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Lauren Simpson

The Simple Things I Do To Promote Brain-Based Learning In My Classroom - 8 views

www.teachthought.com/...based-learning-in-my-classroom

shared by Lauren Simpson on 19 Nov 13 - No Cached
  • The Simple Things I Do To Promote Brain-Based Learning In My Classroom
    • Lauren Simpson
      Lauren Simpson on 17 Jun 14
       
      It's important for teachers to help students understand how their brains work and give them strategies to be successful in the classroom. Our job as educators is not only to teach them the subject matter, but to prepare them for life. If they have these strategies I think we are giving students a leg up in being successful no matter what they face.
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 23 Jun 14
       
      I like that she takes initiative to promote brain based learning. Teaching and preparing students for life is very important, because the world is quickly changing in terms of technological advances. Students can easily learn the content using such principles. More teachers need to incorporates these rules in their instruction.
  • Explaining how the brain works is especially important for students who believe that they are “not smart” and that nothing they do can change that. Many children, and even some parents and teachers, think that intelligence is determined at birth and that even intense effort will not budge their academic abilities. The realization that they can literally change their brains by improving how they approach learning and how they study is liberating.
    • Lauren Simpson
      Lauren Simpson on 17 Jun 14
       
      This is so true. I often tell my students who say they are not smart, I correct them and say "yet..you are not smart yet" I am one of those teachers that truly feel every students is smart and a budding genius.
  • Students know that the more they practice a basketball shot or rehearse a ballet performance, the more their skills improve. In my class, they learn that brains respond the same way. When a learner goes over multiplication facts or rereads confusing parts of a book, the brain gets better at processing this information because, with such repetition, more neurons grow and connect to other neurons, and neurons get more efficient at sending one another signals.
    • Lauren Simpson
      Lauren Simpson on 17 Jun 14
       
      Being able to relate practicing what is learned in school with something a student already likes is vital. It provides a clear picture of what you are trying to teach them about repetition and how your brain needs it to be successful.
  • Katy Lu on 19 Nov 13
  • asuarez1 on 21 Jun 14
     
    One of the things I love about Brain-Based Learning is that it creates a paradigm shift about learners and learning. I suppose that my background in Special Education makes me appreciate it even more. All students CAN learn. The trick is to find out how they learn best. Techniques are explored and used to maximize learning. "The realization that they can literally change their brains by improving how they approach learning and how they study is liberating." This has been the focus of most of my training as a teacher and Brain-Based Learning shows you how. I appreciate that one of the things that this article stipulates is that the learner should be aware of how the brain works. It empowers a student to take charge of their own learning at the core of process.
  • jennalsmith on 30 Jun 14
     
    As I read this article, I couldn't help but think of my adult basic education students. I think the explanation of how the brain works to students who believe they are "not smart" is key for my students. These particular adult learners are participating in a GED/Adult High School program. The majority of the students were kicked out of school or dropped out of school. They understand that they in a foundational skills program and must develop their basic educational skills to advance in other areas of life. Unfortunately, I think that many of them have the mindset that they believe that are "not book smart." I think it is wonderful that this teacher/neurologist found that her students became more engaged and confident and they also began to change their student practices. This is my goal/hope as I work on a Problem Based Learning Module which applies the Brain Rules to an everyday mathematical scenario. I plan on presenting this PBL Module to a few adult basic math classes as a pilot to see how the adult basic education students respond to the lesson(s) and Brain Rules compared to their traditional classroom lectures and instruction.
asuarez1

Building a Better School with Brain-Based Learning | Edutopia - 0 views

www.edutopia.org/earning-key-largo-school-video

Brain-based learning

shared by asuarez1 on 21 Jun 14 - Cached
  • asuarez1 on 21 Jun 14
     
    Brain-Based Learning in Florida
  • asuarez1 on 21 Jun 14
     
    I love that the video mentions "motivation initiative". Isn't that what it is all about? Letting students make connections, and creating a life-long desire to learn should be the focus. Brain-Based Learning encompasses learning styles and explains how the brain works. Isn't it important to know how a machine works in order to get the most out of it? What amazes me most about the video is that the students are engaged. Although many are working independently, they is no down time. Brain-Based Learning allows educators to use the time in the class effectively. The video also mentions special needs students. The beauty of this is that Brain-Based Learning applies to all learners! In the video, you see the rules applied. For example, #4 We don't pay attention to boring things is clear when you see all the students engaged and active. Repeat to remember is also evident since the students get multiple opportunities to practice the skill they are working on. Sensory integration is also important. The students were engaged in a multitude of activities that initiate the senses. This video is a clear example that our students are powerful and natural explorers. What would happen to our world if we treated them that way?
  • jennalsmith on 30 Jun 14
     
