Commitment to Learning Never Ends

How committed are you to your student's learning? How far are you willing to go to help them? As I've alluded to numerous times, teaching is a performing art and it's important that you practice lots and learn to teach in different styles.  Watch how this Stanford faculty member and student get down to teaching the ATP / Kreb's Cycle and not just merely memorizing some facts. You will need to to put together a video to teach others all about Learning to teach PE like a Rockstar (accountability, standards, objectives, lesson plans, pedagogy, exergames, etc...).  I really like how the lyrics are scrolling along with the video and that can be done through YouTube or any video editing program.  I also suggest we pre-record the song and then shoot and edit the video. This is going to be great and we will showcase the video and a live performance at the end of the semester PE Talent Show.  Let's plan to really show what a great program PE is and how incredibly passionate and dedicated our students and faculty are.

The science rappers from Stanford are back. If you liked their take on regulatin’ genes, check out their new number on how the body converts food into energy. The song is performed by Derrick Davis, a student at Stanford, and Tom McFadden, an instructor in the human biology program there. Mr. McFadden (he’s the one wearing sunglasses and a plaid shirt in the video above) explained the project to me:

I’ve found that subjects like glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and the electron transport chain are some of the most feared and loathed concepts among people who’ve taken biology, mainly because some teachers emphasize memorization over concepts. Yet in reality, the way we turn “what we eat” into “what we do” is so relevant to everyone’s daily life that it ought to be inherently interesting. The video stylistically pays homage to two songs, “Hate it or Love it,” by 50 cent, and “On to the next one,” by Jay-Z. Once again, instead of bragging about stacks of cash we’re rapping about making “stacks” of ATP.”

 
http://www.educationalrap.com/music/science/
And here is the rest of it.

Interpretation as Inspiration

arning to teach is a lot like being a musician/singer and I've given you this analogy many times before. Think of the thousands of times a young artist sings a song or practices parts of songs, both by themselves then in front of a few close friends or family and then gradually if they're well received the audiences get bigger.  All the while you are interpreting the songs and notes in your own way, just the same way a young teacher interprets and executes lessons with their own style.  We are not asking you to invent anything revolutionary, but to interpret what is being made available to you. As we've told you before, to become a confident teacher you first have to realize that there are standards to be met and you have to be professionally accountable to these national and state standards of teaching and learning. Secondly, you MUST know your content.  If you don't know where you're going, how are you expected to guide your students and how much can they truly learn?

Lab A you got some practice starting a lesson, giving demos and getting people moving.  

Lab B1 is another chance for you to show you can master demonstrations (DEAD or Whole-Part-Whole), manage and organize your students, and provide meaningful feedback/intratask variation. (4 minutes). You are only teaching the one task that you are assigned at the bottom (simple) of the task progression.

Requirements:

- Demo

- Task - Cue - Challenge

- Feedback

- Intratask Variation

Optional

- Pinpoint

- Scaffolding

Lab B2 is a big step up because you are given 5 more complex tasks to know how to teach and we may ask you to teach any of the 5 tasks, which will force you to be ready and flexible. (6-7 minutes) 

 

Watch this clip from last season's American Idol and see what the great Smokey Robinson said about Adam Lambert's interpretation of one of his most famous songs.:

 "I love to hear other people's interpretations of my songs.  I've never heard The Tracks of My Tears sung like that, I've heard by a lot of people."  

SUNY Cortland PE Rockstars

Here is a great representation of what we do in EDU 255 and especially what happened this semester of PE Rockstar Training at SUNY Cortland.  It was compiled by Jack Murphy.  Please take a look at his blog for some of his many accomplishments and also follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

How Committed and Passionate Are You?

In quintessential Queen style, singer Freddie Mercury's presence is so powerful there is no doubt who is in charge or what he's communicating. Watch to see how he leads the audience, all 72,000 of them at Wembley Stadium in London. It was at this moment for me as a teenager that music started speaking to me and since that time sparked a love for music and performing. Out of all the performances by all the artists, this was the one performance that would never be topped. I remember sitting up to watch in amazement as the crowd (not a Queen concert crowd, mind you) was so in to each song, each other and most of all the moment. Oh to have been there!! Pay particular attention at 5 minutes and 23 seconds, when you can really see the entire audience clapping to Radio Ga-Ga. I still get chills watching that performance and listening to others describe how pivotal this performance was to the success of Live Aid and catapulting Queen's legacy into the stratosphere. How can one person, singing one song lead so many? What would possess people half a mile away to sing and clap along to a song? What qualities does he and others possess to inspire his audience? What and who inspires you? How do they do it? What is their message and what is the medium?

