Tag: Education

I AM A SCHOOL COUNSELLOR

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It is National School Counselling week.

In honour I have created posters that you can feel free to download and use.

The students are why school counsellors do what they do. It has been my privilege over the years to do what I do. So if any of the below resonates with you, please feel free to use it.

I AM A SCHOOL COUNSELLOR

You Are the Reason I Do What I Do.

I am here not just for the tough days, the overwhelming moments or the times when life feels like too much – but for all of it. The dreams you are chasing, the friendships you are figuring out, the questions you are afraid to ask, and the moments you wish someone truly understood.

This time in your life can be a wild ride- exciting, confusing, sometimes frustrating. YOU don’t have to do it alone. You are not meant to.

You are seen. Even when you feel invisible.

You are heard. Even when you feel like you have no voice.

You are enough. Just as you are.

If you ever need a place to untangle your thoughts, or just breathe — I am here. No judgement. No pressure. Just support, honesty and a space where you matter.

I feel you have a right to know why I do what I do.

I am a school counsellor by choice.

Some of the things I have to do are difficult, but I choose to be here.

I am here because I believe I can help.

I care; I mean I really care about young people. I do my best to help as many students as I can, being advocates for you in school.

I want you to know

What you do with your life is up to you.

You are in charge of you. I am here to help you reach your full potential. I will insist that you learn. It is your ticket to absolute freedom.

Be all that you can be!

It isn’t easy being a teenager; even I can get frustrated with your raging hormones. You are growing and changing. I understand that. Take responsibility for your life and your actions and your teachers and others will respect you.

I do care, don’t ever forget it.

That’s why I am here.

That’s why I choose to do what I do.

I want you to know YOU can

Stop…Think…Speak

Remember, your thoughts lead to feelings lead to your actions. Change your thinking and you will have control of your life.

No matter what anyone else says or does to you, you are a worthwhile person. A gift from God. You are somebody.

There will be times during your school experience where negative things are said or done to you. You may experience painful times. Life can be difficult. It’s not what happens in your life that matters, but how you choose to respond to it.

What you put into school is what you will get out of it.

You can make a difference. If you choose to share a part of yourself with me, we can work together to make changes in your life. Your school experience will become everything you hoped it could be. Get involved and you will feel better about yourself.

Give life a chance.

One of the easiest things to say and one of the most difficult things to do are to live one day at a time. If you can master letting go of the past, not worrying about the future, but living each day to the fullest, then you will have lived a great life full of few regrets.

Be patient.

Change takes time. Let yourself grow. We all can change if we have the courage and the wisdom.

I have faith in you.

NEVER GIVE UP! Have Hope! Become the gift from God you were meant to be and you pass it on to others.

I hope your life is everything you ever dreamed it to be.

I am grateful if I am a small part of your journey.

REMEMBER

You are STRONGER than you think. BRAVER than you feel. You are more CAPABLE than you think. You are NEVER ever ALONE.

Come as you are.  I’ll be here for you.

When You Impact A Life: The Ripple Effect

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Do you ever stop to really think about the impact you have? I know that as a teacher, counsellor and therapist, I was always too busy to stop and reflect on the impact I was having unless I received a letter or note reminding me that I indeed did something that mattered. It’s often said that a single act of kindness or something that you say (words do matter) can set off a chain reaction, touching countless lives in ways we might never fully comprehend. Imagine standing on the beach as the sun sets, the waves gently lapping at your feet. Each wave represents a life you’ve touched, and the endless ocean symbolizes the infinite connections that stem from that impact. As a school counsellor therapist or teacher, this is the essence of your work—creating ripples of positive change.

You Don’t Just Impact One Life

When you really think about the times you extend a helping hand, offer a listening ear, or share a moment of understanding, you begin to see the ripples that go far beyond that initial interaction. These ripples spread out, affecting not just the person you directly helped, but also everyone they come into contact with. For example, helping a student navigate their anxiety not only empowers them. but also brings a sense of calm to their family and friends who witness their growth and resilience.

You can Have a powerful Impact That Isn’t always EASY to measure

Think about the joy in a group of friends’ faces as they gather for a photo, especially at graduation time. Your influence on one person in that group can enhance the happiness and well-being of everyone else there. It’s a beautiful, interconnected web of relationships and experiences that you may not take time to really think about. By fostering a supportive environment for one student, you help create a ripple of positivity that extends to their entire social circle.

The warmth and support you offer to just one individual can strengthen family bonds, provide guidance, and foster a sense of community. When a person feels supported and understood, they are more likely to extend that same kindness and understanding to their family and peers, perpetuating a cycle of compassion.

Each moment of support and encouragement you provide is a gift that keeps on giving, as it inspires people to pursue their dreams and share their passions with the world. You may never hear about it, but it’s there.

In the end, the impact you have is immeasurable. So, continue to do what you do one person at a time. Your role as a school counsellor, therapist or teacher is not just a job; it’s a mission.

Your journey of impact starts each day, and the ripples you create will touch countless hearts and help you affirm that what you say and do matters.

Who Doesn’t Need A Counselling Skills Toolbox?