    The portion of the video that I thought was the most interesting was the approach that Jeanne Kurth takes in her classroom (bean bag chairs, water feature sound machine---#1 brain gym, # classroom environment, and #3 the way she presents her five subject areas.) I love that these teachers are customizing their teaching to the needs of the students. I think I will share this video with my team of instructors to encourage them to change up their lesson presentations!
Pedro Rodriguez

The Neurochemistry of Positive Conversations - Judith E. Glaser, and Richard D. Glaser ... - 2 views

blogs.hbr.org/...stry-of-positive-conversations

shared by Pedro Rodriguez on 21 Jun 14 - No Cached
  • The Neurochemistry of Positive Conversations
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 21 Jun 14
       
      I choose this article because it relates to Brain Based learning. Also we all need to positive conversations.
  • Why do negative comments and conversations stick with us so much longer than positive ones?
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 21 Jun 14
       
      Before reading the article, I attempted to answer the question based on my readings. At first I would think its how we encode the information. We tend to encode information better when its is tied to something we feel or is familiar to use.? Before reading the article, please attempt to answer the questions: Why do negative comments and conversations stick with us so much longer than positive ones?
    • Lauren Simpson
      Lauren Simpson on 29 Jun 14
       
      I think that negative comments and conversations stick with us because they elicit a bigger emotional response than positive comments. Negative comments make you feel angry, sad, depressed, and sometimes guilty. Those are feelings that, at least for me, stick around longer than feelings of joyfulness, happiness, etc.
  • A critique from a boss, a disagreement with a colleague, a fight with a friend – the sting from any of these can make you forget a month’s worth of praise or accord. If you’ve been called lazy, careless, or a disappointment, you’re likely to remember and internalize it. It’s somehow easier to forget, or discount, all the times people have said you’re talented or conscientious or that you make them proud.
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 21 Jun 14
       
      Most go through this at work, school, or through their personal life. I choose this article because we all can relate to it. Please take a moment and reflect of a similar situation you have gone through. 
    • rtrevin5
      rtrevin5 on 26 Jun 14
       
      This is an important point. The other day I was telling a co-worker, you can do a thousand things right, but you'll be remembered for the one thing you do wrong. In education, I have found that people do not want to call my son lazy despite the fact that he is very obviously being lazy. They say he needs to be more professional. In my workplace, that means dress better or speak better, but it has nothing to do with performance. If you are lazy, you get called lazy. The group polices itself. This is an important lesson that despite articles and psychologists and others saying negative feedback is bad - well, it still happens in the workforce. Just reality. And kids need to be prepared for that.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • Chemistry plays a big role in this phenomenon. When we face criticism, rejection or fear, when we feel marginalized or minimized, our bodies produce higher levels of cortisol, a hormone that shuts down the thinking center of our brains and activates conflict aversion and protection behaviors. We become more reactive and sensitive. We often perceive even greater judgment and negativity than actually exists. And these effects can last for 26 hours or more, imprinting the interaction on our memories and magnifying the impact it has on our future behavior. Cortisol functions like a sustained-release tablet – the more we ruminate about our fear, the longer the impact.
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 21 Jun 14
       
      This is similar to what John Medina describes. The brain imprints or encodes events much better when there is "elaborate" information.  Medina explains that we vividly recall information when associated with fear. 
  • This “chemistry of conversations” is why it’s so critical for all of us –especially managers – to be more mindful about our interactions. Behaviors that increase cortisol levels reduce what I call “Conversational Intelligence” or “C-IQ,” or a person’s ability to connect and think innovatively, empathetically, creatively and strategically with others. Behaviors that spark oxytocin, by contrast, raise C-IQ.
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 21 Jun 14
       
      Understanding how the brain works, I believe we can use what we have learned and apply it to practical situations. I chose this article because we can understand how the brain works and use that knowledge and apply it in our everyday lives. 
  • unfortunately, when leaders exhibit both types of behaviors it creates dissonance or uncertainty in followers’ brains, spurring cortisol production and reducing CI-Q.
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 21 Jun 14
       
      I believe this is very important because if you are a leaders, your followers will be uncertain and will cause them to be distrustful to you. Leading your followers will be much harder.
  • sking questions to stimulate discussion, showing concern for others, and painting a compelling picture of shared success
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 21 Jun 14
       
