech friendly thought the idea was horrible.  That teacher said it takes away from the personal responsibility a kid should be developing to remember and complete their work.  That point is valid….although I don’t agree but it is a reasonable thought.  The middle of the road response came from an aid in our building that mentioned the personal responsibility issue but did not approach the entire discussion in a negative manner.  And thought the idea had some merit.  Well, the jury is out but like using games in the classroom I think texting will be viewed the same.  Those that embrace the technology will like the idea….those that don’t…..well they just won’t.  Will it be successful in my room?????? Time will tell.  Oh, and age is not a factor in the three opinions, or at least the way one might think.  The most negative of the group is the youngest of the group…..younger than me (39 yrs).

Well it is the middle of the night here in North Central Indiana.  I have sick children that have been up and I have given up on getting any significant sleep.  So in my early morning surfing of the net I came across this article from the Indy Star.  Indiana University is going to be doing some major research on how teachers use technology in their classroom and does it work when the do use it.  This news is exciting and I hope that I can at least fill out a survey for this project at some point.  Spending most of my formative years of post secondary education in Bloomington, Indiana I have a fondness for the campus and town.  I know there are many beautiful university settings but IU Bloomington has to rank right up there.  And for the IU Golf Course…..well they don’t get much better.  I spent some wonderful hours learning about self control instead of Environmental Policy on that course.  As a matter of fact my 3 Wood (metal) is probably still laying in the woods somewhere.

I had a thought…….which is a rare moment in my life.  Kids carry phones in and out of school.  When kids are on phones during the school day (which they are not supposed to be) they are texting.  So after a collection of homework yesterday in my world history classes…..which followed the basic trend of –if I assign work to be done at home– the return rate is very low.  I asked my classes what they thought of the idea of me texting them to remind them to do their homework.  That idea was met with an overwhelming YES.  Many kids said they didn’t do their homework simply because they didn’t remember.  Is that story legit?  Probably.  I thought that when I really need to remind myself to do something what do I do?  Well, I email myself at two different emails that I use.  So I see the reminder twice. 

Now what is the rock and hard place here.  Kids want the text message before the school day is out.  School policy  says NO PHONES during the school day.  If I text them prior to the end of the school day which is what they want so they can take their textbook home…..am I encouraging them to break school rules?  Would I be subject to discipline from the school just like they would be for using their phones during the day?  I am struggling with this one………..

Here is another game that I think is worth mentioning.  This game is designed for math and science but in my mind has some great social studies potential as well.  In essence a player travels in time to historical periods and then builds items such as drawbridges, pyramids, and irrigates farm lands.  The focus on math and science here is easy to see but I think the social studies link is worth it.  In my survey of world history course we cover all of this matieral.  We often talk about the technological advances that society makes and what better way to show students than with a game thats focus is the same.  I have had conversation with a representative from this company and I have been told updates are coming that will dovetail much better with history courses.  This one I am excited to see first hand!

http://www.software-kids.com/

  Screen Shot of Time Engineer

I wanted to share this game with the readers of this blog.  This is a quiz game with a built in reward system for students.  The game is very user friendly and is easy to see the positive uses for classrooms ranging from elementary to high school.  When purchased, the game comes with some preloaded quizzes but more importantly the teacher can make their own quiz for their own class.  So how it works is a student will sit down to play and the more questions they answer correctly and the faster they do it…..they earn more time to play a video game built into the software.  The games are simple but fun to play.  When time runs out then the student goes back to answering questions in the quiz.  The process can go on until time is up or questions are exhausted.  What I have seen to this point is that students will go back to take the same quiz again….answer more questions correctly….and faster…….increasing recall…….so they can play the games for a longer period of time.  I am working on getting this game for Oak Hill.  I will post updates as necessary.

http://www.inquizitor.com/

 Screen Shot of The Inquizitor