Students Think They Know Tech, But Do They?

It has been my experience from teaching classes that require students to use technology frequently, that they think they know how to do everything with technology, but have a limited skill set. It is our job as educators, no matter what subject we teach, to demonstrate and practice these necessary 21st century skills with students as much as possible when applicable. Having these skills are just as important as being able to solve an algebraic equation in today's workforce.

1. Email: During the first week of school, I show students how to set-up and use their email. Many have never used it before because they communicate via text for almost everything. In the business world, email is still the most preferred way of communication. Students need to understand the importance of giving a subject line, how to compose a professional email and attach documents. I have them during the first week send me an email about their short and long term goals. The email has to be perfectly spelled with an appropriate subject line and attachment. They need to understand that spelling mistakes in an email can be seen by anyone who shares it and can cost them a job!

2. Digital note-taking: Some students really enjoy taking notes by hand, while others if given the opportunity would utilize a program such as Evernote to organize and collect thoughts from a lecture. Showing students the apps and programs that are available for them to take notes through allows them to be exposed to how college students and adults take notes when at a conference or meeting. Taking notes digitally is much easier to organize and save in a safe and secure place! 

3. Organizing digital files and documents: It amazes me when students go to save a document for the first time A: don't know how to save it, B: Where to save it to, and C: What to name it. We use the Cloud (Skydrive) to store all of our files now and students need to be taught where to save them, how to create folders for classes, and what to name them. I had a student last year name all his files by his name. When he went to find his resume, it took forever. The old saying goes" It is better to do it right the first time than waste time doing it again."

4. How to search effectively: Search engines can be complicated if one has never been taught search operators, how to look out for ads and narrow search content. To many students when asked to find something, type the whole sentence into the search box! There is a lot of great info on the web but also a lot of junk. Teaching students how to effectively search is a huge time saver and skill to have.

5. Google Docs: I use Google Docs for almost every team project we do in my classes. Reason: There is no better tool in my opinion to communicate and collaborate with when working on a group assignment. Students love working on a report or presentation where they can see each other doing the work. It is extremely powerful. Not only can students work together at the same time, they can create and share documents that can be accessed from anywhere. No more excuses why the paper didn't get completed! Not to mention it makes my life a lot easier when grading. I love giving comments in Google Docs and allowing them to see and fix them immediately!

Essentially, teaching these skills in our classes will not only better prepare students for the professional working world, it will save you time in your classroom this year. Feel free to comment and add any that I missed. Thanks!

-Rob Donatelli

A Year In Reflection: When Opportunity Knocks, Kick The Door Down

As I was gearing up for year two of my teaching career at Northern Lebanon School District in August, I was as excited as ever to start a new school year. With year one under my belt, I knew all of the staff fairly well and had terrific students on my rosters. My room was set-up for success and the technology was ready to roll. About a week before school, I received a few texts and calls from several of my friends/former teachers at my alma mater high school, Dallastown in York, PA. One of my former teachers in the business department had been promoted to assistant principal and there was an opening. Teaching at Dallastown has always been one of my dreams because in my opinion it is one of the best school districts in the state of Pennsylvania for education and helping students prepare to move onto the next level. It is also where I attended high school and working there would allow me to be much closer to my fiance as we begin our lives together as a family. The problem was, I was very happy at Northern Lebanon. The staff and students were a blast to work with and I was really drawn to culture. I wasn't even going to apply for the interview if it hadn't been for so many of my family and friends support.

After much reflection and coaxing, I did decide to apply, take an interview, and landed my dream job as a business and computer science teacher at Dallastown Area School District! This year has provided me with many opportunities to do amazing things with my students which I am so thankful for. Though it was only year two of my teaching career, every year matures you, teaches you wisdom, and helps you become a better teacher. Here are some things I learned from year two of teaching:

1. As a teacher, you are a salesperson. It doesn't matter what subject you teach, if you can't sell the relevancy in what you are trying to get the students to learn, they won't care. In everything we do, we need to show meaning. Having meaning translates into results.