      Here are a few positive (oxytocin-producing)  behaviors one can do as a leader. 
  • his tendency was to tell and sell his ideas, entering most discussions with a fixed opinion, determined to convince others he was right. He was not open to others’ influence; he failed to listen to connect.
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 21 Jun 14
       
      This are the types of behaviours one needs to stay away from. I am sometimes guilty of such behaviors. Taking this course is helping my leadership skills through Brain Based learning.  
  • Harness the chemistry of conversations.
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 21 Jun 14
       
      I like that saying. What do you think overall of this article?
Jackie Byford

Sound versus Music versus Audio versus Noise - 26 views

This is something I have thought about incorporating into my classroom, but always wonder if I am picking the right music for the right situation. I am like your daughter's Richard. I started colle...

started by Richard Wilson on 20 Oct 13 12 follow-ups, last by Jackie Byford on 27 Oct 13
Jackie Byford

Technology adds to students' math comprehension | eSchool News | eSchool News - 7 views

www.eschoolnews.com/...to-students-math-comprehension

technology math comprehension

shared by Jackie Byford on 29 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • The animations are so powerful; bisecting an angle becomes a really visual experience,” Bates said.
  • The report found that students often referred to the roles of visual imagery, animations, and videos in helping them understand key concepts.
  • Moving imagery was clearly a key means for [students] to ‘see what is meant,’ rather than their trying to ‘imagine what is meant’ when it is just described by teachers,” the report found
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • the [MathsAlive] resources enabled a more collaborative environment to emerge, where they were working with students to construct problems and devise methods to solve them,” the study found.
    • Jackie Byford
      Jackie Byford on 29 Sep 13
       
      This article discusses using technology in the Mathematics classroom with findings that suggest that the experiences by students with the animations and visual imagery help them "see" the mathematical concepts verses having to visualize how math works. For many of us this is the case. We learn better when we see or have hands-on experiences with the concepts we are learning. There is a deeper understanding because it takes more for the brain to encode the information into memory when a true experience with critical thinking comes together simultaneously, (Medina, 2008). Schools spend millions of dollars on textbook adoptions every year, needless to say it is a booming business. If research shows that hands-on visual learning will improve not only the learning of the material, but improve critical thinking to empower and build the next generation of problem solvers, why do many educators still stand at the front of the room and lecture from a textbook or tell their students to read this chapter and fill out this worksheet? Compare the experiences you had as a child in school with the experiences today's children have with technology, not only at school, but at home with electronic devices such as ipads. Do you think the next generation that started with an ipad or computer in their hands by age 5 will be more experienced learners because of the visuals and hands-on thinking that is needed to work these devise? Has the induction of these devices helped you become a more in depth better learner? Medina, J. (2008). Brain Rules. Seattle, WA: Pear Press.
  • Maria Austin on 30 Sep 13
     
    Very interesting! Your comments made me wonder if teachers, more often than not, stand in the way of learning more than trying to act as mediators. It is sad to see that young children start their lives at school eager to learn and being active participants of that amazing process of discovery that is the acquisition of knowledge and then see them 3 years down the road, so discouraged and demotivated! What happened? Somehow that is regarded as a normal process, part of their growing and maturing. I have to say that I disagree. Answering your questions...I belong to the generation of the Commodore, Basics and Texas Instruments. I remember spending hours programming my computer. It did make me more curious about technology and I found fascinating that just a few symbols could create so much magic. Children nowadays do not have that much of a connection with the process of creation but they do develop a lot more hands on skills that are essentially the ones they will need in the future. These skills are key but they still require the development of critical thinking in order for them to acquire a more in depth knowledge of any topic. It is at this juncture that teachers are invaluable partners in the educational process. In my opinion, this should be the center of every planning and strategic use of educational methodologies.
  • ...10 more comments...
  • Martha Rodriguez on 30 Sep 13
     
    Jackie, I do think the next generation will have more experienced learners. There has never been a more important time to apply principles of development and learning when considering the use of cutting-edge technologies and new media. When the integration of technology and interactive media in early childhood programs is built upon solid developmental foundations, and early childhood professionals are aware of both the challenges and the opportunities, educators are positioned to improve program quality by intentionally leveraging the potential of technology and media for the benefit of every child.
  • Adam Hovde on 30 Sep 13
     
