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emrodriguez

Tips for Teachers Who Wish to Use YouTube in Classroom - EdTechReview™ (ETR) - 9 views

edtechreview.in/...-teachers-youtube-in-classroom

Technology education classroom web2.0 computer youtube

shared by emrodriguez on 09 Feb 15 - No Cached
  • YouTube for Schools:
  • YouTube Edu:
  • It plays a significant role in the educational field as many students, educators and institutions discover and share excellent educational content here. There are  thousands of channels on YouTube specially for education. From basic concepts to complex experiments, YouTube enables Students and Educators to discover anything they want to learn as a part of their academic, curricular and extracurricular activities.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • About the AuthorAuthor: Santosh Bhaskar KWebsite: http://www.twitter.com/SantoshBhaskarKDevotee of Dr. Abdul Kalam. Following his path of Creating Creative Education in India. Contributing my works in "India Vision 2020". Former EdTech Blogger/Researcher at ETR India Administrators Educational Videos Teachers/Educators Tips for Teachers/Educators // // AdvertisementWhy this Ad? AdvertisementWhy this Ad? // AdvertisementWhy this Ad? [Infographic] Microsoft in Education: Adding Value to Experiences both Inside and Outside of the Classroom Why and How Should Educators and Administrators Use Google Apps Tips for Choosing and Using Educational Videos in Your Classroom // The EdTech Tweets E
  • About the AuthorAuthor: Santosh Bhaskar KWebsite: http://www.twitter.com/SantoshBhaskarKDevotee of Dr. Abdul Kalam. Following his path of Creating Creative Education in India. Contributing my works in "India Vision 2020". Former EdTech Blogger/Researcher at ETR India Administrators Educational Videos Teachers/Educators Tips for Teachers/Educators // // AdvertisementWhy this Ad? AdvertisementWhy this Ad? // AdvertisementWhy this Ad? [Infographic] Microsoft in Education: Adding Value to Experiences both Inside and Outside of the Classroom Why and How Should Educators and Administrators Use Google Apps Tips for Choosing and Using Educational Videos in Your Classroom // The EdTech Tweets E
  • Educators can share a YouTube video in many ways. Mailing the video URL, sharing it on social networking platforms and embedding it in your blog, website, Wiki, etc., are the numerous ways of sharing a YouTube video
    • emrodriguez
      emrodriguez on 09 Feb 15
       
      For those who are educators, have you used YouTube in your classroom to supplement your instruction? If not, please state the reason why whether it be the site being blocked at your campus, not aware of the informational videos on the site, etc.
    • emrodriguez
      emrodriguez on 09 Feb 15
       
      I think that sharing videos with your students is an effective way to supplement your instruction because the student may not be able to grasp the entire lecture during the time they have with you at school. Sharing a video can be done via email, on a social networking site such as twitter, or your personal blog. What benefits and drawbacks can you see to implementing this tactic in the educational setting?
    • emrodriguez
      emrodriguez on 09 Feb 15
       
      Were you aware that a part of YouTube is specifically made to offer educational videos to its viewers? YouTube education offers a variety of educational videos posted by universities, private organizations dedicated to education, and companies such as PBS, National Geographic, and NASA. YouTube for Schools is a section made available to educators who can register using their school email address. These educators will then have have access to only educational videos and never have to worry about showing their students inappropriate material. It's even customizable to the educators likes and dislikes as to what they want to present to their students. Knowing that YouTube offers videos specific to the classroom, would you now be more likely to use this technology in your own classroom?
  • emrodriguez on 11 Feb 15
     
    What do you all think about the use of YouTube in the educational setting? Do you believe it can be beneficial to instruction?
  • ...6 more comments...
  • emrodriguez on 15 Feb 15
     
    Any comments on the article about YouTube being used in the classroom?
  • emrodriguez on 15 Feb 15
     
    When I worked for Brownsville ISD, YouTube was a blocked website. Therefore, no teachers used the site. I think that blocking off the website is detrimental to instruction when there is so much information available and nothing can be done with it. Fortunately, there are ways around this. Videos could be downloaded at home and shown in class. Of course, one should take the time to review the video to make sure it is appropriate and of course beneficial to learning.
  • emrodriguez on 15 Feb 15
     
    I think sharing videos with students can be beneficial to them by having supplemental instruction in case they didn't understand the material during class. The link could be emailed to students via email or by setting up a YouTube channel specifically for your class. I think a good way to implement this would be to have administration give you the okay and of course, inform parents of what you are trying to do and get their consent. Once everything is good to, videos can be shared with your class. More time could be spent learning a concept, videos could provide more in depth information, and so much more.
  • emrodriguez on 15 Feb 15
     
    Before I started my masters, I wasn't aware that YouTube had channels specifically made for education. They offer a great amount of information that can benefit all persons whether it be children or the elderly. These channels are a great source because the videos have already been filtered to make sure that you are only showing students appropriate and relevant material.
  • emrodriguez on 15 Feb 15
     
    What does everyone else think about this article and the specific questions mentioned?
  • tvisco on 17 Feb 15
     
    I've only ever encountered youtube videos used in graduate classes so aren't facing the issues of the other commenters. I think it makes a huge difference in attention. Being able to hear the words straight from the horse's mouth in a TedTalk or hear an author speak...etc. changes everything. The conversations inspired from a video talk were better than I think from articles.
  • emrodriguez on 18 Feb 15
     
    @ tvisco. Yeah, I too have only encountered YouTube videos in my graduate education as well. As for the comments, videos can ban comments or approve them if they have those video settings set up. I do agree with you that hearing information straight from the expert is a big plus to these videos. Regardless, I believe that the videos can truly supplement instruction.
  • emrodriguez on 22 Feb 15
     
    Does anyone else have anything they'd like to share regarding their thoughts/views on YouTube in the classroom?
ferrari78

Study: Emerging Technology Has Positive Impact in Classroom - US News - 5 views

www.usnews.com/...s-positive-impact-in-classroom

technology classroom study education impact integration computer

shared by ferrari78 on 08 Feb 15 - No Cached
  • Login Welcome, {{name}} Logout Rankings & Advice Education Health Money Travel Cars Law Firms News U.S. News Home education Facebook Twitter Education Rankings & Advice Home Colleges Grad Schools High Schools National Rankings State Rankings High School Notes Blog (function ($) { "use strict"; $(function () { var $metaCurrentState = $('meta[name=current_state_abbreviation]'), $headerSearch = $('#headerSearch-highSchools'), $headerState = $('select[name=bhs-school-state]', $headerSearch), $headerStates = $('option', $headerStates), currentStateAbbreviation = ''; if ($metaCurrentState.length > 0) { currentStateAbbreviation = $metaCurrentState.attr('content'); $headerStates.each(function () { var $state = $(this), text = $state.text(), value = $state.val(); if (text === currentStateAbbreviation) { $headerState.val(value); } }); } }); }(jQuery)); in
  • To meet the needs of her students, Roshan made radical changes to her lesson plans. Using Camtasia Studio, a screen recording and video editing program, Roshan uploaded her lectures to iTunes and assigned them as homework. "We've kind of reversed the whole dynamic of the class," she says. "Instead of lecturing in class, I lecture to them when they're at home, and we work problems together [in the classroom]. I liken it to an English classroom where the kids go home and do the reading and then they come into class and have this lively, engaging discussion."
    • ferrari78
      ferrari78 on 08 Feb 15
       
      Using the Camstasia Studio program is a great and fun way for students to learn from lectures. Here is a link to where you can try it out for free. http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.html
  • Taught with the video lectures, Roshan's students in the 2010-11 school year scored an average of 4.11 on the AP calculus test, compared to the 3.59 average among her students who took the test and were taught in the traditional classroom setting the year before. And a third of the class—a 10 percent increase from the previous year—scored a 5, the highest score a student can achieve on an AP test.
    • ferrari78
      ferrari78 on 08 Feb 15
       
      Teacher's change in the classroom had a significant positive impact on her student's AP test scores.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • The report, IT Opportunities in the Education Market, revealed that 78 percent of K-12 teachers and administrators believe technology has positively impacted the classroom and the productivity of students. Roughly 65 percent of educators surveyed also believe that students are more productive today than they were three years ago due to the increased reliance on technology in the classroom.
  • Login Welcome, {{name}} Logout Rankings & Advice Education Health Money Travel Cars Law Firms News U.S. News Home education Facebook Twitter Education Rankings & Advice Home Colleges Grad Schools High Schools National Rankings State Rankings High School Notes Blog (function ($) { "use strict"; $(function () { var $metaCurrentState = $('meta[name=current_state_abbreviation]'), $headerSearch = $('#headerSearch-highSchools'), $headerState = $('select[name=bhs-school-state]', $headerSearch), $headerStates = $('option', $headerStates), currentStateAbbreviation = ''; if ($metaCurrentState.length > 0) { currentStateAbbreviation = $metaCurrentState.attr('content'); $headerStates.each(function () { var $state = $(this), text = $state.text(), value = $state.val(); if (text === currentStateAbbreviation) { $headerState.val(value); } }); } }); }(jQuery)); in
  • Jim Tracy, headmaster at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass., sees the "process of technology coming into the classroom as inevitable."
    • ferrari78
      ferrari78 on 08 Feb 15
       
      Technology in the classroom is here to stay and students need to learn the necessary tools to not stay behind. Check this video out on how a teacher is using iPads in his math classroom. http://www.jamfsoftware.com/resources/hopkins-public-schools-advancing-technology-in-the-classroom/
  • ferrari78 on 08 Feb 15
     
    This is an article about how a calculus teacher used technology in the classroom to help her students AP calculus test scores increase. I currently teach 2nd grade and I use the digital lessons for math, science, and reading to make the lesson more fun and get more participation from students and it works great. My question to you is, how would you use technology to impact your students learning and productivity in the classroom in a positive way?
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  • ferrari78 on 08 Feb 15
     
    Everyone that wants to integrate technology in the classroom should watch this.
  • tvisco on 08 Feb 15
     
    Interesting examples. It's weird how if you record a video of yourself teaching, students pay attention but if you stand in front of the classroom, you're boring and invisible. But I accept it because I've watched myself do the exact same thing: a presenter shows a film of themselves and it's immediately engaging even though she's right there on stage in person! I've read some recent criticism of the Khan flipped learning video approach that says students are still learning passively, they're just doing it at home rather than at school. I disagree. As with the videos in our own class, I can watch them as many times as I need to understand what's going on. I like that. I don't think it's "passive" at all. The key seems to be having some work connected to it which is the piece I think some of these critics are missing. We're not watching a video for entertainment - there's always a task connected to it.
  • emrodriguez on 08 Feb 15
     
    I believe that the article you selected is very interesting. I like how the article describes one particular math teacher implementing technology to improve her students' scores. It also gave another side stating that some districts simply don't have the funds to buy technology or that the budget should not be used to throw gadgets to fix certain problems. That teachers in certain areas would be better off getting better training. As with everything else, there are two sides to everything, but I do believe that technology has an effective role in the classroom. When I was a teacher aide for a special education unit, the teacher had me set up a SmartBoard, which proved to be beneficial to the students. A huge task for myself and the teacher was to keep the students on task and not let their disabilities hinder teaching. So after I set up the SmartBoard, the teacher used it during the students' social skills time. During this period in the day, students would learn how to act appropriately with others and the good behavior that was expected of them. By playing educational games against each other, students learned about what the teacher was explaining through a game and how to act accordingly with their peers. It proved to be an effective technology.
  • ferrari78 on 09 Feb 15
     
    Tammy I completely agree with you how if we lecture to students, we're boring and invisible and their attention levels drop. I also remember when I was taking undergraduate courses, I had several instructors that were monotone and they made the class boring. Now, a few times I recorded the lectures and would later listen to them at home and I would get more from listening to the lecture at home than when I sat in class because I am not listening to it for entertainment, but rather to learn for my class. This class is a perfect example. I have to listen to the youtube tutorials on everything we've been learning over and over until I get it.
  • ferrari78 on 09 Feb 15
     
    You're so right, school districts shouldn't throw money to try to fix certain things, but rather use the funds to better train teachers to prepare them for the classroom. My article states that school districts budgets range from $5 million to over $100 million so some districts are able to throw money at new gadgets and technology more than others. Gadgets should be purchased, but only if they are going to be properly used in the classroom to improve student's academic success. As for Smartboard, I'm going to look it up and see if maybe I can use it in my classroom. Good post Emmanuel.
Benjamin Caulder

Jane McGonigal: Gaming can make a better world | Talk Video | TED.com - 7 views

www.ted.com/...transcript

technology teaching Web2.0 gamification education

shared by Benjamin Caulder on 12 Jun 14 - No Cached
  • So, the first thing is whenever you show up in one of these online games, especially in World of Warcraft, there are lots and lots of different characters who are willing to trust you with a world-saving mission, right away.
    • vasquezgonzalezv
      vasquezgonzalezv on 12 Jun 14
       
      Why do you think this is?  Is it your experience that everyone you work with is ready to trust your expertise and help you?  Why would it be any different in gaming?
    • Benjamin Caulder
      Benjamin Caulder on 14 Jun 14
       
      It is a team mentality... team athletes have a goal and they know that they cannot get alone. Whatever they do to help their teamate get better gets them closer to their goal. It is exactly the same. I was an avid WoW player from 2005 to 2009 and I saw it daily.
  • Malcolm Gladwell's new book "Outliers." So, you would have heard of his theory of success, the 10,000 hour theory of success. It's based on this great cognitive science research that if we can master 10,000 hours of effortful study
    • vasquezgonzalezv
      vasquezgonzalezv on 12 Jun 14
       
      Do you have any skill in your life that you have had 10,000 hours of practice in?  Do you feel you've achieved a level of mastery in it?  Why or why not?
    • Benjamin Caulder
      Benjamin Caulder on 14 Jun 14
       
      1. Gaming (haha) in that 1 game, I was a virtuoso. 2. Communicating. I am a pretty good communicator. 3. Driving. I am an excellent driver.
    • Benjamin Caulder
      Benjamin Caulder on 14 Jun 14
       
      Personally, I think the 10,000 hour is a generality for typical person. But we are all A Typical is something. My mom also has 10000 hours + driving but her eyesight is terrible. She is not an excellent driver. It follows the Mastery Learning model: Anyone can master anything is given enough time. Time is a variable, thus 10000 to one is 50000 to another.
  • we will be virtuosos at it.
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • And gamers are willing to work hard all the time, if they're given the right work.
  • If we want to solve problems like hunger, poverty, climate change, global conflict, obesity, I believe that we need to aspire to play games online for at least 21 billion hours a week, by the end of the next decade.
    • vasquezgonzalezv
      vasquezgonzalezv on 12 Jun 14
       
      Do you believe there can be an actual transfer of "game skills" to "real world" living?
    • Benjamin Caulder
      Benjamin Caulder on 14 Jun 14
       
      Yes, her book outlines it (Reality is Broken). Fear of failure is not real in games, we just reset. We try different avenues to find unthought of solutions. The game just has to address a real world problem.
    • Benjamin Caulder
      Benjamin Caulder on 14 Jun 14
       
      I met her at ISTE 2013 in San Antonio. I bought her book Reality is Broken and got her to sign it. I had a question I wanted an answer to... where did she find the diminishing returns (I wanted to ask her this because it would establish my cred. as a gamer (world of warcraft) and because gaming caused a lot of problem in my life and marriage). Her Keynote there was about this very subject... the real world problems gaming solves. Her answer to me was 21 hours a week... per person. Wow!!! She advocates up to 3 hours per day of gaming. The social change required for this is nearly unmeasurable.
    • vasquezgonzalezv
      vasquezgonzalezv on 17 Jun 14
       
      Ben, can you expound on that a little more? I'm not sure I got the 21hrs/wk part.
  • But I also mean good as in motivated to do something that matters, inspired to collaborate and to cooperate
    • Benjamin Caulder
      Benjamin Caulder on 14 Jun 14
       
