Group items tagged

a professional learning community for teachers using vodcasting in the classroom

"A true flipped classroom is centered on the idea that technology can help us deliver quality teaching when and where the students are ready for it. Teaching methodology must be pedagogically sound in order for a flipped classroom to be effective, but that is no different than any other method being explored by teachers."

A wonderful authentic learning scenario in which 3rd graders create a multimedia documentation of their community. They team with high school kids who help with the use of technology, and with local experts to gain knowledge; then the students create a lasting document of their understanding. Just great stuff, and totally relevant across many age levels. "Third graders become historians, writers, and videographers as they explore the geography and geology of their community."

Tips and ideas for using audio in your classroom.

Sort of a Rube Goldberg machine builder (read: physics puzzle) for your iOS device. 

Totally free to educators. "Can the expertise we have developed over the past 25 years enable us to produce technologies that enhance learning? The answer-an enthusiastic Yes-came only after deliberating with educators. SAS Curriculum Pathways is the result of those deliberations."

Math and Physics learning videos. Could be used for flipped teaching.

Good overview of action research. "This booklet discusses several types of action research, its history, and a process that may be used to engage educators in action research. Two stories from the field, written by teachers about their own reflections on the process, are given as illustrations of action research."

"Very few people or organizations however constantly discuss and debate "WHY" they do something. It's only by reflecting on the question of "why" that enables us to develop and articulate a meaningful vision for what we should be doing ... and that certainly applies to education." Sam Gliksman, iPads in Education ning

"iEARN empowers teachers and young people to work together online using the Internet and other new communications technologies. Over 2,000,000 students each day are engaged in collaborative project work worldwide."

Thanks for pointing out this one, John! I'd forgotten about it.

"Our research shows that the argument that there is a generational break between today's generation of young people who are immersed in new technologies and older generations who are less familiar with technology is flawed," says Dr Jones. "The diverse ways that young people use technology today shows the argument is too simplistic and that a new single generation, often called the 'net generation', with high skill levels in technology does not exist."

"If you're always on the hunt for new ideas to implement in the classroom or want to keep up with the latest news in education, then turn to Twitter.  With teachers tweeting in droves, if determining whom to follow first is overwhelming, start by checking out these top 25 teachers, educators and experts on Twitter. By following their tweets, you will gain access to education news as it happens and numerous tips, activities and resources to use in your classroom or with your children."

Not sure why he named it that, but it's an extension for Google Chrome that sends web pages to Pocket (nee Read it Later). Works great, and it's donationware so you can try it (or use it forever) for free.

"The meta-analysis found that, on average, students in online learning  conditions performed modestly better than those receiving face-to-face instruction.... Analysts noted that these blended conditions often included additional learning time and instructional elements not received by students in control conditions. This finding suggests that the positive effects associated with blended learning should not be attributed to the media, per se."

Good thoughts on setting goals for technology use in a school, rather than allowing the technology to define the school's goals. "In the end, our advice is: be sure your school defines clear goals for what it seeks to achieve by having computing devices in the hands of its students."

"Questioning enables teachers to check learners' understanding.... These questions are often arranged according to their level of complexity; this is called taxonomy. Bloom's Taxonomy is one approach that can be used to help plan and formulate higher order questions."

"Students and Professors Sound Off on the State of the College Lecture" Lots of personal examples, not a lot of theory. But useful to hear both sides of the experience.

A passionate and eloquent plea from a university lecturer, attesting to the continued relevance of the lecture as a learning tool. I value her point that a lecture promotes active listening, but I disagree with the notion that a technology that has worked for thousands of years should see continued use simply because it has worked in the past.[1] Given the multitudes of other means of delivery of information today (remember, the lecture was developed when the only other means to spread information was handwriting), the lecture as transmission of information is a tool, not THE tool. She also equates books to lectures, and says that if we abandon one we move toward abandoning the other. A bit of tenuous logic, if you ask me. Still, perhaps worth a read.  [1] See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scriptorium#Trithemius.27_Praise_of_Scribes

iPad classroom integrations and information.

An overview of Twitter for professional development as well as some links. "Teachers who are fans say they appreciate the easy-to-use tool as a quick way to network with colleagues. They like being able to ask and answer questions, learn from experts, share resources, and react to events on the fly."