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Janice Wilson Butler

What are the stages of the change process? - 45 views

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    In the edutopia blog article, Shaping Tech for the Classroom, linked above, Marc Prensky - the "creator" of the digital immigrant/digital native labels, describes the typical process of technology adoption. How accurately do those steps define what is happening on your campus with regard to technology adoption? On average, where in the process is your campus? Have you seen any "movement" through the process in the last 2-3 years? If yes, to what do you attribute these changes? If no, what can you do to move the campus forward? Click on "Comment" above to respond to the article and to your peers. Please post at least one link in this group that is relevant to your discussion. Be sure to tag your link and your discussion.
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    I am the librarian at our school and I have only been there a few moths. However, I think that our school has teachers that are experts in using SMART boards and other projectors and such along with many Web 2.0 tools, but we also have teachers than use minimal technology. As far as the why, I'm not sure about every teacher on campus, but a lot of the teachers I talk to don't use technology as much as they like because they feel pressed for time. They are desperately trying to plan lessons, evaluate students' work, and address the students' weaknesses. I think in order to move forward, MTT's need to mentor as many teachers as possible, the administration needs to think outside the box so that teachers have time to plan for technology integration. This link http://www.ejmste.com/v5n3/EURASIA_v5n3_Bingimlas.pdf is for an article that discusses the barriers to technology integration. It would be beneficial for teachers to read and discuss what is holding them back so we, as a campus, come up with a plan to ensure everyone gets on board.
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    I am a 5th grade teacher at Adame Elementary and Marc Prensky description of technology integration in education describes my campus. I agree with Adriana when she says that teachers are pressed for time, especially with the STAAR test. There is a total of three computer labs at my school that are rarely used for integrating technology with the curriculum. It seems that the only technology on our campus being used is tutorial programs to enhance test scores. In the four years that I have worked at my campus I don't think we are any closer to the movement of technology integration. Unfortunately, I blame the pressure brought upon our education system, which is test driven. During the President's State of the Union Address on Tuesday he stated, "In return, grant school flexibility: To teach with creativity and passion: To stop teaching to the test :"(West Seattle Herald, Jan. 29, 2012). I think Donna ISD is heading in the right direction with the MTT program. As an MTT I will need to start sharing my knowledge with the staff through staff development and show them how enthusiastic students are to learning when given the opportunity through technology. It worries me that my students will not be prepared for the 21st century if our education system continues to be test driven, rather than technology driven. The link http://www.westseattleherald.com/2012/01/27/news/local-educators-say-obamas-state-union-address-hi is the President's State of the Union Address.
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    I am one of the Math teachers in Donna high school and technology integration in our campus, atleast in our department, I could say that we are still a little behind. Technology is in place but integrating them in our day to day lessons is still missing. It may not be because we have no idea to inlcude them in our curriculum but I trully believe that some of our teachers still need to be reminded that technology integration should be considered as a tool to provide effective learning experience and success for our students, connecting with them in ways they are native to. And as "digital immigrants" that we are, change is still something to be accepted. "Everybody is talking about technology integration, but few practicing teachers profess to know exactly how to proceed. The fact is that real integration requires change. . . . However, what seems to be lacking is a model that teachers can use to guide them through the necessary changes they will need to make to be successful in integrating new technology into their classroom" (Johnson & Liu, 2000, p. 4). In regards to the question on where in the process we are in our campus i should say we are still in between stages "doing old thing in old ways" and "doing old things in new ways". I do have seen some movement in our technology integration for the past 2-3 years. Student terminals, smartboards, internet access for our students, clickers, are are just some of the technology tools that we are using but integrating them are still in the works I believe. As MTT mentors in the future, I trully believe that we should have the burden to share our ideas and teach our colleagues what we have learned and be an instrument of change, genuine change in our classrooms. http://www.techlearning.com/article/41670
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    This article neatly summed up many of the barriers facing true technology integration. Several issues resonated with my own experiences. As Elva and President Obama stated above, often teachers primary worry in the classroom is preparing students for state examinations. Third graders spend entire lessons learning how to analyze a multiple choice question and answer it! If students do poorly on a district wide test, teachers go into immediate action to fix the problem. This pressure comes from administration, school districts, and states. In the end, teachers need to produce good to excellent test scores or they end up losing their positions. It's not that teachers don't want to integrate the technology, but at the end of the day, their performance assessment will reflect more heavily upon how their students scored on a test and not how frequently the SmartBoard was utilized. That being said, fully embracing technology could greatly enhance test scores. It will take time. There will be big failures. There will also be big successes! According to Peter Kent's "SmartBoards: Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom", "The catch phrase 'it is not the technology, it is the teacher' has never been so true as it is with interactive whiteboards. An even truer phrase however would be 'it is not just the teacher, it is the school'." Smartboards are just one example of technology that can be utilized in the classroom to increase test scores. However, whenever trying something new there will be failures. Teachers and their administration must understand that and be willing to reevaluate what they are doing. It takes our students multiple tries to master a new concept; we should allow ourselves the same time to master new technology. Works Cited: Kent, P. (2003). Smartboards: Interactive whiteboards in classrooms. In Retrieved from http://www.lhric.org/
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    I can definitely agree with Marc Presnsky's article when it comes to the barriers that prohibit technology integration to occur. I think the first step in moving forward with this concept is the teacher. Prensky writes, "..the teachers and administrators famously resist change." "...such shifting certainly initially means more work and pressure on educators, who already fell overburdened." I think with most teachers, it is fear that is hindering them from fully embracing technology. If teachers are not comfortable or are familiar with the integration of a Web 2.0 tool, then they will definitely not be comfortable teaching/integrating it into their classrooms. As far as my campus, Veterans Middle School, I believe some progress has occurred within the last 2-3 years, it has been a slow paced progress with one or two teachers slowly embracing it. This can be attributed part to Technology Trainings provided by the district as well as the Master of Technology Teacher Program that has been provided to the entire district. Those few teachers who have chosen to participate in the program are getting the skills and confidence, so they in turn will mentor other teachers. The only way to move forward is to collaboratively work as a District and as a campus with technology integration in mind. The following article/blog provides eight simple steps to help the classroom teacher integrate technology. "Implementing Effective Technological Change: What a Classroom Teacher Needs." April 2011 by Greg Swanson. http://edtechtoolbox.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-support-teachers.html