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We all have our unique paths to walk, and sometimes, we could use a little help. That’s where Counsellor Talk can step in, providing the tools to navigate your emotions and experiences and help you to understand yourself better.

Being open to counselling as a way to transform your life is a good idea and we have loved helping those that have crossed our paths over the years.

Counsellor Talk Is written with counsellors in mind. However, teachers and those working with youth or adults can utilize the ideas too. Several handouts will work with people at every age level. There is no shortage of ideas to get those counselling ideas flowing to help others.

Who doesn’t need a counselling skills toolbox? A few ideas you can put in your toolbox are:

Just for Today

Start each day in a positive way. Accept yourself exactly as you are, knowing that you are enough.

When we celebrate our shared humanity and think of ways to help not only ourselves but find ways to help others and make the world a better place, we heal. All of us can do anything just for today.

Life is Better When…

We focus on gratitude rather than grievances. We treat ourselves with the same compassion and care that we give to others. So let go, embrace your flaws, and listen to the whispers of our intuition guiding you on your journey.

Challenge Yourself to…

Be more, do more, live more. Try something new, and learn to play more. Remember, by focusing on your strengths, you gain personal power. By reframing your thoughts, your worldview can change. By listening with an open mind and an open heart, you learn more.

Something You Might Need to Hear Today

You matter. You are a unique and valuable individual, worthy of love, respect, and acceptance. Like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, you are continuously evolving and adapting to change.

Something I Need to Understand

Feelings aren’t facts. They are neither right nor wrong; they just are. Self-awareness is the first step towards personal growth. Exploring your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can help you better understand yourself and your needs. Challenging negative thought patterns and cultivating positive affirmations can lead to a more positive outlook on life.

Remember, you are meant to be here; you have a purpose.

Well-being Tip

Treat yourself right; it’s time for a spa day so go ahead and take one. An economical version, relax in a bubble bath and let your worries unwind. Make time to have friends over for dinner. Enjoy the moments, make memories, and bring more joy into your day.

Rediscover simple pleasures and leave your phone behind. Find solace in simplicity; it’s your special place.

Final Thoughts

If you don’t like your story, rewrite a new chapter. Create the life you desire. Strive to thrive rather than just survive and shower yourself with self-love.

As Ronna Jevne says, “Hope is the small voice in our heart that says yes to life.” As your journey continues, remember, that you are not alone. Counsellor Talk, hopes you connect and collaborate with others every step of the way.

For more insights and tips, you can check out our book.

How School Counsel(l)ors can use Canva and its AI Capabilities to Make Their Work Even More Impactful and Creative

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Canva, with its incredible AI features, can help you create engaging resources, infographics, and much more. Let’s explore how to use these tools in your role as a school counsellor.


Section 1: Creating Engaging Visual Content

Personalized Posters: Start with the basics – design personalized posters for your school events, workshops, and counselling sessions. Canva’s AI suggests colors, fonts, and layouts that resonate with your message.

Emotional Intelligence Infographics: Use Canva’s AI to visualize emotional intelligence concepts. It can help simplify complex topics and make them more relatable to students.

Section 2: AI-Powered Design Assistance

Layout Recommendations: Canva’s AI suggests optimal layouts for your content. It considers the psychology of design to make your materials more visually appealing and effective.

Color Harmony: Let the AI assist in choosing color palettes that convey the right emotions. For example, soothing colors for relaxation exercises or vibrant ones for motivational posters.

Section 3: Interactive Quizzes and Surveys

Interactive Content: Create quizzes or surveys for students to self-assess their well-being or mental health. Canva’s AI can even help generate questions and answer options.

Section 4: Personalized Guidance

Custom Templates: Design your own templates for school counselling materials. Canva’s AI remembers your preferences and suggests relevant templates for future use.

Section 5: Data Visualization

Visualizing Progress: Utilize AI-powered charts and graphs to track and showcase students’ progress. This can help in sharing results with teachers and parents effectively.

Section 6: Mindful Content Creation

AI-Enhanced Quotes: Canva’s AI can suggest quotes that resonate with students’ emotions. Incorporate these into your materials for an extra dose of inspiration.

Relaxation Exercise Videos: Use Canva’s AI to edit and enhance relaxation exercise videos. It can help you create a soothing and calming atmosphere.

Section 7: Collaborative Projects

Group Projects: Collaborate with students on creative projects. Canva’s AI can facilitate brainstorming and design suggestions for group initiatives.


Canva’s AI capabilities open up a world of creative possibilities for school counsellors like you. It can help you connect with students in innovative ways, making counselling sessions and resources not just informative, but engaging and fun. Embrace the magic of AI and inspire your students to thrive!

