I just responded to the Classroom 2.0 post Teaching DNA from a science teacher who shared, “I'm looking for a website available to students that can answer some of their questions about DNA. That will conceptualize DNA, and allow them to look through the material at their own pace. It can’t be too technical, and I would like it to help spur their interest in the subject.”
As a recent subscriber to 23andMe (whose tagline is, “Genetics Just Got Personal”), I had to chime in. I know that personally, I never retained much of anything I learned in science class because little of it was hands on, and wasn’t taught in a way that allowed me to see how it pertained to my life in a way I needed to care about.
As an adult, when I heard about 23andMe I became extremely excited at the potential to unlock the secrets of my own DNA. As an innovative educator I also reflected on what a powerful learning tool this could be for students interested in this field. Of course there are cost and legal factors that are obvious barriers, but innovative educators don’t let things let things like that stop them.
For those not in the know, 23andMe was selected as Time magazine's "Invention of the Year” and was recently featured on Oprah. It allows you to access and unlock the information contained within your DNA. This means that you will be able to learn about your medical proclivities as well as your true genetic ancestry.
So, how can this be used in the classroom? Even without sending in your DNA for sampling 23andMe puts a lot of the study of genetics and ancestry into context in a way that is more interesting and compelling then what I ever learned in school. The website provides a collection of educational materials to guide educators and learners on a personal journey of genetic discovery. Here are some of the great learning resources 23andMe offers to enable visitors to discover the world of genetics.
A great place to start with students would be with the Variations section which highlights stories of famous people and how their genes affected them. This can be tied to an activity where students reflect on how they think their genes may have shaped who they are or will become. Here is a peak into what that part of the site contains.
Variations
Our genes help shape us from the moment of conception, but they are far from the only determinant of who we are. 23andMe's Variations series explores the human experience through personal stories of the ways genetics touches our lives.
Once you’ve peaked students interest, it’s time to get down to some details about genetics. The site has an area called Genetics 101 which features a variety of easy to understand animated videos. Here is what you will find there.
Discover how your observable traits, or phenotypes, are the result of interactions between your genes and environment.
The site also has a connection to history and geography. This is a great resource for teachers focusing on history, social studies, ancestry, or geography. Here is what you will find.
Human Prehistory 101
These videos follow the path of our human history from the birth of our species in Africa to the present day.
Find out how our human story begins, nearly 200,000 years ago in Africa.
Part 1: Out of (eastern) Africa (coming soon)
Learn how humans traveled out of Africa for the first time.
There are also Genetics Guides on the site. These guides are a useful resource about some basic concepts that come up around ancestry and genetics. They serve as a valuable reference for people who are new to the study of genetics and ancestry. The guides include: Key Words About Genetics and Key Words About Ancestry.
I should be getting my 23andMe results soon and I am very excited about what I might learn. I think I’m most interested in the nature vs. nurture personality traits, but also, possible medical issues. I’ll be sure to post on what I find along the way.
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Facebook has surged in popularity not only as a social ground for students, but also as a meaningful networking tool for innovative educators. Joining a social network is becoming less of an option and more of a necessity for success in the 21st century education arena.However, I’m sure like me, many of you know a few holdouts who hesitate to accept your Facebook me! invitation for fear that others (colleagues, students, mom, etc.) will be able to peer into their lives. The non-adapters, resistant to hop aboard, unfortunately, may have another fear to confront as the tide moves ahead without them.
Here's why....
Innovative educators and leaders understand that a digital existence and savvy-ness is moving on the pendulum from novelty to requisite. The inability to operate in the digital environments in which our students (and a growing number of peers) flourish is being seen more and more as a weakness.Individuals without a digital presence and literacy who are unable to interact and navigate these waters are considered, by some, "washed up,” “out of touch,” “irrelevant.”For innovative educators, our clients include our students and not being in touch with how our clients operate is career suicide. Furthermore, Facebook provides educators with an amazing window and communication vehicle into the lives of our kids.
Because social networking sites like Facebook have a learning curve, those without a developed network and fluency with apps, settings, etc. are seen by many as already behind. Being digitally illiterate and lacking the ability to successfully navigate the 21st Century social and professional environment is quickly becoming an insurmountable liability. Innovative educators who are savvy networkers know it takes some time to learn the ins and outs, develop friends, grow your network, find the right groups, and learn appropriate procedures, practices, and protocols. Furthermore innovative educators understand and take on the responsibility of their moral obligation as an educator to serve as a role model and begin setting acceptable standards and practices for students and their colleagues.
That said, there are some viable fear factors. We've all heard of people being fired for emails, texts, or blog posts. It is also true that people have been Fired for Facebooking, MySpacing, Blogging, etc. However, closer investigation reveals that these outcomes could have been avoided with a little bit of common sense sprinkled with some savvyness thrown into the mix on both sides – There are unfair punishments by the digitally illiterate employers and educators such as Student Faces Academic Charges for Using Facebook Groups for his Class. However, with those key ingredients (common sense and savvy) allow users to stay connected, while keeping their livelihood safe and serving a role model for colleagues, students and family.The key is being responsible and creating a purposeful and respectable online presence.
Here are some recommendations to keep in mind…
Facebook makes you an online celebrity.