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    I am a BIM teacher and I guess it is easy for me to integrate technology because if I'm not using it then I am really not doing my job, because it is expected as a technology teacher. I have heard all kinds of barriers that teachers complain about, one is not enough computers or not enough training but in fact there is training and the bottom line is the change, some people find it hard to change but once they decide to give technology a try and they become consisted with using it the technology starts working for them or at least they will see it that way. Time will always be an issue and we are in education so we must make do with what we have and in our school just about everyone has a smart board and that is a step up from a regular chalk board which is an easy tech tool to engage students. The support must be there after the training because a teacher needs some one there to follow up on their training just to make sure they are implementing the technology correctly in their lessons and of course integrating other applications as well. (Dragula, 2005) Persistance and consistency is the key to integrating technology and not staying behind with the dinosaurs. Dragula, M.ED, J. (2005, April 1). How to Overcome Technology Integration Barriers. Retrieved from Tech & Learning: http://www.techlearning.com/article/42541
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    The campus has shown much improvement integrating technology into their curriculum. More teachers are becoming familiar with Web 2.0 tools, licensed software and diverse hardware devices. Teachers want to integrate technology however face many challenges such as time to learn the skills and to integrate them into their curriculum, technical support, funding, and software/hardware. Some teachers become discourage and impatient when they encounter technical difficulties; thus, classroom computers become unused. According to Great Schools, many schools are now providing each student a laptop to access classroom curriculum, elementary schools are utilizing blogging a vehicle to collaborate and improve writing skills. Many schools are now using Web 2.0 tools to engage students and enhance student learning. Implementing any change becomes beneficial if done properly. Integrating technology becomes possible when teachers are adequately trained, software and hardware are available, provided continuous support is provided and ample time is given to implement the skill Great Schools. Technology in the classroom: Fad or foundation for learning? Retrieved from: http://www.greatschools.org/students/media-kids/130-technology-in-the-classroom-fad-or-foundation-for-learning.gs
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    Since the implementation of the Master Teacher Technology Program (MTT) in our school district, I have seen a strengthened professional development in the use of technology for classroom instruction. The MMT program has been vital in creating networking connections with other teachers so that we are not working in isolation in the integration of technology. These small teacher groups are gradually moving forward to demonstrate technology integration in their classes to other teachers that are hesitant or fear it. We are learning from each other and becoming a buddy to someone else in our campuses. By networking, we overcome the fear of the unknown in technology usage and work with what we have in the classroom. Adaptation is critical, since most classroom teachers in our school district only have four computers for student usage, whiteboard, projector, and teacher instructional computer. Boss, S. (August 2008). Overcoming Technology Barriers: How to Innovate Without Extra Money or Support. Retrieved from www.edutopia.org: http://www.edutopia.org/technology-how-to-implement-classroom
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    My campus has shown improvement in the past couple of years. Every classroom has a document camera and a smart-board! Almost every class has about 4 class computers for the students to use. The computers are not just for programs now. The computers are used for so much more now. The students have the knowledge on how to use the internet as search engines for research. The students know how to use social networking, which sometimes is not a good idea, but they know how to use it. Some times the students know how to use the computers better than the teacher. But we are always learning because technology is always changing. This is awesome because the students get to be more involved and teachers see how the technology helps the students understand the subjects better! I don't agree with this quote from a Maine teacher "You can mourn the passing of handwriting if you must; the kids certainly won't. If they are writing better and more detailed papers, yes, there has been progress." I think that technology is great but sometimes because a computer has spell check students don't know how to spell. Handwriting should still be taught as well as grammar and spelling. Sometimes these subjects are left behind do to computers. I know that in the future handwriting may be obsolete due to technology but it shouldn't!!!! http://www.edutopia.org/adopt-and-adapt
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    I have only been in my school for this first semester. I have not observed many teachers implementing technology in their lessons. Technology seems to be slowly creeping into our lessons. The use of document cameras and projectors are very popular, but the actual implementation with students is minimal. One of my colleagues mentioned that time is an issue, and it is. We are very focused on delivering and making sure our students understand all concepts taught that we often leave the creativity and inquiry out of our lesson plans. Nellie Deutsch mentions that educators are eager and motivated to implement technology into the classroom, but that there are many obstacles to overcome. I couldn't agree more, we need more time to practice and explore the technologies and programs that we wish for our students to use. http://www.nelliemuller.com/obstacles_to_technology_implementation.htm
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    In my campus I have noticed that veteran teachers tend to stay away from technology. Veteran teachers didn't grow up with technology in their classrooms and have been teaching for years with out technology that they see no need to implement it now. I really see that as shameful! Now, as a MTT in training, I really want to change these teachers minds about technology and show them how easy it is to use. "With the infusion of technology into all aspects of daily life, students are becoming more and more adept at using technology as an educational resource. Many faculty, however, are not keeping pace with their students. Additionally, faculty feel increasingly unprepared to integrate technology into the classroom." Efau, J. (2005, May 4). No Teacher Left Behind: How to Teach with Technology. Retrieved from http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/NoTeacherLeftBehindHowtoTeachw/157372
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    I seem a bit doubtful that well working laptops can be found for almost 100 dollars for schools as this article suggest, but after looking at Project Inkwell's Web site, it seems like something that we might see in the future. Although I do not foresee my campus being able to complete the "one on one" process any time soon, I feel that it is improving with technology integration. New equipment that I have seen to promote technology integration has already been coming in to our library, which helps us get one step closer to meeting integration goals. We still face a few dilemmas with technology integration, such as lack of working computers in a classroom, or no student Ethernet hookups in the portables, but our administrators do what they can to help us with problems we face with this. There is of course however only so much that they can do, but little by little, I can see the process of technology integration in to the classrooms moving along as each year passes. An example of this movement that has been done can be seen when looking back at the year when our school's portables were first put up. It was at this time that there wasn't any internet provide to those in the portables at all. There as well were not enough SMART boards for every classroom, or any computer classes for 6 grade students. Completing a project using technology with 6 graders was really hard before they opened up computer classes for them. Now, internet, although a bit limited in the portables still, can at least be reached to them, Smart board are given to each teacher, knowledge of technology use is much better than the past 6th graders, and workshops for the use of technology are also provide from time to time. This makes it much more less time consuming for many teachers who wish to integrate technology into their classrooms, and keeps our campus moving in the right track for proper technology integration in our schools. A link, by Project Inkwell, to the prototype dev
Adam Hovde

RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms - YouTube - 12 views

  • This RSA Animate was adapted from a talk given at the RSA by Sir Ken Robinson, world-renowned education and creativity expert and recipient of the RSA's Benjamin Franklin award.
    • Adam Hovde
       
      What did you "get" from this video?
    • Juan Betancourt
       
      I think that he hits on very good points. I think that we should encourage the students to collaborate instead of copying, do engaging fun stuff rather than boring, more hands on with a purpose rather than read and tell me what you go out of it. Some students complain that the work is boring, but when i ask them: what can we do to make it fun? They don't have any ideas. Is that a product of the industrial revolution or standardized testing?
    • Dara Cepeda
       
      Wow awesome video..very informative and eye opener. It's so true, education needs to evolve for we are still stuck in an old age. Teachers are forced to teach to the test and forget the real valuable meaning of education. Then we ask ourselves, why are these children acting like that? The public education is teaching them only to pass a test instead of create a great citizen with morals, dreams. We need to teach them to be creative and produce new tools, to become inventors for a brighter future.
    • Edna Orozco
       
      Educational system definetly needs to change, and we are the key to that, altough it is going to be hard specially if we are trying to figth against what we are used to, and what we were taught.
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    A discussion by Ken Robinson on what education is today and how it needs to change to meet the needs of students.
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    This video is why I decided to get my masters degree. It made me think about what kind of teacher I wanted to be. I decided that I wanted to be more technology based and want to learn how to help others be more engaging with students but others have gotten a different lesson from the video. What will you get from the video?
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    Very interesting video Adam! Thanks for sharing. There are so many flaws in the public education system that I personally think that we should start changing the way we are teaching our kids. Unfortunately it seems that administration only focuses on having students pass the standardized tests instead of focusing on getting students ready to success in life.
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    Great Video! He was all over the place, but made some very interesting points from the beginning of public education. I remember going to school and everyone telling us you need an education in order to have a job, which was very true. I think our educational system has changed and will continue to change. We have moved away from the textbook, which is the way we learned (paper & pencil). I remember writing definitions, memorizing speeches, and copying math problems onto our lined paper to solve equations. Now students are exposed to technology which enhances their learning in interesting ways.
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    The mindset of education has to change now! We are still teaching as he said, "in batches," where we condition children to one way of thinking and stifle divergent thinking. We have talked about "thinking outside the box" and "GT students", but those are the students who were not "conditioned" as we would have them be. The real world is not as we teach, we must allow our students to work collaboratively and think independently. By the same token, I believe that our teachers are victims of the very same mindset, trained to teach strategies, and deciphering questions in order to get those scores. The parent's mindset has changed as well, they no longer tell their children that education is important, and expect for teachers to do all the teaching, not realizing that a child has to have a strong foundation. We are no longer just getting clean slates, but unstructured children who are then labeled ADHD…or are they just divergent thinkers who do not conform to our way of teaching?
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    The video was very eye opening. Everyone can agree that their must be change to our current system of Education. What we can't seem to agree on is what those changes should be. I feel as if he spent most of the time talking about whats wrong with education and why than actually providing solutions.
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    I agree with all of you. this video opened my eyes to the way our rducational system is running. I guess I have always known it ran this way but I did not think that it bu us in the "batches" to be processed. I am hoping to use my Educational technology degree to change teh way I teach my students and hopefully I can get other teachers to do the same.
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    Good video Adam. It brings up many issues with today's education. I totally agree that it is okay to raise standards for learning, but our students were not brought up that way. We are told to teach to the rigor and wonder why the students perform so bad. It is because the higher level thinking and rigor that we are now expecting comes with time and not overnight. Our children were not taught that way and to all of a sudden raise the standards is too much at once. I am confident that it will happen, but it will take time. Another issue was ADHD. When I was in school, I never heard of such a thing. His words exactly, "it seem to be an epedemic ." There could be many factors contributing to hyper and inattentive students, but parents rarely look into alternative ways to help their children. More has to be done to provide these students with help, so they can be successful and not have to be on medicine. If we let our little ones work collaboratively, and if teachers were to have more leeway to teach in their classrooms; some great learning and discovering could take place.
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    Very interesting video. There was so much information about education and the economy. I agree that our students are bored in class and with school. Why are they bored??? The reason is because teachers teach the test. There is no time for fun or learing with fun things. I feel that if we teach in a fun and exciting way we will not lose the students as soon as they walk into the room. They will come to school wanting to learn and excited and wondering what they are going to be learning for that day.
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    Wow that was a great video. He had some very interesting points. I do feel that our students are bored in class. The teachers today are teaching to making sure that their students pass the test. As teachers I guess we need to find a way to make our lessons more interesting. That is why it is real important that we incorporate technology into our lessons. We all know that students take a greater interest when technology is involved. He had so many great points. It inspires me to be a better teacher.
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    I agree with Georgina and Jessica. Students do get bored, because of the "tunnel vision approach" we are often forced to implement in the classroom. The focus on state testing has kept many of us from teaching our students to truly think critically and problem solve. Technology is an excellent way to engage our students and promote higher-order thinking skills and collaboration. If students are motivated, with meaningful and engaging lessons, I believe they will strive to be life-long learners.
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    Yes, students are bored these days, however, I don't blame teachers necessarily -- it's the system we're all in. They are victims of circumstance here. It's all about accountability and the test. I think technology may be the light at the end of the tunnel, because it's engaging, fun, and besides being a way of bringing their outside world interests into the classroom, technology isn't going anywhere. So many excellent points to support what we all already know. Good job.
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    What a powerful presentation. It really hits close to home. I have a 5th grade son who I feel this was written for! Divergent thinking - YES! They're not all little products off an assembly line. I completely agree traditional education has conditioned students not to be creative and taught them there is one answer. Some of even the best kids are just totally turned off to school. I really appreciate the presenter's view point. Very often I express my concern with the so called epidemic and wonder why there are so many students who have been diagnosed with ADHD. To see the trend follows the trend of standardized testing is amazing, scary, and really disheartening. Thank you for sharing this great video.
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    This was a great video, the presenter make several good points. Times have changed and so has our students therefore we must change our way of teaching as well. However, I believe we must be trained how to teach our divers learners. How can we reach our students if we still have a traditional way of thinking. I totally agree with the video we must raise the bar in order for our students to be challenged. Remember we are competing with video games, music,texting and social networking. We must prepare ourselves in the same matter to reach them as well.
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    This is truly the best video I have seen in quite a long time. I already knew a bunch of these problems but the speaker has tremendous delivery power, has his insight well organized and overall organizes very effectively all these historical, economic, cultural, and political variables.
Yadira Flores

What you can actually DO with an iPad - From Beth on Edudemic | Leading Change in Chang... - 1 views

  • What you can actually DO with an iPad – From Beth on Edudemic Oct 2nd, 2012 Leave a comment Posted in: Beth Holland, What Does Change Look Like?, Why Change? Online, in workshops, and even with friends, I frequently get asked What can the iPad actually do? as a sort of challenge to the worth of the device. I would rather that they ask, What can y
    • Yadira Flores
       
      This is an awesome article. It would be a lot of fun to be a reading student in school if my teacher would of implemented using an ipad or just technology in lessons. I think technology can really change how many of us not just students view reading.
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    I love the way the question is asked by What can I actually do with the Ipad verses What can the Ipad do. Like any other type of technology tool, it is not useful if we don't understand how to utilize it. This article is great and has many inspiring ideas on how to utilize the Ipad especially if you are Reading Teacher. Awesome Website...
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    I like the answers that are provided by Beth Holland regarding "Why iPads and Why Technology? So students can communicate in complex and modern ways. So students can make their thinking visible.
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    Yadira, IPADs are awesome and their uses in the classroom can be uncountable. I like the format of this article/website because it provides the Learning Objectives, Projects, and a Video. I liked the one titled, "I want my students to master the concept of the story arc." Don't forget to check out the video! This is a great resource to share with others! Thanks for sharing!
Sonia Aldape

How Has The Internet Changed Education? - 3 views

    • Sonia Aldape
       
      This information really gives and insight by using graphics to the amount of technology that is presently being used. It focuses on higher education but it made me wonder how it could impact our school systems if more technology would be implemented in the classrooms.
    • vincent briseno
       
      As a math teacher I love how putting numbers and percentages adds to the depth of the article. The most shocking revelation was that 2/3 academic leaders do not consider online learning inferior to face-to-face instruction. I still expect the majority of teachers to prefer face-to-face instruction.
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    It's pretty obvious that the internet has had a huge impact in education, but just how has the internet changed education? With each semester, more and more students are taking classes online, teachers are integrating social media into their courses, and everyone is turning to the web to do their research.
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    Sonia, it's amazing how the internet has truly changed education in a very positive manner. This website provides interesting and fun facts to read regarding these changes. I liked the comment that says, "...more than six million students are taking at least one online course". Can you imagine what its going to be in just a few more years? Truly, the internet has made positive impacts in education. I'm excited to see the many more positive changes that technology will have in education. Thanks for sharing.
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    The internet has changed since back in the mid 1990's when I was introduced to it. The realization of dial-up but yes technology is growing exponentially and the internet has changed in many ways. There are thousands of apps to choose from and a mass amount of websites along with more web 2.0 technology tools. There are more internet resources for school districts to use. I'd say as years progress so will technology in education.
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    Sonia, Internet has change so much for everyone. Now in days, you can find anything through internet. Alot of people depend on the usage of internet for researching or simply buying something through the use of internet. Thanks for sharing.
Victoria Lopez