Here are 20 ways school counsellors can use Canva ‘s AI tools

  1. AI-Curated Reading Lists: Canva’s AI can help school counsellors curate personalized reading lists for students based on their interests and needs. This can be a valuable resource to support students’ personal development and provide them with relevant content to enhance their understanding of various topics.
  2. AI-Enhanced Videos: Create educational and motivational videos for school counselling sessions. Canva’s AI can be used to edit and enhance video content, adding subtitles, visual effects, and animations to make the material engaging and informative.
  3. AI-Generated Affirmations: Generate daily affirmations with Canva’s AI. These affirmations can be used in daily routines or as part of counseling sessions to boost students’ self-esteem and promote positive thinking.
  4. AI-Generated Playlists: Craft music playlists with AI-generated recommendations to set the mood during counseling sessions. Music can be a powerful tool to create a calming or motivating atmosphere.
  5. AI-Powered Career Path Infographics: Use Canva’s AI to create infographics that visualize potential career paths for students. These infographics can include information on job prospects, required qualifications, and career development steps.
  6. AI-Prompted Journaling: Canva’s AI can generate journaling prompts tailored to each student’s needs and preferences. Journaling can be a therapeutic tool for self-reflection and personal growth.
  7. Audio Visualization: Design graphics that visually represent audio recordings of relaxation exercises, therapy sessions, or guided meditations. These visuals can enhance engagement and understanding during such activities.
  8. Collaborative Art Projects: Collaborate with students on creative art projects using Canva’s AI for design input. These projects can serve as a therapeutic outlet for self-expression and creativity.
  9. Digital Mind Maps: Create interactive mind maps to help students organize their thoughts, plan projects, or visualize complex concepts. Canva’s AI can assist in generating mind map structures.
  10. Emotion Wheel: Craft an interactive emotion wheel that students can use to identify and express their feelings. This can be a useful tool for emotional self-awareness and communication.
  11. Gamified Counseling Materials: Use Canva’s AI to create interactive and gamified counseling materials. Gamification can make counseling sessions more engaging, helping students to learn and apply coping strategies in a fun way.
  12. Interactive Decision Trees: Build decision-making flowcharts with AI recommendations to guide students through complex choices. This can be especially helpful when students are facing significant decisions.
  13. Interactive Progress Trackers: Develop visually appealing trackers for students to monitor their progress in various aspects of life, such as academic achievements, personal goals, or mental health improvements.
  14. Mindful Coloring Pages: Design AI-generated mindful coloring pages for students to use as a relaxation and stress-reduction tool. Coloring can promote mindfulness and stress relief.
  15. Motivational GIFs: Craft animated GIFs with Canva’s AI to provide quick motivational boosts during online counseling sessions. GIFs can be used to emphasize key points or convey supportive messages.
  16. Positive Message Banners: Create interactive banners that display positive messages. These banners can change based on student interaction, providing customized motivation and encouragement.
  17. Self-Care Bingo: Develop personalized self-care bingo cards with AI-generated self-care ideas. This can encourage students to engage in self-care activities and promote their well-being.
  18. Therapeutic Comic Strips: Create therapeutic comic strips with AI-generated dialogues and scenarios to address common issues and challenges that students might face.
  19. Virtual Vision Boards: Canva’s AI can help students create digital vision boards, visualizing their goals, dreams, and aspirations. These vision boards can serve as powerful tools for motivation and goal setting.
  20. AI-Powered Study Guides: Assist students with AI-powered study guides that adapt to their learning preferences and needs. These guides can include interactive elements, quizzes, and personalized study tips.

Each of these ideas empowers school counsellors to use Canva’s AI tools in unique ways to support students in their personal and academic growth. The possibilities are truly endless! Please feel free to share some of your ideas in the comments..

So,school counsellors, get out there and create, inspire, and make a positive impact on your school community. Continue to make a difference using Canva as a starting point. Thanks to Chat GPT and Canva for so many ideas. You can use Canva in your School Counselling Program . The possibilities are endless.

Your Mental Health Matters

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As we all navigate through life, it’s crucial to remember that our mental health matters just as much as our physical health. Despite the stigma that has surrounded mental health for many years, it’s important to break these barriers and openly discuss the importance of maintaining a healthy mind. Mental health literacy is crucial for all of us. Learn more so that we do not overdiagnose. With this in mind, let’s delve into the significance of mental health.

World Mental Health Day

Every year on October 10th, we observe World Mental Health Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues around the globe. This day provides us with an opportunity to spread knowledge about mental health, shattering the stigmas, misconceptions, and prejudices that unfortunately still exist in many societies.

The Importance of Mental Health

Our mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, impacting how we think, feel, and act. It also plays a fundamental role in how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Without positive mental health, it’s difficult to fully enjoy life and deal with its challenges.

Looking After Your Mental Health

There are many ways to look after your mental health. Each day is a new opportunity to take care of your mind. Remember to stay active, even if it just 15 minutes a day to start. Eat a balanced diet as often as possible. Maintain a regular sleep schedule, and take time each day to relax and do things that you love. Reach out to friends and family, talk about your feelings, and don’t be afraid to seek professional help. If you’re struggling. School Counsellors are always there to freely help you. They are trained mental health professionals.

Remember, It’s Okay Not to Be Okay

Lastly, remember that it’s okay not to be okay all the time. Everyone has good days and bad days, and it’s perfectly normal to feel down sometimes. What’s important is to recognise these feelings, accept them, and take steps to look after your mental health. If you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.

Conclusion

As we commemorate World Mental Health Day on October 10th, 2023, let’s not only raise awareness about mental health issues but also take active steps to prioritize our mental health and learn mental health literacy skills. Let’s strive to create a world where mental health is no longer stigmatized, but understood, accepted, and prioritized. Let’s treat people with the same dignity we treat someone with a physical illness.