      Does anyone else see this in their students. Card games a very popular in my school. A kid takes out a deck and they have no trouble find playing partners (collaboration). I give them an assignment, group work, and not so much...
    • vasquezgonzalezv
      vasquezgonzalezv on 17 Jun 14
       
      Games aren't work. I've also seen kids turn up their nose at a game that attempts to gamify a topic or subject. They want more fantasy.
  • And then we get all this positive feedback. You guys have heard of leveling up and plus-one strength, and plus-one intelligence. We don't get that kind of constant feedback in real life. When I get off this stage I'm not going to have plus-one speaking, and plus-one crazy idea, plus-20 crazy idea. I don't get that feedback in real life.
  • So, consider this really interesting statistic; it was recently published by a researcher at Carnegie Mellon University: The average young person today in a country with a strong gamer culture will have spent 10,000 hours playing online games by the age of 21. Now 10,000 hours is a really interesting number for two reasons. First of all, for children in the United States 10,080 hours is the exact amount of time you will spend in school from fifth grade to high school graduation if you have perfect attendance.
    • Benjamin Caulder
      Benjamin Caulder on 14 Jun 14
       
      and which did they enjoy more?
  • vasquezgonzalezv on 12 Jun 14
     
    Gamification in education is a hot topic right now.  This is the transcript of a recent TEDtalk.
juancalvarez

A Web 2.0 Class: Students Learn 21st Century Skills, Collaboration, and Digital Citizen... - 9 views

www.edutopia.org/...laboration-digital-citizenship

web2.0 collaboration digital_citizenship technology education

shared by juancalvarez on 16 Jul 15 - No Cached
  • The students in all three of these classes have never met in person; however, they have all connected via Skype and their class blogs. They have also had many professionals come and speak to them via Skype.
    • juancalvarez
      juancalvarez on 16 Jul 15
       
      Using Skype to bring professionals to the classroom allows for important connections and knowledge. Do you think that companies would allow their employees to Skype and give speeches about their field?
  • "You have to adapt to the world around you or progress can never happen. That is the ultimate goal of education, right? Progress. Continuous progress."
    • juancalvarez
      juancalvarez on 16 Jul 15
       
      Adaptation is what humans have done since inventing the first tool, since inventing the wheel. We pass that knowledge to the next generation who in time develop better ways to adapt to their environment.
  • Principal Patrick Larkin comments, "I am amazed at how little the students actually know about connecting with others for educational purposes. They use social networking solely for socializing. It has been great to see the lightbulb start to go on in regards to them seeing these tools as a resource."
    • juancalvarez
      juancalvarez on 16 Jul 15
       
      It is a fact that most students use communication tools just for social interaction and not for educational purposes. Most students, even 4 year olds, will know how to turn on the phone, tablet or iPad and go through the steps to play the games they like or type something to someone, but that doesn't mean that the media is being used for education or that the user is tech savvy. What do you think?
  • asuarez1 on 16 Jul 15
     
    I agree that because a student knows how to play games on a tablet, does not mean that he/she knows how to use it at a learning tool. Using Skype or other tools to integrate technology into the learning process is taking it to another level. It is great that students are learning how to collaborate with others for something more than socializing. Safety is such a big issue for me, but in the classroom, we can use these connectivity capabilities in order to expand the learning. Although many teachers fear this, it is great when one person is not the entire knowledge base in the classroom. Lets show our students how to search safely, and how to integrate the knowledge into their lives and give it purpose!
  • ...9 more comments...
  • bhanak on 16 Jul 15
     
    I think that providing a "flat classroom" gives the learners of the 21st century a better outlook of what the internet and "connecting" looks like outside of social purposes. This helps set the students up for more success as the move into higher education and into their careers. Having these skills will be extremely beneficial for the students in the future. Skype for learn purposes has come a long way in the past years. Similar to virtual field trips, a presenter through Skype is bringing opportunities to students that is cost effective and influential for students. I think companies are more willing to allow their employee to visit through Skype than in person. It also allows the ability to meet with others that are not in the immediate area to connect.
  • juancalvarez on 16 Jul 15
     
    Ana Suarez: You are totally right, safety is the most important. In fact, at the beginning of the year what I say to my new students' parents is, before learning, safety first. I thought that the best way to ensure that students stay on task is for them to record their Skype educational interactions. Skype doesn't have a tool to record, but there are software like SuperTintin Skype Recorder that is used by many people. Download.com is a rating website I have known for almost 20 years, and they rate it with 4 stars. http://download.cnet.com/SuperTintin-Skype-Recorder/3000-2150_4-10656468.html This is the direct link to it http://www.supertintin.com/ It is true that teachers fear not being the knowledge center, but I think this is because students value more a teacher when they see him/her as someone they can look for explanations, solutions, and knowledge. Still, we have to evolve and let the students interact and discover the world too.
  • juancalvarez on 16 Jul 15
     
    Brandy Hanak: You are right, these tools will be very important for the students' to identify and learn that they can be used for professional purposes and not just for socializing. You mention a very important point. Skype allows students to connect with people that are far and could be impossible for them to come. The cost for a face to face presentation is so high that most companies do not invest in it. Being able to present at a distant opens doors to benefit everyone.
  • summerloeffler on 17 Jul 15
     
    I was thinking about all the various uses of video web 2.0 technologies that is used for e-learning. While I recognize that Skype is an excellent way for students to "interact" and learn together- I am aware that Skype doesn't allow more than 10 students to meet at once. I recognize that this article was written in 2010 and I know that there is a great improvement and more video web 2.0 tech/apps out there that allows for virtual collaborative learning beyond a one-to-one interaction. We have Blackboard Collaborate, Fuze Meeting, appear.in, Google HangOut, and many more that does give more of a "classroom" feel. Incidental learning is also very important (students to get more than just one opinion, but comments, backgrounds, reactions from rest of their peers.) Hmm. just my thoughts :)
  • juanrubenromero on 17 Jul 15
     
    Skype would definitely be a great way to get professionals to "come" and talk to students. I don't see why employers would have a problem with this, they already allow employees to attend the in person career days. This would be a great idea for those employers that are not in the area. I can see this being a great tool for science and technology, to get professionals from the fields to give workshops to students. This is one of things I tell my students. They may know how to use their devices for socializing or gaming, but they have no idea how to use them for educational purposes. With how technologically advanced we are, you'd think students would know how to use their resources. The biggest downfall of students not knowing how to use their technology as an educational resource, tells me that they do now know how to use it to problem solve. I think this is where our focus needs to be with our students. Ensuring that the technology we use in our classroom is not something just for fun, but a tool that we are going to teach to them to use to problem solve. And problem solving can mean finding answers, collaborating, communicating, etc. I like what they talk about at the end of the article about digital citizenship. It is obvious that students are not aware of how to behave and the consequences of their posts on social media. I tell them once you post it on the net it is out there forever. Not only that but with the rise of Snapchat, teachers are becoming targets of video capture and without notice a video of them is up on social media. Students definitely need a course in high school relating to digital citizenship. Great article!
  • juancalvarez on 17 Jul 15
     
    Summer, I think you right, there are other collaborative learning applications that have been developed but we also have to consider that we don't always need the capabilities of a BB and sometimes teams just need to talk. Skype is a technology that can be used in any electronic device with not to many computer resources. Students' home computers or phone does not always have the applications to run some programs or the internet connection. I have found Skype to be really easy and most people know it. It is just one more application to consider. Plus, we need media specialist that can show and teach the new resources.
  • juancalvarez on 17 Jul 15
     
    Juan, as you say, we have to teach our students to use technology to find solutions, collaborate and have better communication. Students need to learn to use technology to become better at what they like to do.
  • candacejames07 on 17 Jul 15
     
    When I read the through comments you posted Juan about this article I was reminded of this article from Dr. Corbeil's blog. http://edtc.blogspot.com/2015/06/does-not-compute-millennials-arent-tech.html. The article talks about how students use technology all the time, but lack problem solving skills and completing educational based task using technology. Skype is great tool and can be used to reach people that specialist in many different fields including writers, scientist, and business people. We have to embrace technology and learn how to help our students use the social networking to benefit their education and develop problem solving skills.
  • Marie Evans on 18 Jul 15
     
    With today's technology this is a great instructional opportunity! Research shows and teachers know that students learn best from each other! Getting another perspective from a different area of the country/world provides extended learning opportunities that are boundless!
  • bradlampton on 18 Jul 15
     
    This makes perfect sense. This is how students communicate. This is how global multinationals communicate albeit with a business platform like Share point. Learning is supposed to be relevant and authentic. One way to achieve this is by giving students real world tools to accomplish learning objectives and promote collaboration. Share point provides Web 2.0 tools for wikis, blogs, and discussion threads.
  • Joanna Villarreal on 19 Jul 15
     
    Juan, great article. Just because a student, or anyone for that matter, is able to turn on devices doesn't make him/her "tech savy." I agree with Ms. Evans on how students learn best from each other. Take for instance this weeks Diggo assignment. We have to read and comment on classmates posts. Well, I admit sometimes the article it makes even more sense after reading the feedback in the comment section of the article or my classmates comments here on Diggo.
Lauren Simpson

Districts Learn Lessons on 1-to-1 From Others' Missteps - Education Week - 8 views

www.edweek.org/...s-on-1-to-1-from-watching.html

Technology Education Pedagogy

shared by Lauren Simpson on 15 Jul 15 - No Cached
Gladys Suarez liked it
  • "I wanted to observe and study what went wrong [in other districts] and why."
    • Lauren Simpson
      Lauren Simpson on 15 Jul 15
       
      This is a first! I find that many of those in power in education often like to jump headfirst into something then try to troubleshoot problems along the way. I applaud Mr. Carvalho.
  • In fall 2013, districts across the country were running into trouble implementing ambitious 1-to-1 computing initiatives:
    • Lauren Simpson
      Lauren Simpson on 15 Jul 15
       
      Before reading further, what do you think went wrong in so many districts with the 1-to-1 roll outs?
  • The initiative remains shelved.
    • Lauren Simpson
      Lauren Simpson on 15 Jul 15
       
      What else could this money have been used for??
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Still, Ms. Diaz acknowledged that the school system didn't get as much teacher participation in workshops as expected, since teachers were being asked to attend on their own time.
    • Lauren Simpson
      Lauren Simpson on 15 Jul 15
       
      I find this too be all too common, districts often try to implement new tech or just new resources and want teachers to attend on their own time. This is a systemic problem across education, I know that as a teacher I value my personal time away from school, and when I am asked to attend a training on my own time and money, I get a slight bit perturbed.
  • "It's not about the devices,"
    • Lauren Simpson
      Lauren Simpson on 15 Jul 15
       
      This is the hardest thing for new teachers to understand, in my opinion. I feel that they see having or not having a particular device is going to make or break the students' learning. It really isn't about the device, the device just helps enrich and expand an already good lesson base.
  • Districts Learn Lessons on 1-to-1 From Others' Missteps
    • Lauren Simpson
      Lauren Simpson on 15 Jul 15
       
      If you were the head/lead of a committee bringing 1-to-1 to your campus/district, what advantages could you provide to motivate/persuade people to get on board?
    • Lauren Simpson
      Lauren Simpson on 16 Jul 15
       
      If you were the head/lead of a committee bringing 1-to-1 to your campus/district, what advantages could you provide to motivate/persuade people to get on board?
  • Lauren Simpson on 15 Jul 15
     
    My questions are a little out of order, not sure what happened with the annotator. Just read thru my comments/annotations and answer in one reply. Thanks! -Lauren
  • ...5 more comments...
  • juanrubenromero on 16 Jul 15
     
    Sticky #1: I think the best way to get someone on board is to show results. I would do research into how other districts that have implemented a similar program have improved their students learning. Also look at the steps taken by districts that had a successful implementation, and how far or close our district is to being able to do the same. Sticky #3: They probably didn't have an effective implementation plan. It's easier said than done. It could be teacher training on the how to use devices or how to incorporate them into their curriculum. I think that's something that districts need to focus on, is the education of teachers on the technology and continual monitoring and assistance. Sticky #4: They probably should have invested in ensuring that wireless coverage would be good enough to carry out online lessons before moving on to actually implementing the technology. More research could have gone into lessons that were aligned into the state standards. Sticky #5: I think that teacher training is very important to the survival of technology programs. School districts need to realize this and invest in providing professional development for its teachers. My school district is very good at providing professional development opportunities, unless it's very outrageous, our requests for professional developments get approved. Sticky #6: I wouldn't say that this thinking is exclusive to new teachers. I think in general some teachers will hear of a new technology that is all the rage and must have it because without it they will never catch up to other districts. I agree with you its not about the device, its about how its going to be used to enhance the lesson.
  • candacejames07 on 17 Jul 15
     
    This article was a perfect read for me right now. We are in the beginning phases of a 1 to 1 program in our school using iPads. I keep trying to tell the other teachers and admins that getting apps and devices are the easy parts of design model, but what are we going to do with apps and devices, is the hard part? I like how the article says to focus on one subject and give teachers trainings that are organized and well focused. As the instructional technology coach for our campus I have my work cut out for me and getting teachers trained. I can't wait to help these teachers understand how use the iPads to facilitate problem solving and higher level thinking skills.
  • Gladys Suarez on 18 Jul 15
     
    Mr. Carvalho gets a thumbs up! Usually those in power just jump right in! It is great that he wanted to check out what went wrong in other districts first.
  • Marie Evans on 18 Jul 15
     
    1 to 1 needs to be more grade/need specific. We cannot use a PENCIL for all activities at all grade levels in all schools. We need to keep this concept in mind as we move to implement innovations. AND we need a plan that is shared with all stakeholders BEFORE we even decide on which device(s) to purchase! Then we need a training and implementation plan to assist teachers, students and administrators!!! Hmmmm.
  • Lauren Simpson on 18 Jul 15
     
    Candace you are so right! Finding what you will use is easy, but the challenging portion is using it effectively to transform learning. Mrs. Evans I agree plans need to be shared with everyone, because often times when the plans aren't shared there is less buy in to the program.
  • asuarez1 on 19 Jul 15
     
    Would a committee work in these cases? Perhaps having a sampling of everyone involved would help in this situation! Then professional development is essential!
  • Lauren Simpson on 19 Jul 15
     
    A committee would work, but only if the committee truly represented the population accurately (sorry I so sounded like a math teacher there). I think it is an idea worth exploring, maybe on a smaller scale first.
emrodriguez

USING TECHNOLOGY TO PERSONALIZE LEARNING IN MATH EDUCATION - 5 views

www.seenmagazine.us/...earning-in-math-education.aspx

Technology education math learning computer web2.0

shared by emrodriguez on 28 Feb 15 - No Cached
  • Challenge One One of the most common challenges math teachers face is having a classroom full of students with varying levels of comprehension
  • Solution A:
  • Solution B
  • ...16 more annotations...
  • Challenge Two Another common challenge facing teachers, especially given the pressures of high stakes testing and large class sizes, is keeping track of each student’s areas for growth. Once again, when leveraged appropriately, math technology can support targeted and personalized instruction by enhancing a teacher’s ability to keep track of student achievement data.
  • Solution A:
  • Solution B:
  • Challenge Three The final challenge we are going to explore is absent students and teachers. When a student is absent it is very difficult to find the time to catch them up on the material they have missed. Leveraging math education technology in this instance is ideal.
  • Solution A:
  • Solution B:
    • emrodriguez
      emrodriguez on 28 Feb 15
       
      I have to agree with the fact that there will always be varying levels of comprehension and teachers must find ways to reach all students. Technology can be used to split the classroom so that those students who are behind can self pace. Technology can also be used to keep students active for those who are advancing quickly.
    • emrodriguez
      emrodriguez on 28 Feb 15
       
      Another challenge that teachers face is keeping track of each student's individual progress. Software programs can keep track of each student's progress so that the teacher can review. With this information, teachers can intervene and help students with the particular part of math they're falling behind on.
    • emrodriguez
      emrodriguez on 28 Feb 15
       
