Group items tagged

"It seems only fitting to explore the role of questions in education by asking questions about the process of doing so. I propose that we start with the customary way of framing this topic and then proceed to questions that are deeper and potentially more subversive of traditional schooling. 1. WHICH QUESTIONS? To begin, let's consider what we might ask our students. The least interesting questions are those with straightforward factual answers. That's why a number of writers have encouraged the use of questions described variously as "true" (Wolf, 1987), "essential" (Simon, 2002), "generative" (Perkins, 1992; Perrone, 1998), "guiding" (Traver, 1998), or "fertile" (Harpaz & Lefstein, 2000). What the best of these share is that they're open-ended. Sometimes, in fact, no definitive right answer can be found at all. And even when there is one - or at least when there is reason to prefer some responses to others - the answer isn't obvious and can't be summarized in a sentence. Why is it so hard to find a cure for cancer? Do numbers ever end? Why do people lie? Why did we invade Vietnam? Grappling with meaty questions like these (which were among those generated by a class in Plainview, NY) is a real project . . . literally. A question-based approach to teaching tends to shade into learning that is problem- (Delisle, 1997) and project-based (Kilpatrick, 1918; Blumenfeld et al., 1991; Wolk, 1998). Intellectual proficiency is strengthened as students figure out how to do justice to a rich question. As they investigate and come to understand important ideas more fully, new questions arise along with better ways of asking them, and the learning spirals upwards. Guiding students through this process is not a technique that can be stapled onto our existing pedagogy, nor is it something that teachers can be trained to master during an in-service day. What's required is a continual focus on creating a classroom that is about thinking rather

"This article analyzes teacher strikes in Argentina during 2006-2012. It stands out how teacher strikes prevail over claims from other unions, and are shown to be relevant events for education policy just for some provinces and only for public schools. We found that none of the policy measures implemented over the last decade has proven to be effective in reducing conflict. Analyzing a dataset on labour unrest, this study builds an index of teacher labour conflict to better understand the evolution of teacher strikes over time and under the various provincial governments that integrate the Argentinian federal education system. The article shows no correlation between teacher labour unrest and the growth of private enrolment. However, we note that despite the lack of statistical correlation, teacher strikes should not be ruled out as an explanatory variable of the increase in private education in Argentina."

"there is no live teacher engagement... Currently, just 10 percent of MOOC registrants complete their courses. Where Will MOOCs Be Just Two Years From Now? Within the next two years, MOOCs will quickly evolve from lacking teacher engagement to having a lot of teacher engagement. Right now, it's essentially a model where computers are teaching students. This model is simply not sustainable in the long run without live student-teacher engagement. Teachers are the key that unlocks learning in these courses. They help students resolve issues and problems. Will the biggest change in online education moving forward be putting live teachers at the center of the MOOC (not just on video)? We will know the answer very soon."

"1. The teacher is choosing the technology. It's not always possible, but when you can, let the students choose, and see what happens. Not all of them will be able to. Some need help; so let other students help them. 2. The teacher is choosing the function. This doesn't mean you can't choose the function, but if you students can't control the technology the use nor its function, this can be problematic: the learning is passive from the beginning. 3. The teacher is determining the process. To an extent you have to, but don't overdo it. 4. The technology is distracting. If the technology is more magical than the project, product, collaboration, process, or content itself, try to muffle the bells and whistles. Or use them to your advantage. 5. The technology isn't necessary. You wouldn't use a ruler to teach expository writing, nor would you use a Wendell Berry essay to teach about the Water Cycle. No need for a Khan Academy account and a fully-personalized and potentially self-directed proficiency chart of mathematical concepts just to show a 3 minute video on the number line. 6. The process is too complex. Keep it simple. Fewer moving parts = greater precision. And less to go wrong. 7. Students have access to too much. What materials, models, peer groups, or related content do students actually need? See #6. 8. The teacher is the judge, jury, and executioner. Get out of the way. You're (probably) less interesting than the content, experts, and communities (if you're doing it right). 9. They artificially limiting the scale. Technology connects everything to everything. Use this to the advantage of the students! 10. They're not limiting the scale. However, giving students the keys to the universe with no framework, plan, boundaries or even vague goals is equally problematic. 11. Students access is limited to too little. The opposite of too board a scale is too little-akin to taking students to the ocean to fish but squaring of

"CoRubrics, an add-on for Google Sheets helps teachers in the assessment process. It is used to assess students (or groups of students) with a rubric designed by the teacher and also allows students to assess other students (coevaluation). CoRubrics automates the entire process. First, teachers design the rubric they want to use in Google Sheets, then they add the students' names and their email address. (These can be imported from Google Classroom). Once this is done, the add-on will: Create a Google Form with the contents of the rubric. Send the form to the students by email or simply provide the link to the teacher. Process the data once the form is filled out (by the students or by the teacher). Finally, send the results to the students (each student receives only their results) with a personalized comment. In addition, CoRubrics allows: Insert comments when answered. Allow Co-evaluation, self-assessment and teacher assessment with one link."

