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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?
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
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  • 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"
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.
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.
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/
Brenda Wohlfeil

Virtual Schools Provide the Power of Choice - FamilyEducation.com - 6 views

school.familyeducation.com/...38763.html

schools homeschool choice

shared by Brenda Wohlfeil on 07 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • Virtual schools provide parents and children, from Oregon to New York and across the globe to Russia and other countries, with access to world-class curricula, myriad teachers, and support, just about anytime and anyplace. Most importantly, virtual schools provide the power of choice.
    • Brenda Wohlfeil
      Brenda Wohlfeil on 07 Apr 14
       
      As a prior home school mom, access to curricula at anytime and anyplace was very important.  I needed a curricula that I could take with me to hours of piano lessons and family trips across America. I home schooled my children year-long and took advantage of the many learning opportunities that occurred throughout the year.  Our curricula needed to be flexible and portable.
    • eeverett3
      eeverett3 on 07 Apr 14
       
      Even understanding the flexibility of online classes, I had not thought about how effective this would be for someone who travels ALL the time! The best part of this article is how virtual learning takes advantage of all the online bonuses that a traditional teacher does not have time to look for!
    • Araceli Gracia
      Araceli Gracia on 09 Apr 14
       
      Brenda, My youngest son, who is a 5th grader, always said he wanted to be home schooled, and if I could have, I would have. Giving him the opportunity to "visit" around the world and go at his own pace would suit his personality better. He has never been a big fan of school and it is not the teachers, because he likes them. I feel it is the structure of it all. If he was in a virtual school that provided the flexibility of online classes and learning, he would probably be a happier student. http://www.ehow.com/list_5965288_advantages-virtual-school.html
    • Don Martin
      Don Martin on 09 Apr 14
       
      Araceli, I think it is still possible for your son to be in a virtual school so long as he has the resources and motivation to do it. The virtual schools are not quite the same as home schooling, they are more like the distance learning programs here at UTB. They have dedicated instructors with state approved curricula and a wide variety of choices in classes, instructors and educational experiences (including field trips). If I had this option when I still had children at home I might have considered this option. Our youngest daughter was never really connected to anything in school except for extra-curricular activities. She was "bored" with it and this offers opportunities and experiences that might have been beneficial to her.
    • Brenda Wohlfeil
      Brenda Wohlfeil on 11 Apr 14
       
      Araceli and Don, Some virtual programs are self-paced. For example, my daughter took classes from Texas Tech ISD for high school. They were all self-paced classes She could start a new class whenever she wanted, and she had a good amount of time to complete each classes. Extensions were also granted with an extra fee, of course. http://www.depts.ttu.edu/uc/k-12/ In a homeschool, parents are really facilitators, especially as the kids get older. (I can't imagine ever giving my kids a lecture. They would have just tuned me out completely. :) Most of my kids learning came from project based learning, although at the time I didn't know there was a name for it.) Homeschool kids take classes at co-ops, on the internet, through distant-learning, using a box curriculum, or using a curriculum parents put together. The parent facilitates the learning by providing the tools needed for the kids to learn and the expectations. It is amazing how these kids learn.
    • Brenda Wohlfeil
      Brenda Wohlfeil on 07 Apr 14
       
      Deciding which method best serves their child's unique needs and talents is key here.  Children learn in so many different ways.  If virtual classes focus on only reading passages and answering questions, they will fall short of reaching so many children.  How can virtual classrooms cater to the needs and talents of so many children?
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Families facing educational choices need to research all options thoroughly. They must examine their educational priorities in order to determine which features best support their goals. Most importantly, they must decide which method best serves their child's unique needs and talents.
  • Are Virtual Schools a Type of Homeschooling? The answer to this question depends on the virtual school. While most of the learning happens in the home with virtual schools, many of them are public schools without doors. Students who register with a public virtual school are counted as public-school students, not homeschoolers, in their state. These public virtual schools collect ADA (average daily attendance), just like the neighborhood brick-and-mortar school. They offer a standards-based curriculum; require attendance keeping, frequent assessments, and progress reports; and comply with mandated state testing.
    • Brenda Wohlfeil
      Brenda Wohlfeil on 07 Apr 14
       