You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio

Watch in full screen-mode and crank up the volume. With little transition between songs 'Radio GaGa' and 'Hammer to Fall', watch and marvel at how Freddie uses a couple of syllables to charge the crowd up even more.


Here is a great news piece on Queen's rehearsal prior to Live Aid.


Queen (set list) - "Bohemian Rhapsody" (part), "Radio Ga Ga", "Hammer to Fall", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "We Will Rock You" (part), "We Are the Champions"

What about Danyl Johsnon's audition on X-Factor? Can you tell he was passionate, relaxed and excited to be performing? What do you look like in your initial micro-teaching episode? Can you see any excitement and enjoyment while teaching? How will you convey your interests in helping your students learn? Voice, body language, preparedness, confidence, props, calmness, etc...? How will you make your classes so that students want to come back and want to participate?

Please embed your video from our YouTube Channel - and write a reflection that answers some of the above questions along with what you think you did well and what you can improve.

"Whatever" it Takes

Hip Hop Doc (Dr. Rani Whitfield) and Dee-1 (middle school teacher) are on a mission and their message goes straight to the heart (literally and figuratively). From "Walking the Walk" to "Whatever" the duo have been on a mission to educate and motivate youngsters to live a healthy and active lifestyle (YouTube Channel). Truly inspiring and in education we call what the Hip Hop Doc does so well, is enlist the interests of his target audience - the youth that love Hip-Hop. Let it Flow Doc!

Leader of the Pack

Learning to teach with the "Firm but Warm" ideals is an art all unto itself. In a way it is also the same mantra for Cesar Milan (AKA - The Dog Whisperer). Casar takes the toughest cases of dog misbehavior and works tirelessly to "re-rehabilitate the dog" but "train the owners" - and NOT the other way around. What does he say about the importance of a) walking together (exercise), b) belief in yourself as the leader of the pack, and c) creating a pack to create harmony. Watch this video and leave a comment that best explains your reactions to Cesar's techniques and the parallel to teaching youngsters. If you want to see more of Cesar and his techniques and awesome effectiveness click on this YouTube playlist and National Geographic Channel.

Dream The Art of Possibility

@ Yahoo! Video

Benjamin Zander at Pop!Tech 2008: How Fascinating!

Benjamin Zander is indeed a Maestro in every sense. As the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, he lives and breathes his mantra of "The Art of Possibility" which opposes the tide of negativity, conformity, and the downward spiral. The question is, how will you "move" people into the world of "Possibility" and "take them to a place they couldn't reach without you?"

Describe in detail which "Rockstar" essential teaching elements that Zander demonstrates in his motivational speech? Be sure to include: a) at least five elements, b) with each element describe what Zander said or did, and c) what the effect was on the audience or the student.

Compare and contrast your teaching style and technique to Zander's. Can you describe in detail two elements you covered in your Lab C or D and three of Zander’s teaching elements/techniques you want to be able to do by the end of your 256 experience. How will these changes in your teaching affect your communication style, student learning, overall growth towards being an outstanding leader, and reduce student misbehavior?

[Via Presentation Zen, TED Talks, Benjamin Zander, ]

Motor development skits (Part 2)

Here is the second batch of class presentations from Motor Development - infant development (reflexes, fundamental motor skills, and perception).

Skit #1 "Push It" by Bart, Efraim, Mindy & Julie


Skit #2 "Fresh Prince" by John, Matt, Matt, & Rich


Skit #3 "Monster Mash" by Russ, Kaitlyn, Amanda & Andie



And here is the rest of it.

Alphabet Re-Mix

Teaching well requires you to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. The alphabet serves as a perfect example of an activity you can do to make it extra spicy. Even on Sesame Street, the simple alphabet plays an integral part of the overall mission of the TV series. And here is the rest of it.

Motor development skits (Part 1)

Here are the class presentations from Motor Development on infant development (reflexes, fundamental motor skills, and perception).

Skit #4 "ABC" by Julie, Brittany, Eric & Joe


Skit $5 "Every breath" by Care, Ryan & Sarah


Skit #6 "ChaChaSlide" by Melissa, Dan, Jason & Kris

And here is the rest of it.

Emoting before starting dance

It was amazing to watch this summer's So You Think You Can Dance Season 5. I liked it last season, but I was really drawn to the dancers' back stories, the choreographers' vision/message but most of all the high quality of the dancing. This was the first dance of the season and for new partners Joshua (popper) and Katee (modern), but it was hard to tell that Katee was dancing out of her element.