2. Every year you will deal with tough kids. Instead of whining about them and complaining to yourself, seek them out, embrace them, and believe in them. Many times, you are the only one who will. Yes they will try your patience, but instead of throwing them out in the hall or sending them to the office all of the time, be the role model they need in their lives. Show them what is right and what is wrong. Let them know you expect better out of them. You may not see the results this year, but they will remember you and hopefully you will have taught them more than a definition, you have taught them how to be more respectful and polite.

3. Provide real opportunities as much as you can for your students. This year I was able to take my students to York College to see entrepreneurship in action, students presented their business plan to business executives from the community, they had guest speakers from all departments of business, we went to the Harrisburg Capital to show-off student work at the technology expo, and students in FBLA had the opportunity to compete at regionals and states. Yes this requires a lot of work to set-up, but your students will remember the experiences they had, not the lectures you provided. 

4. Celebrate success as much as you can. Many students in today's society suffer from a lack of self esteem. Anytime you can, celebrate something great a student has done. It can be a sticky note that says "I really appreciate you in my class, keep it up!" or a student of the month board, or a positive call home. It is not enough as educators to just teach, we must build, encourage, and celebrate success!

5. Be willing to go out of your comfort zone. There was an opportunity to present to the teachers of my school during an in-service this year on engaging students and I jumped on it. As a young teacher, this was a challenge especially since many of the ones in my session taught me when I was in high school. I was definitely out of my comfort zone but when you push yourself to do things you don't feel comfortable doing, you grow as a person and are willing to take more risks.

6.  Change is the only constant in life. This year at Dallastown, we have a new principal who has strong visions to be one of the premier districts in the nation in 5-10 years. In order to do that, we have to change and get better. There will  always be the people who are happy with the status quo, but those are often the ones who are left behind when the ship sets sail from port to find the riches and treasures. Don't miss boarding the boat. Change, grow, and adapt. If you don't you may be left behind waving at the ship!

7. Build strong alliances with those who share your vision. Some may be in your school, some may not, but find those who build you up, brainstorm with you, and share ideas. No matter how many years you have been teaching, you can always do things better and learn new tricks. Be you, because no life is worth living if it isn't your own, but also be open to the fresh ideas of others.

8. If you want to be a great teacher, simply love kids and understand where they are. When you show them you care about them as a human and not just a number in your classroom, that is where you build relationships and can change lives. We have one of the most important jobs in the world, never take it for granted! 

I hope all of you take time this summer to reflect on your school year, recharge your battery, and come back fresh for the 2014-2015 school year. Your school and students need your passion and energy. Thanks for all you do teachers!

-Rob Donatelli

How I Turned Flappy Bird Into A Leadership Challenge & Lesson

The craze this week at school has revolved around a new app/game called Flappy Bird. The concept is simple. You touch the screen to make the bird go up and fly. If you don't keep tapping it, he will fall to the ground and crash. Your goal is to get him through two green pipes without hitting them. Everytime he gets through a pipe, you get a point. If he hits a pipe, he dies. The game has no end. The goal, get through as many pipes as possible and beat your high score. 

Students have been competing against each other during breaks, study halls, etc. It is highly addicting and a lot of fun for such a simple game. As an advocate of gamification in education, I asked myself how I could use Flappy Bird in my class? I came up with HUMAN Flappy Bird!

Before the students arrived Friday, I arranged the tables in my room in a different order for each row so it would replicate the green pipes the bird has to go through. As students entered, I had on the board that our warm-up today was "Human Flappy Bird." Students were very confused, yet intrigued at the same time. As class started, I informed the students that after playing Flappy Bird, I have discovered at least 3 things playing the game can teach us about being successful in life and that we were going to play Human Flappy Bird!

I asked for two volunteers and made everyone push their chairs in and move to the side of the room. The challenge was for one person to be blindfolded and flap their arms like a bird while their partner tried to guide them through the tables without hitting anything. All they could use was their voice. Throughout the entire day, the high score for the fastest group to make it all the way through was 42 seconds. Some teams did great because they communicated what they wanted their partner to do very well. Others crashed and burned becuase they didn't communicate what they wanted specifically and in detail.

