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Finland’s Edu System – Google Hangout Chat!
As an educator, I have often wondered about Finland’s educational system. For my entire life, Finland ranked #1. What are they doing that makes their system superior to ours? Today was my...
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Social Studies + STEM = Aqueducts Rebuilt!
As a social studies teacher, the importance of integrating social studies into STEM seems all to obvious. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics are all critical components of scientific...
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Ancient Roman Court Case Reopened!
Four defendants, four lawyers, 13 jurors, and one judge decides a 1700 year old Roman court case. Students played their roles perfectly. The case wasn’t simple. A slave went to the public square to...
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The power of a good tale…
In class today, students learned about the first triumvirate. While making the lesson, I asked myself, what is the best way to deliver the information? I decided to tell the story of these characters....
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Edcamp Chicago
On April 27, 2013 I went to my second Edcamp. The camp was another awesome professional development experience. I attended some great sessions and met some wonderful people. I wrote a post on my...
View ArticleClassroom Hacks! Changing your class.
When I attended Edcamp Chicago this past weekend I went to an unusual session on classroom hacks. When @joemacchia pitched the idea it caught my attention right away. He kicked the topic off with an...
View ArticleEdcamp Milwaukee… Home Town Fun!
I was really excited by Edcamp Milwaukee. It was awesome to have an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with fellow teachers in the area. I saw many people from previous Edcamps, faces from...
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Debate through a simulation… Matrix Based Simulations.
Today, students participated in the longest siege in English history, the Siege of Kenilworth Castle. The real battle lasted 9 months, but we finished it in under an hour. Representing the attackers...
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Illuminating the Past… Middle Ages Simulation
Simulation: Illuminating the Past! This week students experienced a unique one-day simulation. While studying the Middle Ages, my students learned about monks and monasteries. I thought it would be...
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HB Tech Fest
Tech Fest was a wild experience. I co-presented with Rory from Mumbai, India at Tech Fest in California. I did this digitally right here from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Rory and I planned for this event...
View Article1st GHO Community on Gamification
Gamification for Teachers by Teachers community G+ Community Session Notes Our first meeting of teachers talking shop about gamification. The hope is for these PD discussions to help us all develop...
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Survivor Renaissance
The Beginning… My first full year of gamification couldn’t go quietly into the night; it needed to go out with a bang. Survivor Renaissance was that big bang! Based on the show, students were...
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Building a Team
Each year, as teachers, we begin the school year with a new crop of students. Over the summer, we all thought long and hard about our classrooms. We carefully designed lessons, units, and grading...
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Tech tools for the gamified classroom.
Little over a year ago I started to work on my gamified classroom. When I started, I had little idea of what that word even ment. I spent a ton of time finding tools, apps, and really anything that...
View ArticleNCSS 2013 St. Louis
Once again, I am humbled by being selected to present at NCSS. As most of you know, I am passionate about the topic of gamification and I am pleased to say my session, titled The Multiplayer Classroom:...
View ArticleISACS 2013 – The multiplayer classroom.
Attending a conference outside your content, sorry WCSS and NCSS, is a powerful learning experience. Attending this conference I learned so many diverse thoughts that help shape me as an educator. I...
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Group Roles – Everyone is Important.
I was on Twitter today, and I came across the idea of group roles. Thinking more about it all day, this is what I came up with. Seven roles that clearly define what is expected of the student to lead...
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The Role of the Mini Game?
As many of you know, I have created a year-long, gamified storyline for my World History course. Students entered the Realm months ago. Since then, we have been fighting battles in Egypt, taking...
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Legocraft: Building the Past…
Eruption at Thera This year, I was fortunate enough to attend the National Council of Social Studies conference in St. Louis. The theme was appropriately dubbed “The Gate Way” to the west. It should...
View ArticleMy First PLAYDATE!
On Saturday, January 18th, I attend and “presented” at my first PLAYDATE. Downers Grove 58, #playdateDG58, held their second playdate. I would say it was a huge success. Here is a brief background on...
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