The Social Media Revolution - 4 views

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    I am one of the Diigo discussion host assigned for the week of Oct. 22 - 28, 2012. This video is not the typical article or website most of us have been sharing, but I really wanted to share with you. In addition to this video, I would also like to share with you a very resourceful website that I will provide later. Although I could not highlight text that I wanted to emphasis with the Diigo toolbar, since it is a video, I am going to include what I want to emphasis: Youtube is the 2nd largest search engine Wiki ( Hawaiian term= quick) Studies show that Wikipedia is as accurate as Encyclopedia Britannica US Department of Education study revealed that online students out perform those receiving face to face instruction.... Discussion question: Do you think that social media is a revolution or a fad? Please provide explanation for your rationale. Why do you thinkg social networking a fundamental shift of how we communicate?
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    This video is a great eye opener to where our society is leaning towards if not already completely on that side. I am personally scared of such a change but highly believe in the power of this social networking shift. As educators, we need to understand why this is so important and how can we make it work for us in our profession. As a student, I have seen first hand how intense and engaging social media can be.Two things that really caught my attention were the following: * In 2009 U.S. Department of Education study revealed that, on average, online students outperformed those receiving face-to-face instruction. * One in six higher education students are enrolled in online curriculum. Regardless of the many reasons why, this is the future and we must not stay behind no matter how scary it might be.
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    I tend to lean towards the idea of social media becoming (or already there) a revolution. The reason for me is that I see it in use daily with our younger generations. This is the world they are being brought up in, and it is what they will be expecting to using as they grow older. One thing that does interest me is the fact that change seems to be happening quicker then it use to. So if that stays true will social media stay around as long as something like writing letters or email? Not sure about that! Thanks for the video...it raised some interesting points!
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    I don't think social media is just a fad but it's becoming a social media revolution. It's changing the way we communicate, and the way things are being done. Many people have joined social networking sites and the communication boundaries have been broken. It's interesting to see in this video how much time it took to reach 50 million users. The radio took 38 years, T.V. 13 years, Internet 4 years, IPODs 3 years, and Facebook 200 million users in less than a year!!! That's amazing! Social networking is a fundamental shift of how we communicate because it's very effective and efficient. Thank you for sharing this awesome video Victoria!
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    I also don't think that social media is a fad. We are able to communicate with so many individuals with Facebook and YouTube. The video showed that the largest increase of users on Facebook is females between the ages of 55 - 65. This might be happening because of mothers and grandmothers that are keeping in touch with their children and granchildren. I think social networking is a shift in how we communicate because I think it is easier to express yourself. I don't think one is as self-conscious about their comments when they post it on the Internet.
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    Victoria, Great video . I saw it twice because it has so much information that it makes me realize that our society focus on media or technology.. Even our young generation, they are not afraid to use any technology equipment that will give them information or input information for the community. I don't think social revolution is a fad, it is here already. Enjoyed it.
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    Victoria, Enjoyed video. I don't think social revolution is a fad. Now a days, everyone uses media to get or send information. It is here already but it is just improving with new techniques everyday. As we see our very young generation now, they are exposed to new technology equipment in which they explore with every media equipment thats out there in our world. Our world is changing.......
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    I also think social media is a revolution and not just a passing fad. If you ask a 1st grader, "How do people communicate?," just about all of them will mention facebook, text, cell phone, email, and if you give them some hints they'll finally say writing letters or notes, or face to face. Online communication is the fastest way to communicate and it's even easier to use it when we all carry a computer in our pockets or purses. Cell phones combined with online social media has made it much easier and faster for people to communicate within virtually seconds. Technology is now and it's the future, and we need to use it to our advantage whether it's for education, business, socializing, or networking.
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    Victoria I think that social media isn't a FAD with so much of importance it has gained even in many remote places of the world. But how long would you think is this trend going to continue? Something definitely will take over this trend so what will be the next big change? If you want to see a related video which talks about numbers and enough data to see social media I suggest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypmfs3z8esI Read this article on how the social media kingdom came into our lives fast and hasn't stopped changing since. http://heritage.com/articles/2012/03/21/heritagewest/news/doc4f69ce46f3375121907051.txt?viewmode=fullstory VERY INTERESTING!!!!
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    I think social media is definitely not a FAD. Social media influences everyone in the world and even the underdeveloped countries. Everyone has a Facebook and virtually a computer with us all the time our phones. Like that the video points out that if you are a company and want to exist you have to enter the trend.
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    At my campus students are using social media for educational purposes. Students are using edmodo in a couple of their classes to work on educational assignments, quizzes and current event group discussions as participation grades in classroom environments. Social media has grown since the beggining of the 20th century belive it or not. I truely believe that social media will continue to grow in time and be more useful in school environments. I really enjoy using edmodo, kind of like a facebook but for school related purposes. Great article
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    Many people are still fighting the revolution of technology. Some people prefer submitting hard copies instead of online reports. Change is not easy and sometimes even scary, but we should always give it a try. I do believe that social media has revolutionized the way we communicate.
Delilah Alegria

How has becoming an MTT change you? - 45 views

When I first started the MTT program, I was a bit skeptical about my abilities to perform at a high level. I quickly realized that becoming an MTT was more of a learning experience than an assessme...

tech classroom

Cristina Pintor

Blowing up the gradebook - 4 views

  •  
    Researchers have found three consistent effects of using and emphasizing the importance of grades: 1. Grades tend to reduce students' interest in the learning itself. 2. Grades tend to reduce students' preference for challenging tasks. 3. Grades tend to reduce the quality of students' thinking
  • ...8 more comments...
  •  
    Will you be willing to blow up the gradebook and try this innovative way of grading student's performance in your class?
  •  
    I am willing to blow up the grade book. This will require to lay a foundation of work that students will find interesting and that covers the requirements for the course. A lot of preparation needs to be done by the teacher ahead of time. It will be up the students to select their work and what final grade they want.
  •  
    Sounds like PBL again. If the methodologies of teaching must change to teach and prepare students for our ever changing world, perhaps that is another thing that needs to change. In PBL we are using a standard based rubric, and we use a point system1-4. Teachers were quick to ask how they can convert these numbers to grades, but do we really need to? On the other hand, Juan is right, we need to be very well prepared, and have daily progress checks and be sure that a student masters the skills necessary. Either way the accountability of the teacher/guide is immense. I prefer PBL with all the 21st century skills to prepare them for real life.
  •  
    Sometimes, I can see these effects in my own classroom. As STAAR approaches, we tend to increases the number of mini-marks (practice tests) that students take. Struggling students usually have the attitude of, "I failed last week, and I will probably fail again", whereas, high achieving students think, "AGAIN...I am so bored!". By focusing on the learning, I think children will be more enthusiastic and motivated to learn. In addition, I have seen how grades promote competition between students, which is not always beneficial. I appreciate how Ana referenced PBLs. PBLs are an excellent way to refocus our attention on the heart of the manner, which is student achievement!
  •  
    I've been saying this for a long time now, and I all I've gotten thus far are weird looks. How do you like me now! I'm going to use this as a reference to support what I've been saying all along. And yes, it does look like a PBL model in the sense that we'd measure student achievement more individually. The problem is that we don't have buy in from from administration and colleagues, YET, which makes it difficult to get student buy in when not everyone is aboard. I like it very much, and yes, I would be willing to blow up my grade book.
  •  
    I would love to do this BUT if the students are being judged on scores to get into college then I will have to give them scores. I teach juniors and seniors and they are all worried about their grades so they can get into college. Until the system changes I am goingot have to give grades. What is funny is my higher level students want grades. They are always asking about their grades and how they can bring up their grades. They associate school with grades and that is what is important to them. We as educators need to be associating learning with school not just grades. I think this is a great idea but I can not get rid of the gradebook yet. Here is to wishful thinking.
  •  
    I'm with some of the others who commented - I would love this but..... I completely agree grades lead to a reduction in everything from interest (student and teacher) to quality of learning and teaching. It seems all the research in the world doesn't change the way students and teachers are assessed. Remember portfolio assessments? Portfolios assessed the learner as a whole and looked at growth over the year. Much like PBLs, as other mentioned, it measures student achievement individually. Like Albert said, there isn't buy in yet. We are a grade driven system. Students, parents. administrators, etc. associate success or failure with grades. I would love to blow up my grade book and focus on student growth!
  •  
    I would love to blow up the grade book. Every week I am picking up 15 grades per week because I am self-contained and teach all subjects. Sometimes it is so overwhelming and time consuming. Although, it does measure whether or not the students are mastering the objectives. With grades we are constantly re-teaching objectives that students did not get in conference tutorials and keep on teaching new objectives. It feels like the teachers, students, administrators are so worried and stressed over grades, numbers, benchmark scores, and percentages for data. Especially with STAAR, we are so consumed over numbers!
  •  
    I really like the idea of removing homework from class..but not grades though at least not completely. Maybe reduce the amount of grades we have to submit but not blow them up, otherwise all students would be passing. I think that instead of giving 100 questions for homework, students could get a home project; such as "record a video explaining step by step how to solve this particular problem" and then they'll have to learn it so they can teach it in the video. I agree, students learn with informal learning and video games, schools need to start providing this kind of school to modern kids. We shouldn't be teaching and grading to the test.
  •  
    Wow, I am impressed! It sounds wonderful, but scary at the same time, just imagine: No homework, no deadlines, It is difficult for me because It is totally opposite to what I learned in my life, but I have to think times are changing and so does people, I am not saying it is easy and difficult for me, but also it is not impossible to try, specially if it will help our new students generations, I will be willing to try this new system of education.
Janice Wilson Butler