Entertainment Weekly voted this performance as the Greatest, but you could have also taken any of a handful of other Joshua and Katee dances. Enjoy!

1. Katee & Joshua's Hip-Hop
Season 5, Top 20, June 11, 2008

After clicking through clips of dozens upon dozens of routines for this list, the one that moves and impresses me most of all, even after repeated viewings, is easily this hip-hop number from the illustrious NapTab. A perfect match of story (a soldier telling his girlfriend he's going back to war), music (the Jordin Sparks/Chris Brown duet ''No Air'') and, most of all, the two dancers performing it — it ain't even a contest. Katee brought her technical finesse and deep feeling, and Joshua his preternatural talent and strength, and together they created a number that felt all of a piece, that transcended its steps, imbuing the movement with an uncomplicated humanism that is doubly impressive considering it was their first ever full performance on a nationally televised dance competition show. It's no wonder these two dominated so much of the season (and, in Joshua's case, this list), and in truth, their final routine together — an evocative Wade Robson number about a reconciling couple — could've made this list, too. But I figured two slots, including the very top, was a fitting recognition of this couple's accomplishments, and besides, nothing they or anyone else have done on So You Think You Can Dance has quite equaled the agile, eye-misting power of their earliest routine.

Moodstream

A new brainstorming tool called Moodstream was just released by Getty Images. It has a really slick interface to allow you to choose pictures, movies, and songs that convey a particular feeling, or emotion. Their goal is to "help guide your creative towards inspiring and unexpected directions." I also love scouring their other stock photo site iStockPhoto for pics that convey real meaning and depth.

A-O! Queen @ Live Aid = "Greatest Live Gig Ever"

In quintessential Queen style, singer Freddie Mercury's presence is so powerful there is no doubt who is in charge or what he's communicating. Watch to see how he leads the audience, all 72,000 of them at Wembley Stadium in London. It was at this moment for me as a teenager that music started speaking to me and since that time sparked a love for music and performing. Out of all the performances by all the artists, this was the one performance that would never be topped. I remember sitting up to watch in amazement as the crowd (not a Queen concert crowd, mind you) was so in to each song, each other and most of all the moment. Oh to have been there!! Pay particular attention at 5 minutes and 23 seconds, when you can really see the entire audience clapping to Radio Ga-Ga. I still get chills watching that performance and listening to others describe how pivotal this performance was to the success of Live Aid and catapulting Queen's legacy into the stratosphere. How can one person, singing one song lead so many? What would possess people half a mile away to sing and clap along to a song? What qualities does he and others possess to inspire his audience? What and who inspires you? How do they do it? What is their message and what is the medium?

You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio

Watch in full screen-mode and crank up the volume. With little transition between songs 'Radio GaGa' and 'Hammer to Fall', watch and marvel at how Freddie uses a couple of syllables to charge the crowd up even more.


Here is a great news piece on Queen's rehearsal prior to Live Aid.


Queen (set list) - "Bohemian Rhapsody" (part), "Radio Ga Ga", "Hammer to Fall", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "We Will Rock You" (part), "We Are the Champions"

JJ Abrams @ TED Talks: Mystery Box

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

Popper turned dance Phillip Chbeeb - SYTYCD 4

SYTYCD 4 contestant Phillip Chbeeb made it to the Vegas auditions last year but was eliminated mainly because he wasn't really a dancer and could not adapt and perform like the other contestants. As an engineering student, he practiced all year on his dances (mostly footwork) with Marvelous Motion Crew in Houston. If he can combine his new footwork with the "boneless/fluid" moves and his popping and locking - look out!

Telling a story through movement - Hok & Jaime - SYTYCD

Dance is a beautiful metaphor for teaching as it requires many of the same elements: 1) Performance - both are performance-based in that they are done in front of others. 2) Communication - communicating a message is the central goal to dancing and teaching, 3) Commitment - being passionate about what you're doing is so important as it can easily be seen by the audience/class. If you aren't excited and don't care about your subject...guess what...your audience will not either.

Fully committed & Articulating the Music

I love finding examples of performances that are totally inspiring in their own right, but also serve as a great metahpor for beginner teachers. The dance group JabbaWockeeZ , on this year's America's Best Dance Crew, is a prime example of commiting to a performance and it's fitting that they wear masks while performing. Another crew, BreakSk8 not only dance but perform on roller skates - come on, dancing is hard enough, but to do it on skates is another phenomenal skill. The performing arts, like teaching, must be done with full commitment to communicating a message to the audience.


Americas Best Dance Crew JabbaWockeez - MyVideo