    I really liked the piece you picked for the discussion group. In my school district we are implementing a 1:x initiative that all students will have Ipads and use them in the classroom. I think this is great on some instances and bad on others. Like the discussion says kids learn more when a video or some other form of multimedea follows with instruction. I get that and I am trying to use this in my classroom. The hard part about this philosophy right now is most of the students that we have, have grown up with the Ipad as a toy not an educational device and having the students think about the Ipad as an educational device is harder said than done it seems. My son is in the 4th grade and was given an Ipad 2 weeks ago. He has been able to some great things with it as a learning tool BUT he still sees the Ipad as something he gets to play Mine Craft on and not a learning tool. My high school students are having a harder time using the Ipad for educational use. I did not mean to derail this thread with this topic but my experience is telling me that we are at a cross roads right now. We have students that started with pen and paper and slowly have moved to a more technology based education are struggling using the technology because they have only used the technology as a toy up until now. The students coming up have had the technology earlier in life and are able to use it in class but they are still having a hard time associating the technology with learning. I guess what I am saying is that I know that the use of the technology will help the students learn but the students are having a hard time realizing that the technology is an educational tool as well as a game. What can we do to help the students realize the powerful tools they have at their disposal these days that we did not growing up?
  • Jackie Byford on 30 Sep 13
     
    Maria, I have to admit that I am guilty of standing in the way of technology. It is hard to incorporate the technology in a way that is resourceful and useful. I think Adam hit the nail on the head when he talks about the fact that today's student thinks of the technology as a toy not an educational tool, even if they played educational games. Martha has the key that the integration of technologies needs to be built on a strong foundation so that the new generation can see the ipad as a tool instead of a toy.
  • Maria Austin on 02 Oct 13
     
    Jackie, You bring up very interesting points as do Adam and Martha. I would reflect on the different issues tackled maybe separating them into their different components. One element is the learning process: as Martha says, applying proper methodologies and evidence-based research in the classroom is essential. My question would be: as teachers, we have all been taught and trained in developmental theories and educational methodologies, however, very little of that seems to trickle into our practice, I wonder why. Another point would be the use of technology as such and the definition of a learning process: if the learning process is restricted to the acquisition of data, technology can do very little for us, since internet, ipads, etc. are, for the most part, meant to facilitate the spread of information. Maybe the emphasis should be on the development of skills that would allow students to process and discriminate sources and facts, and be able to apply them to a variety of real life situations. The acquisition of data should be dependent upon the development of higher order thinking skills. In this sense, the line separating the use of technology as a toy and the use of technology to facilitates the access to data is not very easy to draw. It has been argued that the development of problem solving skills and creativity is at the core of many games. Should the educational process be limited to games? Most certainly not, but, I think that technology is forcing us to redefine the way we see learning.
  • Jennifer Henson on 02 Oct 13
     
    Interesting dialogue! Maria, I completely agree that the emphasis should be on the development of higher order skills. I know, too, that technology can rapidly turn off students if it is slow or boring or whatever they are doing with it doesn't interest them. I think real learning is always going to come back to meeting students where they are and getting them to think in new ways about topics they care about--whether they are using technology or not. So technology may be forcing us to redefine the way we teach, but I don't think it's redefining the key elements of effective teaching.
  • Jeff Blackman on 04 Oct 13
     
    I'm amazed we know as much as we do given the way we were taught and how it is so "wrong" compared to the way our brains actually work. I think that says something for human resilience and adaptation. In spite of the classrooms we endured and seemingly endless lectures, a lot of us have still been able to come out ok and be pretty darned effective in our lives and jobs. Do I think the next generation will be more experienced learners because of the hands on nature of various devices they've been exposed to? Not necessarily. It still depends on how it is used. If all my 5 year old does is play some game on my iPhone, I don't know if that is making her a more experienced learner. Just like anything else, it takes the parent or educator to be involved and help the child use the device in the most effective way.
  • Jackie Byford on 06 Oct 13
     
