Group items tagged

"In the face of the "new normal" of decreased budgets and increased expectations, many administrators are turning to technology to enhance teaching and learning while mitigating the consequences of consecutive years of budget cuts. Mobile learning, in particular, has attracted a great deal of attention for its potential to engage students by leveraging the technology environment they have grown accustomed to in their non-school lives; its potential to scale personalized learning and reduce the digital divide; its potential to extend learning beyond the four walls of the classroom and the limited hours of the school day; and its potential to enable new pedagogies based on the affordances of these devices that students already carry at their fingertips.Still, the field of mobile learning is still emerging and there are many questions to be addressed when contemplating a mobile learning implementation. How do we create a program with a sustainable impact on teaching and learning, rather than a superficial adoption of the currently "hot" technology? What are the steps involved in implementing a mobile learning program? How do we optimize the investment of our technology dollars? How do we choose devices, networks, and software for our implementation? What are the security considerations in implementing a mobile learning program? What are the policy considerations for a mobile learning program? What are the professional development considerations? What are the teaching models associated with mobile learning? What are the options for funding a mobile learning program?"

"Students are so emerged with technology, sometimes they act as the educators, showing their teachers how to do certain things and use certain tools. This video asks the simple question of if we are paying attention to the way our students learn. Besides being a visual, spatial or audio learner, most students fall under the category of "digital learners." With fascinating facts like the 10,000 hours college graduates have spent playing video games and the 70% of our nation's 4-6 year olds that have used a computer; it is no wonder why students are being classified as digital learners. The video also asks if we as teachers are reaching our students. Are we engaging them? The technologies that students are using so much in their everyday lives should be infused into the classrooms so that we do reach our students and so that we do engage them. Blogs, wikis, podcasts, virtual tours. These are just a few of the dozens of items presented in the video that offer a new way to use technology with our students. It brings up a great point that since our students already know how to use these technologies, we should be using them to teach. Even recent graduates who are no longer in school encourage the idea of using technology to engage students, not enrage them. Podcasts are another great option to teaching. With thousands available in almost any subject, you can teach students without having to stand up and lecture them. This video offers great advice and inspiration for engaging digital learners today."

"Digital Learning Day is a national campaign that celebrates teachers and shines a spotlight on successful instructional practice and effective use of technology in classrooms across the country. The inaugural Digital Learning Day boasted tens of thousands of teachers representing nearly 2 million students. The second annual Digital Learning Day is gaining momentum with ongoing activities, ideas, and collaboration opportunities leading up to February 6, 2013. Join the wave of education champions who seek to engage students, celebrate and empower teachers, and create a healthy learning environment, personalized for every child. Participation is free and easy. Are YOU ready to change Teaching & Learning? "

"Technology Fosters Communications and Parental Engagement" Communication, recognition, and motivation have long been challenges for educators. Parents often struggle to obtain day-to-day information to support their child's progress while teachers strive to foster greater parental engagement. Although report cards offer specific performance information several times per year, most schools rely on students to be the main conduit of information regarding their daily performance, supplemented by periodic and often broad-based communications from the teacher or school. However, if we look at fundamental recognition programs in the business world, we see an approach that embodies a complete role reversal.

60second Recap™ aims to break this cycle of canonical irrelevance. We want to help teens (yes, teens of all ages!) engage with literature. We want to help them see it not as some chore to be endured, but as -- dare we say it? -- the gift of a lifetime. How? Through the language of our time -- the language of video. Video that's focused, engaging, informative ... and short enough to hold just about anyone's attention. Smirk if you must. Consider this yet another mile-marker on civilization's road to perdition. But here's the fact: You won't get non-readers to read by forcing them to read more. You'll get them to read by opening their eyes to the marvels awaiting them between the covers of that homework assignment. With 60second Recap™, teens finally have an alternative to the boring, text-based study guides that have burdened them for generations. And -- who knows? -- maybe that's just what they'll need to begin a love affair with literature, one that will last a lifetime. Mission 60second Recap™ wants to make the great works of literature accessible, relevant, and, frankly, irresistible to today's teens. Through 60second Recap™ video albums, we seek to help teens engage with the best books out there ... not just to help them get better grades, but to help them build better lives.