Yes, you are now being watched and are accountable for your actions.Do not post anything on Facebook that you would feel uncomfortable having others see or write about.Recently a friend and colleague had his Facebook Page posted when receiving a new career appointment. The page was clean and represented who he would want his public self to be.It is important to realize that anything you post online becomes part of your digital footprint and is a historical record of you. While there are privacy settings that you should use, ultimately like anything online, Facebook is public.Anything you post could end up anywhere.Be professional, responsible, and considerate.
If someone does post inappropriate information on your wall, you can and should delete it and politely ask them to refrain in the future.
If there is someone who you friended, but realize is just not the type of person you want to be publicly associated with, you can block this person usually, without their knowledge (see Friends, Until I Delete You). If that seems too harsh, use your privacy settings to control how they can interact with you and what they can see.
If you join a club or group that you do not want others to know you are a part of, don’t do so on Facebook.It is right their on your info page for all to see.Not only will others know about this potentially secret hobby, it may end up resulting in inappropriate posts to your wall, where friends, family, students, will be reminded of your membership.
Professional work practices.
Don't tie your Facebook account to your work email. You don't want to have your professional email box flooded with Facebook notifications giving the appearance of a barrage on possible non-work related activity.
Do remember that social networking has valuable and important professional networking benefits. From the obvious opportunity to have a group of colleagues process, interpret, and make meaning from a recent news clipping or article shared, to the ability to find a common bond between colleagues, to the forming and/or joining of groups and causes.Remember to create lots of those kinds of interactions.
Balance is key to a happy and productive workforce. It is okay for your employer and colleagues to see the whole person. Just make sure you're not spending an unreasonable amount of time during the day on non-work related updates and comments. Think about how you may treat personal calls during work hours. A post or two, like a personal call or two, is fine.
Do remember that social networking is an excellent and time-efficient way to keep up with colleagues. How many of people work in large departments often unfamiliar or out of touch with what colleagues are up to. Facebook provides a way to combat this.
Connecting with students, colleagues, friends, and family.
Do realize Facebook is an extremely powerful networking tool that allows you to access, collaborate, and share ideas in ways never before possible. Commenting on others posts provides a virtual way to develop bonds, connections, commonalities, and relationships never before possible with such great ease.
A social networking tool like Facebook enables employers, family, and friends to see the balance of the whole person that you are. Use good judgment and you’ll be in good shape with getting and giving the whole picture of who you and your Facebook friends are.
Both person al and professional information can help build bonds and develop deeper relationships with those in your life. For instance, I often post news clips about issues of great interest to colleagues on which they can comment and reflect. I also come across great resources that I think others would find useful or join groups or sign up for events that colleagues would be interested in, but would perhaps never know of, if not for this tool.
Facebook has great features to help users set up events and groups that would be of interest and beneficial to you and your friends.Organize events and invite friends.Start groups. Join groups.Invite others.
Ultimately if you are an educator, parent, student, or employee who stands behind what they are doing Facebook is place to proudly set a strong model for online networking, If you’re not sure what that looks like my best advice for learning more is to become friends with other educators using Facebook and see what they’re doing.My suggestions for people to “Friend” include an invitation to Facebook me! or connect with some of the innovative educators I’m friends with like (alphabetical order) Paul Allison, Vicki A Davis, Lucy Gray,Mike Hasley, Bud Hunt, Chris Lehmann, Angela Maiers, Sylvia Martinez. Kathy Schrock.
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When I was working with a committee to develop technology enhanced social studies professional development I was reminded that one of the most important concepts for students to grasp was the idea of history then and now. It is essential that students connect what was to what is.What better time than during Black History month to discover a technology tool that does just that.
Remixamerica.org looks like a great classroom learning tool for students trying to see the relevancy of present and past events throughout America's history giving classes the tools and resources they need to remix America Then with America Now. In honor of black history month, Remix America is showcasing videos that mark milestones in the history of Civil Rights. As the website states, “Who needs this year's Lincoln Memorial Concert when you can hear Marian Anderson singing My Country Tis of Thee on those same steps, seventy years ago?”
The easy editing tools provided on the site makes creating videos a simple, fun, and educational experience. Students can take the various old and new videos on the site and mix them together to create their original takes on history. Remix America is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that uses innovative online editing software to enable students from around the country to make their own videos, PSAs and remixes – entirely online.
Remix America inspires students to draw parallels between the present and the past by featuring seminal speeches and events from American History that enable young people to express themselves and take action on the issues that matter to them. Remix America’s Erika Johansson shares that teachers around America have stumbled upon the software and incorporated into their classroom. One teacher asked her students to take a quote from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and apply it to the 2008 election. Another asked her students to create PSAs on the issues that matter most to them – censorship, war, civil rights.” You can browse through our “Favorite Remixes” section to see some of these great remixes.
Ms. Johansson is eager to work with innovative educators and brainstorm ideas on how you can incorporate Remix America into classrooms.She is also available via email to assist teachers who have any questions or ideas.
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I just responded to the Classroom 2.0 post Teaching DNA from a science teacher who shared, “I'm looking for a website available to students that can answer some of their questions about DNA. That will conceptualize DNA, and allow them to look through the material at their own pace. It can’t be too technical, and I would like it to help spur their interest in the subject.” 