    Maria you are absolutely correct! As educators we know what we should do, but it is not the easy road so we fall short sometimes in using proper methodologies. I believe there are many reasons "excuses" such as: classes are large with too many learning styles, paperwork gets in the way of planning, not enough time in class to apply methodologies. Let's face it when it comes down to the wire the use of methodologies are just good teaching skills, which should include the use of current technologies in the right context and for the right reason. I think too many times educational games just become "play" time and a break for the teacher to get other work done. They are called educational, but many times the kids just see the game not the educational aspect. Jennifer and Jeff, I don't think I could have said it any better. In order to be an effective teacher, one must incorporate the available tools in a way that meets the needs of the students. It all breaks down to how we use technology. Thinking about how "we" learned referring to those of us over 30 who did not have all this technology in school, we did turn out okay. If I talk to my colleagues who have taught more than 15 years they would say that the technology has taught our current students to be less effective at critical thinking when it comes to academics, yet they can learn, maneuver, and use problem solving skills to navigate the newest video games. Have any of you tried to play "Call of Duty" or "World of Warcraft?" They are not easy! It takes time, repetition, and good problem solving skills to get through each level. Maybe we as educators need to be more versed in the problem solving skills in popular games and be able to show our students the connection between the skills they use in the classroom and the skills they use in those games. It would give them the answer to that age old question, "Why am I learning this_____________?"
  • Maria Austin on 06 Oct 13
     
    Totally in accord, Jackie! Technology should be only one more tool and, consequently, it should be used only under certain criteria.
  • Juan Saldana on 07 Oct 13
     
    Teacher do become an obstacle in the classroom, but not of their own accord. They get their hands tied by state testing the ruins education and district politics that can end their careers. It is really sad to see what education has become, if you as a few generations before us, it was a privilege to go to school and today students seem to have to go kicking and screaming. The misconception I have gotten from several teachers that I know is that they have this odd belief that the technology is there to replace them or simply teach the class for them. Technology is a tool that is meant to be wielded by someone who understands it. I think in the next few years we are going to see an exodus of pre-technology teachers and and influx of Generation iPad teachers who are tech savvy and have grown up with the technology. I think that will be a game changer for education and good serving of job security for students in our field.
  • Katy Lu on 07 Oct 13
     
    I normally will skip articles which mention arithmetic. My eyes are easily caught by a visually appealing graphic, a photograph or a poem. But I absolutely agree that "animations and visual images help students see the mathematical concepts and to visualize how math works." Particularly when integrated learning with games, it will make learning more effective and proficient. I believe next generation children will definitely acquire a different learning style with technology, and is much unlike ours.
  • Jaime Villanueva on 14 Oct 13
     
    Jackie, i found a great article on why some children are bad in math! I do not believe that some kids lack the aptitude for math ! http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/03/27/why-is-math-so-hard-for-so-many/
  • shaila a on 07 Dec 13
     
    It is certainly lovely to see children learning in different ways that make sense to the particular individual. I wish I had the chance to learn new concepts with the aid of visualization. The question is: how many teachers are truly using the resources that are available to them?
normairisrodz

"Engage Me or Enrage Me": What Today's Learners Demand (EDUCAUSE Review) | EDUCAUSE.edu - 2 views

www.educause.edu/...oday%E2%80%99s-learners-demand

technology engagement prensky 6329 teaching 21stcenturylearning learners

shared by normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13 - No Cached
  • the kids back then didn’t expect to be engaged by everything they did. There were no video games, no CDs, no MP3s—none of today’s special effects. Those kids’ lives were a lot less rich—and not just in money: less rich in media, less rich in communication, much less rich in creative opportunities for students outside of school. Many if not most of them never even knew what real engagement feels like.
  • All the students we teach have something in their lives that’s really engaging
    • normairisrodz
      normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13
       
      If teachers could tap into what engages their students, they can also tap into their motivation to learn and be active participants in the learning process.
  • Rather than being empowered to choose what they want
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • in school, they must eat what they are served
  • In my view, it’s not “relevance” that’s lacking for this generation, it’s engagement.
  • So we have to find how to present our curricula in ways that engage our students—not just to create new “lesson plans,” not even just to put the curriculum online
    • normairisrodz
      normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13
       
      How do you engage your students in innovative ways in your classroom? With such emphasis placed on standardized test preparation, are you allowed academic freedom to engage your students with alternative teaching practices?
  • kids’ long-term engagement in a game depends much less on what they see than on what they do and learn.
  • And if we educators don’t start coming up with some damned good curricular gameplay for our students—and soon—they’ll all come to school wearing (at least virtually in their minds) the T-shirt I recently saw a kid wearing in New York City: “It’s Not ADD—I’m Just Not Listening!”
    • normairisrodz
      normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13
       
      It's not just about graphics and special effects, it's about substance. Do students learn and are they challenged?
  • That’s one more reason the kids are so enraged—they know their stuff is missing!
  • normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13
     
    Engaging students who "tune us out". This article reinforces Brain Rule 4: Attention, "we don't pay attention to boring things." Educators must seek ways of engaging students... solution - game-based learning.
Katy Lu

