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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.
Joanna Villarreal

Technology In Education Review of Apps for 2 to 3 Year Olds - 1 views

technologyineducation.com.au/w-of-apps-for-2-to-3-year-olds

technology childhood apps early education

shared by Joanna Villarreal on 19 Jul 15 - No Cached
Gladys Suarez and myraguz liked it
  • we need to ensure that the applications in early childhood education must compensate our toddlers learning needs
  • mportant in their development process.
  • Are the applications that you are about to purchase suitable or appropriate for your child? Do the applications that we give to our two to three year old child provide them with learning and development along the way?
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • beneficial educational system so that they will become good learners in the future
  • balance the technology in education as well as quality time with our children
  • we can properly integrate technology in their educational learning journey
  • good model
  • provide the direction to ensure they are safe
  • Joanna Villarreal on 19 Jul 15
     
    Are we creating Digital Addicts at an early age? Reminder to parents: Must balance technology education with quality time. :) The questions below were included in the article and intended to further guide parents in this matter. -Are the applications that you are about to purchase suitable or appropriate for your child? -Do the applications that we give our two to three year old child provide them with learning and development along the way?
  • ...2 more comments...
  • Joanna Villarreal on 19 Jul 15
     
    This video talks about technology at an early age. https://youtu.be/z2CveFF3npA
  • asuarez1 on 20 Jul 15
     
    It is very important to focus on a toddler's developmental needs. For example, if we look at Maslow's Higherarchy of Needs, one stage can not be started until the one below it is achieved. Where does technology fit into all of this? If we are creating technology addicts, then these students' needs are not being fulfilled. We need to provide good models and teach good digital citizenship so that these 21 century learners have proper development as they grow. How can we do this? We need to monitor what they do on the devices that are accessible to them. Teachers need to select quality websites for students to search on. It is up to the experts to act like it, and parents to monitor and guide their children with electronic devices in the same way they do for other lessons.
  • myraguz on 20 Jul 15
     
    As a parent of a two year old. This article is of great interest to me. My two year old is allowed to use her device for a certain time during the day.I have downloaded several apps but she keeps going into you-tube to view nursery songs. I always check for app ratings when downloading and I agree that quality time is very important during this stage. Though my toddler is also learning a lot by viewing nursery and preschool videos.
  • Joanna Villarreal on 21 Jul 15
     
    Ana and Myra, thank you for replying. Ana, I couldn't agree more on the importance for a teacher to model and teach good digital citizenship. It is a must and essential in this digital age. Both parents and teachers should teach children about ethical use too. Mayra, I am not a parent, but I applaud you for introducing your child to technology at such a young age. I would definitely do the same and make it "quality time" with my child. My take on this whole balancing both technology and quality time is for parents not to disconnect from their child. I've seen how parents hand over a phone or tablet to their child to "keep the entertained" or because it calms them down for hours.
stacey perkins

Education Week: Proper Role of Ed-Tech in Pre-K a Rising Issue - 3 views

www.edweek.org/...30early_ep.h32.html

shared by stacey perkins on 24 Sep 14 - No Cached
  • From Ms. Herman's perspective, tablet devices such as iPads are just one of many tools appropriate for early learning—when used with the understanding that they're not intended to supplant other developmentally appropriate materials.
    • sharonmahabir
      sharonmahabir on 24 Sep 14
       
      There has been a lot of discussion in my district about whether the use of iPads, iPods, and computer games are developmentally appropriate for the young learner. Those opposed to it bring up research that has shown how the use of these technology devices stimulates the brain in much the same way as cocaine does. What are your views on using technology devices in the PreK and early childhood classrooms?
    • stacey perkins
      stacey perkins on 10 Oct 14
       
      Between console gaming and tech toys, many kids walk around on sensory overload 24/7. When bringing technology into our classrooms, we must take into account how much screen time kids have been exposed to outside of school hours.
  • the introduction of tablets and other electronic media in preschools poses tough questions for educators, among them: how to select developmentally appropriate software; what academic areas are best supported with technology; and how technology use should be balanced with other classroom activities.
    • sharonmahabir
      sharonmahabir on 24 Sep 14
       
      Does your district have a protocol for selecting developmentally appropriate software or apps? Or is the teacher permitted to use his/her own discretion? 
    • Maricela Gonzalez
      Maricela Gonzalez on 28 Sep 14
       
      At my school district technology is extremely important and pushed. We use many programs of which are available and optional to the teacher, however- technology must be implemented in the classroom. We have access to programs such as Brain Pop, Discovery Education, Khan's Academy to teach students how to code online, and I personally use Google Docs, Edmodo, and Twitter to create discussion forums. I believe that it is important that teachers are able to choose the types of technology social media and software or apps that they think are educationally appropriate for their individual needs. However, it makes sense that certain programs not be used. For example, I am an ELAR teacher and I wanted to use Second Life in my classroom so that my students could have a different medium to go to and write. I thought they would get super excited to enter certain dimensions and learn to write. I thought that Second Life was amazing because it allows students to create their own avatars, fly in the air and ride rides. I thought it would be a program that I'd be able to use in my classroom since I used it and learned of it in one of my courses two semesters ago. However, as I quickly learned there are so many people that use Second Life and I had a lot of stalkers and heard a lot of bad words through this medium. Therefore, my point is- there should definitely be some type of protocol or a place within the school districts staff web page that encourages unknowing teachers to use appropriate software or apps to supplement their classroom courses online.
  • Consider carefully what they want an app to do, such as introduce math skills or teach children the sound of letters; gauge carefully the ease of use; check to see if the app offers support such as built-in help functions or word pronunciation; and look for adjustable options, such as volume or multilingual output.
    • sharonmahabir
      sharonmahabir on 24 Sep 14
       