Translators: Our Children Do We Really See Them?

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Whether you are an educator or not please take the time to reflect on this film. Courage, compassion, honour, love, and empathy are but a few words I have to describe the feelings I had watching this film. We see these kids every day in our schools, but do we really see them.

Human Connection Will Always Matter: AI From A Counselling Perspective

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  “AI is a Child of Humanity” T Panova

This week someone asked me why at my age I am so interested in AI. There are so many reasons, but it is mainly because I care about humanity. I want to learn so that I have a better understanding for my children, your children and my future grandchildren. Besides we are never too old to learn and now is the opportune time to do so.

As a Psychologist and former School Counsellor, I hope that you will explore resources and information that will guide you on a journey to understanding the complex world of AI. More importantly, I hope that you will bring humanity into all your conversations when it comes to AI. I believe that the therapeutic alliance will be more essential than ever before. AI won’t be able to connect the way a counsellor or therapist can. AI won’t be able to help in crisis situations. AI is not human although some may begin to treat it so. The counselling relationship is key and will always matter when it comes to being a helping professional. AI will most likely be used to augment and enhance counselling processes, so understanding how to utilize it will be of the utmost importance.

AI has the potential to impact an individual’s well-being, privacy, and autonomy. As counsellors, it is crucial to address the ethical implications of AI and ensure that its development, implementation, and use align with ethical standards. As counsellors and therapists our ethical standards will need to be revised.

Discussing AI from a counselling perspective will allow for a critical examination of its potential benefits and risks, fostering informed decision-making and responsible use now and in the future. Throughout these months in ETMOOC2 for which I am extremely grateful, I have been doing a lot of reading, discussing and thinking about AI. I hope that you too will begin exploring and learning. We are just at the beginning stages of paying attention and learning how AI will impact all of us. 

AI technology will most likely have psychological effects on individuals. For example, chatbots or virtual assistants designed to provide emotional support may impact the therapeutic relationship between clients and human counsellors. There is no way to predict how and what impact this will have. Time will tell, but we will need to assist clients who develop a trusting relationship with an AI instead of a human and the impacts that could potentially have on their therapeutic outcomes.

Addressing AI from a counselling perspective will allow for the exploration of the potential benefits and drawbacks of incorporating AI into therapeutic settings and school settings . We will need to consider the psychological impact on clients and students in the near future. How will you address these issues?

How will AI gather personal data, analyze emotional expressions, or even provide mental health assessments accurately?  It is important to discuss the potential impact of AI on emotional well-being and mental health, ensuring that AI systems are designed and used in ways that promote individuals’ psychological well-being. There is much to consider when it comes to AI.

How will AI enhance your counselling process?

Will AI help, harm or heal?

What part will you play in making a difference when it comes to AI?

How will you keep up and pay attention to the ethical considerations?

Will AI ever be able to show empathy, compassion, intuition, or cultural nuances?

I really like what Sherry Turkle asks, “Are we really ready to become a machine’s companion even if they are willing to become ours?”

As AI technology becomes more prevalent, individuals will continue to increasingly interact with AI systems in various domains of life. As Counsellors we can play a significant role in helping individuals navigate these interactions, offering support in establishing healthy boundaries, managing expectations, and coping with potential challenges that may arise in human-AI interactions. Knowing what resources are helpful will make a difference in you assisting your clients.

Ensuring that all voices are included in the training of AI systems so that biases will appear less frequently is essential. AI algorithms already perpetuate and amplify these biases. Let’s work together for positive change that is more inclusive for all.

Understanding AI from a counselling perspective will allow for discussions of the potential preferences in AI systems and their implications. We need to ensure that our, and our client’s privacy rights are respected and protected now and in the future.

By addressing AI from a counselling perspective, you as a helping professional can help raise awareness, promote responsible and ethical AI practices, and support individuals in navigating the impact of AI on their well-being and mental health. My suggestion for learning how AI will impact what you do is to start slow and learn as much as you can whenever you can. 

AI does matter when it comes from a counselling perspective. My hope is that you take a look at some of the resources below and share your resources, thoughts and ideas. Some articles could be used as a starting dialogue for professional development sessions, others may pique your personal interest in this topic.My suggestion is to put down or better yet put away your phones whenever you are face-to-face with another person. Have a real conversation making them the most important person in the room whether discussing AI or not. I look forward to staying connected with others who will commit to keeping AI and humanity at the forefront of their growth knowing that human connection will always matter.

AI References and Resources

Bringing Humanity Into The Conversation: AI Is Not Going Away, But Are We Going Away With It?

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Is it artificial intelligence or artificial intimacy? Even chat GPT agrees that having a human interaction is essential.