The Simple Things I Do To Promote Brain-Based Learning In My Classroom - by Judy Willis... - 3 views

I would like to share a worth to read article with you. The author is a practicing neurologist before she became a teacher. She teaches 5th grade and 7th grade, and integrated her expertise in med...

started by Katy Lu on 19 Nov 13 no follow-up yet
ernieperez519

Is Technology Producing A Decline In Critical Thinking And Analysis? - 7 views

www.sciencedaily.com/...090128092341.htm

shared by ernieperez519 on 14 Nov 13 - Cached
  • ernieperez519 on 14 Nov 13
     
    How are we coping with technology in our school system and at work? How many times have you seen the squiggly red line when you mispell a word. Our natural instinct is to right click and correct the misspelled word. Have we lost our thought process by multitasking?
  • ...5 more comments...
  • Jackie Byford on 17 Nov 13
     
    Ernie, I think you pose an interesting question that is not easy to answer. I think that everyone copes with technology differently at school and at work. I think it all depends on how open minded one is to technology and if ones first experiences have been easy or hard. I personally have to say "thank spellcheck for that red squiggly line." I always have been a horrible speller and it makes life that much easier. Luckily, I went to college at 30 when it was the norm to turn in a paper that was typed on a computer with Microsoft Word. I don't think we have lost our thought process, I just think that we have to stop and realize that we truly cannot multi-task everything. There are only certain things that should be multi-tasked such as a pilot on an airplane as mentioned in the article, but most everyday things should not be. We need to learn to be truly sufficient in what we do we need to put our full attention into our task. I am curious about the articles comments about students reading less. I teach middle school and I would not necessarily agree with that statement. I would say that about 60% of my students will pick up their books as much as they can during class and would read the entire class if I let them and many of them would love to bring their Kindles or e-readers to schools if my school would let them. They might not be reading a book in print, but I bet if more students were aloud to read on their phones or other electronic devices we would see more kids reading.
  • Jaime Villanueva on 18 Nov 13
     
    I agree with Jackie! Everyone copes with technology differently but I also believe in two distinct ways either positively and negatively. The people that embrace technology positively will not only use the spell check app but would not think twice not to use it because this is acceptable behavior. If it was not acceptable to use, why is the option available? I realize relying on an app or computer software to do most of the work is a receipt for disaster one day. I think it is too late to turn back the old ways because the world dictates the pace we now live in. Let's say for example, we want to slow down the use of technology in the classroom. The question is, will the rest of the world follow suit? I do not think so! Based on the article you have provide Erie, it clearly states that recreation reading is in decline and I do not think it is going to get any better any time soon. The gaming industry is to blame because these games provide students with a shot of instinct gratification that recreation reading will never be able provide. The people that do not embrace technology will not only not use the spell check app but technology altogether. I have few co-workers in my office that refuse to learn and incorporate technology in their daily routine. When they do need to use technology they are always asking for help and it gets old after a while. I believe ten years from now everything will be automated and these cohorts of employees will be obsolete if they do not change their ways. No, Erie I do not believe we have lost the thought process by multitasking. In fact I think the opposite has occurred. I have witness in my office where season techs struggle with a technology issue and a student employee finds the issue without any real training. I then asked the student employee how he was able to figure it out and the answer is always I do not know how I just did. Crazy as it sounds it has happen several times in my office.
  • Maria Austin on 18 Nov 13
     
    Technology is ubiquitous and as such, impossible to avoid. We get used to our kindle, notebook, phone, etc. and life seems impossible without them. While technology seems to simplify our lives it also poses questions and problems as the one Jaime describes that require the use of something that technology itself cannot provide, i.e., intuition in the process of problem-solving. That is something inherently human. I don't think I'd worry about losing this trait. I know it sounds like a cliché but a computer cannot replace a human brain. Having said this, I do think that the way we process information is changing but it is an adaptation to new environmental challenges; challenges that include technology amongst other things. It may be described as a new ability to multi-task, although as Dr. Medina explains in Brain Rules, the ability to multi-task is a myth. I prefer to consider it a new ability to focus in sequential processes.
  • Juan Saldana on 19 Nov 13
     
