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Pupils have a say in what their classroom will be. "HIGH TECH: 21st century classroom on the horizon Pupils have say in their future - by John Thorne in Mid Devon Gazette - 6/11/01 Primary school pupils have been given the opportunity to say what they think a high-tech 21st century classroom should contain. The pupils took part in a technology day at Chulmleigh Community College, which has been chosen as the site for a pioneering classroom of the future project, along with Witheridge and Winkleigh primary schools. Devon County Council has been awarded £900,000 by the Department for Education and Skills for the innovative scheme. It aims to help boost learning opportunities for children and adults in rural communities. Devon is one of 12 local authorities selected following an invitation by the Government to councils to come up with plans for a classroom of the future. Each of the three schools would be equipped with the latest computers, audio and video technology. This would allow pupils and adult learners to benefit from video links with experts at three of Devon's technology colleges, including Queen Elizabeth's at Crediton. They would be able to take lessons or give lectures without moving from their home base. The idea is to provide greater learning opportunities for people living in rural areas and help to cut down social exclusion in isolated communities."

"If you're new to flipped classrooms or have known about the concept for awhile but haven't made the plunge, the handy infographic below takes a look at some of the basics of flipped classrooms: what are some of the advantages, why and how they work, and how both teachers and students are responding to the flipped classroom model." A nice start to thinking about the advantages of flipping the classroom. Now about those kids who won't do homework...

Some of the good things about flipping the classroom, and how to do it. "A reversed teaching model that delivers instruction at home through interactive, teacher-created videos and moves "homework" to the classroom. Moving lectures outside of the classroom allows teachers to spend more 1:1 time with each student. Students have the opportunity to ask questions and work through problems with the guidance of their teachers and the support of their peers - creating a collaborative learning environment."

"Technology in the classroom no longer means simply having a computer available for students to use or presenting material through a PowerPoint presentation. Educational tech means utilizing aspects of the digital classroom within the traditional classroom-students use cloud technology to submit and review assignments, teachers facilitate class discussions through online platforms, and students collaborate through online media. These are new and revolutionary elements of learning and education that play an important role in our students' academic experience."

"Skype is a free and easy way for teachers to open up their classroom and their students to a world way beyond their campus. With Skype, students can learn from other students, connect with other cultures, and expand their knowledge in amazing ways. Teachers and parents can also benefit from Skype in the classroom. Read below to learn how you can take advantage of the power of Skype in your classroom." Links with short explanations--very useful.

"Bitmoji Classrooms are really catching on as teachers try to have fun and increase engagement by designing their virtual environments. In the simplest form, a Bitmoji classroom is just a Google Slide with hyperlinked images and objects that link out to class information and resources. Check out the Pinterest collection at the bottom of this page to see some of the creative ways teachers are using their Bitmoji Classrooms." Based on Google Slides. This site has a link to slide you can start using immediately. T/h N. LaFave.

"Skype gives students and teachers the ability to connect with the outside world without leaving the classroom, allowing them to meet face-to-face with the subjects of their learning or with students from other cultures. Teachers across the world have already arranged many enlightening and unforgettable conferences, demonstrating the extraordinary potential of Skype in the classroom." Lots of good ideas for using Skype to practice authentic language with authentic audiences. Also points to Skype' "in the classroom" page that helps teachers connect with experts and other classes looking for exchanges.

A monthly blog from EFL Classroom that gives you ideas, resources, and a place to set up your own online classroom. Links to video talks, new online resources, ongoing discussions and blogs, student-created content, ideas for current seasonal holidays, and their own Diigo Group, et al. EFL Classroom has developed well over the past year or so, and is well worth following.

An interesting argument that the flipped classroom is really a stepping stone to students doing their own learning/research. Very thought-provoking about the role of the teacher in a classroom or online: "Ultimately, we have realized that three fundamental questions should drive the teaching and ­learning experience: What are you going to learn? How are you going to learn it? How are you going to show your learning? As this new way of learning has played out over time, my students have found that they no longer need me to locate or create videos for them. They can find their own resources and direct their own learning. My goal as a teacher is to help them become independent learners, to give their learning a purpose that is apparent to them (beyond simply passing the unit exam). I prompt them to reflect on their thinking and learning while sharing stories of my own journey as a learner. I help them develop skills, such as finding and evaluating sources and collaborating with their peers."

