cational technology experts agree, however, that technology should be integrated, not as a separate subject or as a once-in-a-while project, but as a tool to promote and extend student learning on a daily basis.
Today's students have grown up with many different forms of technology! Engaging them with different technological tools can help maintain student attention to learning.
This is a great article with a bunch of ideas for how to integrate technology into our daily lessons with our students. This made me realize just recently in my own browsing that I came across a great resource I should share back with you. It's http://www.cnn.com/studentnews/index.html and it can help students read the news of the day, has video clips to watch as well as questions and topics for discussion. Another useful "daily" that can be done in the class. Thank you for sharing these great ways to integrate more tech into what we do!
A survey of 2,462 Advanced Placement (AP) and National Writing Project (NWP) teachers finds that digital technologies are shaping student writing in myriad ways and have also become helpful tools for teaching writing to middle and high school students.
Web 2.0 technology - the free digital tools that empower all users to create and share - has changed the way the world operates. In the hands of educators, it can become a powerful catalyst for changing the way students learn.
Flubaroo is a free tool that helps you quickly grade multiple-choice or fill-in-blank assignments. More than just a grading tool, Flubaroo also computes average assignment scores.
Another great alternative to powerpoint and slideshow presentations that can be a bit uninteresting. This is a free online tool that can be used to create exciting presentations. Instead of being based on slides, the presenter is able to create a concept-map of ideas/images/text/pdf docs/etc in order to visually engage his/her audience.
Interactive, web-based presentation creator. Excellent resource for an alternative to the same old boring Powerpoints! I have created these to use in instruction and I have taught students to create their own; both were highly engaging and enjoyable for students. The only complaint I have heard is that the movement can cause motion sickness. I love Prezi!
Capture your child's imagination, celebrate your family stories, or express your own creative side by turning your Storybird into a book you'd be proud to display on any shelf or coffee table.
I love this site! I was just looking for something similar to Photostory on PCs. This isn't exactly it, since it doesn't allow audio voiceovers and student drawings (at least from what I can tell) but it is drop-dead gorgeous. Can't wait until they release an iPad app -- imagine this on the retina display :) I am definitely going to use this in class -- maybe even this week. I also love that it's a creative writing social networking tool that encourages best work, creativity, and collaboration. Thanks for posting!
Discover an endless library of free books, picture books, & poetry or use simple tools to create books in minutes. Storybird is a creative community where readers & writers celebrate storytelling.
A video discussion tool that is great for students of all ages. You can present a question, they can respond to video, or do a book talk. The possibilities are endless. And the best thing - it is free.
A journal article from 2010 that discusses a variety of online tools for information literacy, such as embedding resources into course management software and specific academic organizations' web sites and using podcasts, screencasts, blogs, Web-based board games, and virtual three-dimensional environments. This article also explores the influence these methods have on information literacy skills of undergraduate students.
This is a faculty teaching guide produced by College STAR (Supporting Transition, Access, and Retention). College STAR was a grant-funded project dedicated to providing materials to help college campuses be more welcoming and attentive to the needs of a wider variety of college student learners. This guide is specifically written from a UDL (Universal Design for Learning) standpoint, which means that the resources provided here will be especially accessible for students with differing needs.
Quizlet is a web-based and mobile service that lets its users study various topics with instructions tools and games. Teachers can create different quizzes and games that students can use to study. Students can create their own accounts and make their own personal study tools as well.
This article examines practices that educators should be using such as examining prior-knowledge, creating personalized experiences, and complex problem simulation. These techniques can be used to a greater effect when free web 2.0 tools are utilized.
What kinds of questions should we be asking about web resources before using them in the classroom? Read Part 2 of Mike Gorman's series on the best ways to vet classroom resources.
What kinds of questions should we be asking about web resources before using them in the classroom? Read Part 2 of Mike Gorman's series on the best ways to vet classroom resources.
Video offers great description of the importance of PLN's and although there is a lot of discussion on ways to create a PLN, the importance of communication is highlighted as the key to a successful PLN.