    One thing that we need to consider is that the pre-computer generation is getting ready to retire and these new "workers" have grown up with computers and internet. Each generation to come will be more and more tech savvy. My daughter struggled with standard keyboarding in school, but types a million miles an hour on her ipad! I read somewhere that the Concorde airplane was the last airplane that actually required a pilot to manually fly it, where as all the new and current planes really only require the pilot for landings and take-offs. There are school districts still fighting to keep cursive in their curriculum, but when is the last time a teacher took a hand-written paper? The question above about whether we are losing something due to our reliance on technology, is an interesting one. The better question would be is what if the technology was taken away, would we be able to function? Can we as a people survive without it?
  • Jeff Blackman on 21 Nov 13
     
    I think that just like anything else, as our technology grows, we will lose some thought processes and gain others. That's not necessarily bad, though. We have always done that. I don't feel bad about losing the thought process that involves sneaking up on a chicken and killing it. Then, cleaning it and cooking it. I like that I can just go buy it prepared. By the same token, I like not having to get out the liquid paper when I mess up a word or sentence. Just a few keystrokes and I have made the correction. With regard to multitasking - Medina tells us that we really aren't wired for that. It does seem that more and more, people wear the ability to multi-task like a badge of honor. But actually it goes back to the old saying "jack of all trades, master of none". I would like to see people (myself included) take more time to focus their attention on one thing and get it right.
  • Adam Hovde on 02 Dec 13
     
    Great discussion here. I can see this going either way. A teacher can guide students to use technology for critical thinking. I have students that go directly to their technology to try and find an answer and others will try and work on a problem before they try and look up an answer. The way a teacher guides the students will students use technology to bolster critical thinking rather than use it as a crutch. My students know they can just look up an answer in my physics class BUT they have to show their work so just knowing the answers doesn't really help them. Being able to explain how you get to an answer is more important to me than the right answer itself. These skills can be taught and can use technology at the same time.
  • shaila a on 07 Dec 13
     
    I agree with the fact that our thought processes have changed- but haven't been paralyzed. Like Raquel said, technology is ubiquitous to today's education. There is no way out of it. When I was 11 I had to practice hand writing and got told off by my mother when I did a bad job. My 11 years old son, on the other hand has bad handwriting and is not responsible to beautify it in any way since he does most of his work on the laptop he has been given from school. Yes, spellchecker does eliminate us to learn proper spelling. However, the need to learn how to spell is slowly being diminished. I think we need to take a new approach to looking at how children learn these days and stop sweating over small stuff that once was considered 'big'.
Adam Hovde

Ted Talk by Alan November - 8 views

www.youtube.com/watch

TED edtech alanNovember technology nlearning brain learning tools

shared by Adam Hovde on 09 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • Alan November is recognized internationally as a leader in education technology. He began his career as an oceanography teacher and dorm counselor at an island reform school for boys in Boston Harbor. He has been a director of an alternative high school, computer coordinator, technology consultant, and university lecturer. As practitioner, designer, and author, Alan has guided schools, government organizations and industry leaders as they plan to improve quality with technology
  • Thisþff is a brilliant speech. We need our students to have purpose, they really need to be exposed to content but they really need to control the purpose. Technology can help us with this really bright idea.
  • As teachers for tomorrow we agree that students must have the opportunity to create a legacy through their work.þff Students are not learning for us they are learning and creating information for the world. Empowered to develop and create relevant work can only happen when teachers open their minds to what education is. Authentic learning gives student ownership and the ability to create knowledge and instill a lasting desire to learn.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Finally we have an educator that discusses ways to solve a problem rather than definingþff a problem. Thank you for your practical ideas and strategies to improve education.
    • Adam Hovde
      Adam Hovde on 09 Sep 13
       
      Do we educate our students this way? Do you educate your students this way? How can this help our students become better PROBLEM SOLVERS?
    • Maria Austin
      Maria Austin on 10 Sep 13
       
      Very interesting video! I would look at it in a different way though. I would focus on the sense of purpose that is inside every human being. No matter what we do, we need to care about it, we need to see the reason behind it. More often than not, students are just seen as recipients of data and they are very seldom invited to find the purpose behind everything they learn. Moreover, in order for us to learn we need to have an emotional connection to what we learn. Unfortunately many an educator fail to connect with their students let alone inspire a thirst for knowledge.
    • Adam Hovde
      Adam Hovde on 11 Sep 13
       
      I agree Maria.I was thinking about how this video works with rule 4 "We don't pay attention to boring things." Having the students vested in the learning activity takes out all the boring stuff. Giving the students a reason to care about the learning helps both the student and the teacher. :)
    • Jackie Byford
      Jackie Byford on 12 Sep 13
       