After a few teams went, I asked the class what can Flappy Bird teach us about being successful in life? How can this simple game have meaning? Below are three of the best ones they came up with:

•  It teaches us about patience and focus. In order to get a higher score and do well, you need to be patient and focused. Just like in life, pateince and focus are important leadership traits.
• It teaches us that when we fall down, we need to get back up and try again until we succeed.
• It teaches us how to be relentless. Don't be satisfied with having a score of 20 when you can achieve a score of 25. Never settle until your good is better and your better is best!

When it comes to teaching, we always need to keep it fresh with kids and think about what will get them excited to learn. Through doing this activity as a warm-up, the students were
excited for the rest of the class and brought a lot of energy to
their ideas and participation.

Midway Teachers: Get Energized to Finish Strong!

Congratulations TEACHERS! You have made it through the first half of the 2013-2014 school year. Hopefully you had a lot of fun, grew as a person, and felt like you made a difference! As we reach this midway point, it can be tough to be as motivated as you were back in August to give your best for your students everyday. Sometimes you feel tired, unmotivated, feel in a rut, run out of creativity, etc. It happens to even the best! I wanted to share some ideas with you that will hopefully provide that motivation and energy to finish the year stronger than you started it. Below is a list things you can do right now to ENERGIZE your thoughts and CREATIVITY for the rest of the school year. Please feel free to add more and always remember why you teach and why you went into the profession. Your students will not remember what you taught them, but they will forever remember how you made them feel...

1. Take a period or two to observe other teachers in your building. I know time is precious as a teacher but it is refreshing to see what others are doing. Who knows, you may have some fun and learn something new you could use in your classroom? It doesn't matter if you have been teaching for 5 years or 20, you can always learn a new trick! 
   
2. Do something fun with the people you work with. As a teacher, especially in a larger district, it is hard to get out and really build relationships with other teachers. Get people together for a dinner one night, ask people to do a Mudd Run, take a trip somewhere. It is relaxing and enjoyable to do something fun with other people you work with! If not the people you work with, join an organization and meet new people that you can build a positive network around.
3. Join Twitter and get involved in a Twitter Chat for educators. Each week, there are over 100 different education chats happening on Twitter where professionals talk and discuss all topics in education. CLICK HERE for a list of all the chats, dates, and times. I am amazed at all the wonderful ideas that are shared and relationships that can be built!
   
4. Go to a conference OR take a class. As you read this, I am sure some of you are yelling at me. Conferences are a great way to meet new people, network, and learn. I am very much looking forward to presenting and attending the PETE & C conference in Hershey, PA in February. Secondly, taking classes can be tedious due to the amount of time we have in a day, but continuing to learn new things is rewarding. It inspires us to get better! Taking a class doesn't just have to be education related; it can be cooking, fitness, learning how to do something new, etc.
5. READ!!! It is easy to come home after work, eat dinner, and plop down on the couch and watch TV. The most successful people in this world read everyday. Feed your brain. It is just as important as taking care of your body. You are what you think and put into your mind! CLICK HERE for a list of the best education books to read. 
6. Call your students parents with positive phone calls. How many of us actually do this? Parents love it and you will feel good about doing it. I challenge you to call five parents a week with a positive phone call. It will make you feel great about what you do.
   
7.  EXERCISE!!! If you aren't exercising at least a 3-5 times a week, you are doing your students a disservice. That sounds unfair but the more you exercise, the more energy and creativity you will have to give to them and your family. I am not going to tell you what to do or how to do it, but as Nike's slogan states, "JUST DO IT."

Thank you for all you do. Teaching is a hard job but a job where you get to impact lives everyday. It is all in your attitude and outlook! Get better everyday and never rest until your good is better and your better is best...

-Rob Donatelli
@DTown_MrD

The Challenge Is YOU: Bring ON 2014!

Another year has come and passed. 2013 was full of awesome experiences and challenges for myself. I finished my first year of teaching, got engaged, bought a house, and landed my dream job at my alma mater. It was a lot of steps in one year but steps that have made me into a better, more well rounded person.