Creating your PLN is easier than you might even thought. Most of you are already familiar with some social media platforms such as Twitter, Google+, Facebook, Diigo, LinkedIn, but do you really know how to use them to create a personal learning network ? EDTECH543 Personal Learning Network
This is a great resource for educators that are looking into personal learning networks. There is a five minute video that goes over personal learning networks, numerous resources that go over all the information needed to know about PLNs, and different tools and resources that can be used for PLNs.
This tutorial gives a step by step description of how to create your own PLN as a teacher. A 5 minute video provides the importance of creating a PLN and tools to use. There are various links on how to use social media to grow your PLN. Another list provides links to specific tools to use to help grow your PLN or join another PLN.
I'm not sure I totally agree with this statement...
Knowledge
is growing exponentially. In many fields the life of knowledge is now
measured in months and years.
The amount of
knowledge in the world has doubled in the past 10 years and is doubling
every 18 months according to the American Society of Training and Documentation
(ASTD).
Asserts that technology is rewiring our brains, as the tools people use define and shape their thinking. And that the continuously shifting nature of connections makes learning not completely under the control of the participant. Though the starting point of connectivism is the individual, their knowledge is influenced by and influences a network.
This article draws comparisons between behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism and how they all relate to connectivism. Connectivism has come about with the age of technology, and has gradually become its own learning theory.
Provides an overview of learning theories in terms of creating instructional environments. Discusses principles and limitations of connectivism and concludes that how people work and function is altered when new tools are utilized. Connectivism provides insight in to learning and tasks.
This is is a good breakdown on the history of the connectivism theory and school of thought. It highlights how it the theory is beneficial in our digital age because other theories like behaviorism, cognitivism,and constructivism operate under the tenet that learning occurs by majority inside of a person. It reiterates the point that the network or "pipe" is more important than the content within it.
Explanation of connectivism, including contrasts to behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism. Interesting quote: "The pipe is more important than the content within the pipe. Our ability to learn what we need for tomorrow is more important than what we know today." I'm not sure I totally agree with that statement...
Very interesting piece on the how the half-life of knowledge is shrinking. The amount of knowledge in the world has doubled in the last 10 years and is doubling every 18 months.
This articles gives information about the basic thought behind Connectivism. This article even gives the background information about the limitations of behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism in the realm of technology and knowledge.
"Connectivism is driven by the understanding that decisions are based on rapidly altering foundations. New information is continually being acquired. The ability to draw distinctions between important and unimportant information is vital. The ability to recognize when new information alters the landscape based on decisions made yesterday is also critical."
This is a fantastic quote in this article. Our foundations for education are highly impacting the way we learn and soak up the knowledge around us. Everyone in this world needs to gain more knowledge, learn new techniques, and grow their thinking to become a harder worker, more valuable asset, and a better person in general. It is critical for the society to build on the foundations of their knowledge now so we can overcome those future problems and struggles in the future. Technology is opening doors for people to create, develop, and build knew foundations of education.
The resource discusses the need for a changing view of learning due to the development of technology tools to aid learning and information sharing. Many learning theories have not incorporated the use of technology or connectivity. Previous learning theories such as behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism have limitations presented in this article to support the need for connectivism. An important thought stated by the author, "We derive our competence from forming connections". This article states the importance of experience to learn knowledge.
In this piece, Siemens explores behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism and their deficits when it comes to learning in the digital world. He explains how Connectivism addresses the change in learning in that it is no longer an internal activity because of technology.
This article gives an overview and background of traditional learning theory and their limitations. Then it provides an alternative theory for a digital age, Connectivism. This article gives a brief overview of Connectivism and its principles.
This is the original paper written by George Siemens introducing the idea of connectivisim. The main problem Siemens identifies with previous learning theories is that they do not account for learning stored outside the person. With technology developments, we no longer need to remember details. We can use our brain space to connect details and expand our knowledge.