Change has NEVER been easy! - 27 views

  •  
    As you can see from this video, people have always been resistant to new technology innovations. If we can all learn to laugh our way through and be patient when others are trying to figure out a new technology, then change seems to happen more quickly.
  • ...2 more comments...
  •  
    This kind of reminds me of my students, when teaching a new technique some just can't seem to grasp it. As do some teachers learning new technology. Todays MTTs need to understand this and realize that for some teachers it might be harder for them than others. I am lucky to have grown up using computers and being able to understand them. This has allowed me to grasp the 2.0 tools rather quickly. We need to be able to be patient and make sure that when we teach these tools to the other teachers they will be able to understand suffieciently to feel confident using them in class with their students. Despite access to technology and despite the fact that novice teachers are entering the classroom with far more advanced technology skills than their counterparts of an earlier age, only 39 percent of teachers report "moderate" or "frequent" use of technology as an instructional tool (Grunwald Associates, 2010). And that is because teachers are consumed with standardized state exams and need to make teaching creative and fun again.
  •  
    Very perceptive and a good analysis of what is going on. The harder part is figuring out what we can do about it - and that is REALLY the huge challenge. Will be interesting to see what occurs in the classroom in the next 5 (or so) years and how you MTTs make it happen.
  •  
    I know that this video was a comedy bit, but I never stopped to realize that many people struggled, or wished not to learn about new items that were coming about with time. What I liked about the video was that the "help desk" did not get frustrated with the person who was asking what many of us would think as silly questions. Many of us have trouble with wanting to teach technology, or integrate it into our lesson because we feel it would be a pain having to teacher a class of 20+ students how to use it. I know that at times, I find my self getting a bit stressed out when my mom asks me how to do a function that I think to be easy on the computer. I have to stop my self and remind myself that what I might think is easy, is new to others, such I am sure is the same when I don't know something and some one has to teach me.
  •  
    Lol, the video was very funny. Had me laughing the whole way through. I can't believe how far we have come. I remember going through my blocks in UTPA, when I returned back to the classroom after finishing my 12 in school my self and seeing the NEW projectors, the elmo, and smartboard in the classroom and thinking, "Wow, look where technology has taken us to from chalkboard, to overhead projectors, to smartboards. A board that you touch the screen on and it moves, changes, and recollects information. I was amazed and engaged myself. I laugh every time my co-workers think I am so young because this year is my 10 year reunion and yet the classroom has changed so much!
Salina V

Tablets Haven't Killed the PC Yet -- Campus Technology - - 17 views

I can see how they would replace PCs in the future. I know that my laptop replaced my desktop here in my house. While I think they would still have the items available for those who do prefer PCs,...

Janice Wilson Butler

Shaping Tech for the Classroom | Edutopia - 30 views

    • Janice Wilson Butler
       
      I think this is the most common place in which we all tend to get stuck. Often, we get excited about trying something new in the classroom, but when we try it the first time, we run into glitches. That is when we go back to the old "safe" ways. We need to find ways as MTTs to help others overcome the fear that we feel when we first fail.
  • Doing old things in old ways
  • This trend is important, but it's hardly new -- it will be new only when those courses, curricula, and lesson plans are very different and technology influenced, when they are set up so they can be found and mixed and matched easily, when they are continually iterated and updated, and when the kids have a big say in their creation.
  • ...5 more annotations...
    • Janice Wilson Butler
       
      This is really important. If teachers just use the technology to teach the same way they have always been teaching, then we will not see much change in the way that students feel about school. Technology needs to transform the way we teach!!!
  • So, let's not just adopt technology into our schools. Let's adapt it, push it, pull it, iterate with it, experiment with it, test it, and redo it, until we reach the point where we and our kids truly feel we've done our very best. Then, let's push it and pull it some more. And let's do it quickly, so the 22nd century doesn't catch us by surprise with too much of our work undone.
    • Janice Wilson Butler
       
      This is certainly not going to be easy to do - but with the changes you are already starting to feel through this program, YOU can be instrumental in making it happen!!! How can you do this/
  • working together in self-formed teams in multiplayer online role-playing games;
    • Janice Wilson Butler
       
      This is really rather an important concept. Think about this. We have so much trouble getting kids to work in teams - and here they are self-creating teams and working together to reach a common goal. How can we take this and integrate it into the classroom? Is PBL a way to do this?
  •  
    At our school district, students log onto the network using their own account on any terminal within the district, in which they can keep individual files. Although they can't permanently personalize any computer I do always see them changing wallpapers every now and then. Integrating technology into the classroom will have to be more than a method or means. It must go beyond access and utilization. I believe students will have achieved true integration whey they have created something or honed a skill using technology as a tool.
  •  
    In the article Shaping Tech For the Classroom, it lays out a visual representation of what is happening in our classrooms throughout our district. While we are trying to keep up with the latest technology, it seems that most teachers are still at a loss as to what should be happening in the classroom with the technology available to us. At the moment, many teachers at our campus have a smart board, student computers with internet access, class response clickers, projectors, EKI machines, digital cameras and new gadget called KINEO that our district Migrant department has provided to our Migrant students. This apparatus is supposed to help our migrant students in leveling their knowledge of math, reading and science skills throught the program WEBACHIEVER. We have had this gadges in our library for about two months and have been used only once because no on has been trained as how to use them. I can say that Donna ISD has done a very good job at providing opportunities for us teachers to get technology savvy but unfortunate, not many have taken that opportunity. We have even had the opportunity to complete technology staff development in our pajamas. As a result of these initiatives by our district, it is safe to say that our district is in the right direction as far as providing us the technology and advancing software that is available to students and teachers. Through MTT Donna right Technology Grant, more teachers will become masters at providing the right tools so that teachers can change their attitudes towards technology. However more training and accountability needs to be in place in order to assure that the technology is being used correctly so our students can compete in the real world.
Pedro Torres

Response To Dr. Butlers Question - 41 views

In our campus we are starting to use Kindles in the classroom. We will issue out the Kindles to the teachers this year and the 3 MTT teachers will provide trainings and strategies to implement the...

technology butler allsemesters

Cora Mendez

Best content in EDTC6343 | Diigo - Groups - 5 views

    • Cora Mendez
       
      Ana you are right education needs to change. Teachers teach the way they were taught. That is so true.
    • Cora Mendez
       
      Hopefully everything we are learining helps us make small changes that help to change education.
    • Cora Mendez
       
      Very well put Ana. This is exactly how it is.
  • ...3 more annotations...
    • Cora Mendez
       
      Good point Christine. When used appropriately, technology can enhance learning.
    • Cora Mendez
       
      If we set high expectations, they will meet them. They are very capable Albert.
    • Cora Mendez
       
      I know your are making a difference already Cesar. All we need is one person to get the ball rolling. You have already done that. Keep encouraging your coworkers.
Delia Torres

Do you know about TED? - 49 views

Wow! Shannon, I was absolutely amazed by the Wii remote video from http://www.ted.com/talks/johnny_lee_demos_wii_remote_hacks.html. It proves that out of necessity, will, and creativity, there are ...

Fall 2012

Maria D. Martinez

More Colorado Districts Saving Money with 4-Day School Weeks | Education News - 10 views

