# data[].attributes.body
it's not about how to teach or what tech we could use, we need to think what questions do these kids have?
what do they want to learn?
how can we help them figure it out?

# data[].attributes.body
`if i don`t hand it in...is it still good?'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Last week I listened to 14 educators from Ontario who were brave enough to stand in front of 100+ and give a five minute Ignite Talk. I am truly inspired by the passion that radiates from these fine folks. Members of the audience travelled from afar, some even came after work just to listen before returning home to teach the next day.

What an amazing ignite event put on by #fcledu @FCLEdu pic.twitter.com/EsVptAV6ID

- royan🌶 (@royanlee) April 28, 2017

While each speaker deserves their own blog post recognition, I haven't stopped thinking about Jen Giffen's talk. It was evident Jen was prepared and confident. She commanded the room like I imagined she would there and in her classroom. Jen spoke of previous experiences with a particular student, and in many ways I could relate. Jen and this student had been working diligently on an assignment for days for a particular class but when the deadline approached, the student did not submit his work. Furious, Mrs. G tracked him down and in her words "went up one side and down the other" in front of his peers. I imagined him sitting in another class, head down, perhaps hiding behind a hood. I imagined this student wishing time away only to be able to escape the fear, anxiety and ridicule he was attempting to avoid. What could possibly have happened to make him avoid handing in what he had been passionately working on with the support of Mrs. Giffen?

With his head down she heard him mumble.

Confused, she continued to pry, furious that he was defiant.

What breaks my heart about this story is the notion of this student's best work not being considered good enough. He poured his heart, blood, sweat and tears into this assignment but feared the outcome. I imagined that school was not a great experience for this individual and I wondered if he might have received negative feedback on routine occasions.

Listening to Jen, I felt devastated.

How many students have I made feel this way?

What could I have done differently?

How can we rethink evaluation so that students feel confident in moving through the learning cycle rather than fear the endpoint?

How do we motivate a student whose best work is only a C?

Are grades purposeful or hurtful?

Can we value feedback over grades?

I'd like to dedicate this post to this student. Whoever you are, wherever you are please know that your decision that day has made an impact on me as an educator. While I cannot change your experiences at school, I promise to do my very best to make them better for next year's class.

Thank you, Jen. Truly inspiring.

Follow Jen Giffen and her work on twitter @VirtualGiff as well as on her blog http://virtualgiff.blogspot.ca.

(Visited 598 times, 5 visits today)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
If I Don't Hand in My Work, It Is Still Good

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Last week I listened to 14 educators from Ontario who were brave enough to stand in front of 100+ and give a five minute Ignite Talk. I am truly inspired by the passion that radiates from these fine folks.

# data[].attributes.headline
teacher maker coder blogger innovator learner 

# data[].attributes.subject
teacher maker coder blogger innovator learner 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"Brian Aspinall is highly respected and considered one of the brightest STEM innovators in Canadian education. Recently he was awarded the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence for his work with coding and computational thinking.

# data[].attributes.body
Would you want to be a student in your school?

# data[].attributes.body
Brian also talks a lot about teaching coding, and moving kids beyond the hour of code, he has introduced the idea of the hour of curiosity. A set of lessons Brian has created for any teacher to use, to get students thinking computationally.
www.hourofcuriosity.com

# data[].attributes.body
Brian talks a lot about changing his teaching practice, and the culture of teaching...he wants to excite kids and make them love learning, love school...and teach them what they love. Brian talks about exploiting kids for their strengths, not focusing on their weaknesses (or next steps).
Why are we focusing on helping kids get better at what they are struggling with, rather than helping them getting better at what they are already good at?
Brian says- he didn't go to university for computer science because he loved writing...so why are we trying to fit kids into the box we have, rather then letting them create themselves?

# data[].attributes.body
http://brianaspinall.com/

# data[].attributes.body
@mraspinall

# data[].attributes.body
Brian`s youtube channel

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I am a teacher, learner and Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert Fellow who develops web applications to support 21st century learning practices and pedagogies. My latest project, edmettle, is a tool to support and develop student feedback to improve learning. I speak professionally on the topics of 21st century education, assessment and evaluation and have given three TEDx talks on education reform.

# data[].attributes.body
It`s been fun & fascinating following Brian for the past few months!
I have learned  a lot & will continue to follow what he is up to...I hope to transform my teaching and school culture based on his example.