As a new year approaches, I always try and reflect on what do I want to accomplish/get better at? My goal for 2014 is to challenge myself to go where I have never gone before. To be bold, daring, and willing to challenge my mind and body in ways they have never been. We has humans have an innate ability to want to stay the same. We are creatures of habit. 2014 for me is all about breaking the habit and challenging myself to be my best. We never get time back in life. Make the most of today so you have no regrets tomorrow!

My challenge to myself is in three core areas: fitness & health, relationship, and education. I can't prevent death, but I can sure as heck lower its odds! With getting married this summer, it is important to work on the most important relationship I have in life, my wife. Lastly, wisdom in life only comes from experience and learning. I look to enrich my mind with classes and experiences that will make me a stronger and wiser person in the mind.

What are you doing to challenge yourself in 2014? Did you make a plan? Goals? Remember, we either get better or worse each day, the choice is yours!  To a happy and healthy 2014! 

-Rob D

An Hour of Code! You Game?

December 9-15 marks computer science education week in our nation. Computer Science Education Week.org has partnered with Code.org, Scratch, Tynker, LightBot, and other successful programming and coding wizards such as Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and others alike to create fun, engaging, and interactive web based tutorials that teach students the basics of programming and coding. Their mission is for ALL teachers during the week to take ONE HOUR of CODE time out of their usual lessons to let students walk through the tutorials and learn how to program a game, app, holiday card, and much more! At the end of the hour, students can print a certificate that states they completed one hour of code. To learn more visit http://csedweek.org/learn OR http://code.org 

As a business & computer science teacher, I felt I had to jump on this great learning opportunity for my students for several reasons. One, programming and coding is where the jobs are in the future. Two, being able to program is an extremely valuable skill in the workforce. Three, students are very interested in their technology, yet many do not know how it works. “Every person in this country should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think.” –Steve Jobs 

For these reasons, I decided to take a day out of my classes to let the students explore and walk through the tutorials. If you are interested in what I am doing with my lessons, please click the links below. I recommend the first one if you only want to do a day or two, because it touches on the basics of programming. If you want to take more time, let the students pick an option of which tutorial they want to complete.

Many schools DO NOT teach these skills yet programmers and coders are the ROCKSTAR's of our society. They are the ones that make all of the awesome technology work. These are skills that can’t be ignored. Who knows…maybe after an hour of code, your students will want to finish the tutorials and find a passion and career path in life!  

Check out some of the following lessons: 

LESSON #1: Intro tutorial with stages

LESSON#2: Student options with different tutorials

15 Lessons I Learned From My First Year of Teaching

The 2012-2013 school year sparked my first year as a professional teacher and I must say it was a fantastic journey from start to finish. I learned a lot, met a ton of great people, and grew as a person. Below are some of the most important lessons I learned this year. Feel free to comment and add any that you think are important things teachers should know or do. Thanks.

1. Be different: You are unique because you are you! Everyone has different personalities, teaching styles, and strengths. Understand and use them in your classroom. Don't be scared to not be normal. I had a student tell me at the end of the year that I was one of his favorite teachers because I was weird. Intrigued I asked the student, "how do you mean?" He said, "I mean that you are always happy, positive, care about us and always seem excited to be here. I am not used to that."
2. If lecture and notes are your only teaching strategy, please change it up: It has been said that the average students attention span is that of their age. If you are lecturing for over 20 minutes, you have already lost your students. I have found that when I break a 45 minute lesson up into three parts, the students are much more focused and ready to learn. Also, lecture and note taking only reaches one type of learner; analytical according to researcher Dr. Robert Sternberg. It fails to reach the learners who learn best from practical and creative application. 
3. Network like crazy: I was very fortunate to attend a technology conference in Hershey this year where I met a ton of great teachers who actually ended up helping me through parts of this year with ideas and content. Also, if you are not on Twitter, every night of the week there are several education Twitter chats that take place where educators from around the globe gather to discuss emerging trends, current issues, and share fantastic ideas. Through networking and building my personal brand, I met a ton of outstanding people that I know I can count on when I need help or have a question.
   