      This is an inspiring video. I can almost pick out the students in my classes that would jump into the various jobs of creating a tutorial. I am trying to make the switch where my students are creating their own learning. My team has decided to do an interactive notebook with our 7th Math students, but after 3 weeks in and seeing this video I think we are missing the mark. We still show our powerpoints, the students write their notes in their notebook in an organized way with a table of contents... but they are still just taking the notes for the most part. We give them the tools(manipulatives and models) to work the problems on their own but really give them little time to really work out the problems themselves. I think what makes it hard is the demand on testing and the curriculum requirements. We teach a new concept almost everyday in a 49 minute class, and we barely squeeze in all the TEKS. My district talks more and more about critical thinking and problem solving...make the tests more rigorous, but if we can't make them care and have that purpose for the learning we are just selling them short! This video really has me thinking! By giving the students the power to create their own learning we are giving them the gift of purpose and helping them learn how to solve problems on their own instead of spoon feeding them the curriculum.
    • Jaime Villanueva
      Jaime Villanueva on 15 Sep 13
       
      Adam, I love the story about the student creating a database for the handicap. As I understand it, a professor contacts the student and wants to pay her for her work but she refuses the money. Most of us would probably have taken the money but I think we would be missing the point that the work or purpose is more valuable than any monetary again. The student's goal was never about the money it was solving a problem that she had identified and had solved. I agree rule 4 applies big time in this situation. Can you image having the teacher give the students busy work and without purpose. Who would have created the database for the handicap? I agree that shifting the learning from teacher to student to peer to peer have better learning outcomes than we would like to believe. The issue I foresee is tenured teachers changing their teaching style to reflect the new teaching strategy. How to do introduce it to teachers as a school district? What percent of the teachers would truly adopt the new teaching strategy?
    • Jaime Villanueva
      Jaime Villanueva on 15 Sep 13
       
      I agree Jackie, students should have a purpose when learning but you must first convince administration to adopt the idea. It is probably harder than we think it is because too many school districts believe their curriculum is the best and does not need fixing. This is why it should come from the community and students. If people demand change it is hard for school districts to ignore it I am not saying they will but I believe there will be resistance at some point.
  • Adam Hovde on 09 Sep 13
     
    A Ted Talk by Alan November in March of 2011. Alan November has traveled the world and discussed education and how technology can be incorporated into classrooms.  Alan did an in-service at my district this year and I got a lot of good stuff from his talk.
  • ...3 more comments...
  • Katy Lu on 16 Sep 13
     
    Thanks for prompting the importance of problem solving and suggestions for helping students to create a meaningful learning experience. I absolutely agree with Alan November that involving the community is one of the best ways to help students learn to value different ways of thinking, furthermore to appreciate the differences in each other. Creative-thinking and critical-thinking skills are essential components of problem solving. Students are natural problem solvers, through interaction with one another and participating in decision making offer countless opportunities for students to grow in their problem-solving abilities. Thanks for sharing this valuable information.
  • Martha Rodriguez on 16 Sep 13
     
    Excellent video! It's true on how everything has a purpose; listening to that really stunned me. Nothing was created in vain; everything has a purpose. You only have to find out how to use it correctly.
  • Jeff Blackman on 20 Sep 13
     
    Adam asks "Do we educate our students this way? Do you educate your students this way? How can this help our students become better PROBLEM SOLVERS?" I am not a teacher but speaking for my children, I can say that they are being educated in many of the ways November describes. Particularly in OWNING their learning. I love to hear my son talk about what he learned not only from his teacher but, more often than not, what he learned from his peers. He is in a Montessori classroom and it really is a joy to watch the children choose what they are going to work on together and then see how they help each other. They stay in the same room for three years so in the first year, the younger children learn a lot from the older kids. But then, they build their confidence and are soon teaching each other plus, as they get older, they pass their knowledge to the ones below them.
  • Maria Austin on 21 Sep 13
     
    Jeff, I have always admired the work of Maria Montessori and her legacy to education. Unfortunately, Montessori and Lev Vygotsky (scaffolding and learning through social interaction in a given cultural context) are not emphasized enough in our school systems, in my humble opinion. The prevalence of the concepts of competition and individualism have overridden cooperation and consensus. There should be a middle ground that could be reached in order to provide a more balanced approach to education.
  • shaila a on 07 Dec 13
     
    Motivation certainly drives the most ordinary people to do extraordinary things. This video was not only just inspiring but also raises a question of how many of us are actually able to/ willing to change the way we teach based on what would help our students achieve a life-long learning.
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