      Since it is almost for sure that either students or teachers will be absent, technology can be implemented to help instruction on these particular days. Tech can be set up so that students know what to review for the day when the teacher is out. If students are absent, the teacher can use technology to send the material through email or web 2.0 services so that students don't fall behind.
  • Solution B:
  • Solution A:
  • Solution A:
  • Solution A
  • Login Facebook Subscribe Tablet Version Blogging Newsletter Video Gallery Photo Gallery &nbsp; Issue 16.3 | Winter 2014 Southeast Education Network Current Issue Issue Archives Subscriptions Our Mission: to reinvigorate the spirit of American education Published By Other Publications: Carolina Fire Rescue EMS Journal The Griffon 108 Our Mission: to reinvigorate the spirit of American education Home Issues Current Issue Articles Archives Article Categories Resources Industry Links Advertiser Links Buyer's Guide Book Reviews Conferences Special Features Company Profiles Product Reviews Health &amp; Wellness Education Travel Job Board Contact Us General Information Advertise About SEEN Our Mission Testimonials <div id=
  • Solution B
  • Solution A
  • emrodriguez on 28 Feb 15
     
    This article is about using technology in the classroom to supplement instruction in the field of mathematics. It describes common challenges that math teachers face and solutions that can be taken to resolve these problems using technology.
  • ...3 more comments...
  • emrodriguez on 28 Feb 15
     
    This is a great article about implementing technology into a math classroom to resolve the common challenges of these particular educators. From a student's perspective, I wish these tactics would've been around when I was taking math classes.
  • Rosalyn Martinez on 04 Mar 15
     
    Great work, Emmanuel! I truly enjoyed the article. It was nice to read that there are easy solutions to 3 of the most challenges educators face daily. I liked the idea offered in Solution A to Challenge #1 - split the class into 2 groups. One meets with the teacher for direct instruction while the other group works on math activities on a device. It was also nice to know that there is software out there to keep track of data for the teacher. More importantly, I was pleased to read that there are technology programs available to students/ teachers who are absent. These programs help students learn lessons they have missed so long as they have internet access. The programs also help teachers when they are absent. Students are familiar with the programs and can use them and continue to learn when the teacher is out.
  • emrodriguez on 08 Mar 15
     
    Thanks, Rosalyn! I enjoyed the article as well. I like how all of the problems are realistic while the solutions are simplistic. I would have never thought to have students that are behind to watch math videos to catch up while the others receive direct instruction. I too thought it was convenient to have software available for students to work on when teachers are absent. Most days that teachers are absent, students lose on instruction. By having this technology in place, students could use the technology to catch up while the teacher is out or use the day to get ahead on lessons. Thanks for the response, Rosalyn.
  • tvisco on 15 Mar 15
     
    Great article - and not just for math teachers. It really spells out the three basic teaching challenges of modern classrooms. I like that that article values teaching kids how to learn independently as a skill in and of itself. I have a teacher friend who explained to me that when she used the term "independent learning" with her 7th graders they didn't know what she was talking about until she explained it to them. They were also confused by the idea of following their own interests in learning when given the chance rather than being told what to learn. They're getting it now and some, especially in her accelerated classes, love doing it!
  • emrodriguez on 15 Mar 15
     
    @ Tammy Visco. I too enjoy the aspect that students get the opportunity get the chance to learn independently whether the teacher is out or they are working on computer modules. I think the ability to learn independently is a great asset to have because it builds upon your motivation and will to want to learn without having someone tell you learn. It's similar to our educational technology degree because we are given the necessary guidance to do what we have to and we take it from there. While the article does use a math classroom as reference, I believe that the principles are universal. If a teacher is out, students can work on modules. If particular students are falling behind, they can work on modules to catch up. Just a great article and I'm glad I came across it.
Gena Jean

Piazza * Ask. Answer. Explore. Whenever. - 8 views

piazza.com

shared by Gena Jean on 17 Sep 14 - No Cached
    • Elizabeth Rodriguez
      Elizabeth Rodriguez on 17 Sep 14
       
      This is a short video that will give you a brief overview on what Piazza is and how it works!! Excellent way to interact with your students online!!
  • ntegrates with every major LMS and is FERPA compliant
    • Gena Jean
      Gena Jean on 18 Sep 14
       
      It is amazing how complicated FERPA can be, but it is a very important part of an educator's job to know the guidelines
    • Elizabeth Rodriguez
      Elizabeth Rodriguez on 18 Sep 14
       
      Gena, yes FERPA is huge here on our campus. Although it has not been done since I started here, I know we are looking to make sure that all our faculty members go through a FERPA training. It's important to know as much as we can with these regulations!!!
    • Gena Jean
      Gena Jean on 20 Sep 14
       
      It can be very tricky, especially when you are dealing with dual credit students. Parents feel as if they should have automatic rights to their child's information, but we have specific guidelines that we must follow that are designed to protect the students' rights.
    • Elizabeth Rodriguez
      Elizabeth Rodriguez on 21 Sep 14
       
      That is so true Gena. We deal with dual enrollment students all the time and it's difficult when parents call and you have to tell them that you are not allowed to give out any information. Some simply do not understand. I've even had grandparents calling. Go figure.
    • Maricela Gonzalez
      Maricela Gonzalez on 28 Sep 14
       
      @ Elizabeth Rodriguez- Yes, you're right on about the importance of FERPA compliance within schools. It is so important to ensure that student information is kept as confidential as possible, and sometimes as teachers- we may not know which programs comply with FERPA. Therefore, we can get in so much trouble if we violate FERPA, and student information gets released online. We run the unfortunate risk of getting sued. Therefore, after having reviewed Gena Jean's Piazza link, I am feeling much more comfortable in being able to use this medium in my classroom with my netbooks, and continue to add on to my flipped classroom.
    • Maricela Gonzalez
      Maricela Gonzalez on 28 Sep 14
       
      My initial response to Gena Jean's Article Post- I like that students can ask questions, that anyone can answer and that it's in real time, much like Google Drive. It's collaborative and so thank you for sharing this with everyone Gena Jean I am definitely going to definitely start looking into this platform, because I think that my English Language Arts and Reading class will greatly benefit from it. I thought it was so neat to see that a woman is the CEO and founder of this particular online program. Actually, it's quite inspiring to see that educational tools can be used in this way, and brought to the forefront by women.
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 29 Nov 14
       
      Very interesting tool. I will give it a try. I like the fact that it integrate to major LMSs such as Canvas, BlackBoard, and Moodle. Currently I am using Moodle 2.8 and I would like to see how it works. I also like that it is FERPA compliance. I will definitely bookmark this and give it a try. Thanks for the resource.
    • Elizabeth Rodriguez
      Elizabeth Rodriguez on 17 Sep 14
       
      Since I work for a higher ed institution, this is a big one for me because we are always looking to see how we can integrate different web 2.0 tools to assist our instructors in their classroom! Especially online tools!
  • ...3 more annotations...
    • Elizabeth Rodriguez
      Elizabeth Rodriguez on 17 Sep 14
       
      See what others are saying about Piazza! It is a powerful tool to help student communicate and learn from each other!!
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 29 Nov 14
       
      The also like the analytics it has. I can see how the classroom is doing as a whole and individual students engagement levels as well. I wonder I there is a real time chat window. I know some LMSs have chat enabled. Once again this is worth exploring and trying out.
    • Elizabeth Rodriguez
      Elizabeth Rodriguez on 17 Sep 14
       
      How would you use this Web 2.0 tool in your classroom! I think sharing each other's thoughts is a great way to learn from each other!
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 29 Nov 14
       
      I think I would use it to more for discussion as it seems to have powerful communication and notification tools. One idea comes to mind. During the lesson, I can use polls to see how students are grasping the content or to see if they are paying attention. I wonder if one can use a microphone and camera for Piazza
    • Gena Jean
      Gena Jean on 18 Sep 14
       
      I find it very beneficial that this uses the familiar wiki style to make it easier to use!
    • Karla Fabiola Garcia
      Karla Fabiola Garcia on 20 Sep 14
       
      I have never heard of this tool. I already like how similar it is in terms of style, to wiki.
    • stacey perkins
      stacey perkins on 27 Sep 14
       
      I am immediately drawn to the filtering and hierarchy of importance you can apply to student questions. I love the idea of bringing order to all those posts!
    • Maricela Gonzalez
      Maricela Gonzalez on 28 Sep 14
       
      @ Karla Fabiola Garcia- Yes, I had never heard of this online tool "Piazza" before either- however, it definitely seems like a great tool, as a teacher can see how many of their students are online. Students can help each other, and therefore know that they are not alone. The purpose of this program appears to me to exemplify what a true learning community should cover. Autonomy and accessibility outside of just the classroom environment. As was mentioned in the video from the website link- "a lot of it is kind of thinking through challenging problems with other people (- Pooja Nath Sankar, Piazza Founder & CEO)."
    • Maricela Gonzalez
      Maricela Gonzalez on 28 Sep 14
       
      My initial response to Gena Jean's Article Post- Thanks for sharing this online tool with us all Karla. Symbaloo is a smart way to bookmark important things that educators may need to go back and reference. I tend to use Twitter to bookmark my educational resources…but that can get tiring- because sometimes frankly I don't want to share them with everyone, but I need that source to be retrievable at a later time. I'd like to have the ability to organize other things within my educational realm, such as my online modules, training videos, of which I've created throughout my pursuit of my master's degree- and this appears to be a more streamlined way to do just that.
  • Elizabeth Rodriguez on 17 Sep 14
     
    This is a great tool to use in the classroom! It allows for an online platform to be used by students and teachers to get questions answered!!!
  • ...3 more comments...
  • Gena Jean on 18 Sep 14
     
    This looks like it could be very beneficial to a higher education instructor, especially as an additional Discussion Forum activity. I found this interesting article : http://www.sicet.org/journals/ijttl/issue0801/4_1_6_Wang.pdf that discusses wiki use in education that you may find enlightening.
  • Elizabeth Rodriguez on 18 Sep 14
     
    Just wondering why my post states that someone else shared it. I started the post on Piazza. Can anyone tell me? I'm new to Diigo. I just want to make sure I get created for starting this discussion post. :)
  • Gena Jean on 20 Sep 14
     
    Elizabeth, apparently when people comment, it can replace the original author. Hopefully the administrator of the group will be able to tell who was the original host/author of each post. I do apologize if I inadvertently made a setting selection that caused this to happen. This is definitely your original post. I wonder if by doing a sticky note it changed it to mine?
  • Elizabeth Rodriguez on 21 Sep 14
     
    Thanks Gena. Hopefully Dr. Chavez will know.
  • mariavictoria1 on 18 Oct 14
     
    Hi Gena, As I'm going over all these great tools, I feel a bit overwhelmed with all this information. I have never heard of Piazza before. From what I have read it is used in Colleges and University but I feel that with where technology is heading in high schools and middle schools, I can see this in that setting as well. Thank you for introducing this tool.
Stephen Simon

Lawmakers: Terrorists May Tap Same Web 2.0 Tools as Military - Scientific American - 4 views

www.scientificamerican.com/...virtual-reality-military

shared by Stephen Simon on 17 Feb 14 - No Cached
  • The Congressional Research Service (CSR) recently released a report warning that enemies may be using the same Web-based, collaborative technology to prepare for future strikes that the U.S. uses to train soldiers and gather intelligence.
    • Jose Escobedo
      Jose Escobedo on 17 Feb 14
       
      In 2009, over 7,000 terrorist sites were active. Terrorist also have used social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to target prospective recruits.
    • eeverett3
      eeverett3 on 21 Feb 14
       
      I believe we have to assume that worldwide, people are learning to use and adapt technology for their own purposes. The military is correct to be looking at how to protect American assets from hacking. Recent events (i.e. the Black Friday incident) show that our credit card purchases are certainly not safe!
    • Jose Escobedo
      Jose Escobedo on 25 Feb 14
       
      The Somali terrorist group Al-Shabaab has used Twitter to recruit U.S. youths especially in the state of Minnesota.
    • Stephen Simon
      Stephen Simon on 25 Feb 14
       
      That our enemies use the same tools as we do should come no more a surprise than the new Chinese jet fighter looks almost identical to our F-35. A foundational premise of the US cyber-command recognizes that the next battlefield is digital. It is there we will meet some faction of the enemy.
    • Don Martin
      Don Martin on 26 Feb 14
       
      Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites can be a very effective tool for communication as well as a channel for harm. We have used Facebook as a base for a discussion community for the students and faculty in the our allied health programs here at El Centro as well as the surgical technology program I headed at Collin College. It gives the students an opportunity to communicate with each other and their instructors in an orderly asynchronous manner (much better than e-mail. Unfortunately it requires that someone be responsible to monitor the chatter. Sometimes information is conveyed that is inappropriate or it is communicated in an inappropriate manner.
    • Jose Escobedo
      Jose Escobedo on 27 Feb 14
       
      You are right in regards to Twitter and Facebook as effective tools of communication but many times we have seen everything from students, teachers, parents, etc. who upload inappropriate pictures or comments and then face the negative consequences.
    • Olivia Basham
      Olivia Basham on 01 Mar 14
       
      Seems to me like this is to be expected and even advantageous. I mean a) terrorists are usually only effective if they are smart and it would be stupid for them to not take advantage of all forms of communication and recruitment available to them, and b) since these site are often not well secured and are well know by our own intelligence community it actually helps all peace-loving governments if terrorists DO use them as it makes their plans and colleagues more vulnerable to observation and counterintelligence. I find sites like Facebook and Twitter to be the low hanging fruit of communication and we should be lucky that terrorists aren't using more sophisticated methods more often.
  • The CRS reports that the U.S. military plans to build a virtual world called Sentient Worldwide Simulation that would include highly detailed digital renderings of different real-life cities worldwide, much the same way the Second Life virtual world is filled with banks, stores and other landmarks that give a more realistic feel.
  • The goal is to use it, among other things, to help train medics and National Guard members to respond during emergencies.
    • Jose Escobedo
      Jose Escobedo on 17 Feb 14
       
      Three years ago the Department of Defense decided to establish 10 Homeland Response Force Units known as HRFs in order to focus on Chemical, Biological, Radiological,Nuclear and High Explosive (CBRNE) incidents due to natural disasters or terrorist attacks.
    • eeverett3
      eeverett3 on 21 Feb 14
       
      As I am reading this, I am thinking about how advanced VR simulations have become and how can we use this in education? The obvious cost savings on teachers, materials, etc would be phenominal if we had a virtual chemistry lab, physics lab, etc. Then I searched virtual chemistry lab and found several websites with just that!
    • Eric Folks
      Eric Folks on 03 Mar 14
       
      I see VR contributing to the ability of technology to blur the line between digital and real, but I don't believe VR will have to have the "V" in it for very much longer. Let me explain. There are many tools that blend digital and real. In the last two weeks I've read stories on two of them: this one highlights how smartphones can be controlled by human gestures (http://goo.gl/zzexlT), and this one, the capability of some modern game systems to be also controlled by gestures (http://goo.gl/C0viR8). In both cases our physical reality is helping shape and form a digital reality. Then consider Aurasma (www.aurasma.com/), a site that enables users to associate digital "overlays" over real life images, or "triggers." This technology enables us to bring the digital into reali life. We cannot know what will happen, but my guess is that digital immersion via VR is less likely to take off as quickly as digital integration into real life. When they come up with a VR machine that can replicate smells, tastes and micro sensations like the wind or water against my skin, I may have to reconsider this prediction!
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • For the past three years the Pentagon has also been testing the potential of virtual reality in treating veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. In essence, therapists immerse victims in a virtual world complete with visual and sound effects that recreate the source of their fears and flashbacks from Iraq, Afghanistan and other war zones, according to Defense Update, an online site that covers military issues.
    • eeverett3
      eeverett3 on 24 Feb 14
       
      PTSD is such an interesting application for virtual reality.
    • Stephen Simon
      Stephen Simon on 25 Feb 14
       