4. Strive to meet the needs of all learners: In education, if we are not striving to meet the needs of all learners, we are failing them. Twenty or so years ago it was acceptable for teachers to teach one way and expect all student's to get it. We now know that every child learns differently. Differentiating based on student learning profiles, interests, and readiness needs to be a more common practice amongst all teachers. Yes it takes time to differentiate, but by differentiating you are hopefully helping learners maximize their potential.
5. Don't take it personal: One of my strengths yet sometimes a weakness is I care a lot about my students. I want to see them do their best and reach their full potential. Every once in a while you will run into an "immovable force" that no matter what you do, you can't get him or her to give a darn about your class or school. As educators, we have to remember that more times than not, it is not us, rather something we can't control. Continue to give choices, don't give up on the student, and don't take it personal.
6. Set high expectations: I think back to my student teaching experience with Carolyn Cusick at Upper St. Clair High School in Pittsburgh. That woman demanded a lot of me as a student teacher and she had set really high goals and expectations for her students. I learned that students will only reach the level you set for them. Push students to do their best, challenge them, and make them solve real world problems. They may at times moan and groan but if you did it right, they will thank you later.
7. Be a master at time management: As a teacher, you have a lot on your plate. Between lesson planning, creating assignments, grading, managing student and parent relationships, and taking care of other minor things, you need to be a master at managing time. Time is precious, don't waste it. The better you are a managing your time, the more time you have to enjoy your students, co-workers, and personal life. Everyday make a list of several things you must get done and set times where you can work on them.
8. Understand where the kids are: Students today, especially in middle and high school live in a digital world. They text, Tweet, Facebook, Instigram, Snapchat, Vine, play video games, etc. If we are making students do worksheets with pencil and paper all day, everyday, they will hate school because that is not where they live. Like it or not, we compete for their time and attention. If we are not incorporating technology into the curriculum, students will have a major disconnect with school. There are so many great sites, software, and apps to use in class. Use them within the context of your lessons. Your students will appreciate it!
   
9. Reflect and grow constantly: As a first year teacher, I don't feel like I had a lot of time to reflect on anything because I was so busy worrying and planning for the next thing. Next year, I plan to keep a digital journal using Evernote. The great thing about reflection is it allows us to grow. I also learned that sometimes the only way to really learn how to deal with certain situations is to go through them. Every experience you have makes you smarter and wiser.  
10. Build rapport and give positive phone calls: When I first got hired, my boss asked me to call  all 120 students parents/guardians with a positive phone. I set a goal to call all of them by Christmas. It did two things for me. One, it gave me a better rapport with my students and it built a positive reputation amongst parents. I was lucky not to have one negative parent interaction all year.
11. Attitude is a powerful thing: One thing I expect my students to have when they enter my classroom is a positive attitude. Attitude is power and I try to display a positive one everyday for my students. On my mid-year surveys, I asked the students what are two things you like about this class. Over half said they enjoyed my positive attitude and energy. Students thrive of energy and they remember those who entertained not bored to death.
12. Be an innovator and make yourself valuable: One of the many great things about education is you constantly get to be an innovator and help others. This year I started the TCOT (Teacher Collaboration On Technology) Committee. Each month I would host a meet-up where teachers would come in and we would share things that we were doing with technology. It was a great way learn from each other and discuss ideas on how to increase student performance anduse of technology in the classroom. Secondly, volunteer for events and get involved. Students love to see your faces at anything they do outside of the classroom.
13. Don't be scared to ask for help: I was very lucky my first year to have a great mentor in Brad Reist who helped me all of my "rookie" questions. Not only him, but many of the other staff were great in helping me get the answers I needed. Never be scared to ask for help because help is always available.
    
14. Take time for yourself: Again, there is not a lot of "free time" your first year of teaching. You are constantly doing school work and planning. As much as we want the best for our students and want to be great, you have to remember that it is a job and you and your family need attention. Make sure you take a day off to get away from school and re-charge the battery. It helps a ton with your attitude and energy levels.
15. Until they know how much you care, they don't care what you know: If you are in education, it is a good probability that you love working with kids. Make sure your students know how much you care about them and really get to know them as people. It makes it much easier to teach and they care a lot more about your class.