  • The savings come mainly from reduction in support staff, maintenance costs, food service and transportation which allows schools to retain teachers and academic programs that would have to be dropped otherwise
  • It is the parents who typically have the most difficulty adjusting, with most schools reporting negative parental reactions due mostly to increased child-care expenses for the fifth day.
  • In addition, after one year into the three-year experiment with the new schedule, another unexpected benefit popped up: an uptick in test scores. Webb thinks that the increased “sense of urgency” of the shortened week seems to encourage teachers and students to make every hour in the classroom.
  •  
    This website gives an insight of what Colorado districts are presently doing: 4-day school weeks. Are we headed that way?
  • ...12 more comments...
  •  
    Maria the article is very interesting. I think it can benefit our district because our district is very short on funds.We get directives of turning of the light or computers when we are not using it so the district doesn't pay too much money. In all programs, our budget have drastically gotten cut in funds so maybe if we have a 4 day instead of 5 day we can save money. Also teachers would love this because it would give them a break so they won't get burned out with all the changes in our district. Imagine it can be a three day weekend :)
  •  
    This is very interesting. As a teacher, I would like to move to this 4 day week schedule to enjoy a three day weekend every weekend; however, as a parent, if I were not employed by a school district and worked at a regular 5 business day week, then I would be upset at the inconvenience it causes. I would have to pay extra money for child care services as stated in this article. So although this 4-day school week has its pros its cons also have to be weighed out by those that would be affected. I guess a positive would be that it would create jobs in child care for the fifth day. As an educator, by day 5, I am out of gas. So I can see how working digently throughout the 4-day school week proves to be similar in test scores when compared to those of the 5-day school week.
  •  
    Maria D. Martinez, this article poses an interesting thought about maybe going to this measure if budget cuts continue, but I don't think were headed that way. The 4-day school week seemed to have a positive effect with this Colorado school district because their state testing scores seemed to increased according to this article. On the downside, the district only saved $150,000 which isn't very much considering the amount of time and effect one day can have on education.  I think that the 4-day school week would be an interesting challenge that everyone will adjust to easily if there's a need to implement it.
  •  
    I agree with the districts that implemented the 4-day school week in order to save on the operational costs. I believe that having a short week will motivate both students and teachers to work harder and more focused on the tasks needed to be completed knowing they will have a three day weekend to get ready for the next round of intensive work days. Difficult times call for difficult measures and thinking outside of traditional methods will allow us to meet the ever changing demands of a society struggling with an inconsistent and unpromising economy.
  •  
    I did read the article and this is true that the school district did save a huge amount of income for having four day school weeks. However if you decide to have a four day school week somewhere along the line school districts still have to meet about 187 days of school, so we would be taking a risk of shorter summer vacation or shorter vacations. But hey looking at the data I am for it, but just shorter vacations.
  •  
    There's been rumors that school districts here in the RGV would do this if the budget crisis got worse, but I have yet to see it happen. There are many other ways that the school districts can reduce costs, however if they did go into the 4-day school weeks and extended the school days, then I guess there would be no difference. Like the article states, it would mainly affect the parents because of child-care expenses, but maybe this would make parents value their childrens' education more, because unfortunately there are many parents that see school as free daycare and as long as they can leave their kids there 5 days a week while they are at work they don't care about anything else. Whatever it is that school districts decide to do to reduce costs will work only if they have a good plan in place along with a good backup plan.
  •  
    I agree with Victoria. Viewing this article as a parent/teacher would have two different outcomes. We (the U.S.) are already behind in Education. We seem to be cutting funding in the area we are the most weak in; education. If we struggle with students learning the material in a 5 day school week and retaining the information over a two day weekend, how are we suppose to have them grasp and retain in 4 days? I don't believe having a 4 day work week will motivate teachers and students. I believe it'll make it worse. I vote NO.
  •  
    Once in a while you will hear in the news how the students from the United States compare to those in other countries. The Center for Public Education wrote an article about how the amount of time of school affects our students. They compared top performing countries to the United States and they were unable to find a correlation between less school time and lower test scores. The article also states that some high performing countries have their students spend less time in the classroom than the United States. You can find this article at the following link: http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Main-Menu/Organizing-a-school/Time-in-school-How-does-the-US-compare I know at my school district, teaching positions have not been filled because of the budget. Although the savings for a four-day week may be small it is still a savings. The parents that work will be having to look for daycare. Some of these parents are barely making it and this additional cost could be too much for their budget. There are many pros and cons from the four-day school week for the schools and parents. If the school has the funds then I would favor the school week to remain at five days.
  •  
    Maria, an article worth looking into especially with all the cuts in all departments at our district. Within the district we have been trying to conserve energy but that will only go so far. The state has really reduced the budget for our district which makes it tough therefore, they should consider the 4 day work week. Students would love this as well as teachers. On the other hand, parents would probably say NO.
  •  
    WOW!!! Kids would be estatic, but that would mean parents would have to look for babysitters. Since parents have to work because of the economy, it would be very difficult. But for those that are stay home parents it's a plus. Do you think it would really help the districts? How do parents feel about it? Here is another article about it. http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/kids-try-to-fill-extra-day-off-with-4day-schook-we/
  •  
    I think it is awesome that districts can think outside the box and find alternative ways to save money for the district and try so hard to keep their personnel without sacrificing the curriculum. I have been reading up on school districts that are saving money by eliminating bus routes. I think that is another great idea, not only to save money but it helps students, parents, grandparents get their daily exercise. Here is on of the articles that talks about it: http://www.activatenoblecounty.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75:walking-school-bus-can-save-money-lengthen-lives&catid=3:latest&Itemid=16
  •  
    Well, I think the idea of having a four-day week has its benefits. The district would help save money by eliminating hours of energy used in the classroom. That in itself could save thousands of dollars by the district. The money saved could be utilized in other areas. Here is a link to some creative ways other districts are utilizing to save money. http://www.mamapedia.com/article/creative-ways-to-cut-expenses-in-a-school-district
  •  
    I think that districts here in the valley are far from moving to this 4-day school weeks. It would have to be most or all of the school districts from around here in order to work more effectively. There will be a lot of unhappy parents due to child care expenses. On the other hand, us teachers will probably enjoy it. As it is most of us already stay late hours at school everyday to finish up. The districts will have to show how much they are saving by doing this and at the same time maintain or improve scores.
  •  
    I read the article and I believe the 4-day week has its benefits but as well it has its downside. I believe at the end the positive benefits will outweigh the downsides. If any district is going to implement the 4-day week, the district has to have the parents and community behind them if they want the system to work. I can see how having a 4-day week will have a positive effect on test scores, because the students and teachers will make every hour count for instructional time, knowing they only have 4 days to teach the concept within the week. I can also see improvement in attendance with students and staff, now parents and teachers can schedule their appointments on the off day during the week. Article: http://crosscut.com/2012/02/16/education/21873/The-fourday-school-week-why-less-really-is-more/ A superintendent in Oregon explains the reasons why a shift to a four-day school week works well for students, teachers, and families. Start with better academic performance.
Maribel Gracia

I-Need-My-Teachers-to-Learn - 12 views

Blanca, great video. Teachers and parents need to be aware with new changes especially in technology. Students are so advance in areas with technology and the world that sometimes we as adults lik...

technology education integrating tools

Heather Luna

From Distraction to Engagement: Wireless Devices in the Classroom (EDUCAUSE Quarterly) ... - 6 views

    • Heather Luna
       
      As a teacher, I see first hand how technology has offered endless opportunities for engagement. I think the issue may stem from the actual method of integration as opposed to the use of technology itself. 
    • Isabel Cabrera
       
      I see technology as an engagement when it is used properly and the students have a task at hand. It becomes a distraction when the student is not engaged or just trying to test you. As a teacher, you must have frequent monitoring and walking around the room. I've seen it at the high school level, you must first lay down the rules and consequences to the proper use of technology. The students need to understand that it is a privilege to use this technology to enhance their learning and if they choose to abuse it, then there will be consequences to their actions. I believe there is a time and place to incorporate technology into your lessons.
    • Edna Orozco
       
      It is true that having electronic devices can tend to distract students, but we as educators need to be responsible and take over our class, It will take more energy and effort but the outcome can be positive. It is the same with the PBL, it takes more planning and time to prepare for such lesson, but research has proven that it works, therefore we need to put more effort in using such electronic devices, but keeping in mind that we will have to be in control of our students and class.
    • Heather Luna
       
      I think Mazur said it best, technology doesn't provide any more distractions than a classroom window! 
    • April Canales-Perez
       
      This is so true. Technology will become a distraction if a teacher allows it to become one. Meaning using technology comes with a lot of planning. If you decide to use technology from one day to the next without really thinking or brainstorming about it then the lesson and the integration of technology will not go well. This will lead to technology becoming a distraction. You must have a very detailed plan of how you will integrate technology into the lesson and what expectations you will have for your students. With expectations students will know exactly what is being asked from them in order to get the assignment done.
    • Heather Luna
       
      As educators, we are responsible for taking advantage of every opportunity present, including those we may not necessarily be comfortable with.
    • Edna Orozco
       
      I agree with you, and I belive that the first step we need to take is to change our attitude towards technology. We need to understand that new generations are evolving towards the use of electronic devices such as tablets, touch phones, computers, ipads, etc etc. we need to evolve with them. The second step we need to do is to educate ourselves in effective applications towards technology
  •  
    The technology "buy-in" has been difficult, because not everyone can see the long-term benefits, some educators view technology as engagement, while others view it as a distraction.
  •  
    Distraction? I hope that by that they don't mean that technology is taking away the attention from the teacher-centered-classroom teacher while focusing on student interaction, and there being confusion about that. I think boring teachers are a distraction -- to education.
  •  
    I think alot of the "distraction" mentality comes from the traditional teaching where the teacher was the guru and taught direct instruction. The 21st century learner and the innovative tools that they have at their disposal has changed our world, and consequently how we all learn and teach. It is definitely a tool which places a massive amount of information at our student's fingertips. We just need to remember that they still need the foundation of how and what to select as appropriate information. I am so "for" technology devices, but am concerned with the responsiblity that has been dropped on our laps, that of teaching digital etiquette, safety on the internet, etc.
Yadira Flores

My View: It's never too late to begin flipping your classroom - Schools of Thought... - 6 views

    • Sara Aldape
       
      The flipped classroom is quite interesting!!!! Loved the fact that you allow students to feel supported. When you have an inspiring environment students will learn and be successful.
    • Yadira Flores
       