      Us VR as a tool for exposure therapy is an excellent application of the technology. It is interesting that researcher combines smells with the tool.
    • Olivia Basham
      Olivia Basham on 01 Mar 14
       
      Exposure therapy has changed many peoples' lives. Never before has the concept of "facing your fear" seemed more possible as virtual realty allows individuals to work through deeply rooted and even quite rational psychological responses in a safe and controlled environment. If people can overcome a fear of flying using VR, (http://www.vrphobia.com/Clinical/Fears/flying.htm) why not veterans using the same simulations uses to train new soldiers before entering the battle field? In fact, I would be interesting to see a study that investigated if soldiers who have had extensive VR simulation training BEFORE going to war zones experienced more or less (or the same) instances of PTSD.
    • Jose Escobedo
      Jose Escobedo on 17 Feb 14
       
      The goal is to help veterans with PTSD in reducing their anxiety and fear. Virtual reality can be programmed to help combat veterans confront feared situations.
    • Jose Escobedo
      Jose Escobedo on 19 Feb 14
       
      http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20131110/NEWS/131119944 The above link details how Virtual Reality is offered at the University of Central Florida for veterans who suffer with PTSD. The Department of Defense awarded UCF a $5.1 million grant to offer the treatment.
    • Eric Folks
      Eric Folks on 19 Feb 14
       
      Jose this is an interesting application of virtual reality technology. I see real value in using it as a form of therapy for PTSD (and there's certainmly a need!), but any virtual world based on the real world used for military applications makes me a bit uneasy. I guess this is a lot like those Germans throwing the Google Street View van out of their neighborhood a few years back...sometimes there is TMI with technology. Honestly, I'm not sure that I trust either the military or Google with anything approaching real-time satellite feeds (which is what we're approaching) for "training purposes." It approaches the surveillence state I hope we never have to face as a society.
    • Jose Escobedo
      Jose Escobedo on 20 Feb 14
       
      With the recent scandal of Eric Snowden's leak of classified information about the global surveillance by the NSA, I understand the concern when the military or any other agency wants to use Virtual Reality but there are good benefits. For example, some units use the virtual reality system EST 2000 where soldiers are able to work on markmanship skills, collective squad level training and judgmental use of force scenarios.
    • Don Martin
      Don Martin on 26 Feb 14
       
      The potential for education applications for VR are staggering. We are already beginning to use VR in the health sciences, nursing and medical education settings. There are a number of VR simulations for surgery that can be used by medical students, interns and residents as well as for nursing and surgical technology students. In the area of robotics surgery VR is often used to train surgeons how to use the system before they attempt it for the real. VR is also being used to explore procedures and treatment options to map out approaches and to anticipate patient reactions to various treatments. Unfortunately the technology is still very cumbersome, expensive and sometimes wrong in very surprising ways.
  • lbanuelos on 24 Feb 14
     
    Unfortunately this is the sad reality of today's technology. There will always be those that find ways to twist new technologies created for the good of humanity into weapons. I can see how web 2.0 and virtual worlds could be used by terrorists. For example, people could theoretically communicate on collaboration networks, meet on Second Life, and ultimately finance an operation using internet currency such as bitcoins.
  • ...3 more comments...
  • lbanuelos on 24 Feb 14
     
    When I first read this article, I was skeptical as to how effective Virtual Realty would be in treating PTSD. I just don't understand how reliving a traumatizing experience over and over makes it less bearable. Well according to an article I found, it seems to work. According to the Journal Cybertherapy and Rehabilitation, virtual reality exposure therapy has shown a 66 to 90 success rate. That is impressive. My only question would be what are the side effects of exposure to this type of therapy. http://www.thedailybeast.com/the-hero-project/articles/2013/09/26/virtual-reality-video-games-may-be-the-best-treatment-for-ptsd.html
  • Jeff Blackman on 24 Feb 14
     
    I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Of course, all these tools that we use for education are certainly out there and available to others who can use it in other ways.
  • Stephen Simon on 25 Feb 14
     
    One of many ways terrorists are using to plan attacks.
  • Araceli Gracia on 26 Feb 14
     
    It is scary to think that Web 2.0 tools that are supposed to be safe and helpful are being used by terrorists. After the Target hack during Black Friday, I have been very scared to use my card there. I got a new bank card and changed my pin, even though I wasn't one that was "affected" , because it made me feel a little more secure. Apparently it can happen everywhere. As far as the virtual reality therapy, I found an article that mentions several ways how it helps and the first one is how it helps with PTSD. Even though this type of therapy may not work for everyone, it certainly is a step in the right direction. http://io9.com/5288859/7-virtual-reality-technologies-that-actually-work http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-does-virtual-reality-therapy-fo/
  • lbanuelos on 28 Feb 14
     
    This article lists how terrorists can use the web to wage war. It's good to see that people are also using the internet to fight back. This article is from the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. http://www.unodc.org/documents/frontpage/Use_of_Internet_for_Terrorist_Purposes.pdf This video discusses how terrorists are using twitter while attacking a mall. http://usat.ly/1fbIP8D
Stephen Simon

How Collaborative Learning Leads to Student Success | Edutopia - 8 views

www.edutopia.org/borative-learning-college-prep

shared by Stephen Simon on 14 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • "What our collaborative learning style empowers and enables is a student's resilience -- how do you look to your neighbor as a resource, how do you test your own theories, how do you understand if you're on the right track or the wrong track?"
  • But now it's clear to her why allowing her students to learn in this way is so powerful. "They're learning more than just math," she says. "They're learning to be more proactive; they're learning how to depend on their peers. When they go off to college, they already know how to work with people and draw out their strengths."
    • lbanuelos
      lbanuelos on 20 Apr 14
       
      When students engage in peer learning, the build self esteem and a sense of responsibility. http://www.cte.cornell.edu/teaching-ideas/engaging-students/collaborative-learning.html
    • Stephen Simon
      Stephen Simon on 01 May 14
       
      Being more proactive enhances how we move forward with advancements in every discipline. College Prep forces students to learn to depend on each other in times of need and stress. Leaving the nest is an experience that everyone who goes away for college encounters. The more at ease you feel when join a new group in a new setting just lubricates the learning environment.
    • Don Martin
      Don Martin on 04 May 14
       
      I like the statement that students are learning more than math. What are they learning? They are learning life skills that cross the content area boundaries. Skills such as critical thinking which are so important in problem solving, creativity and general success can only be learned through collaborative learning. It is not possible to learn to depend on peers or to learn teamwork without working with others in a collaborative environment. In order to be proactive you have to be able to see the possibilities before they occur, this can't be done without interacting with a complex environment that involves others. You cannot predict in a system you have no familiarity with. Collaboration is a key scaffolding tool in the effort to constantly expand understanding and performance.
  • In math, for instance, the teachers prompt the students to ask each other their questions before asking the teacher, so that students learn to rely on their own collective wisdom.
    • lbanuelos
      lbanuelos on 20 Apr 14
       
      Peer learning is a mutual experience where student make equal contributions. Learning is also less formal. It may start in the classroom but can continue through social media.
    • Stephen Simon
      Stephen Simon on 01 May 14
       
      It's now OK to ask your classmate for help. This is a great idea and really fosters two things: learning and socialization. When certain tasks are intentionally harder, it nudges the student to explore if their classmates are having the same situation: a shared learning experience. This is an awesome approach to what can be both tedious and difficult in nature. This particular paradigm to math will foster metacognition in the individual learner.
  • lbanuelos on 14 Apr 14
     
    With the onset of many Web 2.0 tools we can all agree that collaboration is easier that ever before. As a student in high school I remember doing poorly in one of my Spanish classes so my teacher sat me next to another student that was doing much better. Together all three of us formed a partnership that ultimately helped me pass that class. Back then I never really understood why it was easier for me to learn with the help of my peer. How can we as educators encourage collaboration in the classroom? http://www.smu.edu/~/media/Site/Simmons/CCCD/Peer%20Teaching%20in%20Math.ashx
  • ...10 more comments...
  • eeverett3 on 14 Apr 14
     
    After the sticker shock of the private high school costs, I was able to focus on the many ways they are using collabortion! What I enjoy in collaborative efforts is watching the students justify their answers/opinions. That is going to serve them well in future jobs.
  • Jeff Blackman on 14 Apr 14
     
    I think the tools we will be showcasing in this class could be one way. I didn't realize there were so many of these types of tools out there and I'm looking forward to hearing about more. It can be overwhelming, though. So, I'd pick one or two to focus on and get my students going on those.
  • Araceli Gracia on 14 Apr 14
     
    Luis, I think teachers and administration would encourage more collaboration, but since everything is so data driven, they are weary of what that would do to their numbers especially in the upper grades. I like the idea of collaboration because like your article mentioned students do not all have to agree and they are able to challenge each others ideas. The opportunity to work with others gives everyone a chance to learn from one another, however there could be students who do not like being part of a group. My younger son sometimes does get frustrated when in a group, since he is just one of those who likes to work alone. http://www.districtadministration.com/article/benefits-teacher-collaboration
  • Brenda Wohlfeil on 17 Apr 14
     
    As a math teacher, I love having my students collaborate. However, I found that just throwing a group of students together and hoping for the best does not work. I found an article called "So Collaborative Learning Tips and Strategies for Teachers" that summarizes a lot of what I have learned in to have successful collaborate learning. Check it out, it is one that you might like to bookmark for future reference. http://www.teachthought.com/learning/20-collaborative-learning-tips-and-strategies/
  • Brenda Wohlfeil on 17 Apr 14
     
    Elizabeth, I had to laugh at your mentioning the sticker shock! I was thinking I must be in the wrong private school. Although my private school is in Texas, the Archdiocese of San Antonio decided to incorporate the instructional shifts of Common Core, especially the mathematical practices. I find that collaboration is strongly needed in satisfying these practices. Collaborating is essential in make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. (MP.1) and constructing viable arguments and critiquing the reasoning of others. (MP.3) One of my favorite activities is to put a challenging problem on the board and have the students collaborate in groups to solve it. Then the groups debate between themselves as to the correct answers. We have many lively discussions. http://www.corestandards.org/Math/Practice/
  • Don Martin on 20 Apr 14
     
    For me the best thing about collaboration is that it all fits well with the things that I feel work best in the classroom. I am a big proponent of scaffolding in the zone of proximal development. Problem based learning (PBL) and task centered learning (TCL) are two of my favorite scaffolding tools. Many of the web 2.0 tools we have seen this semester are excellent tools to help develop PBL and TCL experiences. The collaborative nature of many of the Web 2.0 tools lends itself well to learners helping learners and I think this is the best method of learning that we can foster in our classrooms whether they are online or face to face. Collaboration is great but it needs structure and guidance in order to be effective and have long lasting results.
  • Eric Folks on 20 Apr 14
     
    I'd say I'm going to play devil's advocate here and argue what I don't really believe, but I'll be honest: I'm on the fence about collaborative learning. I know in this day and age disparaging collaborative learning is like arguing for ObamaCare in Texas, especially with Social Media and sharing tools everywhere - many, many of which I use and advocate - but working in a group sometimes frustrates the snot out of me, and I'm not alone. http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/archive/cl1/cl/story/middlecc/TSCMD.htm#speed Some people like to just get the work done on their own, at their own speed, without all the trials and tribulations of working in a group. Here it is, Sunday night, and my son and I are waiting to hear back on a video presentation due tomorrow for his 8th grade English class. Obviously they're done with their Staar test and have more time and flexibility than they did a couple months ago, but the teacher has instructed them to work together collaboratively on a video version of a book they read...completely outside of class. So having worked through the challenges of scheduling a shooting time for the raw clips, and the challenges of everyone voicing different ideas on what to shoot, how to shoot, how to operate and so on, we finally got all the raw footage put together Friday afternoon. I keep saying "we" because for some reason my wife didn't want my 13 year old son going over to someone's house and recording themselves shooting BB guns !? Anyway, we specifically agreed and confirmed with one kid, who volunteered to do the editing and put the video together, that we wouldn't wait till Monday to see it for the first time. I send him the footage clips in the form of a Dropbox link Friday evening. At 12:15 AM last night he says he just got them and will hopefully get the video to us sometime today (even though the sent email below showed he rec'd the email Friday). Same old small group story. I know there are times when we need to collaborate in the real w
  • Jose Escobedo on 20 Apr 14
     
    Eric, I feel your pain. I have to say I remember those days when my kids brought group projects and were always waiting for the group to meet during the weekend. Like always dad had to help on Sunday night. Of course the main excuse they got from their peers was the lack of transportation. Luis made a good point when he mentioned the availability of Web 2.0 tools. With all these real time collaboration tools it should be easier for my youngest daughter once she gets to Middle School and HS.
  • Brenda Wohlfeil on 20 Apr 14
     
    Eric, I also feel your pain. My daughter ends up doing most of the work on collaborative projects. But I think with the tips in the link I left and teachers giving students time to work on projects in class, a lot of this pain we go through could be alleviated.
  • Don Martin on 26 Apr 14
     
    Eric, I believe the fault is not in the concept of collaborative learning but in the design of the collaborative project. How can there be a fault in any learning tool or style that works? When we look at anything we do or use in the classroom if that system fails it is usually a design flaw as a result of the creator. Power Point is a great example, I don't claim to be a power user of Power Point but I know what the system is capable of and I know when I have seen a really bad presentation. Collaboration is no different, it takes a great deal of thought and effort on the part of the instructor to create a successful collaborative exercise that can be used to scaffold a class or subject effectively. I think that if you went back and looked at the design of the project you could probably identify ways to make it better and make it work. If you do that you should send feedback to your child's teacher, let them know what the problem was for your child and give them feedback on how to fix it. Remember, teachers are learners too!
  • Eric Folks on 26 Apr 14
     
    Don, I train 240 teachers and even more para professionals and staff on an ongoing basis. I get that they are learner too. My point was not that any and all collaborative learning models are flawed; it was that it's proponents seem to go unchallenged and in practice, many times anything deemed or labeled "collaborative" is considered good teaching. I believe collaborative learning has its place, but I also believe individual learning does as well. If the project is collaborative, there must be clearly delineated roles and rubrics, and "group" grades must be coupled with grades that target individual contributions. Google Docs and Murally are just two tools of many I share with teachers to more accurately determine who has done what and when.
  • Stephen Simon on 01 May 14
     
    "How Collaborative Learning Leads to Student Success"
Lucretia Human

5 Tips to Help Teachers Who Struggle with Technology | Edutopia - 17 views

www.edutopia.org/...ling-with-technology-josh-work

technology classroom struggle teachers

shared by Lucretia Human on 09 Jun 14 - No Cached
    • Lucretia Human
      Lucretia Human on 09 Jun 14
       
      As the gap formed by the use of technology and those resistant to its use widens, so does the feelings of separation, loneliness, frustration and sometimes superiority among faculty. What has been your experience dealing with faculty, who has undergone these types of emotions when confronted with the use of technology in the classroom?
    • hillaryparrish
      hillaryparrish on 10 Jun 14
       
      First, I will say I am the Business teacher, so I have no responsibilities to any teachers in my district regarding technology. Second, I will say that I love helping people, so if I know how to help someone, I will! My perception on this is going to be really skewed. I will give you some background, and I will try to keep it short. In Oct. 2012, our entire server for the entire school crashed. It had not been backed up since May 2012. Many people lost everything; many people lost a lot of things. It was bad. The IT Coordinator (we only have one) for our district pretty much did nothing all of the 2012-2013 school year. They fired him in July 2013. In August 2013 (one week before school started), my classroom was in shambles (the high school computer lab) as a result of a remodel and they hired a new IT Coordinator. 2013-2014 has been better. However, we still have multiple teachers without teacher computers or student computers in their classrooms. That is the short story. So, teachers come to me with all types of emotions. Although I have nothing to do with IT, I am the computer teacher. Until December 2013, our internet worked about 60% of the time. Frustration about technology was an understatement. No one wants to learn new technology, they just want to be able to take roll. It is getting better though. If I were to imagine what it would be like if everything would have been normal with bumps in the road rather than catastrophes over the last two years, this is what I would say. Mr./Mrs./Miss Teacher, I would be glad to come in early or stay late to work with you to help you with that new technology that you would like to learn. Or, if I were in charge of instructional technology, I would like to have built in times to do PD. There is a larger, neighboring district that has students go in one hour late once a week so teachers can do PD. I think this would work nicely.
    • noramedrano
      noramedrano on 11 Jun 14
       
