EDTC6343

Lots of Apple stuff here - but other stuff is available for us Non-MACS.

Wow! That is a ton of information! I feel like I need to slowly go through each one. I am a Mac enthusiast, and I wish that our district would convert. I feel like we would be able to accomplish a lot more with the different interface. It's much more user friendly--- hence all of the copycats. THank you for sharing such a wonderful list of options!

The cost of higher education has grown exponentially in just the six years since my undergraduate days. However, the options that are available are incredible! I was amazed to find out that you can take classes online through MIT for FREE. What an amazing way to use our time on the internet? Are we preparing our students to be self-guided learners who are ready to work their way through an online course? I know that it's been a difficult transition for me, will our students be able to make it? Are they better equipped than the older generation to make the transition because of their technology infused lives or will it be more difficult for them to focus?

Wow, this was very scary. I have three children and I have instilled in them the importance of furthering their education. Seeing this makes me wonder, if Im gona have to rob a bank to help them on thier educational journey. The price of college has risen significally now, but I will try my best to stay afloat and continue and hopefully succeed without a ton of debt.

Yes, post-secondary education is becoming more expensive to prepare our sons and daughters at the actual schools of learning for their future. More the reason(s) that we must prepare students K-12th to be 21st century learners that can collaborate, communicate, use critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills that will enable them to be independent and self-motivated for online learning. By taking on-line college courses, the students will be able to save money in tuition fees, textbooks, housing, transportation, and other types of expenses. In spite of the high expense it will cost me to educate my daughter as a biology major and to attend medical school, I want her to be prepared to become a medical doctor--thank goodness I only have one!!

What do you think?  Will PC sales begin to grow?  Do you think the iPad will replace the need for laptops?

I dont' know if PC sales will go up! At the current moment the demand is for ipads and tablets! I don't think that the ipad will replace the need for laptops. Believe me I love the ipad but its just like a larger version of the iphone!! I have a macbook which I love!! I think that Mac is better but that is just my opinion, it just seems easier to us. But maybe this is because I have been using Mac for about three years now and a PC is difficult for me to use. Only certain functions like excel! Its just that mac and PC are different but both are still great!!!

I know that it's not my turn to host this week but after seeing Tania's great website that she shared, I just had to share this! Check it out!

It's a great website especially the videos as professional development, make things less threatening and more comfortable. Thanks for sharing..

It is a great website, not only because it has many practices to print, but also because it provides good practices on several themes that we have to cover. I was going over the "what time does the clock show?" practice. It works great on the Interactive Whiteboard. It allows the students to learn and participate in class.

This is where you share additional comments. I want to add more

Website that provides valuable information and resources of educational technology.

I-Pads are the newest popular gadgets in demand. I agree that their use in our schools has proven to be an efficient avenue for improving academic skills for students especially our most challenging students (e.g., special populations). The I-pads have also empowered our teachers to adapt technology to assist them and help support of the advancing students' learning. I am in agreement with Vincent that the price hinders the availabilty to all students. Perhaps we need to do more research on Vincent's comment about the use other tablets.

I was excited to learn how 3D is being incorporated into the classroom. This 3D enhances students' learnign especially for the ADHD and dyslexic child. They are engaged in the learning and the students find it fun. The teacher was please with the ease of using the application in the classroom. Technology is truly fascinating.

A new study shows that students who use iPads in the classroom score better in literacy tests than those who don't. Educators in Auburn, Maine began instructing 266 kindergarteners using the iPad 2 this fall, and those who used the tablet scored higher on literacy tests and were more enthused about learning.

I would love to incorporate iPad's into the classroom because of the number of possibilities it has. I also, however, agree, with Adriana when it comes to the main source of the classroom. The teacher needs to know the tool, know how to incorporate to make successful lessons in order for it to be successful. If you think about it, the number of teachers in the district... then the number of teachers who are willing to incorporate it. It is a big difference! It would be great if all teachers would incorporate it, even begin training to incorporate it.

It would be extremely interesting to see how the Ipad can boost test grades. It's also important to note that the teacher would have to familiarize herself with this technology. I think they would be an amazing tool for the classroom because they will keep students engaged and interested in doing their work. Also, it's interesting because new apps are always coming on the market and they can also be used in the classroom.

Lot's of information for grants

I think if the students get this opportunity to have a computers, they would have more access to get more resources for their studies. On the other hand, students need to be monitor when using computers to make they are using them effectively and not getting into websites that would get them in trouble.