"Six years ago I created a short slideshow featuring cartoons that I made to explain the benefits of having a classroom blog. That slideshow focused on the benefits to teachers. Today, I used Storyboard That and Google Presentations to create a new slideshow about the benefits of having a classroom blog. This slideshow is focused on the benefits to parents." T/H R. Byrne

"Have students create a Pinterest board with 10 pins that summarizes them. Ask students to create a 30 second podcast that introduces themselves. Then allow students to present them or play them on separate devices as an audio gallery. Create a classroom blog and ask each student to write a blog post introducing themselves to the rest of the classroom. Have students create a quick comic strip to describe themselves or to recreate a recent funny moment in their lives. Use PollEverywhere to ask students interesting questions and get to know them as a class, like their favorite subjects, bands or TV shows. Use GoogleForms or SurveyMonkey to survey students about their interests, academic inclinations, and background info - a 21st century alternative to the "Getting to Know You" info sheet! Have students create word clouds to describe themselves and share with the rest of the class. Have students go on a QR code scavenger hunt in teams to get to know each other and learn about your classroom rules in a fun, engaging way. Ask students to create their own Voki avatars that introduce themselves to the class. Encourage them to be creative with the backgrounds, characters and details of the avatar to reflect their own personalities and preferences. Have students create graffiti online that speaks to their interests and personalities and share with the class." A nice set of ready-made lessons using readily available apps on the computer.

Kathy Shrock's guide to QR Codes has dozen of links to the apps and devices, videos of QRs in action in the classroom, and links to other sites with QR classroom ideas. All you need to know!

"In an effort to save you a little bit of time, I've gone through a treasure trove of YouTube videos that are all about iPads in the classroom. From tutorials to recommending apps, there are a bunch of videos designed to help teachers, students, and admins alike." R. Byrne includes the actual videos along with a brief description: apps worth having that you can easily download, a Comprehensive Guide to the iPad for beginners, How to Set up Apple TV in the Classroom, Evernote, etc.

A 5th grade math class takes a new look at Common Core, formative assesment, creative/critical thinking, problem solving, classroom management techniques, group work. Some bil-lingual used. Individual students are addressed and encouraged in this exciting model classroom that is very hands-on.

"Facebook isn't just a great way for you to find old friends or learn about what's happening this weekend, it is also an incredible learning tool. Teachers can utilize Facebook for class projects, for enhancing communication, and for engaging students in a manner that might not be entirely possible in traditional classroom settings. Read on to learn how you can be using Facebook in your classroom, no matter if you are a professor, student, working online, or showing up in person for class."

"Teachers who want to put web 2.0 technologies to work for them can find many different free options online. There are tools for creating online classrooms, social networks, student podcasts, web-based flashcards, elearning modules, and much more. Here are 10 free web 2.0 tools for teachers to try in the classroom this year." The first of these, Engrade, looks like it would be useful as an online assignment calendar, gradebook, IM, and progress report system.

A free, ad-free discussion site

"Nicenet's Internet Classroom Assistant (ICA) allows virtually any classroom, even those with modest resources, access to powerful tools. Everything in Nicenet is offered free for public use, and Nicenet makes no profits from your participation." Sign in to create your own online classroom base.

"I have taken all the conventional desks out and replaced them with mostly tables and a number of different kinds of chairs; I've used garage sales and the generosity of friends to furnish my room this way. My classroom looks like a college apartment. But I also build in transitions every 15 minutes or so that require movement (to get into groups, turn something in, write on a paper-covered wall, etc). I have little to no fidgeting problems or issues with attention loss."" This is a whole section of a teacher blog devoted to pictures and descriptions of flexible seating environments.

"Innovative educators know they have to update classroom management strategies in the modern classroom. Here are twelve strategies to do just that."

Remarkable pictures and descriptions by teachers of K-6 classrooms. Really gives a good visual picture of the ways a traditional space can be re-invented for a more creative learning environment, on a tiny budget. Lots of DIY ideas, and some concepts for student self-management.