      I am a reading teacher, and like Hillary, I have no responsibilities teaching teachers about technology. All teachers in my campus know how to use a computer, add attachments, send emails, schedule meeting through outlook email since we are assigned a computer at the beginning of the year. Teachers throughout the school year send, receive emails and attachments. Now we do use Google Docs (per grade level) to keep information on one centralized location, yet not trained on it. I am willing to help, and have helped many teachers that had never been exposed to Google Docs. I give them a quick run through and make sure they understand how to create, add, edit, and view data on a Google Doc. Teachers are very thankful when I assist them with this because they feel frustrated that they need to use the Google Doc but have not been taught or given a PD on it.
    • Benjamin Caulder
      Benjamin Caulder on 11 Jun 14
       
      I am in a 1:1 school and despite this, there are several teachers who do not regularly use all the tools available to them. I don't know of any who refuse to use any technology, but some refuse to use the tablet they were issued; others refuse to use our LMS (Moodle); and still others refuse to use any Web 2.0 tools. I know of one who would not since she was so close to retiring, she didn't want to invest in re-learning what she already did. In her particular case, the LMS and the Web 2.0 tools were presented as nothing more than fancy pencils. As they were presented (I know since they were presented to me the exact same way) they did not deepen the learning or provide a way to authenticate the learning. Why should she change when the students didn't benefit (as far as she was taught). So what I see is that the education of the teacher can NOT be secondary or tertiary. It must be the primary goal of the Instructional Tech. Dept. to guide all teachers to the greatest benefit of the kiddos, which means that in must make the learning deeper and more relevant to their actual lives.
    • Lucretia Human
      Lucretia Human on 12 Jun 14
       
      Hillary, First sorry to hear about your year 2012-2013. I think that most schools and districts do not realize the importance of having many IT available. I know if my any of the technology at school goes down, we are pretty much up a creek without a paddle. Fortunately, I teach in higher ed and there a many people that keep our campus technology updated and running smoothly. If it happens to goes down for some reason, they spring into action, as if they were the Justice League out to crash the bad guy. However with all the great IT people on campus, we till have so many instructors who do not come to PD dealing with the use of technology in the classroom.
    • Lucretia Human
      Lucretia Human on 12 Jun 14
       
      Ben, I understand that the one teacher close to retiring did not want to re-learn what she already did, however she should have looked at as an opportunity to grow personally. We do not retire to die! We retire to feel less pressure, to do something else, and to not get up at 5:30 in the morning (however most older people still do), but we do not retire to stop learning. I agree wholeheartedly that it is the main job of the IT Dept of any school to make sure that the teachers know what the heck they are doing with technology because only the students suffer in the end.
    • Lucretia Human
      Lucretia Human on 12 Jun 14
       
      Nora, You are right it is not your job to train the teachers how to use Google Docs. It is very sweet of you to do that because you understand the value of doing it for the students. I would be very frustrated and angry if they school I taught at expected me to use technology or programs that I was not familiar with without offering training! I can really see why some teachers are resistant. Like Ben pointed out if the tools are presented as "fancy pencils" and not shown how they can change students lives for the better, then teacher actually have a right to frustrated.
    • Benjamin Caulder
      Benjamin Caulder on 14 Jun 14
       
      Lu, I hear you. But there is so much more in the world than Technology... just saying. I know this teacher is going off to learn about more tangible things (Art, travel...). Anyway, that was an aside. I was writing from that teacher's perspective, which was that the new information did not add anything to what she was already doing. The pencil accomplished just as much as the Web 2.0 tool. It wasn't the fault of the tool, but how it was presented to her (this I know since I was presented the same thing the same way). Anyway, my point, ultimately, is that technology should be used for the sake of using it, but to provide more in a way that pencil and paper can not. There is a teacher in my school who uses Aurasma in many of her lessons. Aurasma provides a perspective the students cannot get from a book so it deepens the lesson.
    • Lucretia Human
      Lucretia Human on 17 Jun 14
       
      For all of you out there that might not be familiar with Aurasma, like me, check out this demo video. http://youtu.be/GBKy-hSedg8
    • crystallee530
      crystallee530 on 23 Jun 14
       
      Over half of the staff at my school have been working there for over 15 years. With the recent change in administration there came a new demand for technology integration. There were teachers that were on board with this change and were willing to try to adapt and then there were a few that were not willing to adapt and complained along the way. Some of the technology challenged teachers had frustration written all over their faces anytime technology was mentioned. The best method for easing their concerns was a private tutorial lesson.
    • Lucretia Human
      Lucretia Human on 09 Jun 14
       
      How would answer this question, if faced with it from one of your faculty?
    • hillaryparrish
      hillaryparrish on 10 Jun 14
       
      I think I would say, "Try it, you may find that it is more efficient. If you decide after a week/two weeks/etc. that it does not work for you, then go back to the old way. You might find that it is good for the students, so you will find that it is also rewarding to you."
    • noramedrano
      noramedrano on 11 Jun 14
       
      Everything deserves a try. Don't stay with the what if???? Technology is overwhelming and could be intimidating but there is not thing you cannot over come. Give technology a try, if you have any questions I would be glad to help you.
    • Lucretia Human
      Lucretia Human on 09 Jun 14
       
      These are really great questions. We have all struggled at times with technology and we have all help others who were struggling. Provide some other tips that this article did not mention that you have used either when being helped or helping others.
    • hillaryparrish
      hillaryparrish on 10 Jun 14
       
      When I have to learn a new technology, I think that online sources are my best friend. As a Business teacher, I am constantly needing to teach new software. There is no way that I could have learned every software I would have ever needed to teach in college! New software is constantly coming out on the market. So, I sit down with the software and Google, and I figure it out. Of course, most specifically YouTube can be a great source. Also, you can use LinkedIn. Look to see who has been endorsed for the technology you need to learn, and contact them to see if they will help you! More than likely they will.
    • noramedrano
      noramedrano on 11 Jun 14
       
      Google is my best friend!!! Anytime I have questions I seek Google's help. I try the tips or suggestions given through Google's search, if they work great, but if they don't work, I try to visit the software or item's website to find out more information. I also tend to visit youtube since I am a visual person, I like to see step-by-step on how it is done, worked, or put together. This has really helped me up to now in both aspects, while being helped by others and helping others.
    • vasquezgonzalezv
      vasquezgonzalezv on 12 Jun 14
       
      Exactly:  Google and YouTube.  In fact, I was having some issues with Diigo (Diigolet, I'm on a Mac) and googled my problem.  A couple of clicks later, problem solved, and now I have the experience with this particular issue added to my tech knowledge for the future.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • As schools around the globe begin to embed the use of technology in their learning environments, these teachers can be left feeling frustrated and marginalized by the new tools they are required to use but do not understand.
  • "Why would I try this when I've been doing just fine without it all these years?"
  • Are there any tips that you have for helping teachers in your school who struggle with technology? If you're a teacher still trying to master technology, how have others helped you?
    • Benjamin Caulder
      Benjamin Caulder on 11 Jun 14
       
      This is interesting and I am trying to figure out why this was their initial focus. Mind mapping is, of course, essential to students mvoing the random bit of info from the biological computer to something more tangible, like an essay. But it seems an odd place to start for teachers who can't "create a powerpoint". The general point of this bullet is a great place to start, tech team, but it seems such a weird place to set their focus. Not sure where I would start, if I were in their shoes, but I wish they had explained that point more.
    • Lucretia Human
      Lucretia Human on 12 Jun 14
       
      Ben, Excellent observation! I don't know why they would start there either. I would probably start with the basics and make sure everyone knew how they work and then start branching out to Mind maps and other such tools. Thanks for catching that.
  • While I'm talking about PD, all educators know that extra time for PD is scarce throughout the day. I've had amazing administrators that carved out dedicated time for tech PD
    • Benjamin Caulder
      Benjamin Caulder on 11 Jun 14
       
      This cannot be over looked, though it seems it is the first of the "changes" tossed out. "We can't change the schedule". "We can't sacrifice XYZ". My school has 1 advisory period a day, no study hall and only 6 minutes between bells. They advocate bell to bell instruction (work time included). All this leaves no real time for PLC or PD within school hours. What do your schools do and how did they accomplish it?
    • vasquezgonzalezv
      vasquezgonzalezv on 12 Jun 14
       
      My district uses early release days for PD.  (Students get early release; teachers get a catered lunch and a relaxed environment training.  I have to say, I really enjoy it, and if I were making the decisions about how to do this, it's probably what I'd do.  They also offer after school trainings on technology, but they are having a difficult time getting teachers to participate.  
    • Lucretia Human
      Lucretia Human on 12 Jun 14
       
      Food always works to draw people into almost everything. Do you have to go longer in the school year to accommodate for the early releases?
  • We focused primarily on mind mapping ideas and helping teachers slowly introduce technology into their classes.
    • Lucretia Human
      Lucretia Human on 12 Jun 14
       
      Ben, Like I said before I teach in Higher Ed so our policies are somewhat different, but mainly here is how it goes: if it is not mandatory instructors are not going. When it is mandatory it is done when students are not in school, the day before they come back, the day after they leave etc..
  • Lucretia Human on 09 Jun 14
     
    Tips to help us as Ed Techs help those not so tech savvy teachers
  • ...1 more comment...
  • Lucretia Human on 09 Jun 14
     
    Great ideas to help teachers use technology in their classrooms!
  • kdauphiney on 22 Jun 14
     
    Many veteran teachers that have been in the classroom long before widespread technology are slow to embrace a method of teaching that they were never taught in their preparation as teachers. I think because the archaic way of instruction relied heavily on effort from the learner to "sit and get" rather than effort from the teacher to "flex and adapt" to the learner. Once they see education as a ever changing spectrum that has no definite end, only then can they embraced that teacher training does not start and stop with the college classes that comprise one's degree and certificate.
  • rcepeda610 on 06 Jul 14
     
    In my very recent experiences, technology is fun, quick but not so easy at first. I must say it is very time consuming and a bit overwhelming when the gremlins, like Dr. Butler likes to call them, are up to no good. It can be very frustrating if you can't upload, download, convert a file, etc. I am very excited to all the exposure I have had in the past few weeks. The tools we have seen in the course are pretty cool and most importantly I think once I am able to navigate through them with ease, the students will be excited to see and use them in the classroom.
textraveller

5 Real Benefits of Using Animation in the Classroom - 5 views

diigo.com/021jcq

education web2.0

shared by textraveller on 27 Jul 14 - No Cached
  • textraveller on 27 Jul 14
     
    I've highlighted a few parts of this article that I thought summed up the gist of the material. Click on the link above to see the highlighted/annotated parts. Overall, interesting food for thought. I can see animation being helpful for motivation and inter-disciplinary skills in ways that normal lessons wouldn't be. Given the fact that there are an increasing number of web 2.0 tools available to remove the difficulty from animation, what are ways that you can forsee animation being used in various classrooms and disciplines? - C Hilgeman
  • ...7 more comments...
  • textraveller on 27 Jul 14
     
    Regarding a summary of Discussion Boards and their helpfulness... Discussion boards have been around for awhile and I've found that, for many, are the first thing that come to mind when hearing someone announce, "I'm taking an online class." They have been a staple of e-learning since its early days. The fact that they are still used in online education suggests that they are a useful tool for students. However, as with most tools, there are positives and negatives to using discussion boards for class. Here are a few positives: 1. They allow for collaboration between all students, not just the outspoken ones. 2. They provide a flexible way for students to interact. This is not only schedule-wise but also, for lack of a better term, circadian-rhythm-wise. Students who may not be fully awake and contributing at 8:00 a.m. in a traditional classroom may be much more likely to provide quality content at 11 p.m. if they are night owls. 3. Allows for increased interaction between professor/professionals and students. Discussion boards keep physical distance from being a hindrance between a subject-matter expert in Florida and a class in Seattle. A few negatives: 1. They allow for laziness. The fact that students won't be directly "confronted" about a minimal effort or faulty logic, or will only interact electronically can lessen motivation for excellence. 2. Cheating is easier. (If you have a friend who knows the material.) These are my initial thoughts regarding discussion boards. - C Hilgeman
  • kbanda on 28 Jul 14
     
    Discussion boards do have their pros and cons to them. I agree with you about the collaboration and integration between the students and teachers. The con that I agree with is that it allows for laziness. The students who are having to contact each other electronically tend to get used to this method and refrain from even trying to have a face to face interaction.
  • textraveller on 29 Jul 14
     
    That's an interesting observation - I haven't seen students using electronic over face-to-face when f2f would be easier. That may be b/c I'm usually in international schools or schools where phones aren't allowed to be used during the school day.
  • Jose Davila on 29 Jul 14
     
    I can certainly agree with your observation on the positives and negatives on taking on line classes. I feel that you need to be ready and prepared to take on line courses if you decide to. It can hurt you if you do not follow along timely and may cause you to fall behind if you are not mature enough to handle the responsibility of taking on line courses that comes with responsibility. I feel that anyone can be lazy whether your are skipping the actual class or just not taking on line classes seriously. I feel in the end it will hurt the individual and you will have to face the consequences. I personally like it because it works with my work schedule.
  • textraveller on 29 Jul 14
     
    Jose, I agree that responsibility is a big issue for successful online learning. Of course, it is huge for traditional classroom learning as well.
  • morgantucker on 30 Jul 14
     
    This just blew my mind a bit!- collaboration and animation together. I do not know if I will need my coffee this morning. This is student engagement gold. As long as teachers can guide students in the right direction with this tool and tie it tightly to the content, we are going to see amazing things from this.
  • ksspurgin on 30 Jul 14
     
    I have sat through MANY incredibly boring presentations from my students. As much as I work to train them how to present in engaging ways, most of them, I think, are just mimicking what they see in most of their classrooms - PowerPoint bullets. I have made progress with my students but there's a lot of work to do! I had one group this past school year present using Powtoons - they actually introduced the tool to me. Every student in the class was fully engaged during that presentation. Animation works and can be a very valuable learning tool when used effectively.
  • textraveller on 02 Aug 14
     
    Morgan, you said it. The trick is to keep focused on the right direction and content. I think stuff like animation is great but can very easily devolve into entertainment. Kids (and sometimes teachers) sometimes see all the work put into an animation project and misconstrue that as achieving the educational goals. To put it another way, because hard work is involved, the participants sometimes feel like they are doing a good job on the goal, whether or not that work relates directly to the objective.
  • textraveller on 02 Aug 14
     
    Kevin, I'll have to check out Powtoons. It sounds vaguely familiar so I must have run across them at some point in time. Yeah, I'm with you on the bulleted powerpoints. I've started running my classes through the "Steal This Presentation" powerpoint that Dr. Sullivan had us go through and then including design as a small part of the grade. I don't grade very harshly, but it's enough to get kids thinking about more interesting presentations and it has helped to a certain degree.
stacey perkins

Voicethread in the classroom - 10 views

njea.org/...voicethread

web2.0 Technology classroom differentiation

shared by stacey perkins on 18 Sep 14 - No Cached
  • collaborative projects
    • stacey perkins
      stacey perkins on 18 Sep 14
       
      Voicethread works as an asynchronous discussion board, so students could work collaboratively in different class periods or locations.
    • Elizabeth Rodriguez
      Elizabeth Rodriguez on 18 Sep 14
       
      Stacey, I've not heard about Voicethread but I am excited to look into it and come back and comment more in depth on this web 2.0 tool. It's amazing just how much technology is out there for use in the classroom! I love it because I am always looking for innovative technology tools for our faculty to use in their courses!!
    • Gena Jean
      Gena Jean on 20 Sep 14
       