      One of my favorite iPad apps to use with my PreK students is Book Creator. It allows students to create their own stories and the app allows them to do this without requiring reading skills. Find out more information about the Book Creator app using the following link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/book-creator-for-ipad-create/id442378070?mt=8
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • hat while more research needs to be done, children already appear to be using devices at the expense of other important activities such as active play and hands-on exploration.
    • stacey perkins
      stacey perkins on 10 Oct 14
       
      This is a valid point. In my district, some fabulous elementary teachers are reluctant to integrate technology because they see their students disengaging from the lesson unless they are nose-to-nose with a flickering screen!
bhanak

What Schools Hope to Achieve by Making Computer Science Widespread - 6 views

ww2.kqed.org/...ng-computer-science-widespread

technology education classroom teaching computer

shared by bhanak on 16 Jul 15 - No Cached
Gladys Suarez liked it
  • bhanak on 16 Jul 15
     
    I loved the direction that San Francisco's school district is going with their Computer Science pilot program. I worked with my 5th graders on coding this year and saw how the students were applying problem solving skills at a high level to complete many of the tasks. Do you think a Computer Science course should be a mandatory class for graduation?
  • ...9 more comments...
  • bhanak on 16 Jul 15
     
    Do you think by making Computer Science course mandatory that it will influence minorities to remain in the field?
  • bhanak on 16 Jul 15
     
    How do you think this would work at your campus? What would the teacher and student response be like at your campus?
  • juancalvarez on 16 Jul 15
     
    Brandy, I think it is amazing that you worked with your 5th graders on coding. It opens the students' minds to new possibilities and they learn to value working hard to achieve an outcome. 1. Yes, I think that Computer Science should be a mandatory course for graduation, because almost all jobs need interaction with computers. 2. Not necessarily. A few years ago I read a report where they mention that, in the case of Hispanics, a high percentage didn't go to college because of ideology. Most Hispanics believe in making their kids find a job after High School and this is why there are 4, 5 or even 6 Hispanic generations in the United States, and yet they do not send their kids to college. In the other hand, people that come or their ancestors came from Asia, now a days they send most of their kids to learn medicine, computer science, engineering, and any career that will give them a better life. I think that a Computer Science class will open up doors to all students, but we would have to work on their group ideology for them to have be able to really move forward. 3. My campus and my district is all about technology. This year we will receive more mini iPads for students and I heard that they were seeking for the financial means to give each High School student a laptop. But, there is one thing we have to consider as a society or civilization. There are many kinds of jobs, and we need all for the city to keep on functioning. Amazingly, companies are having an extremely hard time finding truck drivers. Their salaries in certain areas have gone so high that they are making more than a teacher with less hours of work. No matter how many people want to learn Computer Science, there will only be so many jobs in the field, and there will be spaces in others. What should we do as a civilization if at some point our products cannot find their way to the customers? Food, computers, furniture? I don't have a solution for this, but I think everyone deserves a chan
  • bhanak on 16 Jul 15
     
    I think your comment about the ideology of Hispanics is something to consider. I taught in a Title I campus for many years, I did see a large family of hard workers with many of the Hispanic families. Not every child is going to go into the field of Computer Science but hopefully they will be proficient with computer skills. And yes, "The world needs ditch diggers too." Thanks for sharing! I had my student work on Code.org, where each level they have to complete a task before moving on and they provide video clips of people in the field. They loved it!
  • asuarez1 on 17 Jul 15
     
    I do think that all students should get a "taste" of coding. There are great sites like code.org where students can see if they like it. Last school year, I found that some students moved ahead to harder levels quickly, while others stayed on the beginning levels. Some students went on to register for summer classes that taught them more. It was very exciting to see their interest sparked. At the very least, students should be exposed to the many facets of STEM and see where it may lead them.
  • bhanak on 17 Jul 15
     
    I also saw that for some students the tasks were very easy while others needed more time and practice before completing the task. It was great to open their eyes to the way the games they use are created. I will look into more sites for my students to use this year.
  • Marie Evans on 18 Jul 15
     
    Our country needs to "up its game" in STEM! We are definitely lagging in this area compared to many other countries. Offering opportunities to learn skills in coding may teach the critical thinking skills we need to reinforce to move toward a challenging learning environment.
  • jfaguilar on 18 Jul 15
     
    I believe computer science is taking an important role in our future. I agree with code.org to promote coding or computer science in the early stages of elementary will spark the interest in students to learn coding, robotics and other computer science tools that will be beneficial for them as they go onto higher areas of education.
  • Gladys Suarez on 18 Jul 15
     
    1. Yes, I do believe it should be mandatory for graduation, since jobs require people to be digital literate. Computer science is taking a high role in our future! 2. I don't think it will make a difference. But it will spark motivation on students. 3. My campus is not updated! We might be lost, but I think that everyone would collaborate to make it work and have us update.
  • bhanak on 19 Jul 15
     
    I think many campuses in the state are like yours, not updated. The article stated that the program was funded by companies not the district. The district reached out for support. I would love for my district to do the same for the benefit of your students.
  • Joanna Villarreal on 19 Jul 15
     
    YES!!! I think it should be a requirement. College readiness is heard of more and more these days. First, district must have that "vision" and understanding the importance of technology. Door must be opened. It would be amazing if more and more districts follow the steps of San Francisco-USD and introduce to their preschools-high schools.
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.
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