"1. Blogging enables reflection. This is true for both students and educators. Too often do we go through our days, class to class, with minimal opportunities for reflection on our experiences or the information that we have acquired along the way. Blogging offers the opportunity to take a step back and connect with our learning and place it in the context of the bigger picture. Make reflection an assignment or part of another assignment - it is an important component to learning. For students: This is not the easiest thing to accomplish - blogging takes time and that is a finite resource during a busy class period. There is great opportunity in academic support periods or advisory classes for students (particularly in 1:1 schools) to blog. Many advisory classes take place throughout the day, which is a great break point for students to create based on their learning from that day. For teachers: This type of reflection can and should be compiled into your lesson planning for future lessons. Take what you learned from teaching and learning that day and incorporate it into the next day's lessons. Find time to do this during a conference period during your day or right after school. Yes, it is tough to get in the habit of doing a new thing - but once you start using reflection through blogging, I think that your lesson planning will be easier and much more meaningful. 2. Develop an Authentic Audience An authentic audience is a great way to increase rigor and in all of my experiences has led to increased performance by students. Authentic audiences in blogging could mean any number of things - family members, students from other classes, students from other buildings, other teachers, individuals interested in the content from around the world, etc. A student knowing that their work may be seen by people other than what they consider their 'typical audience' (read: teacher) typically spends more time and exerts more effort to creating a quality p

The Atlantic covers consequential news and ideas in politics, business, entertainment, technology, health, education, and global affairs.

No estoy totalmente de acuerdo pero es interesante para reflexionar. Habría que ver el uso de cada uno. Quizá para la que aquí llaman @teacher haya otras alternativas. La de @dept/school en realidad es una cuenta institucional, no personal. Gestionada quizá por varias personas colectivamente pero no personal

"12 Reasons Teachers should use Diigo"

"1. Ken Robinson: crear condiciones para fomentar los talentos Ken Robinson es un asesor educativo, quien se ha enfocado en investigar la importancia de la creatividad en los sistemas de aprendizaje. En su charla llamada «Bring on the learning revolution!» expone cómo las escuelas estandarizadas deberían optar por un modelo personalizado y crear las condiciones necesarias para explotar los talentos de cada estudiante. 2. Christopher Emdin: los maestros convertidos en 'magos' En ocasiones la música, en este caso el hip-hop, puede ser utilizada como una herramienta pedagógica para formar mejores maestros. A esto se dedica el defensor de la ciencia, Christopher Emdin. En su charla de TED en el 2013, llamada «Teach teachers how to create magic», afirma que todas las personas tienen la 'magia' para cautivar y enseñar a otros. Además, muestra cómo los maestros pueden 'darle vida' al aula de clase. 3. Pearl Arrendo: una mujer y maestra ejemplar Pearl Arrendo es una profesora reconocida por haber establecido una escuela piloto donde los maestros enseñan a sus estudiantes a ser excelentes comunicadores. En su charla «My story, from gangland daughter to star teacher» cuenta su historia y cómo los profesores deben preocuparse por la vida de sus estudiantes. 4. Rita F. Pierson: los estudiantes aprenden de las personas que aprecian Rita F. Pierson es una profesora que se ha enfocado en estudiar los comportamientos dentro del aula de clase. En su inspiradora charla llamada «Every kid needs a champion», expone cómo los maestros deben conectarse con sus estudiantes en un nivel emocional, humano y personal. Esto dará como resultado el incremento de la motivación y el compromiso con el proceso de aprendizaje. 5. Ramsey Musallam: cultivar la curiosidad Ramsey Musallam es profesor de química y utiliza las nuevas tecnologías y el contenido multimedia para expandir la curiosidad de sus estudiantes. En el 2013, en su charla «3 rules to spark lear

Artículo en inglés... "Mobile devices as teaching tools are becoming a more and more common part of the American education experience in classrooms, from preschool through graduate school. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 58% of U.S. teachers own smartphones - 10 percentage points higher than the national average for adults. Those teachers are building that tech-savviness into their lesson plans, too, by embracing bring-your-own-device policies and leading the push for an iPad for every student. In 2013, an estimated 25% of U.S. schools had BYOD policies in place and it's reasonable to assume those numbers have risen in the past two years. ..."

"Teaching children according to their individual "learning style" does not achieve better results and should be ditched by schools in favour of evidence-based practice, according to leading scientists. Thirty eminent academics from the worlds of neuroscience, education and psychology have signed a letter to the Guardian voicing their concern about the popularity of the learning style approach among some teachers. ..."

En inglés estudio sobre el impacto de la tecnología en los docentes (en el aula y en su casa)

Blended Learning: different models of blended learning and dive into key issues that impact students, teachers, and schools.

"the ultimate goal is not to have students blog, it is to have students improve their literacy skills and have the ability to be digital writers, and to do things that would not be possible without the technology.  It is about students creating content to hyperlink to the world, to embed photos and video with text.  It is about students publishing, and then to have the opportunity to receive feedback on their work, review, edit and republish. It is about students producing work not only for their teacher, but for the world. It is about students having their own space to be creative and connect in new ways.  It is, ultimately, about students having greater ownership of their learning."

Vídeos para usar en el aula. Versión youtube para el profesorado.