      This app was new to me as well, but I could definitely see where it could boost communication among students. As a design instructor I could definitely see how it could be used by students to help them in sharing their work and providing constructive criticism to one another's works.
    • Karla Fabiola Garcia
      Karla Fabiola Garcia on 20 Sep 14
       
      This tool is also new to me. I love what I have read so far and the different ways it can be incorporated into the classroom. I am defenitily sharing this with my colleagues and brainstorming on diffrent ways we can incorporate, as some of us don't have many computers in our classroom.
    • Maricela Gonzalez
      Maricela Gonzalez on 30 Sep 14
       
      My initial response to Stacey Perkins Article Post- As was stated in your link, it makes sense that "text alone can't deliver the subtlety and expression required for meaningful connections (http://njea.org/news-and-publications/njea-review/march-2011/voicethread)." Students need a place to be able to communicate and learn from each other. Not just via text, or typing forums- but also through real life asynchronous discussion boards. This allows students the ability to work together and collaborate to come up with some real solutions to problems. What I noticed about this particular medium, was that as an educator I would have the ability to use a webcam, and reach all types of students in that manner. It appears to be a good way for students to learn from each other, and really get into the lessons that are being taught.
    • Maricela Gonzalez
      Maricela Gonzalez on 30 Sep 14
       
      My 2nd reply- @Gena Jean- I agree with you that this application can help students communicate and thus collaborate with each other- in efforts to gain knowledge. It is important in today's world that our students are as tech savvy as possible, and so the incorporation of asynchronous technology such as this has so much value in today's educational realm. The students of today are living within the technology revolution. They grew up with smart phones, and my daughter who is only 1 year old…screams when I take away my phone because she in some way understands apps like "Candy Crush." She literally knows what to do to manipulate and thus communicate with the technology. It's truly amazing in that same regard, how Voice Thread can help even the shyest students come out of their shells. As educators we need to speak our students language and that is making sure that we learn as many technology driven programs as possible- such as Voice Thread and so on.
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 04 Dec 14
       
      @stacey perkins I have heard of voice thread but have not seen its potential in the classroom. I am glad you shared it with us. I a begin to start integrating discussion into lessons, I can see how voicethread is a good tool for students. This tool changes things up a bit, instead writing, one can record their voice. I also like the integration to LMSs.
  • You can look at examples of how other educators are using VoiceThread on its digital library or browse Ideas for using VoiceThread, a collection of 143 examples from the library
    • stacey perkins
      stacey perkins on 18 Sep 14
       
      If you aren't sure how you might incorporate Voicethread into your classroom/curriculum, check out how these teachers are using it.
    • sharonmahabir
      sharonmahabir on 24 Sep 14
       
      Thank you for the link. I have never used Voicethread in my classroom. I wanted to implement a new technology this year and I think Voicethread is a great tool that my PreK students will be able to use. I particularly liked the Brown Bear example. We do a Brown Bear unit at the beginning of the year and this would be a great way for students to represent their learning.
    • stacey perkins
      stacey perkins on 27 Sep 14
       
      Sharon, I have taught in the elementary grades for years, and have struggled to find tech tools that were user-friendly to my students. Their frustration threshold is low! But I think Voicethread would require minimal training.
    • Maricela Gonzalez
      Maricela Gonzalez on 30 Sep 14
       
      My 1st reply- @ Elizabeth Rodriguez- just like you I had never heard of Voice Thread. I think that it is definitely something that I can use in my classroom. Right now I'm really trying to use as much technology within my curriculum, but I really need to figure out which Web 2.0 technology is going to be the most effective for the amount of time that I have with my students. I will need to research a little more about this particular software, and I hope that I can find some online You Tube tutorials to help me figure out an easier way to use this platform.
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 04 Dec 14
       
      Wow, there are many examples one can use. I know sometimes the hardest part of web tools is learning how to integrate them into the curriculum. I can see the examples are also grouped together by subject. Best part is that educators can contribute to the examples.
  • Examples of classroom VoiceThreads
    • stacey perkins
      stacey perkins on 18 Sep 14
       
      Examples of some finished products...
  • ...3 more annotations...
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  • A single educator license is free and class and district memberships are reasonable
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 04 Dec 14
       
      Trying out the product at no cost is a great idea. By creating voicethreads, you can showcase your work and it becomes easier for the school of school district to see how it works. This can convince administration to purchase voicethread for the whole school or district.
  • rather than using text to talk about text (which doesn't jive when you're teaching art history)
    • stacey perkins
      stacey perkins on 18 Sep 14
       
      Since virtually all of my students are struggling readers (I'm a dyslexia teacher), I think they would be more engaged with--and more willing to respond to--pictures or videos than a written prompt.
  • stacey perkins on 18 Sep 14
     
    How could Voicethread be used in the classroom to differentiate instruction?
  • ...1 more comment...
  • Elizabeth Rodriguez on 21 Sep 14
     
    VoiceThread seems to be a great tool to have students interact with each other. I have found in my own experience that sometimes students have a difficult time sharing in person, in front of a classroom. VoiceThread would give students the ability to share their thoughts with the classroom on different assignments. I think its a great collaboration tool!! I would not hesitate to use it in my classroom!
  • mariavictoria1 on 18 Oct 14
     
    Hi Stacey! I have never heard of Voicethread but after reading the article you shared it seems like a very intriguing tool to use. What I loved the most about Voicethread is that it allows those with hearing impairments to collaborate through webcam commenting by using sign language. Thank you for sharing.
  • robertogarcia24 on 07 Dec 14
     
    It's very nice to hear about the voice threads. I've never actually used them before, but I've seen students present information using them. It looks like something I'll be looking into for my future classes. Thank you so much for sharing.
Stephen Simon

MapSkip - Places Have Stories! - 6 views

www.mapskip.com/index.php

geography Web2.0 storytelling share knowledge

shared by Stephen Simon on 11 Feb 14 - Cached
  • MapSkip makes the world a canvas for our stories and photos.
  • It is an ancient human instinct to share our life stories with others, as the paintings and hand prints in stone-age caves show.
    • Stephen Simon
      Stephen Simon on 11 Feb 14
       
      Storytelling is part of being a great teacher. Making it relevant is part of being a great mentor. This is not always as easy as some think it is but for those who invest in the art of storytelling realize that that is how lasting memories are made. Think of going camping and sitting around the fire telling stories; what was it that made those memorable to you?
    • Janice Wilson Butler
      Janice Wilson Butler on 16 Feb 14
       
      And charting your own adventures - I keep having trouble remembering where I ate a great food or saw a play, etc. I like when a tool can be powerful for personal reasons as well as for educational reasons.
    • Joe Pedraza
      Joe Pedraza on 17 Feb 14
       
      This would be good for my 9 year old to track our summer vacation. He can take photos, videos and add the stories to the map. The MapSkip can even be linked to your twitter account allowing the user to tweet as you post stories. I think this for me would be a little too time consuming but overall great for users with time on their hands.
    • Don Martin
      Don Martin on 26 Feb 14
       
      I could see something like this being used in combination with a interactive timeline. You could put your history on the timeline and then use the map locations to tell the stories behind the events.
  • ...3 more annotations...
    • Stephen Simon
      Stephen Simon on 11 Feb 14
       
      I do not agree that it is human instinct to share our life stories. The reason being that if everyone wanted to do that, no story would ever be heard. Do you agree with the premise that we, as homo sapiens, instinctually want to share our stories?
    • Merrill Redfern
      Merrill Redfern on 12 Feb 14
       
      People share life stories for various reasons. They share stories in an effort to connect themselves or others with someone or something. To feel a belonging to something significant that will define or confirm their characteristics, attributes or identity. I do agree in that not every person instinctively wants to spill the beans about their life and does not need to share stories for fulfillment. Introverts have a difficult time telling stories and find it challenging or exhausting. However, I believe technology has set a forum for some introverts to "safely" tell stories in an environment in which protects them from the world they may find challenging.
    • Jeff Blackman
      Jeff Blackman on 12 Feb 14
       
      Yes, I do think there is an instinct to share stories. Not necessarily to the whole world but at least to one other person. For example, our kids, spouses, families. People we are comfortable with - we want to share our stories - even the mundane ones like "how was work today?" It fills a need.
    • Jose Escobedo
      Jose Escobedo on 13 Feb 14
       
      I try to find ways to keep in touch or share my experiences with my kids back home and MapSkip offers that opportunity. I can share my experiences with my little girl especially when she has a school project due. Instead of sending pictures and or trying to explain a place via email or text, she can access my stories with her tablet at school.
    • Stephen Simon
      Stephen Simon on 16 Feb 14
       
      Using a tool like this one can lend itself to sharing with family as Jose has pointed out. Usually these stories are somewhat private and so long as you know that they are public, fine with me. If more people did this then perhaps some stories which are usually isolated to an individual could possible be cross-indexed to someone else. This would certainly give you some perspective on the story itself when told by different individuals.
    • eeverett3
      eeverett3 on 17 Feb 14
       
      I believe that humans have a need to share their stories. That is how we make connections with each other and how we work out our differences in opinion. We are always trying to explain, share, and teach.
    • Joe Pedraza
      Joe Pedraza on 17 Feb 14
       
      I believe that we as homo sapiens do want to share our stories, not necessarily instinctively but more subconsciously. Our subconscious is the storage of our knowledge and prior experiences. When we meet others that we have something in common with like an idea, or something that triggers an emotion, we feel a connection that triggers our subconscious to share this information.
    • Eric Folks
      Eric Folks on 18 Feb 14
       
      OK people, I can't believe we're debating whether or not ppl like/need/want to share stories. Let's leave it at storytelling has been a part the human culture creation process since the beginning, but sharing stories is an individual choice. More importantly, so is the means by which we do it! Does MapSkip offer tools and services other sites don't? Maybe. But from what I can tell, this doesn't offer much more than Google Maps Engine (https://mapsengine.google.com/map/?pli=1)...other than another site we need to create, manage, and curate content on. Another option is Dr. Alice Christie's GoogleTreks (http://googletreks.org/). MapSkip seems cumbersome to me in comparison to some mobile options out there, like location-based posts in Twitter, G+, FB, and my favorite for this type of thing, Instagram. Here are some other apps for location-based maps/activity etc. http://www.slideshare.net/matteoroversi/beyond-foursquare-overview-on-the-best-location-based-apps
    • Brenda Wohlfeil
      Brenda Wohlfeil on 23 Feb 14
       
      Digital Stories were foreign to me. I appreciate the video that Simon posted, although it was a bit advanced for me. I have since found a website that gives a basic overview of digital stories with information on how to map them. http://maps.playingwithmedia.com/digital-story/
    • Olivia Basham
      Olivia Basham on 23 Feb 14
       
      I agree that story telling is what forms the basis for human culture. This tool looks like a fun and interesting way to do just that. Gosh it would be a fun way to share travel stories or even share reviews or tips for particular locations or venues for others on their travels.
    • Don Martin
      Don Martin on 04 Mar 14
       
      Brenda, Thanks for the link that clarifies the digital story possibilities. I agree that it can be a bit confusing and overwhelming at times. I think the key is having a good plan before you start. If you have a story plan then you can go and find the "places" you want to use to tell your story.
  • - Our Partners
    • Stephen Simon
      Stephen Simon on 11 Feb 14
       
      Check out this teacher resource who partnered with MapSkip.
    • Stephen Simon
      Stephen Simon on 16 Feb 14
       
      Capturing family history through stories was pretty much the only way to keep the story alive. Now you have new tools to make it live on. Investing in a flip-cam is great for impromptu video capture of a story. Many times my kids tell me that not everyone wants to be on video so I am more cautious when I take it and film. But what you get as a product is priceless as I look back at video of my father and realize how much I miss his stories.
    • Janice Wilson Butler
      Janice Wilson Butler on 16 Feb 14
       
      This looks like a very interesting tool. I can see it being of great benefit for students who are learning English - a way to connect the English language to their own culture. It should be a cool tool for social studies as well - the discovery of the United States, the Pilgrims, etc. Or battles of the Civil War - so many uses!
    • Eric Folks
      Eric Folks on 18 Feb 14
       
      Stephen, we invested in Flipcams a while back, about 5 per campus for check out via library. They discontinued support for them right after we bought them :( but they've nevertheless been useful for long recordings. Since so many now have smart phones, and the shorter the video clips often the better, the flip cameras are not used as much... I am curious how difficult (or easy) the workflow would be to add video resources to your MapSkip post. Might give it a try and let you know!
    • Eric Folks
      Eric Folks on 18 Feb 14
       
      OK, so you can't upload a video (only add a YouTube video, which is easy enough to upload yourself), add a jpg image, and even upload a sound file (mp3), which I thought particularly nice. After exploring the features a bit more, I've got to say it's more capable and less cumbersome than I orginally thought!
    • Stephen Simon
      Stephen Simon on 21 Feb 14
       
      I thought that the capacity to narrate (mp3) was perfect for this type of We 2.0 tool. That way the story is not lost in all the extraneous material a video brings. But the youTube capacity adds an element of commercialization to the artifact which I don't like; especially in the classroom.
  • Stephen Simon on 11 Feb 14
     
    This is an ambitious method of story-sharing using integrated GoogleMaps with pins to denote where a story, with and without photos, can be posted and accessed.
  • ...5 more comments...
  • Stephen Simon on 11 Feb 14
     
    Here is a video on Digital Storytelling from a lecture in SecondLife. I found it informative and an sharing it with you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XRS-45wKWk
  • Jeff Blackman on 12 Feb 14
     
    I love storytelling as a means to teach. I always try to weave stories into my training as I think it helps people connect to the material better.
  • lbanuelos on 14 Feb 14
     
    Storytelling is a natural way to create meaningful and sometimes emotionally rich connections. When my grandfather would sit me down and talk about all the various places he had traveled to though out his life, I couldn't help but feel connected to those places. It also gave me deeper insight as to what those places must have been like. I believe that because storytelling forces our minds to envision the situations, it keeps learners interested and assists in information retention.
  • Araceli Gracia on 17 Feb 14
     
    When I make a connection to a lesson, I love to tell my students my personal stories or experiences especially traveling to different places. My students are so attentive and if I bring pictures, they can appreciate the story and lesson even more. Of course this leads to some students making their own connections and wanting to share their stories and experiences. And although not all students may have many opportunities to travel, they all have something to say and listening to their classmates tell a story makes everything very meaningful.
  • Araceli Gracia on 18 Feb 14
     
    I don't know if I would tell every story and detail of my life, but if the situation called for it, I probably would share. I know some people, like my stepfather, who is not shy will share his stories about the past, but maybe because he is older and has nothing to hid. However, I will share my stories with my students if I feel it will make a lesson more meaningful.
  • lbanuelos on 20 Feb 14
     
    I see this a good tool for students to map places they have explored that have personal value to them. For example, as a former boy scout, I would map places where we setup camp and document the skills I learned. This would later be used to reflect upon. I agree with Eric that they are other tools that are somewhat easier to use but for me it works fine.
  • Brenda Wohlfeil on 23 Feb 14
     
    It has occurred to me after reading all the comments, Dipity and MapSkip combined together could turn a student autobiography into one neat project! What a way to engage students to reflect upon the on the places and events of their lives.
Brenda Wohlfeil

Is Google Making Us Stupid? - Nicholas Carr - The Atlantic - 8 views

www.theatlantic.com/...306868

google technology reading

shared by Brenda Wohlfeil on 17 Mar 14 - No Cached
  • My mind isn’t going—so far as I can tell—but it’s changing. I’m not thinking the way I used to think. I can feel it most strongly when I’m reading. Immersing myself in a book or a lengthy article used to be easy. My mind would get caught up in the narrative or the turns of the argument, and I’d spend hours strolling through long stretches of prose. That’s rarely the case anymore. Now my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages. I get fidgety, lose the thread, begin looking for something else to do. I feel as if I’m always dragging my wayward brain back to the text. The deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle.
    • eeverett3
      eeverett3 on 17 Mar 14
       