      Take a look at this website for just a short list of online classes for home school familieshttp://a2zhomeschooling.com/home_school_programs/online_homeschooling_programs/
    • Merrill Redfern
      Merrill Redfern on 08 Apr 14
       
      I'm impressed with the diverse list of classes available to home school families seen on this website. Also, an interest-based curricula for students is an awesome way, I think, to help ensure student engagement. Some of the "fun/creative" courses for students in traditional public schools, at least in the elementary level where I teach, are in the form of clubs or additional after school programs. The flexible schedule of online classes leaves room for the management of a more stress-free existence as long as online classes are appropriate for the family. I found this article (or something similar to it) back when I was considering home schooling our daughter. #3 and #6 were our obstacles from moving forward into homeschooling. http://homeschooling.about.com/od/gettingstarted/a/homeschool4you.htm
    • Don Martin
      Don Martin on 09 Apr 14
       
      In the allied health education setting at the college level we are moving more and more towards an integrated curriculum. Soon that approach will be bleeding down into the high school allied health programs. The model originally comes from the integrated approaches now being employed at many medical schools and nursing programs across the country. This might be a form of "interest based currcicula". If a student has an interest in a particular area then wouldn't it make sense to approach the areas they don't have as much interest in but still have need for through their area of interest? We are now offering Developmental Reading, Developmental Writing, and Developmental Math courses in a format that approaches those areas using information and examples from the allied health arena. Students read articles and writings related to allied health, they write papers on allied health subjects and they do math problems (pre-algebra and algebra) with information related to allied health concepts. I think we will see a greater degree of this in the virtual school system as we look for new and innovative ways to connect with students that just don't thrive in the traditional setting or don't have access to the kinds of content they are interested in because their school can't offer it due to lack of funds or the size of the school.
  • Eric Folks on 11 Apr 14
     
    As much as I like the idea of teaching from home, I do hesitate to jump on board with virtual schools, especially after reading stories like this: http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2014/01/15_months_in_virtual_charter_h.html I think a blended approach with both face to face (for experiments and activities that have to be hands on) and online (for PBL and the potential for students to own their learning more, possible with objective based goal setting and self paced facilitated approach) would be ideal. Honestly, if I had a chance to teach my teachers virtually, and home school my kids using an online virtual curriculum to help provide structure (while working in much PBL and experiential learning), I'd be all over it!
  • ...2 more comments...
  • Olivia Basham on 13 Apr 14
     
    Eric, I had a friend who worked for K12 and when she started and was so excited to follow her experience as I imagined it would be an excellent way to reach students and I imagined that perhaps one day I could follow her. As her year unfolded and she shared what it was like for her, I quickly lost interest (at least in that particular school). She had much the same experience described in the article, except her principal was even more abusive than what was described. She was overloaded, had almost constant meetings, did 15-16 ARDs and 504 meetings a weeks (she she was one of few certified teachers, she received the majority of these students who enrolled) and felt impotent to actually help the students she was trying to teach. Worst of all she took a 40% pay cut to do it. No thanks. Nobody becomes a teacher to get rich, but I can't imagine feeling like my students were being under served while also just barely getting by financially.
  • Don Martin on 13 Apr 14
     