“Human interaction is vital in AI and counselling because counselling involves more than just providing information or advice. It also involves building a relationship of trust, empathy, and understanding between the counsellor and the client. While AI can provide information and suggestions based on data and algorithms, it cannot replicate the human ability to empathize, connect, and understand a person’s unique circumstances and experiences. A human counsellor can pick up on subtle cues, provide emotional support, and adjust their approach based on the client’s reactions and needs. Additionally, counselling often involves exploring sensitive and personal topics, and it’s essential for clients to feel safe and comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. Human counsellors can create a non-judgmental and supportive environment that fosters openness and trust. While AI can provide some benefits in counselling, such as offering access to resources and providing quick answers to common questions, it cannot replace the human connection that is essential in the counselling relationship.” Chat GPT

As a psychologist even though I am very interested in technology, I do not ever want to forget what matters when it comes to being with and working with people. It’s all about relationships. Yes, we can create relationships online (I am extremely grateful for my PLN) and on computers, but nothing compares to real humans being together sharing real life conversations where we feel understood and can express ourselves and let others feel heard with empathy. A real hug (with permission) is much better than a virtual hug or a hug by a robot any day in my opinion.

Empathy matters. A study by Konrad , O’Brien and Hsing 2011  reviewed thirty years of research that measured empathy among college students. They found a forty percent decline in empathy . Most of the decline was found in the last decade, so the researchers linked the decline to the presence of mobile communication.

When I sit across from my family members or friends without my phone on, I know it matters. I make a point of focusing on the people I am with and what they have to say. I am sure they know I am present. I used to do this as a School Counsellor before cell phones. I would say to the student, just know if the phone rings I will not answer it as my focus is on you.

According to Turkle, research by Prysblyski and Weinstein 2012 , shows that the presence of a mobile phone even on a table whether on or off does two things:

1. the conversation turns to more trivial matters

2. people in the conversation feel less connected to each other

Even a silenced phone can cause distance between us. It’s important to be present and encourage our youth to do so too.

Lived lives matter. How and what we do matters. I do not believe that machines will never be able to emulate the lifelong experience of a person or learn to be empathetic. In order to really be understood and feel we are heard on a deep level, we need to be human, we need to have lived a life. I do not believe AI will ever be able to replicate those lived experiences.

There is so much to think about and consider:

  • Will robots every really be able to interact the way a human does? 
  • When a robot reads to a child will it be able to show the love and affection and comfort that a human does. Will a robot be able to question and elaborate and giggle along with a child when someone reads to them?
  • Will the world be a better place because of AI?
  • Will education and schools be better because of AI?
  • How can we teach others to use a blended AI approach while highlighting the creative voice of their own?
  • What is it we value? Do values matter when it comes to AI?
  •  “Are we really ready to become a machines companion even if they are willing to become ours?”  Sherry Turkle
  • Are you ready to embrace AI fully with an open heart keeping humanity in mind? 
  • Do you really think the trust, empathy and understanding that comes from connecting with another person on a deep level can be replicated by a machine?
  • What happens when people try to use AI for the betterment of humanity, but it ends up causing harm?
  • What will matter in this moment of time? AI is not going away, but are we going away with it? Or can we find new even more creative ways of using AI in educating and helping others?
  • How can we empower people in the present to use AI for the betterment of humanity?

I am excited about the possibilities of AI in regard to how it can make the world a better place, and the opportunities to connect and help each other. I look forward to and hope AI finds a way to always keep humanity in mind. I hope you will join us as we explore this topic in session 4 in #ETMOOC2

There are so many more important considerations to ponder, and I’m curious to hear your thoughts.

References:

“Empathy Machines: Forgetting the Body in Digital Culture.”  In A Psychoanalytic Exploration of the Body in Today’s World, Vaia Tsolas and Christine Anzieu-Premmereur (eds.). New York: Routledge, 2017.  Reprinted in Women Reclaiming the City: An International Research Handbook on Urbanism, Architecture and Planning, T. Haas and M. Schwab. Lanham MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2022.

“The Year of Not Living Thickly.” In Now Comes Good Sailing: Writers Reflect on Henry David Thoreau, Andrew Blauner (ed.). Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2021.

AI and You: The Journey Is Just Beginning

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Are you ready to embark on a journey of discovery and exploration into the exciting world of AI? Whether you’re a visionary who dreams of what’s possible or a pragmatic problem-solver who likes to get their hands dirty, there’s a place for you in the AI revolution and in our mini MOOC.

As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology, it’s important that we keep humanity at the forefront of our conversations. After all, the decisions we make today about AI will have a profound impact on the future of our children and grandchildren.

That’s why we invite you to join us in #ETMOOC2, where we’ll dive deeper into the complexities of AI and its intersection with our lives. This mini MOOC is a unique opportunity to engage with peers from around the world, share ideas, ask questions, and learn from each other.

You may just be starting to think about AI and its impact on you and the world. Wherever you are on this journey we’d like to have you join us.

So what are you waiting for? Register now for #ETMOOC2 and join the conversation about artificial intelligence and you. Let’s work together to create a future where AI serves the best interests of humanity.

Open Educational Resources for Educators and More

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“Education is inherently an enterprise of openness and sharing and generosity.”