      The first question this article raises in my mind is...are other people feeling like this? that books and long articles are becoming too difficult to read?
    • Jose Escobedo
      Jose Escobedo on 18 Mar 14
       
      When I am sent off to training and I know I will have limited connectivity, my laptop stays in my bag. I use this time to read articles which I print out or just simply read a book. If I have connectivity, my concentration to simply read articles or a textbook would be lost because I want to get to other class assignments or simply surf the net. To me its just a mind over matter.
    • Brenda Wohlfeil
      Brenda Wohlfeil on 22 Mar 14
       
      After reading/working on the computer for long periods of time, I noticed I get jittery.  I was concerned about it, so I searched the internet for answers.  I came across Linda Stone's video and website.  She has studied attention, health and technology.  In the video she talks about continuous partial attention, which is a form of multi-tasking.  Ms. Stone's research has shown that we have become hyper alert to scan for every possible input and opportunity.  In another words, we don't want to miss anything.  And this puts us in an artificial state of constant crisis.  Amongst many physical changes from this artificial state, including jitteriness, our minds find it hard to focus. (Linda Stone-May I Have Your Attention Please?, http://internoobs.wonderhowto.com/inspiration/linda-stone-may-have-your-attention-please-0128197/) So I have to wonder, is it that we just don't have the patience for reading long books, or are we in an artificial state of constant crisis that makes it impossible for us to focus?
    • eeverett3
      eeverett3 on 24 Mar 14
       
      I actually have a student this year who cannot use the computer at all because it causes seizures for her! Scary!
    • Olivia Basham
      Olivia Basham on 31 Mar 14
       
      This particular quote reminds me of an Aristotle quote: "We are what we constantly do, excellence isn't an act then, but a habit." It seems that Mr Carr is mistaking habits for permanent brain changes.
  • And what the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation. My mind now expects to take in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles. Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski.
    • eeverett3
      eeverett3 on 17 Mar 14
       
      I really like this analogy of finding information online. I often feel like this and in my library, I see students seraching so rapidly that I wonder if their research is effective.
    • Araceli Gracia
      Araceli Gracia on 17 Mar 14
       
      I know that I am guilty of telling my children to "Google It" when I don't know something right away. It is quick way of getting answers to what we are not sure about. But how else would students get their information. Unless they have a set of encyclopedias, it would prove difficult to search. Long articles are more tedious to read than difficult I think. Its a matter of time that doesn't allow for reading so they are just being glanced at rather than being fully understood.
    • Merrill Redfern
      Merrill Redfern on 18 Mar 14
       
      The analogy provides an excellent mental picture of what searching online looks like in the 21st century. This analogy also reminds me of times in my library, while locating a book for a student, by the time I have tracked down the book a student can't absolutely live without they have already changed their minds on what they are interested in. Amazes me on how fast students can "switch gears," which is what (among other things) the Internet searching is creating in our student population.
    • Eric Folks
      Eric Folks on 18 Mar 14
       
      I've got mixed feelings on this. It seems counterintuitive that we should take advantage of the resources we have at hand, be it Google or some mobile device, and that we should teach our kids to do the same. How many technologies and advances in the past have changed the way we find, process, and share information? Each was met with resistance and criticism and also a bit of excitement, but eventually, they came to be seen as valuable tools for learning. While I think the same can be said of modern technologies, I do have some reservations about the concentration and scale of control companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook and the like have over society's day to day interactions. "Big data" and the way it's being used should give everyone pause, as they really boil down to refining the manipulation process. If we spent as much time teaching digital literacy and critical thinking (helping young to old be more aware of forms of manipulation, propaganda, and logical fallacies), I would be more likely to say (with some checks and balances and oversight), it's ok for these companies to provide us with goods and services specific to our needs and wants. The problem is we are witnessing both the growth of big data and the growth of technology dependence at the same time. Is technology becoming the modern day "opiate of the masses?" It just may be... More and more parents are using technology to babysit their children, enough so that pediatricians are pointing out the writing on the wall: this overuse of technology is excacerbating ADD, ADHD, childhood obeisity, and more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cris-rowan/10-reasons-why-handheld-devices-should-be-banned_b_4899218.html Personally, I have my kids complete a technology challenge every day before they're able to get on technology for gaming and entertainment (which we are now limiting to 1 hour). Most of these technology challenges involve them using technology as a creation tool, and I've got to say, it's working!
    • Stephen Simon
      Stephen Simon on 21 Mar 14
       
      The Net does chip away at your capacity for concentration, contemplation, and criticial thinking because we let it. The information on the Net is only that; you still have to decide if what you are reading can how water. I think it is important to approach search engines, like Google, by learning to structure a query followed by what storehouses of data we know to have veracity.
    • Don Martin
      Don Martin on 25 Mar 14
       
      It may well be that the problems we are seeing as being created by the internet and the accessibility of information are actually caused by us as instructors and not by the medium itself. As instructors it is our job to find appropriate resources and appropriate uses for the information that is so readily available today. Through the use of Web 2.0 Technologies we need to find ways to create depth of information by inspiring our students to dig deeper and helping them in the development of their critical thinking skills.
    • Olivia Basham
      Olivia Basham on 31 Mar 14
       
      While I love Mr. Carr's use of metaphor (scuba vs jet ski) this kind of argument via analogy is fallacious at best. You know what else challenges concentration and contemplation? Sports. They are just the same kind of rapid-fire informational experiences as "surfing the net" can be. No one would challenge the value of sports to a child's mind (or an adults for that matter) because it brings it's own skills and rewards. I think we confuse the situation when we try to compare un-like things.
  • It is clear that users are not reading online in the traditional sense; indeed there are signs that new forms of “reading” are emerging as users “power browse” horizontally through titles, contents pages and abstracts going for quick wins. It almost seems that they go online to avoid reading in the traditional sense.
    • eeverett3
      eeverett3 on 17 Mar 14
       
      I wonder if reading habits are changing and if this is good or bad...how will it affect students and educators?
    • Araceli Gracia
      Araceli Gracia on 17 Mar 14
       
      In the article, it mentions how texting has made it more important about being efficient and immediate which then weakens our capacity for reading. This stood out to me because this past weekend I went to help my mother send a text message. My mother does not text, she believes in the old fashion ways of speaking with people. So my 10 year old said he would help her create the text. Of course my mother wants to put capital letters, punctuation, and proper grammar. He was telling her, you don't have to do that, just put in "u" for "you". She was so shocked that he was telling her that, she was like no I have to have my name with a capital letter.
    • Merrill Redfern
      Merrill Redfern on 18 Mar 14
       
      In my experience, many students are obtaining just enough information to get by and not digging deeper into a subject where it could be meaningful. The internet provides the perfect forum for this. The "grab and go" mentality. Some would argue the amount of time placed on educators is a determining factor for teachers to "power browse" information. I believe there is some truth to that but above all, the internet has significantly changed the way we search, think, communicate, teach, plan and recall information.
    • Eric Folks
      Eric Folks on 18 Mar 14
       
      I see power browsing and recreational reading as two different activities...when I want to relax, I read (digital or print makes no difference as long as the device is light and I can adjust the brightness). When I want to stay on the cutting edge of my chosen profession, I power browse and experiement.
    • Don Martin
      Don Martin on 21 Mar 14
       
      It seems to me that the real problem may be related to something deeper. We have been told for so long by so many that we need to be good "multitaskers" that we have spent a great deal of time and energy on trying to do just that. Recent studies show that humans don't really multitask on any effective level and that when we do try to multitask our work and thought processes suffer for it. Here is a good article from Time Magazine about multitasking and its negative effects: http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1174696-1,00.html
    • eeverett3
      eeverett3 on 21 Mar 14
       
      That is a great article,Don! I am glad to see that what I am yelling at my teens all the time is backed up by research! "When people try to perform two or more related tasks either at the same time or alternating rapidly between them, errors go way up, and it takes far longer--often double the time or more--to get the jobs done than if they were done sequentially, says David E. Meyer, director of the Brain, Cognition and Action Laboratory at the University of Michigan: "The toll in terms of slowdown is extremely large--amazingly so." I worry about the multitasking all the time...has anyone seen the tv show "Brain Games"? I think that really illustrates the hazards of multitasking....
    • Stephen Simon
      Stephen Simon on 21 Mar 14
       
      I now have better understanding of the long view of cognition and how technology impacts it. Socrates opposition to the printed word was no different than a parent restricting internet access for their children; the capacity to properly learn the learning tool, left to its own device, is largely lost.
    • Brenda Wohlfeil
      Brenda Wohlfeil on 22 Mar 14
       
      I find myself mostly power browsing on the Internet, but I find it is difficult to do much more because of the back lighting.  The back lighting easily tires my eyes. For long articles that I need to digest, I prefer printing them out to read.   Here is an article on computer vision syndrome: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/computer-vision-syndrome Possibly future screen technology might alleviate eye fatigue. Eizo is a company that is already working on creating screens to help with eye fatigue.  Here is their latest product: http://www.eizo.com/global/library/basics/eyestrain/
    • Olivia Basham
      Olivia Basham on 31 Mar 14
       
      Brenda, thank you for sharing this! Eye strain and visual fatigue are really big problems for me and other persons with dyslexia.
  • eeverett3 on 17 Mar 14
     
    Here is an article that discusses the use of current technology and how it may affect the brain.
  • ...5 more comments...
  • eeverett3 on 17 Mar 14
     
    I hope that everyone had a great Spring Break! Here is the article that I would like to discuss in Diigo that week. :) EE
  • lbanuelos on 17 Mar 14
     
    The article makes several points. Technology has changed how we think and measure our abilities. For example, as a computer technician, I always tell clients that I can solve their issues even if I haven't the slightest idea how to do. I just hope that someone else around the world has posted the solution on the internet. Thank you Google. So if the internet wasn't available I don't think I would feel as confident doing my job everyday.
  • Araceli Gracia on 20 Mar 14
     
    Luis, I have used You Tube so many times when trying to learn how to do something. I have even used it for this course when I need that extra tutorial. For example, if Stephen had not been kind enough to post a video on how to install Java on Screenr, I would have struggled so much more. Technology comes with the good and the bad. My older son learned to play the piano from the internet while my other son just wants to watch videos. So like everything in my life, there has to be a happy medium.
  • Don Martin on 21 Mar 14
     
    I'm inclined to believe that the problem is not with the technology but with how we adapt to it. In the past the rate of technology development has given us time to assimilate it, analyze it, and employ it. The problem with computers, the internet and all the associated electronic technology is that by the time we figure out what it is and what it is good for it's already changed. Given time we will figure out how to deal with the speed of change but in the meantime it means some struggle on our part as humans and as instructors in determining what is of value and what is not, what that value is, and how do I use it to my benefit and the benefit of my students?
  • Stephen Simon on 21 Mar 14
     
    Here is an article that discusses the use of current technology and how it may affect the brain.
  • lbanuelos on 24 Mar 14
     
    Araceli, I too use YouTube for learning how to do stuff. Just last week, I needed how to embed videos into a webpage for another project. Sure enough there was a video posted on how to do that. I believe that technology affects both the learner and the teacher. Instructors expect that students use these tools and have the ability to learn how to implement.
  • lbanuelos on 24 Mar 14
     
    Google puts tremendous amounts of data at our fingertips. This data needs to be interpreted. This is a important skill that must me taught to students. Not everything posted on the net is correct. I think this teaches students to be more critical of they read.
Brenda Wohlfeil

HSLDA | Homeschooling Thru High School : Curriculum - 2 views

www.hslda.org/...curriculum.asp

shared by Brenda Wohlfeil on 07 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • Brenda Wohlfeil on 07 Apr 14
     
    I know as teachers we often associate online classes with the public school system. But a market that is growing in online classes is the homeschool market. This webpage gives you an idea of how many online programs already reach the home schooled student. However, According to Brian Ray, PhD, in 2011, there are approximately 2.04 million homeschool students. (https://www.nheri.org/HomeschoolPopulationReport2010.pdf) There is a lot of potential in this market yet for new and engaging classes.
  • Jeff Blackman on 14 Apr 14
     
    This is great to know both as a parent and as a developer/designer of online content. We are strongly considering homeschooling for when my son reaches high school age. My concern is always "what would he be missing?" along with "how are we going to make sure he learns the 'right' things?" Knowing that there is already so much out there (and more to come by the time he'd be ready) is very encouraging. He is already very comfortable on the computer and loves to learn and research with it. I think these types of classes plus involvement in various extracurricular activities like he is now, could be a really great opportunity.
Olivia Basham

Social Networking in Schools - 4 views

www.huffingtonpost.com/...tworking-schools_n_840911.html

education technology classroom teaching computer Web2.0 bullying

shared by Olivia Basham on 08 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • Olivia Basham on 08 Apr 14
     
    No one doubts the value of online collaboration to students and the classroom. However, there is much controversy and debate about how and if social networking is appropriate for the classroom and beyond. Fears about sexual predators and bullying have made educators ask if perhaps the benefits don't outweigh the risk.
  • ...11 more comments...
  • Araceli Gracia on 09 Apr 14
     
    Olivia, I can understand how there would be concerns about online predators and bullying but I think that this is something that could be monitored in a control environment. I realize the situation may not always be ideal but your article explains all the good that can come of online collaboration, such as a decrease in students being absent. Students are already using I pads, kindles, laptops, etc... for other activities, why not encourage that use for something positive that will motivate them in the classroom. I http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2010/05/100-inspiring-ways-to-use-social-media-in-the-classroom/
  • Merrill Redfern on 11 Apr 14
     
    I have a book club that consists of 10 4th grade students. We communicate mostly through Kidblog. We do meet once a week however, the kids love posting on their blog outside of the school's four walls. I love that they are discussing book club topics outside of the classroom. They feel empowered when they have the opportunity to make decisions such as, what avatar to create and how they want their individual blog to appear. I've made our blog a very controlled environment in that it is set as private and password protected, just the members have access. In addition, posts must be approved by me before they go out in our blog world (which consists of the 11 of us, plus our principal). Other than the introduction to Kidblog, I began with an author study by providing links to author interviews via a YouTube channel for the students. We have embedded Google forms in our blog for a quick assessment. Overall, it has been successful and the students are excited and remain engaged with our activities.
  • Merrill Redfern on 11 Apr 14
  • Eric Folks on 11 Apr 14
     
    We've come along way as a district. Into thousand 10 when I arrived teacher to not have the ability to create a folder on the desktop. They have access to basically all sites, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube...and many of them are even active on these sites, uploading and sharing resources with other teachers and students. Here is a link to the guidelines we've established for use of YouTube and Facebook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BMXrouaj67SFh-BISriU24a59c9mk8-K-9K9qeEEW4E/pub Still, the communication is primarily one-way: teachers disseminate information to their students through social media, but do not collaborate with students in real time, nor do they encourage students to collaborate with each other using social media. That may come down the road. For now, I'm happy we have continued to move away from the top-down control model to the empower the end user and give them the benefit of doubt...we don't want our students leaving a walled garden environment to fall on their face in the real world, where their aren't heavy-handed content filters in place. We need to wean them off being told what to do and educate them to make good decisions. With that in mind we moved in 2012 from an Acceptable Use Policy to a Responsible Use Policy. Here's what the student version looked like (https://www.dropbox.com/s/iwqu8kf9qmvlmuu/2012-2013%20Student%20RUP.pdf) and here's the teacher version (http://www.lampasas.k12.tx.us/files/filesystem/responsible%20use%20policy-employee.pdf). We considered opening up G+ to students as it's part of our GAFE suite of services, but tech tells me if we do, students, even younger ones, will be able to communicate with users outside our sub domain / walled garden. Thoughts? Have you found this to be true in your district? We are also looking at Office 365 and Sharepoint in terms of a training ground for safe student social networking....we will see what it can do in the coming weeks. For now, most of our teachers are comfortable using
  • Olivia Basham on 13 Apr 14
     
