{"id":1847,"date":"2019-04-20T10:56:19","date_gmt":"2019-04-20T16:56:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/?p=1847"},"modified":"2019-04-20T10:56:22","modified_gmt":"2019-04-20T16:56:22","slug":"bill-belseys-tech-forward-teaching","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/?p=1847","title":{"rendered":"Bill Belsey\u2019s Tech-Forward Teaching"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbillbelsey.com%2Findex.php%3Frest_route%3D%252Fwp%252Fv2%252Fposts%252F1847&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack \">\r\n          \r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x \"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbillbelsey.com%2Findex.php%3Frest_route%3D%252Fwp%252Fv2%252Fposts%252F1847\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack \">\r\n          \r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x \"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item google-plus\">\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbillbelsey.com%2Findex.php%3Frest_route%3D%252Fwp%252Fv2%252Fposts%252F1847\" title=\"Google Plus\" class=\"wpfai-google-plus wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack \">\r\n          \r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-google-plus fa-stack-1x \"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbillbelsey.com%2Findex.php%3Frest_route%3D%252Fwp%252Fv2%252Fposts%252F1847&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack \">\r\n          \r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x \"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fbillbelsey.com%2Findex.php%3Frest_route%3D%252Fwp%252Fv2%252Fposts%252F1847&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack \">\r\n          \r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x \"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item tumblr\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tumblr.com\/share\/link?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbillbelsey.com%2Findex.php%3Frest_route%3D%252Fwp%252Fv2%252Fposts%252F1847&amp;name=&amp;description=\" title=\"Tumblr\" class=\"wpfai-tumblr wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack \">\r\n          \r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-tumblr fa-stack-1x \"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbillbelsey.com%2Findex.php%3Frest_route%3D%252Fwp%252Fv2%252Fposts%252F1847\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack \">\r\n          \r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x \"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fbillbelsey.com%2Findex.php%3Frest_route%3D%252Fwp%252Fv2%252Fposts%252F1847%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack \">\r\n          \r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x \"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item bullseye\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.specificfeeds.com\/follow\" title=\"Specific Feeds\" class=\"wpfai-bullseye wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack \">\r\n          \r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-bullseye fa-stack-1x \"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"721\" src=\"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bill_belsey_bullying_org-1024x721.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1848\" srcset=\"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bill_belsey_bullying_org-1024x721.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bill_belsey_bullying_org-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bill_belsey_bullying_org-768x541.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Bill Belsey, president of Bullying.org at his Cochrane home. His website www.bullying.org is rated the number one website in the world for the topic of bullying.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>BY&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cochraneeagle.com\/article\/author\/jakecressy\">JAKE CRESSY<\/a>&nbsp;MAR 26, 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>RancheView School teacher Bill Belsey continues to cement his legacy as an \u201cinternet pioneer\u201d with his bold take on the role of technology in schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s an amplifier. It amplifies the very best of us as human beings and, unfortunately, some of our worst traits,\u201d said Belsey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His classroom is run with that idea in mind as many traditional school projects are given a new tech-based spin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI enjoy being in Mr. Belsey\u2019s class because he makes everything more exciting and fun,\u201d said Alexis, one of Belsey\u2019s current students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The classic book report has been revamped for the digital age by having kids not only write a report, but also record and release a short audio podcast of the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The digital side of the project has increased students\u2019 investment in their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen they know it\u2019s gone live on the internet then there\u2019s this intrinsic motivation,\u201d said Belsey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Several of these podcasts have reached the ears of the authors they cover and the organizations associated with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Roald Dahl museum [in Great Missenden, England]actually listened to podcasts from my students,\u201d said Belsey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat is the power of the internet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Belsey isn\u2019t looking to throw out the old ways and fully replace them with tech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith technology it\u2019s not \u2018either or\u2019,\u201d said Belsey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some projects even promote analog activities, such as the book trailers \u2013 short videos promoting books \u2013 that Belsey assigned to his class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey use technology to make one to two-minute book trailers to celebrate literacy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The projects are showcased online at the Cool Class website run by Belsey and they cover a wide variety of activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn Mr. Belsey\u2019s class we do baking, hiking, field trips like snow-shoeing, computer coding, singing songs when he plays his guitar, reading fun books, making animations, podcasts, web pages, and videos and creating puppet shows,\u201d said Kaitlyn, another student of Belsey\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Belsey\u2019s tech-forward stance in the classroom stands in direct contrast to the growing movement against phones in the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many schools are moving to restrict and ban cellphone usage in the classroom. The Ontario provincial government has recently ordered a ban on the devices to be put in full effect by September of this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t teach them how to moderate by banning and blocking,\u201d said Belsey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cKids are much more likely to adopt behaviours that they see adults modeling in front of them. The best thing teachers can do is adopt and model the various information technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Belsey points to online interactions as a negative example of kids adopting adult behaviours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLook at the way adults use technology and berate each other online,\u201d said Belsey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSometimes you are emboldened to say things online that you\u2019d never say in real life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Belsey has students write blogs and comment on each other\u2019s and he then moderates these comments to help kids think critically about what they say to others online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll ask \u2018do you really want to write that?\u2019 Do you really want your mom or grandma to [be able to]see that?\u2019,\u201d said Belsey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou can bring them back from the brink.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Belsey\u2019s class learns not only how to connect with people online through technology, but with people in the real world as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students were tasked with building a website to honour the life of a senior citizen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The kids interviewed seniors at a retirement home about their lives and afterwards they helped the seniors work with computers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis melding of generations was facilitated through technology,\u201d said Belsey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond technological knowhow and online etiquette, Belsey believes moderation is one of the most important lessons to be learned about technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have to model good technology behaviour,\u201d said Belsey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese tools are going to become part of their reality for the rest of their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those interested in Belsey and his work can find more info at <a href=\"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\">billbelsey.com<\/a>. For more on his classroom projects go to <a href=\"http:\/\/coolclass.ca\">coolclass.ca<\/a> or follow @coolclass on Twitter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ref:  <br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cochraneeagle.com\/article\/bill-belseys-tech-forward-teaching-20190326\">https:\/\/www.cochraneeagle.com\/article\/bill-belseys-tech-forward-teaching-20190326<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BY&nbsp;JAKE CRESSY&nbsp;MAR 26, 2019 RancheView School teacher Bill Belsey continues to cement his legacy as an \u201cinternet pioneer\u201d with his bold take on the role of technology in schools. \u201cIt\u2019s&#8230; <span class=\"more-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/?p=1847\">Read More<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,28,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-interviews","category-media","category-technology"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1847"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1847\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1849,"href":"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1847\/revisions\/1849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billbelsey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}