– David Wiley

Sarah Weston – Director of Instruction & Technology – Mountain Heights Academy

sweston@mountainheightsacademy.org

License: Mountain Heights Academy: Sarah Weston Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International  Adapted by Susan Spellman Cann @sspellman cann

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

OER Basics just for you Cue 16 OER for Teachers

Counselling

OER Resources

  • Curriki includes thousands of OER materials vetted by educators and searchable by subject, grade level, and learning standard.
  • EDSITEment features OER materials for the humanities.
  • Edmodo.com use the spotlight feature
  • Gooru.org lesson plans and more. You can find full courses that can be downloaded.
  • OER Commons includes a vast collection of OER materials searchable by subject, grade level, and learning standard.
  • ShareMyLesson includes a host of “open” lesson plans.
  • Smithsonian Learning Lab features more than a million images, recordings, and texts that can be reused, shared, or adapted.

Teaching

Open Educational Resources publishing an open textbook

OER Passport

OER How To Courses

OER Content Resources

OER Building Resources

Other OER Resources

Math

  • Algebrahelp.com is a collection of lessons, calculators, and worksheets created to assist students and teachers of algebra. Algebra Help – Calculators, Lessons, and Worksheets
  • BrainNook is a new online game that helps kids develop Math and English skills while exploring the Earth and playing safely with others. brain nook
  • Calculus: A Comedy, is an awesome post from a great teacher and blogger, Shawn Cornally.Shawn Cornally
  • Construction of a Golden Rectangle using SketchUp digital photography
  • Digital Photography Resource Digital photography 
  • Estimation 180 daily estimation challenges
  • GeoGebra  is a resource for teachers GeoGebra has loads of lessons and sample videos using GeoGebra.
  • Glean search for quality math and science videos on this site.
  • Graphing Calculator Desmos graphing calculator
  • Illuminations is designed to provide standards-based resources that improve the teaching and learning of mathematics NCTM illuminations
  • Math games, lessons, practice, puzzles, books (Geometry, algebra, pre-calculus) Cool Math
  • Math nrich Lots and lots of math resources from this publisher’s site (many middle and elementary resources as well)
  • Math Munch an amazing blog with new math connections, ideas, and activities daily. Inspiring love of math.
  • MPCC: Math   Open Minnesota Math Course Collection
  • Mathematics Vision Project (MVP) Mathematics Vision Project
  • NLVM The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM) is an NSF supported project with web-based virtual manipulatives or concept tutorials, mostly in the form of Java applets, for mathematics instruction (K-12 emphasis).
  • SketchUp Sketchup
  • The Federal Government produces an immeasurable amount of data each day. DataMasher helps citizens have a little fun with that data by creating mashups to visualize them in different ways and see how states compare on important issues. Agen SBOBET
  • Visual Patterns What is the next step? Here’s step 43…what is the equation?
  • Would You Rather? “Would you Rather?” daily math challenges…usually money related.

Language Arts

  • A teacher’s guide to genius This educator version of an otherwise possibly inappropriate site may be more higher-ed appropriate…but the ability to annotate texts digitally, including already hyper annotated texts like Shakespeare’s plays and The Great Gatsby are worth checking out, if only as a teacher resource!  
  • Become a writer with Storybird Storybird Example: the power of friendship
  • Breaking News English is a free current events based lesson builder. New lesson every three days. All lessons are based on stories currently in the news – as the world’s news breaks, teach it.Breaking News English
  • Book track classroom listen to or create the soundtrack for your favorite books!
  • Create tag clouds Word Art Tagul
  • Dictionary, word of the day, etc .Merriam Webster
  • eeiioo Very highly rated grammar app with a modern diagramming feel. 
  • Fluency Tutor many leveled passages, students record and download. Teachers can then complete running records from recordings. Free for basic functions. Premium includes online analytics and online running record support.
  • Get a single word and 59 seconds to free write...quick and creative? http://oneword.com/
  • Google trips Literature resource using Google Maps:  google trips 
  • Great site for emphasizing detail and complex sentences. Create expanding sentences: http://www.telescopictext.org/write/ and see a sample of a finished product here:Telescopic Text
  • Hemingway Editor Amazing writing review program…have students review their work here first?
  • Level It Books scans a book’s ISBN number and gets the reading/lexile level.
  • Loyal Books makes the world’s public domain audiobooks available for browsing in a visual and entertaining way./Loyal Books
  • Multi Language dictionary Elovivo
  • Primary Source Sets | DPLA Primary source sets from the Digital Public Library of America. Super resources curated by literary work, date, topic, and more.
  • The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience.Poetry Foundation  
  • VoiceThread Voice Thread

