Hey welcome everyone,
This topic has left me inspired and with unanswered questions SO, after reading please don’t forget to leave responses.
I’ll start by addressing the creative style that is offered by “HackSchooling” ideas. How many appreciate the value of inviting students or children into the planning of their lessons?
If you answered, yes why not embed a math lesson or maybe even a social studies lesson into a day of outdoor adventure?Let’s increase the learning challenge. How about both math, S.S. and add in an earth science lesson to the outdoor activity? PE is in the activity it’s automatically covered along with citizenship i.e.; fees paid, safely abiding by rules of engagement with others and likely being environmentally cautious. How creative is that? Personally, this is the way I dream of planning and executing my lessons but then I have to reason with myself. How can this be implemented on a large scale in my area?
Healthy living is another valid topic that is crucial to learners’ success. Logan LaPlante, the young man who delivers the Ted Talk shares 8 key domains or TLS’s of healthy living (shown above). He is absolutely correct when he says not all kids live healthy lifestyles. We adults are aware that we cannot provide healthy environments for each child outside of schools. Despite that, we can offer them opportunities within the institution to experience “time in nature” or positive ways to manage stress. I know field trips are offered on occasion but everyday structured experiences for practicing healthy lifestyles in school is the type of ‘happy’ environment that is sought by “hackschooler’s”
Coupled with my last statement, I have unending gratitude for teachers, administrators and support staff who day in and day out offer ways for students to get exercise, nutritious foods and experience healthy relationships.
Moving back to this young man’s talk about creativity, his ideas sparks a desire in me to allow students creative freedom. Not in place of but rather as a supplement to core curriculum. I wonder though, about education laws, meeting standards and governance when considering “HackSchooling”? Maybe some of you can offer insight?
How can this be implemented more abundantly in public schools? What are the hidden benefits to the students attending public schools? Will this approach work in rural areas?
The “HackSchooling” screen snip above shows 4 elements of this topic, 3 of which are valued and used in the schools that I work in.
- Consistently I see technology used the internet is open to every student and individual laptops dispersed and cell phone use is not frowned upon.
2. Health classes are offered and signs in high traffic areas that promote healthy lifestyles are in place.
3.I listen to announcements over the intercoms and read flyers that are sent home enticing the students to get involved with various community events and special groups.
Yet, how do we financially and within the constraints of time find ways to encourage and grow more creativity?
Raising Awareness about Human Trafficking 
You have made some awesome points here. Cross-curricular activities are so great when you have students who may be reluctant to learn a certain subject or are just struggling to get your whole class motivated. I am a physical education major and I have learned so many ways to incorporate math, reading, spelling, and other subject areas into my PE lessons. Incorporating student interests into lessons will definitely get learning going, How will you, as a teacher, find out your students’ interests and incorporate them into your lessons in the classroom?
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Hi,
As matter of fact I just published a post that included ways of capturing my students’ attention while using a Ted Talk, maybe you can read it and give me some feedback?
https://wordpress.com/post/onci2015.wordpress.com/1787.
In addition, I will of course establish relationships with my students. One other way I as a Social Studies major to engage students is to learn about the cultures of my students. I will than be able to relate content to culture.
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Getting the government to realize the importance of holistically education a child seems like an unachievable feat. However, if we don’t try to implement something like this in the public school system, I fear that people might find other ways tor receive that holistic education, just like LaPlante did. As a teacher, I know it is possible to do. All we need is the backing and support from others to make it happen!
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I wondered the same thing! I am new to education, so you really envision holistic schooling possibility. Thank you for the bright outlook!
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I feel like hack schooling is a positive way to enforce creativity and innovation in every day life and not just in the school system. However, I feel like a great way to teach this in the school system is to start with the 8 principles of happiness and work your way towards creating happy, healthy innovative and creative kids. To me, the best way to teach is to set a clear, positive example and not only make yourself appear healthy and happy but also bring creativity and innovation to each class that you teach. Inspire them.
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What is the first way you would use “hacking” in class?
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Be a model of it. I’m going into Mathematics education so for example. Instead of Starting class by saying today we are going to start solving algebraic expressions… I could start it off by saying. “This weekend I wanted to sell a bunch of my old clothes that don’t fit me anymore so I could by some new ones without feeling guilty. I have like 10 pairs of jeans I want to sell for $20 each and 20 dress shirts for $5 each. How much money will I make if I sold all of them?” – Real Life example. It’s math, but it’s not saying those bland blahhh words like “algebra” that nobody likes to hear. Carry it out from there.
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I think that when we include other topics into a math lesson like social studies, students are going learn so much more and grow that much more as a learner. I agree that we don’t always have a way of helping students outside of the school, but that just means that its that much more important that we provide them the best opportunities and as much healthy food as we can. Its also important that we let the students know that they can come to us with any problem or situation they are going through and we will always do our best to help them as much as we can.
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