    Eric and Olivia, I don't believe that this type of problem is unique to the virtual school environment. Abusive administrators, overloaded instructional staff and feelings of helplessness unfortunately are more common than they should be at any level and in every format. The solution is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of virtual schools, emphasize the strengths, find ways to minimize the weaknesses and subject the process to a continuous Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). QEP, if properly developed and employed can lead to the same type of success in a virtual learning environment as is seen in a face-to-face setting. In fact there are many instances in which the quality of the online education is as good or better than what the students are getting in the face-to-face setting. The potential benefits of VLE and virtual schools should not be overlooked or simply discarded because there may be some issues. Progress is made by doing, evaluating, planning, doing again and evaluating to start the cycle over. VLE has not been around long enough for us to have had the opportunity to work out all the bugs. Look at how long we have been practicing face-to-face education and the improvements that we continue to make today in the way we deliver education in that arena, not to mention the continuous research aimed at understanding how to make it even better. Perhaps a blended approach at first is best, it gives us an opportunity to explore the potential of VLE while developing the standards, guidelines and techniques necessary to make it a successful learning experience while using the support of the familiar face-to-face environment. However, it is my opinion that this approach should be used to help us develop the best possible VLE experience for the future. Not as a replacement for face-to-face learning (I believe there will be a place for that for many years to come) but as an effective alternative for those who would benefit from it.
  • Brenda Wohlfeil on 14 Apr 14
     
    I agree with Don. I think from a teacher's perspective, possibly Dr. Butler can give us some insight as to the validity of the problems stated by this teacher with regards to VLE in general.
  • lbanuelos on 14 Apr 14
     
    I too believe that a hybrid approach to instruction is the best way. Although virtual schools sounds like the way of the future, like all new technology it may not be simply for everyone. http://neatoday.org/2012/07/25/virtual-schools-not-passing-the-test/
Maricela Gonzalez

Professional Learning Communities - 6 views

@ Jessica Garcia- Professional Learning Communities (PLC's) have become the norm at school districts around the country. The first time that I ever was a part of an actual required PLC was about t...

started by Jessica Garcia on 27 Sep 14 3 follow-ups, last by Maricela Gonzalez on 28 Sep 14
natalie_cepeda

What are Discussion Forums and How do They Enhance Learning? - 21 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. From personal experience, I hav...

technology education classroom pedagogy

started by hillaryparrish on 05 Jun 14 7 follow-ups, last by natalie_cepeda on 14 Jun 14
asuarez1

Online Test-Takers Feel Anti-Cheating Software's Uneasy Glare - The New York Times - 11 views

www.nytimes.com/...ng-softwares-uneasy-glare.html

shared by asuarez1 on 16 Jul 15 - No Cached
Gladys Suarez liked it
    • asuarez1
      asuarez1 on 16 Jul 15
       
      What do you think of the use of web-based services like 'Proctortrack' to monitor remote students during tests? Is there a better way to discourage (or minimize) cheating in online courses? Can using this kind of software be justified?
  • a new anti-cheating technology.
  • I felt it was sort of excessive,
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • raised questions about where to draw the line, and whether the new systems are fair and accurate.
  • t requires students to sit upright and remain directly in front of their webcams at all times,
  • Changes in lighting can flag your test for a violation,” the guidelines say.
  • You don’t know what new norms are going to be established for what privacy is.”
  • bhanak on 16 Jul 15
     
    I think this particular tool Proctortrack is excessive. I understand that an online program limits the ability to watch students but I think the program that rates your integrity based on looks, lighting and body moves is too much. I could see the stress of this effecting the outcome of a test. Through the article there were other systems that were discussed that seem to be a bit more fair to both the student and the instructor. As an online student I would be comfortable with the accountability piece but with some limits. I do think as a university they have the right and decision to make on if they put something in place to prevent cheating and what that could be. I know with an increase in online learning that there does need to be something in place to keep students honest.
  • ...11 more comments...
  • juanrubenromero on 17 Jul 15
     
    I think that some sort of monitoring is needed, however, Proctortrack seems a bit excessive. I personally have never had to use a service like this. I do have colleagues that have been monitored during online testing through a webcam, they had to show the room was empty by moving the webcam, and their eyes couldn't stray from the screen. That was just over webcam, no monitoring software was used like Proctortrack. I also think it depends on the course and the professor. I definitely see the need to monitor what someone is looking at and accessing during an online exam, and feel that it is necessary to monitor. I don't know if their is another fair way to monitor online testing. Any one taking an online test without monitoring can easily have access to the internet to search for answers, notes, or even have someone else taking the exam for them. I think a software is needed to monitor otherwise how would you hold a person accountable? We can rely on the persons word, but not everyone is truthful. It is definitely justifiable. Online programs are trying to maintain the integrity of the course and program. By monitoring cheating they are discouraging it and catching any that are cheating. Just like in person testing, we are monitoring students taking the test to ensure they do not cheat. In person, we the teachers are the software monitoring student activity, online test also need a monitor.
  • asuarez1 on 17 Jul 15
     