Social Studies

  • Atlapedia Online contains full color physical maps, political maps as well as key facts and statistics on countries of the world. Atlapedia Online
  • American Battlefield Trust from a rather generic looking opening page, dig deeper to find free BattleApps for your iphone or android device, 4 minute videos on specific topics (in4), animated maps and more.
  • Ancient Egypt reference from The British Museum Ancient Egypt
  • Awesome Stories is a gathering place of primary-source information. Its purpose is to help educators and individuals find original sources, located at national archives, libraries, universities, museums, historical societies and government-created web sites. Awesome Stories
  • Bomb Sight an amazing view of the Blitzkrieg in London.
  • Digital Vaults Create a movie or poster using the National Archives Digital Vaults. 
  • DPLA Primary Source Sets | DPLA Primary source sets from the Digital Public Library of America. Super resources curated by date, topic, and more.
  • Earth Cam provides webcam content, technology and services EarthCam
  • Games, videos, animals & pets, photos, countriesNational Geographic Kids
  • Google Arts & Culture The Google Cultural Institute includes amazing exhibits from museums re: history, art, and world wonders. Teacher tools are available.
  • Hip Hughes History includes brief, fun, explanatory vids re: government, us history, world history, civics and more. Hughes History Youtube Check the 30 second bill of rights here: The Bill of Rights — How to Remember the Amendments in 30 Seconds 
  • History Animated History Animated: excellent narrated, animated maps and vids.
  • Ken Burns (PBS) Ken Burns PBS
  • Measuring Worth lots of economic tools and resources on comparing the worth of a dollar or pound (or a few other currencies) over extended periods of time, as well as many other tools and data sets.
  • Mission US Mission US…a story-based interactive game about various aspects of US history.
  • Overlap Maps overlay a country, state, or body of water over another to compare sizes.
  • OER Project
  • PBS Teachers PBS learning media
  • The Library of Congress American Memory
  • The Library of Congress Library of Congress
  • The National Archives – DocsTeach DocsTeach

Science

  • An online, interactive Periodic Table of Elements Chemical Elements
  • Another Periodic Table Ptable
  • Biology Pop amazing resources for biology teachers.
  • ClassroomEarth is an online resource designed to help high school teachers include environmental content in their daily lesson plans.Classroom Earth
  • Computer animations of physical processes Physics Animations
  • CyberSurgeons simulation provides an authentic way for high school and college students to apply science knowledge and skills.Cyber Surgeons
  • EarthSky has science interviews and other audio and video content available via both broadcast and Internet outlets.EarthSky
  • Edufy provides a free platform to find, share, and edit high quality learning activities shared by other teachers with a focus on STEM education.Edufy
  • eSkeletons Department of Anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin.
  • Glean search for quality math and science videos on this site.
  • Human Biodigital interactive, 3D anatomy tool with great graphics
  • JVSC  Japanese Science and Technology Center includes some incredible video lessons in several areas, including the “Mind Lab” on perception, the “Earth Guide” regarding planetary science and geography, and “The Human Genome.”
  • Knotebooks provides users with the tools to create, collaborate on and share customized, self-guided physics lessons. Knotebooks
  • MIT A Slower Speed of Light – MIT Game Lab MIT online physics game which illustrates conceptually challenging physics and math concepts.
  • Nanospace Molecularium The Molecularium: view, learn, and play with many different activities, molecular explorations, and more.
  • NASA Kids Club NASA kids club games
  • Nature Lab Conservation game and many other resources from the Nature Conservancy
  • Rocket Science 101 (also apple and android apps available) NASA external flash 
  • Scientific Research Publishing Scientific Research: amazing resource for vetted research and access to many journals. Robust Android and Apple apps are also available.
  • Shatters The free space simulation that lets you explore our universe in three dimensions. Celestia runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. Shatters
  • Smithsonian Science Education Center | Smithsonian Science Education Center (great interactivities and more!)
  • Stellarium Full-featured astronomy application for all platforms – MacOS, Windows, Linus, plus mobile devices
  • What is fat? – George Zaidan | TED-Ed Ted Ed lesson: What is Fat?
  • Who Pooped Funny but surprisingly informational game about scat…”On the Farm”, or “In Africa.”
  • Youtube The Periodic Table of Videos Periodic Videos provides amazing slow motion science videos, and many other unique YouTube located chemistry resources.

ELL and World Languages

Music and Art

CTE

Multiple Subjects

High School and College level

  • Book on pressbooks Teaching In A Digital World 3rd edition
  • CosmoLearning has tons of courses, vids, images, units and more, all available online for free Cosmo Learning
  • Connexions open source content chunks for HS and college courses.CNX 
  • Merlot, open source content resources, geared to university level courses. Could easily be used by higher level HS courses. MERLOT
  • MIT Open Courseware for High School MIT high school
  • MOOCS Coursera: Coursera , edX: EDX moocs Udacity: Udacity, Udemy: Udemy
  • Open Courseware Consortium. Another open source course resource. Again geared to College/upper high school.OCW
  • OpenLearn is the Open University…free college level courses Open Learning
  • Open Learning Initiative at Carnegie Mellon University: Independent Learning  Course
  • Open Source College Textbooks.Open textbooks
  • OpenStax resource for open source college level textbooks
  • Open Yale courses Open Yale Courses
  • P2PU College level course content P2PU
  • Saylor Academy has free and open college level courses.
  • Tufts Open Courseware Tufts

Middle /High School

  • CK-12 CK-12 Foundation: Exceptionally well organized and usable. Free standards-aligned and customizable educational resources. This non-profit foundation is an amazing place to start your search for open source content.
  • Curriki has f2f and online lessons and lesson plans for k-12 Curriki
  • Debategraph: visual maps on nearly any debate topic. Public, constantly growing perspectives on hundreds of topics.Debate Graph
  • Discovery Streaming: Discovery Channel content available online.Discovery ed
  • Khan Academy has a VAST collection of video lessons, practice sessions, and review activities covering math from basic addition to advanced calculus. Also includes some additional subjects.Khan Academy
  • Open Culture has just a ton of material (courses, books, movies, lessons) that is freely available for educators 1700 free online courses
  • Opened IO catalog of educational videos, games, and assessments that you can browse by topic, grade level, or Common Core standard. 
  • Pennsylvania Department of Education Standards Aligned System Portal: Karpeles documents with e-reader, lessons, PhET simulations, and much more, aligned to the PA Common Core standardsStandards Aligned System