Technology is a great way of getting our students more engaged in our lessons. It was surprising to read in this article how the students in the ACOT program were college-bound unlike the other students in the same high school. Students are able to use technology to collaborate. I feel students might feel more comfortable sharing their ideas with one another through the use of technology.

I have to agree with Joshua and Romel, that technology does have a positive impact in the classroom. I believe technology increases the student's motivation and self esteem to learn, because they are using tools that they are use to, not just paper and pencil. It makes the students excited about coming to school. I teach 5th grade students, and when I receive the students they lack the basic knowledge how to use Microsoft word and PowerPoint, but once they leave they learn how to use stixy, and glogster for presentation purposes. I believe technology in the classroom creates a positive environment for learning and collaborating with one another.

Not free but this is really cool looking!!!!

Very interesting! I agree with the writer of the article. There needs to be a balance between teaching the 21st century skills and the content. There also needs to be a balance with how much time is spent on learning content and how much time should be spent on learning how to find the information. Back in the day, there was less history to learn, less scientific facts, etc. Since the Internet era began, we have way more facts than we can possibly remember. I think that teachers can do this, so that it's not a fad. As a librarian, I'm trying to focus on communication. I have a wiki and a library web page that helps me communicate with students the different resources that are available to them. I am always sharing with them what is available so that they can use their creativity.

Thank you for sharing this article Elva. It really resonated for me. The author's final statement , "If they want to genuinely transform teaching and learning, proponents of 21st-century skills must be as deliberate about how their idea is approached and implemented as they want schools to be about teaching these skills", especially resonated with my feelings regarding our rush to implement 21st Century skills. I firmly believe in backwards planning, but often what I observe is a rush to buy new "toys" and then there's no plan for their use. School districts must take the time to make the end goal and then create the steps needed to arrive at that goal. This will require time, effort, and yes some money. However, if you take the time to plan ahead for implementation you will save money in the long run by avoiding costly missteps. Additionally, these 21st Century Skills are simply skills to apply to knowledge. We must take the time to teach them but it cannot be in determent to the content areas. If students learn a concept better using scissors and paper over a Prezi, then it should be the method of instruction in my opinion. Ultimately, teachers and school districts need to embrace the new technology but view it as a tool for instruction and not the solution to all of our educational struggles.

I try to incorporate 21st century skills by having my kids use more technology with their projects. many of them are so use to having the pen and paper assignment that they are surprised when they get to use technology to create a project. While there may be some issues that make it hard to use technology most of the time because of lack of computers of items, having some group work for using these technology can help. I know I can be doing more so when I plan I need to make sure to keep in mind that it is our jobs as teachers to teach these students into becoming 21st century learners.

Thank you this has been very useful.

An article on a typical day in a technology connected classroom.

Rene, the article is very informative about how an effective classroom should look like while integrating technology. I like how many of these students were in awe when the professor showcased the class wikispace. I like how the professor was exposing his students to different types of Web 2.0 tools to have students collaborate and discuss concepts and information. Article: Technology Integration for Elementary Schools- http://www.edutopia.org/stw-differentiated-instruction-technology-integration

This is a great and interesting article. I think with all these tools available now we can have many classrooms like these and imagine what will come in the near future. Integration of technology should be done in every single classroom to promote student involment.

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...

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.

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!

In just a few short years, Salman Khan has built a free online educational institution from scratch that has nudged major universities to offer free self-guided courses and inspired many professors to change their teaching methods. His creation is called Khan Academy, and its core is a library of thousands of 10-minute educational videos, most of them created by Mr. Khan himself.

Really interesting site for current information on scientific discoveries. Good resource for students - source for latest research news

Too often, technology in the classroom centers around teacher use. This is technology teachers and students will want to use.

If I had a choice I would definitely prefer the EPSON ultra soft interactive projector because it seems like it has more features than the interactive whiteboard. It seems easy to use, demonstrate, and adapt to everyday lessons.

I would definitely prefer the EPSON interactive projector. I currently use a Smartboard with a regular DELL projector, it takes a lot of classroom space to use the equipment. This new interactive projector takes minimal space and seems to work great!

This may be a little bit controversial, but I see a clear link to how we run our educational systems and the ideas presented on this website. I recently went to a training about connecting the content areas to have students create an end of marking period product that required they use skills and knowledge attained in all content areas. There have been several schools going in this direction and so far they've had great success, especially with ESL students. I'm very interested in pursuing something similar on my own campus.

Strong possibility for a grant