"Learning new vocabulary can be quite daunting for most students. We just have to look at the literacy rates to see how much children struggle with vocabulary. Rote learning of vocabulary does not really work. Experience has taught me students remember what they use and explore. Students need to have fun, engage with the material, and explore how their new knowledge works. Vocabulary lists are boring, but word clouds can be quite engaging. Therefore, I am sharing my favorite ways to help your students begin to explore new vocabulary through various word cloud tools, tips, and resources."

mLearning provides multi-device support and is undergoing a shift from a fixed layout to a dynamic or responsive eLearning design. In this article, I answer 5 questions on how you can use responsive eLearning design to create better learner engagement.

"Yes, great classrooms are certainly interactive. The mere presence of interactive white boards (IWBs) in a classroom, however, offers absolutely ZERO guarantees that learning opportunities in the room will be interactive, engaging, or inspiring. They might be, but that all DEPENDS- mostly on the TEACHER."

What Engages Students? 10 Things Students Say: http://t.co/R5hgdzS14O

"Why is it 'My' Resource Cloud? If you want learners to learn you must first engage them. The concept behind My Resource Cloud is that each educator tailors interactive content to suit the needs of their own learners. Thus increasing enjoyment, allowing for greater individual expression and, above all, making the work of the educator easier and more effective. My Resource Cloud consists of a number of resource sections: My Language Cloud, My Math(s) Cloud, My Science Cloud and My ICT Cloud. My Resource Cloud content and interactivity becomes individual to the users and their students. It is a Cloud Learning Environment (CLE), providing a conceptual bridge for learners between formal education and the personal web. My Resource Cloud allows users to integrate web, printed, mobile and social media based technologies to help motivate learners. Complementary and premium content and services can easily be added and subtracted. Once you select content and interactive ellements you are free to use these with ALL your students. Open and closed social media integration can be easily tailored to your own needs. Enables a tailored learning enviroment where the educator can choose their own blend that fits. "

An Immersive Event for Principals and Teachers The Apple Summer Learning Institute 2010 gives principals and teachers hands-on opportunities to experience how technology is helping transform learning. Led by members of the Apple Professional Development team, each principal and teacher will have the opportunity to experience the latest Apple learning tools - MacBook, iPad, and iPod touch - first hand, for the duration of the event. Over the course of two days, educators will discover how Apple products can help engage today's learners, enrich core curriculum, and build student competency like never before.

"There are new web 2.0 tools appearing every day. Although some of these tools were not originally meant for use in the classroom, they can be extremely effective learning tools for today's technology geared students and their venturesome teachers. Many of these teachers are searching for the latest products and technologies to help them find easier and efficient ways to create productive learning in their students. More and more teachers are using blogs, podcasts and wikis, as another approach to teaching. We have created a list of 100 tools we think will encourage interactivity and engagement, motivate and empower your students, and create differentiation in their learning process. "

Upon becoming Principal of New Milford High School over three years ago, it was decided after a needs assessment that more resources and professional development had to go into the area of educational technology. I was fortunate enough to participate in two television shows that resulted in funds that normally don't just fall into the hands of a high school administrator. After researching and learning about how iPods and MacBooks were being utilized to engage learners, I quickly decided to purchase a mobile iPod learning lab.....

"Educators are constantly seeking new strategies for using Wikis in the classroom. This is especially true for teachers who have formulated some ideas; however, they are still looking for additional ideas. Even teachers who have been using this technology for quite some time are on the lookout for new ideas. Regardless of being new to Wiki or a veteran, new strategies and techniques for engaging students are just around the corner."

"Welcome to the BalancEdTech wiki! We believe educators must be knowledgeable and comfortable with curriculum, pedagogy, and technology in order to "teach". Our blog posts, articles, presentations, workshops, and consulting focus on helping educators weave curriculum, pedagogy, and technology into engaging and rigorous learning. We also believe people learn best by doing AND reflecting, both of which are integral to our workshops. For more information, please click on the links to the left."

Welcome to the blog! I post as often as I am able, and you will see posts on iPods and iPads in school, Educational Leadership and Professional Learning. I am a teacher from just north of Calgary, Canada. My joy (aside from my wonderful family) is creating opportunities for students and teachers to learn in engaging and creative ways. My views are my own, and are not the views of my employer. Enjoy the discusion!

Welcome to the BalancEdTech wiki! We believe educators must be knowledgeable and comfortable with curriculum, pedagogy; and technology in order to "teach". Our blog posts, articles, presentations, workshops, and consulting focus on helping educators weave curriculum, pedagogy, and technology into engaging and rigorous learning. We also believe people learn best by doing AND reflecting, both of which are integral to our workshops. For more information, please click on the links to the left.

Great blog post from Ginger Lewman highlighting an PBL lesson for those learning to design engaging curriculum.