      Students need more than just lecture. I think that in math like any other subject you should have the ability to see how it is done a second time. I would like to be able to record my lectures and give students the opportunity to review and ask questions.
    • Yadira Flores
       
      It is very possible for all educators to become better ones if we are open to changes. Change can be good.
  •  
    Article about the flipped classroom
  • ...7 more comments...
  •  
    I read about flipped classrooms in EDTC 6321 with Dr. Corbeil's class and I found this teaching technique very useful because students are fully engaged in learning activities than lecture.
  •  
    Great article! I was not familiar with a flipped classroom. Although, it is a new technique for me it seems to be very interesting.
  •  
    I feel that, as teachers, we must do everything in our power to provide our students with the most effective and innovative techniques avaible. This means that technology is no longer an option, but a necessary tool to which enables students to succeed in today's modern world of technology. Our district, Los Fresnos CISD, sent out an email to encourage us to "flip our classrooms". Check out this website: http://flipyourclassroom.einstruction.com/
  •  
    I agree with Stacey in helping others integrate technology; especially for teachers at the end of retirement. "Flipping their classroom" isn't as hard as it may seem. I believe with training teachers on how to incorporate technology and engage our students, we would have a higher success rate with our students mastering the content.
  •  
    The article is very interesting because teachers need to understand that we need to intergrate technology more often in our classroom. For example, like stacey's mom did not want to implement technology because she was used to teach the same way for many years. But when she decided to implement technology, she realized that the students enjoyed it and was more effective for her.
  •  
    This is a very interesting article. Stacey's mom helped her with her first year of teaching, then Stacey helped her mom to become a 21st century teacher. I like how they both were mentors at one point to each other. Sometimes that is what is needed a mentor to guide you and make you feel that you can integrate technology in the classroom.
  •  
    This article on flipped classrooms is very interesting because it clearly demonstrates how the use of technology in the classroom benefits students to increase learning and retention. The AP exam scores before and after were an eye opener because one year it was 58% and the next year using a flipped classroom, it increased to 78% of students scoring a "4" or "5" and none below a "3". In addition, using technology in the classroom created a sense of stress free environment where students enjoyed learning. I also liked that this Math instructor also helped another (her mother) to also have a "flipped" classroom. This was a great article that we can all share with others to demonstrate how the use of technology in the classroom is very beneficial to students.
  •  
    I really admire those math teachers especially being able to work with each other being that they were both from far ends of the spectrum when it came to the education profession. I have been hearing a lot about the "flipped classroom" and I have also been able to connect my previous course work with it. I find that being able to have all your information narrated and easily accessible for your students is a great way to reduce stress. This means that the students will be able to review the lesson at their own pace and in a comfortable environment. Even though I hear many good things, as a 5th & 6th grade Language Arts and Reading teacher I still hesitant to flip my classroom. I know it's not impossible but it will require much training and guidance for it to work effectively.. This article has really opened my eyes to where our future educational system might be or should be gearing towards.
  •  
    As teachers we should be open-minded and ready to accept new ideas that can revolutionize the way we teach. Always keeping in mind that everything we do is to improve our teaching.
janie martinez

Web 2.0 - 31 views

I use to think that many teachers didn't want to change thier methods of presenting lessons by using technology in the classroom but I have changed my mind. When I share what I have learned with o...

vincent briseno

Ten Tips for Engaging Underperforming Students | Edutopia - 22 views

    • vincent briseno
       
      These are all excellent tips for every classroom. Performing all ten of these on a daily basis would be a challenge for me. Is there a particular strategy you would or have struggled with in your classroom?
    • Maria D. Martinez
       
      I believe my major struggle has been time constraint. Once I begin I keep going and going and at times I forget about the time. It flies by and I see myself running short to what I had planned for that day. It would be ideal to have more time with the students but since that is not possible, I have to go with plan B which is to allocate a certain time to every section and abide by it.
    • R. Palomares
       
      Vincent, This article is great and the ten Interactive Learning Non-negotiables strategies are great when planning the lessons. I think #4-"limited lecture" would be challenge because finding a stop during the lecture can be difficult at time. On the other hand, I believe #1 the "Essential Question" is the most important because this will guide the students towards the end goal. In addition, I liked #10-"Student Centered" because that's where you plan the use of a technology tool to make the lesson engaging and relevant. This will be a great article to share. Thank you for sharing.
    • Jaime Villarreal
       
      In my experience tip #2 has been my greatest challenge in my classroom. Implementing an activating stratetgy to activate student thinking is very crucial to capture their attention and curiousity which will then trigger learning. The challenging part is making the time and carefully planning each activity and following lesson timelines at the same time.
    • vincent briseno
       
      Maria and Romel I know a couple of teachers who use a kitchen timer and set it for no more than 15 minutes. It is a bit crude, but it is a cheap solution and easier than setting a timer on your phone, watch, etc...
    • vincent briseno
       
      Jaime I have issues with finding an activating strategy as well. In math, it is difficult to connect slope with something relevant to students, but sometimes we over think things. I showed a terribly stereotypical video to a group of kids on slope and they still talk about it 3 weeks later. You'd be surprised what kids will relate to.
    • Leonila Pena
       
      Vincent, those ten tips are great, thank you for the link. I can see how incorporating those ten strategies into your lessons on a daily basis can seem quite daunting, but if you think about it, as educators we are required to plan out our lessons based on the objective(s) that we are teaching. What I would do is use this as a guide when I plan out my lesson, maybe create a checklist out of it and use it while planning my lessons. I'm one of those that tend to over think things, I always need to write down what it is that I need to do or achieve so that I stay focused on just that.
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    I think a particular strategy i would struggle is about time. Sometimes we go "on and on" on one concept that we forget about time especially if we are team teaching and the time frame is shorten.I like the video which explains the ten tips the teacher should follow. I am going to share this video with my coworkers in school. Very informative :)
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    These are great strategies. I love how they suggest for teachers to involve kinesthetic movement, hands on activities and providing experiences as a way to make teaching the content meaningful and easier to recall. By creating student-centered learning activities, the teacher will reach a greater population of the students through the use of incorporating several learning styles. Learning modalities need to be considered for the lesson to be effective.
  •  
    In my experience tip #2 has been my greatest challenge in my classroom. Implementing an activating stratetgy to activate student thinking is very crucial to capture their attention and curiousity which will then trigger learning. The challenging part is making the time and carefully planning each activity and following lesson timelines at the same time.
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    Mari I completely understand. Time gets away from even the best teachers. I am a coach and this is the issue I have most difficulty with on the field (that and yelling). I always carry my watch with me and set timers. Some teachers use simple kitchen timers to keep both the teacher and the students on task. It helps both know there is a limited amount of time to complete tasks. It keeps the class moving and students engaged.
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    I really enjoyed the article Vincent, I'd agree with limiting lecture because student's haven't developed a cognition level of grasping information in one sitting. So breakout sessions work best along with collaborative group work discussions. The way I've learned to keep a class engaged is use a timer system online and students are aware of how much time is left. From experience I noticed that time flys by fast.
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    Vicente, thanks for sharing! I agree that those are ten of the basic steps we as educators can take in helping or students become successful. I believe that sometimes we as teachers are pressured in keeping up with our timeline, that we're teaching more than one lesson, making it harder for students to learn and retain what was taught. If there wasn't so much pressure in standardized testing, perhaps we would be able to better reach all our students and not feel inclined to teach the "bubble" kids. Graphic organizers are a must in my classroom. Not only does it better illustrate for all students, but it also assists those students who need the visual and have modificiations. All the other key points listed make me believe that this is geared towards PBL. I think it's great! Students will still be required to use higher order thinking while still conducting a student-centered activity. Great job Vincent. I'll be sharing these tips with my fellow co-workers.
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    This was a very interesting article about how to get underperforming students to improve. The one tip that would be a challenge for me would be the movement on a daily basis. I only teach math to my fourth grade students and I try to get my students to use manipulatives as often as possible. When they use the manipulatives I do tend to become stressed due to the movement of the students. I know it is good for them to move around and I will try to implement this tip more often in my classroom.
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    lI like this article because it gave each step and then the author explain it futher. Making each of the step a "Non-Negotiables" is sometimes difficult. But once you practice doing them in each lesson I'm sure you can change with time making each day better and each lesson engaging.
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    Vincent, great article I really appreciate all of the valuable tips for engaging students in the learning process, a way as to actively involve each student. I do incorporate a few of these tips with my students, and I agree that it will keep the students in control of their learning. Nonetheless, using these tips will make the students aware of the content that is expected to be learned on each subject area.
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    I really appreciate all of the valuable tips for engaging students in the learning process, and I am aware of how each can be used. However, my huge frustration is in the fact that in a self contained classroom it is so difficult to plan for each class subject in such a way as to actively involve each student. I try my best, but it really is a challenge. I do incorporate a few of these tips with my students, but I guess more time would make all the difference.
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    I think the particular strategy that would take me longer to achieve would be limited lecture. Finding a different activity to do with them and keep them focused will be very challenging after a while.
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    Great article, very informative and awesome strategies to implement in my classroom. The ten interactive learning non-negotiable strategies are great when planning the lessons. I do see some resemblance to the 5-E strategies I use in my classroom, but to use all ten strategies on a daily basis might be a challenge to keep all the students engaged.
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    This is what my student population consists of. Great article!
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    I like the strategies, every bit of guidance and tips will defintely help us implement innovative and interactive lessons. I think we are all guilty of going on and on, because we become engaged as well. These strategies would go very well with PBL instruction.
Alyssa Tanguma

