Researching a new technology each week has been inspiring

And continue this cycle every year.

I am thinking that I want to use the technologies in my tool box as assessment tools but as

free time today

to help them review.

So, the idea is to have an alternate assessment at the end of each chapter. The alt. assessment will be created using one of many technologies we have discussed in our class (ex. animoto, flipbook, comicstrips, prezi). At midterm I plan on assigning a larger project, more cumlative of course.

What do you think?

it was crucial for students to have the rubric in hand when their animation assignment was assigned.

The students still seem un-easy about this new type of assignment.

I can show all of you too.

could a chalkboard be used for the same purpose

Yes, they spend thousands to buy technology but are not prepared to develop an infrastructure to actually support easier usage.

This leads to my ultimate grumbling of the week, I think that because of the shortcuts made to put technology into the hands of teachers and students that we are actually sacrificing class time and more importantly time on task. The concept of time on task was first studied by the late Ted Sizer who passed away recently. As a traveling teacher, I need to pack and unpack at least three times per day. I wonder how much time students actually lose not only in my class but throughout a day because of technology. Its not as though that time can be gained back. I do believe that technology is valuable to students but our schools need to do more with both infrastructure and training to make the devices increase the academic capacity of our students.

why aren’t schools quicker to recognize the power behind technology.

post their own ideas,

ill technology one day make brick and mortar school obselete?

As educators we strive to positively reach all of our students; but often don’t ever interact with all of the other professionals in our buildings.  This is a problem. 

While I may not be in an ideal place to utilize technology with the students I see, I am in the perfect position to use technology to enhance teaching and learning with my co-workers.

I’m hoping that utilizing Google docs will do this for me.