Elementary Level

  • ABCYa.com Educational Computer Games for kids. Amazing volume of resources for each grade level, in multiple subjects. Don’t miss the animation program!ABC ya
  • Audio and video storybooks, activities, karaoke, and much, much more for elementary students.   Learn with Homer
  • Curriki has f2f and online lesson plans for k-12 Curriki
  • FluencyTutor many leveled passages, students record and download. Teachers can then complete running records from recordings. Free for basic functions. Premium includes online analytics and online running record support.
  • K-2 Student Interactives – UEN and 3-6 interactives Utah Education Network: lots and lots of resources and interactives.
  • Kinetic City from the American Association for the Advancement of Science provides games, activities, challenges geared to elementary students.Kinetic City
  • Opened IO catalog of educational videos, games, and assessments that you can browse by topic, grade level, or Common Core standard. 
  • Planet Nutshell Short video resources in Math, Science, Net Safety, and more. For Teachers – Planet Nutshell 
  • Teacher LED Whiteboard/ipad resources for elementary and middle school. Mostly math. Some primary letter/number material.Teacher led

200 Educational Resources

Research

Determining if a Resource is OER, Creative Commons Licensed, or Public Domain

  1. Look for the Creative Commons button somewhere on the page,
  2. Look for a link to the Creative Commons website in the page’s source code (in Firefox do CTRL-U to show the source code and CTRL-F to bring up the “find” dialog – you’re looking for a link that includes the creative commons  domain and the phrase ‘rel=”license”‘), or
  3. Look around the website for the copyright or terms of use statement (hopefully this will include Creative Commons or the public domain), or
  4. If worst comes to worst, find contact info for the author and email them to ask about how the content is licensed
  5. Use the Public Domain Calculator to determine if a piece of work is in the Public Domain

Please be aware that if no copyright information is given on a resource, it is still copyrighted.  You cannot cut/paste/copy material from websites and use it on our courses unless it is OER, Creative Commons licensed, Public Domain.  If a resource is copyrighted, you can always link to it.  Linking externally to materials does not violate copyright.

Attributing Resources

All current CC licenses require that you attribute the original author(s). If the copyright holder has not specified any particular way to attribute them, this does not mean that you do not have to give attribution. It simply means that you will have to give attribution to the best of your ability with the information you do have. Generally speaking, this implies five things:

  • If the work itself contains any copyright notices placed there by the copyright holder, you must leave those notices intact, or reproduce them in a way that is reasonable to the medium in which you are re-publishing the work.
  • Cite the author’s name, screen name, user identification, etc. If you are publishing on the Internet, it is nice to link that name to the person’s profile page, if such a page exists.
  • Cite the work’s title or name, if such a thing exists. If you are publishing on the Internet, it is nice to link the name or title directly to the original work.
  • Cite the specific CC license the work is under. If you are publishing on the Internet, it is nice if the license citation links to the license on the CC website.
  • If you are making a derivative word or adaptation, in addition to the above, you need to identify that your work is a derivative work i.e., “This is a Finnish translation of the [original work] by [author].” or “Screenplay based on [original work] by [author].”

In the case where a copyright holder does choose to specify the manner of attribution, in addition to the requirement of leaving intact existing copyright notices, they are only able to require certain things. Namely:

  • They may require that you attribute the work to a certain name, pseudonym or even an organization of some sort.
  • They may require you to associate/provide a certain URL (web address) for the work.

If the resource is in the public domain, please include at attribution at the bottom of the page that specifies the URL the item was pulled from and “Public Domain”

Examples of Attributions

Example 1

Attribution: Egyptian Architecture Egyptian Architecture – Karen’s Whimsy in the Public Domain

Example 2

Saint Marie-Bernarde Soubirous (born Maria-Bernada Sobirós; 7 January 1844 – 16 April 1879), was a miller’s daughter born in Lourdes. From 11 February to 16 July 1858, she reported 18 apparitions of “a small young lady.” Despite initial skepticism from the Catholic Church, these claims were eventually declared to be worthy of belief after a canonical investigation, and the apparition is known as Our Lady of Lourdes. 

Attribution:  Bernadette Soubirous – Wikipedia.  Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.

Example 3

The Big Idea

The universe has many remarkable qualities, among them a rather beautiful symmetry: the total amount of motion in the universe is constant. This law only makes sense if we measure “motion” in a specific way: as the product of mass and velocity. This product, called momentum, can be transferred from one object to another in a collision. The rapidity with which momentum is exchanged over time is determined by the forces involved in the collision. This is the second of the five fundamental conservation laws in physics. The other four are conservation of energy, angular momentum, charge and CPT. (See Feynman’s Diagrams for an explanation of CPT.)

Key Equations and Definitions

Attribution:  ck12 People’s Physics Book, James H. Dahn CC-BY-SA 3.0