The Nerdy Teacher - 12 views

  • Using My iPad In The Classroom This Year
    • Joshua McDonald
       
      This is actually one of a series of posts he has done on his experience with iPads in the classroom. That was how I first discovered him, a google search for iPads in the classroom. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
    • R. Palomares
       
      IMPORTANT!!!! The Nerdy Teacher is a Diigo bookmark shared by Joshua McDonald but I don't know why it says it was shared by me when I just added a sticky and highlighted in response to this post.
  • Blog Archive
    • Joshua McDonald
       
      Impressive history to look through if you have some free time.
  • My Visitors
    • Joshua McDonald
       
      As you can see his influence is global!
    • Sara Aldape
       
      Wow!!! Talk about him tailoring specifically to his audience and to Global Influence teacher needs. IMPRESSED!!!!
  • ...11 more annotations...
    • R. Palomares
       
      "The First Five Minutes" is a very good blog entry that will help you change the way you start class.
  • How do you start your class?
  • I found something very interesting after looking at my classes for about 6 weeks. The first five minutes set the tone for the entire class.
    • Sara Aldape
       
      I start my class by having student interaction....them recapping with friends and them asking me questions about myself. They start feeling comfortable and I try to make it a friendly environment. When you have kids feeling appreciated you will have learning and collaboration.
    • Joshua McDonald
       
      That is a great point @Sara Aldape
    • Yadira Flores
       
      The Blog here says something that is very true as humans we have the need to socialize, and students have those needs also. Another thing I know from my experience is that if students fell that we care enough about them they will start caring about you too and as result perform fro you.
    • Joshua McDonald
       
      Couldn't agree more with that statement...that is why I usually dont get into curriculum during the first couple of weeks of my class. Instead I work really hard to develop a relationship with them. One of the best things I have seen is making sure I learn their names fast. It is sad to say that there are still teachers on my campus that dont know many (if any) of their students' names.
  • I have learned so much about my students from talking with them and sharing ideas.
  • One of the new things I have brought to my class this year is Student Blogging. Now, if you are a regular reader of this blog, you are thinking that blogging is nothin new to my classroom. Well, I'm having students do something a little bit different this year.
    • Jaime Villarreal
       
      I agree that the first five minutes of class of very crucial in establishing the tone of the class. I have noticed that when I spend the first minutes of class interested in there dailly activities there is always smooth transition of their attention to my planned activities. Would like to share the following website: http://www.techlearning.com/index
    • Sara Aldape
       
      I loved the fact that we do need time to talk and socialize because we need to catch up on things. Have students share ideas and having them collaborate with their collegues the first five minutes will encourage them all to be able to feel a part of the class and not just having a teacher centered environment.
    • Sonia Aldape
       
      Joshua, after reading The Nerdy Teacher blog I found myself reflecting on the different technology that is being used at my campus. Although, we are try to keep up with technology it seems that much more can be intergrated to enhance student learning. Thanks for the exposure.
  • One of the things I'm doing with Evernote this year is having students use it as a way to store all of their work in class. I am slowly rolling it out this year because I'm asking my students to learn many different tools and I do not want to overwhelm them
    • Alyssa Tanguma
       
      I really like this idea. It seems it would work for any classroom. I agree that many of the students haven't seen each other in a while. I dont know about you but when I was in school, it never failed for something to happen during the passsing period that I could not wait to share with my Peers. Great Idea.
  •  
    As someone who wants to be a leader in their district for technology implementation, I believe one of the best things I can do is keep myself plugged into a Professional Learning Network (PLN). I dont have to figure out everything on my own....it is much simpler to steal other people's ideas :). The Nerdy Teacher has been my go to source for examining how others are using technology in the classroom, and I highly recommend making him a part of your PLN.
  • ...7 more comments...
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    Your assignment for this week is to complete the following: 1) Check out the Nerdy Teacher's blog and post a sticky note on the website with your general impressions. (Please know that you are welcome to be as honest as you like, even if that does not agree with my thoughts on the website) 2) Via comment to this conversation, please suggest another blog, twitter account, website, etc... that would also be worth adding to a PLN. Hopefully by the end of the week there will be a good foundation for anyone looking to start forming their own PLN.
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    Joshua, "The Nerdy Teacher" is an awesome blog where many ideas and things to think about are discussed. I really liked the most current blog posted titled, "The First Five Minutes". In this short blog, the educator makes a interesting discovery about allowing the first five minutes of class for students to "chat" and "catch-up", it helps with students getting ready to learn. This is so true, because we as adults do the same thing when we're getting ready to start a staff development meeting. We first "chat" for a little while and then we seem to ready to begin learning after that. As for another blog that would be great to add to the PLN, here is one I suggest: http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/blogs/index.html It has a more than 40 blog links of everything an educator may possibly want to know and comment about! Check it out for yourself!
  •  
    @ R. Palomares Thanks for the recommended website, it looks like a great resource.
  •  
    @ Joshua Thank you so much for sharing this blog. I think I'm addicted. Someone should recommend him turning his blog into a book. I completely fell in love with his "The First Five Minutes" blog post. I am an inclusion/co-teacher and the two English classes I'm in are very different. We usually do "Do Now's" in both classes at the beginning. One, excuse my language, is very anal about starting as soon as you walk in and the other is more laxed. Lets a couple minutes pass for the student to get mentally prepared and then goes about completing the warm up, which I find is more effective. Again, great post! Another great blog I came across is: Thinking in Mind, http://www.thinkinginmind.com/ It goes in detail about the power of networks.
  •  
    Joshua, great link. 1. I posted my sticky note on the site and shared it with the group. 2. The blog/site I'm recommending is called, The Innovative Educator - written by Lisa Nielsen. She has great ideas on how to use technology for learning. The following link takes you to one of her blog's post named, The 5 Cs to Developing Your Personal Learning Network - http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/08/5-cs-to-developing-your-personal.html. Hope others enjoy her blog as much as I do.
  •  
    Great Link! Lots of information.....this article that I'm recommending is called For 'Connected Educator Month,' Tips From 33 Educators We Admire By KATHERINE SCHULTEN. http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/for-connected-educator-month-tips-from-33-educators-we-admire/ These 33 educators have shared and answered two questions: 1. What is one important thing you've learned from someone in your Personal Learning Network (P.L.N.), however you define that network? 2. What one person, group or organization would you recommend every educator add to his or her P.L.N.? They share lots of recommendations....hope you enjoy.
  •  
    Enjoyed and very interesting. I start my class by showing them a image on the projector and posting a question on the board. They will collaborate among their groups for about 5 minutes and then have a discussion among the class. The images are connected to the objective of the day. I would recommend to get pictures from any website such as flicker.com or google.com
  •  
    This blog has many posts to read. It is helpful to read what technology another teacher is using in the classroom. He does mention different technology tools to use in the classroom that are new to me. This is a blog that I will continue to read for new ideas.
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