    Araceli, I agree that the benefits DO outweigh the risks especially when controls are put into place and certain systems are used. I try to stick to closed systems, but recently I have been hosting all my courses' book discussions via GoodReads.com, which is open. I teach high school students though, so I feel like I have an opportunity to teach intelligent internet use. For example, not only forbidding students from using actual pictures of themselves and never posting their age or location, but also teaching them why those are bad ideas through digital citizenship lessons. I honestly don't know how I would handle social networking with younger students, but I suspect I would stick only to closed systems.
  • Olivia Basham on 13 Apr 14
     
    Eric, Our district has recently decided to open up G+ to our students with good results so far. Because the students are still behind the school district Google web-mail (which provides them a kind-of "dummy" email that can't send or receive messages) their online visibility is very limited and no personal information is shared (as none exists other than their names). However, the program has just launched and many parents have expressed discomfort, especially with elementary and jr. high students. I'm taking a wait and see attitude as far as making any judgements.
  • lbanuelos on 14 Apr 14
     
    With the onset of Web 2.0 tools, collaboration between students and teachers is easier than ever before. I agree with Araceli that the risks far outweigh the risks. With apps like slideshare, slidebomb, google drive, and dropbox, students are encourage to provide feedback to fellow students with leads to increase confidence. http://www.edutopia.org/stw-collaborative-learning-college-prep
  • Jeff Blackman on 14 Apr 14
     
    As a parent, it would have to be REALLY controlled and closed for me to let my kids use it. I am appalled at some of the things I see kids posting on Facebook and other social media. Obviously, as someone in the EdTech program, I am seeing a lot of awesome ways to use technology. So, while not dead set against social media in the classroom, I would need to know what safeguards were in place and I would still be watching like a hawk.
  • Brenda Wohlfeil on 17 Apr 14
     
    We have banned social networking in school except using Edmodo, which the teachers can monitor. Our school has problems with social networking without even having it in the school! Parents feel it is the school's issue because problems are occurring between students, even though it is occurring outside of school. In my honest opinion, parents need to be better educated about social networking and take responsibility for their own children. As a parent of a child who did not use social media well, I know it is tough to restrict internet/website usage. But it is possible and needed.
  • Don Martin on 20 Apr 14
     
    Olivia, I don't see any reason that we couldn't incorporate the use of social media within the closed classroom environment. There must be many opportunities for collaboration, communication and scaffolding using social media in a controlled and safe environment. There are also many social networking sites that are designed specifically with kids in mind. Among them are: 1. Scuttlepad (2010) Age 7+ Social network with training wheels is safe but limited. 2. Togetherville (2010) Age 7+ Kids' social site connects to parents' Facebook friends. 3. WhatsWhat.me (2011) Age7+ Tween social network with top-notch safety features. 4. YourSphere (2009) Age 9+ Kid-only social network promises to block dangerous adults. 5. Franktown Rocks (2009) Age 10+ Music and social networking combine in safe, cool hangout. 6. GiantHello (2010) Age 10+ Facebook-lite gets a lot right, but watch out for games. 7. GirlSense (2009) Age 10+ Safe, creative community for tween fashionistas. 8. Sweety High (2010) Age 11+ Fun, closed social network for girls is strong on privacy. 9. Imbee (2011) Age 10+ Safer social networking if parents stay involved. With proper guidance and parental involvement I don't see any reason that we can't take advantage of the opportunities that social networking could provide.
  • eeverett3 on 21 Apr 14
     
    I think that one of the main reasons that student interest and engagement increases with the use of social media tools is that these tools are familiar and easy for the students to use...it is not only teachers that are intimidated by new tools! :)
  • Araceli Gracia on 21 Apr 14
     
    Thank you Don for your list of websites. That is awesome!!
  • Stephen Simon on 22 Apr 14
     
    My perception of social media in school is that it is essential to the process of development. That it is beyond the understanding of current educators should come as no surprise; one needs a point of reference in order understand the magnitude of such technological developments. Don made an excellent point concerning proper guidance and parental involvement; the latter representing the tired and overworked. Consider that many of our fellow classmates push themselves in these Master's classes at a cost to their personal lives. Social-ability is essential to our family core values and from it comes the capacity of the new generation to take the torch to the next.
Stephen Simon

Grades are in: Digital learning gets more state attention | District Administration Mag... - 9 views

www.districtadministration.com/...ning-gets-more-state-attention

shared by Stephen Simon on 20 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • Texas
    • Stephen Simon
      Stephen Simon on 01 May 14
       
      Well we are finally improving and making progress. Now if we could just get healthcare to the rest of the uninsured children in our great state.
  • Eric Folks on 20 Apr 14
     
    Grades Are In: Digital Learning Gets More State Attention Does Texas deserve a "B" when it comes to enabling the 10 Elements of High-Quality Digital Learning?
  • ...10 more comments...
  • Eric Folks on 25 Apr 14
     
    How far is your district from enabling customized learning? I interpret this as true differentiation, and for most teachers, without technology integration it remains an elusive goal beyond modified assessments for those with IEPs. A basic prerequisitie of customized learning I believe, is that there are multiple ways the teacher provides for learning the same content...this way if students don't get it the first time, they can go to another explanation that might be more likely "to click."
  • Eric Folks on 25 Apr 14
     
    10 Elements of High-Quality Digital Learning 1. Student eligibility: All students are digital learners. 2. Student access: All students have access to high-quality digital content and online courses. 3. Personalized learning: All students can customize their education using digital content through an approved provider. 4. Advancement: Students progress based on demonstrated competency. 5. Quality content: Digital content, instructional materials, and online and blended learning courses are high quality. 6. Quality instruction: Digital instruction is high quality. 7. Quality choices: All students have access to multiple high-quality providers. 8. Assessment and accountability: Student learning is the metric for evaluating the quality of content and instruction. 9. Funding: Funding creates incentives for performance, options and innovation. 10. Delivery: Infrastructure supports digital learning.
  • Brenda Wohlfeil on 25 Apr 14
     
    Interesting that many of the states' grades went up because of state regulation changes. It is no surprise to me that Utah is a front runner. I have always admired and appreciate their education website. The resources for teachers and parents, in my opinion, is the best, bar none. Utah Education Network: http://www.uen.org
  • Don Martin on 26 Apr 14
     
    I was at a conference with a member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) yesterday and we talked about technology in the classroom. He is the head of the classroom technology development group at THECB and he is not convinced that we are using technology appropriately and that there might be a rush to use technology either to be the first to introduce something or just to ride the wave. I've said this before about other topics, the problem is not the technology, the problem is we don't know what to do with it yet or what we can do with it. There is always a learning curve for anything new, however, the learning curve for educational technology may be the steepest curve we have ever met as human beings. In fact if the curve gets any steeper it will be a vertical line rocketing towards the heavens! It is very difficult to climb a vertical face. So what do we do about it? I think we as instructors have to determine what our needs are in the classroom, investigate tools that can address those needs and finally focus on mastering those tools and not worry about all the other things going on around us. That is not to say that we should become static or satisfied with our approach, in fact we need to be lifetime learners. In any endeavor it is possible to become overwhelmed with information. We have all seen at one time or another the student with the deer in the headlights look because they have become overwhelmed and lost in the content. I think that many of our peers are in the same position with education technology. As a result it becomes necessary for us to help them sort through the web of Web 2.0 If we help them find 2 or 3 tools they can effectively use for collaboration and they can master that is enough in the beginning. Let's then help them identify 2 or 3 tools that can help them make better and more engaging presentations, once they have mastered those we can move on. Human's are extraordinarily adaptable but we also are easily overwhelmed
  • Araceli Gracia on 26 Apr 14
     
    Our school is a large open campus that the biggest problem is having enough bandwidth. We only have so many ports which makes our internet slow at times. The issue of cost is the reason that they will not invest in any more throughout our campus. Not sure about the price of this investment but if they want technology to be used in the classroom this has to be taken care of first. Don, When I first started this class, I have to say I was one of those deer in headlights type of student. I am not going for my MTT like most of the students in this course, so it was an eye opener to know that I really did not know much about technology as I thought. Although I have learned so much in this class, I think that introducing teachers to a few Web 2.0 tools at a time, and letting teachers explore there potential in the classroom is something that inexperienced users would appreciate.
  • Eric Folks on 28 Apr 14
     
    Araceli, We too have been tackling the issue of ports and infrastructure in general. Fortunately, we have a very supportive superintendent and school board, and they have been very frugal leading up to this point...much of the investment dollars driving our infrastructure improvements have come from our fund balance. We're at the point where we're piloting class sets for Biology next year and a 5th grade 1:1 at one campus using IMA funds, but honestly we're all holding our breath, wondering if we have the infrastructure necessary for these efforts to be successful, at least on the technology side. This summer technology will be making lots of changes to our network, and that always makes us nervous. Last August they moved us from roaming profiles to folder redirect, and come August staff development (and Sept for that matter) we had lots of improvising to do as most users would only see partial profile loads due to the network configuration at the time. This meant users could sometimes see their drives but not access them (permission errors are so frustrating!), or they couldn't see their network drives at all. As it turned out, this really helped drive teacher and student adoption of Google Drive for file management, so in that respect it worked out. I agree with you and Don and many others, teachers need to be eased into new technology tools one or two at a time, and we as instructional (technology?) leaders need to make a compelling case for why the advantages outweigh the time investment for learning new tools.
  • lbanuelos on 28 Apr 14
     
    Our school districts are just beginning to implement newer forms of technology aimed at providing students a richer learning experience. I am certain that bandwidth will be a concern since currently we use the internet for email and submitting paperwork. Do I agree that to do for the say of doing is not the right approach with new technology. Our approach must be strategic and well thought out.
  • eeverett3 on 28 Apr 14
     
    Nice to see that Texas is as high as the "B" category...and another mention of the texas VLE that allows students to take/make up high school credits online!
  • Jose Escobedo on 29 Apr 14
     
    Is funding a major factor why some school districts don't rush in implementing new technology in schools? I am amazed how some Asian countries had no technology in schools 20 years ago and now it is a different world.
  • Stephen Simon on 01 May 14
     
    I think that it will be a slow process to bring personalized, adaptive learning to the classroom. The article is intriguing in that it brings to light the deficiencies in the public schools of America. This is a sad commentary on the institutional legacy tempered by political decisiveness impacting every individual in the country who has received an American education. Rather than investing in the future knowledgebase of our young minds, we waste our precious resources on the military industrial machine. I ponder the thought of what will happen next when we have the entire nation wired with high-speed internet access. I consider it a given that every child today has a cell phone or access to one. It is but a small transition from there to a smartphone with complete access to social media, search engines, email, and instant messaging; in short, a completely connected computer. How will the upcoming generation use this technology?
  • Brenda Wohlfeil on 01 May 14
     
    I can't agree more with all of you that stated the infrastructure as being a big problem. My school bought 50 iPads only to have the infrastructure support no more than 10 at a time. What a waste! I have met with other private schools, and in every case, lack of a good infrastructure was the major obstacle. Jose, here is a link to an article on technology education in South Korea. One of the things that stuck out for me was the access that students have after school hours. http://edutechassociates.net/2012/05/14/what-can-we-learn-from-south-korea/
  • Merrill Redfern on 05 May 14
     
    Our school is also going through some technology updates/changes this summer. Currently we have several classrooms that are either having trouble keeping a connection or not making a connection at all. I always see a first grade class sitting in the hallway working with their Ipads because the connection in their classroom is non-existent. From what I understand, we have plenty of bandwidth but not enough ports to support it. We have recently bought 25 Ipads. I am eager to know if our infrastructure will support them all plus the ones we currently have. http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/technology-in-education/
vasquezgonzalezv

Discussion boards and their use in my classroom - 7 views

In your first Diigo Group post, please summarize your understanding of the Discussion Board and discuss how you could use this in your classroom to deepen learning. My experience with discussion f...

education classroom public school band fine arts music

started by vasquezgonzalezv on 10 Jun 14 no follow-up yet
Sean Getchell

10 Specific Ideas To Gamify Your Classroom - - 5 views

www.teachthought.com/...how-to-gamify-your-classroom

Gamification edtech classroom gbl

shared by Sean Getchell on 15 Jun 14 - No Cached
  • Games are one motivator that almost all kids are responsive to. Many teachers have had the experience of asking students to stop playing games such as Angry Birds during class. However, it can be rationalized that games can be a very strong motivator for students when the same game elements are applied in an educational context.
    • Sean Getchell
      Sean Getchell on 15 Jun 14
       
      As a teacher, have you ever tried to incorporate any gamification techniques? If so, how were they received?
    • noramedrano
      noramedrano on 16 Jun 14
       
      As a second grade teacher, I have incorporated the ramification technique: I allow students to make corrections on their work when it has been checked. Students make corrections to their mistakes in order to learn form that and avoid it on the next assignment.
    • Cynthia Rios
      Cynthia Rios on 16 Jun 14
       
      Some gamificaiton techniques that I have incorporated in my classroom are giving students multiple opportunities and giving students a choice when it comes to demonstrating their understanding at the end of a novel. I give my students a choice board with nine different projects they can complete. Student really enjoy it when they are given autonomy.
    • crystallee530
      crystallee530 on 23 Jun 14
       
      Unknowingly and surprisingly, I have incorporated a few gamification techniques. This school year, I have given my students more voice and choices in how they show their understanding on projects. I usually give them 3-4 options such as PowerPoint presentation, Prezi, video, song, or Powtoon. I have noticed that the majority of students flock to the option they are most comfortable with and that's usually PowerPoint. For this coming up school year I plan to remove PowerPoint as an option on a few projects to encourage students to try new things. I found this article very interesting and I plan to use the techniques stated in the classroom this year.
  • Like in video games, students should be allowed second chances. When a challenge is failed in a video game, users are able to learn from their mistakes, try again, and succeed. The same concept can be applied to the classroom, as students should be able to try an assignment, either succeed or fail, and try again. Students who succeed right away have the choice to either move on to a new challenge, or try to raise their score.
    • Sean Getchell
      Sean Getchell on 15 Jun 14
       
      While I understand wanting to teach students responsibility and that they need to get their work done in a timely fashion, I can also see the benefit to giving students multiple opportunities to try certain assignments that they may have difficulty with. Do you think this is something you might try? If not, why not? I can see this from both sides of the coin, so I wanted to get your thoughts on the matter.
    • natalie_cepeda
      natalie_cepeda on 16 Jun 14
       
      I am all for giving students more opportunities to succeed in their assignments. This year, I would allow students to first try the assignment on their own. If they had difficulty, I would ask then to come in on Fridays for Study Hall. In Study Hall, I would provide one-on-one instruction to the student with the assignment and try to present the information in a different manner. If it got to the point that the student could not complete the assignment, then I would assign a modified assignment and monitor their progress.
    • Cynthia Rios
      Cynthia Rios on 16 Jun 14
       
      I give my students multiple opportunities because my main goal is for them to learn and master the objective. I do not take grades on unfinished work or work that has not been turned in because it is not an indicator of the students' progress in my class, instead I ask them to come in during their lunch period and I reteach or go over whatever has them stumped. There are teachers that might not agree with this, and I do understand the importance of teaching students responsibility, but I think giving students the opportunity to master an objective is more important.
  • In games, users usually have levels or progress bars that indicate how well they are doing in the game. Gamified classrooms can implement similar elements which indicate how far along students are, and how close they are to reaching the next level. Instead of issuing grades or percentages, teachers can either issue progress bars to students, or allow them manage their own. With each completed assignment, test, or project, a certain amount of points can be added to their progress bar, bringing them closer to reaching the next level.
    • Sean Getchell
      Sean Getchell on 15 Jun 14
       
      How do you let students know their progress in a course? Is it just a grade? Or is there a creative way you keep them interested in progression through the course? What is a gamification technique you would like to try in your own classroom?
  • Sean Getchell on 15 Jun 14
     
    How many have you have tried to incorporate gamification techniques in your classroom? Have they been successful? Please describe your experience, and how do you think you could improve your initial attempt?
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