    bhanak> I agree. Some modifications are fine, but it is excessive. Showing the entire room before the test does not mean that someone can not walk it. Nothing is guaranteed 100% and overdoing it doesn't make it better. It would make me very nervous to not be able to move or I would get "flagged." Then, as the teacher of the course, I would worry that the results of the test would get negative effect! I get nervous during tests without all of that, so imagine what would happen with that camera on?
  • asuarez1 on 17 Jul 15
     
    Juan> I agree with you! How did your colleague feel about being monitored?
  • asuarez1 on 17 Jul 15
     
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQLdprp2P0Q The link above is a news report about these Anti-cheating software programs. How do you think our program at UT is avoiding this issue all together? What can your online program do to verify student learning and not have to worry about students cheating on a test?
  • juancalvarez on 17 Jul 15
     
    It is very controversial, because universities want to ensure that their graduates do have what it is needed for the job market in order to have a better reputation. In the other hand, having someone view the inside of your home could be a security problem, especially if they have your address. In addition, some test take hours, and you need to go to the bathroom, scratch your foot, or stretch. All test centers are aware that the people taking test do this without cheating. My solutions would be to have test centers. A place where you can pay to go and use one of their computers to do the test. Of course, how many students want to pay extra fees or services? One way to ensure that the person taking the test doesn't cheat (at some degree) is by using the software they mentioned that it won't allow the person to open browsers or applications while during the test, but I would add that at any moment the person taking the test could receive a verification code in their phone. This way, you verify that the person is at the place they are saying they are. This would work because in online courses, usually you don't have classmates living close by.
  • Marie Evans on 18 Jul 15
     
    Online learning is driving the need for project based learning rather than testing as an assessment. If it is important to assess skills such as math, perhaps thinking about using a tool such as collaborate to interact with students and having students produce work in session (like going up to the chalkboard and working out a problem) may provide a better solution than a boxed quiz requiring supervision!
  • Lauren Simpson on 18 Jul 15
     
    I have taken courses online where I had to be "watched" by someone, and felt extremely nervous because someone I did not know was in a sense spying on me. I know that online programs are trying to ensure that their programs are remaining rigorous and that students are being held accountable for the material, but I also don't think that this has to be done with exams. In our program most of the course have a PBL model, like Mrs. Evans has discussed, and I find that to be much more realistic for how you will function in the workplace. I think this is a fundamental question of how educators assess students. Does a quiz/exam really assess a student's knowledge accurately?
  • asuarez1 on 18 Jul 15
     
    Juan, it is my opinion that test centers defeat the purpose of online learning. I believe that the degree I am getting proves what I have learned more through the products! It is direct proof of my learning to show that I am capable to think critically and create a product that proves my knowledge. There is no way to cheat on that and it is reliable. I remember clearly in high school that students who had a great memory to retrieve information would do fantastic on tests but this did not mean that they learned, could analyze, and apply the material they learned. As teachers, it is this critical thinking that we want our learners to leave with and I think we need to start moving away from "teaching to the test." What do you think?
  • bradlampton on 18 Jul 15
     
    Personally I feel that this is a great idea even though it goes in to the privacy life of the test takers. As a fully integrated multi factor bio-metrics behavioral application, Proctor-track provides automated remote proctoring for distance learners taking tests online. This combined solution fulfills the Department of Education's federal mandated standards for identity verification and authentication requirements for distributing Title IV funds. Proctor-track replicates the security of traditional testing centers, while giving students the flexibility to take proctored tests online, anytime, anywhere on demand, with the ease of automation and complete scale ability.
  • asuarez1 on 18 Jul 15
     
    Lauren, as you said, PBL and models like it take the learning and apply it. What could be better than that. Besides, isn't that what we want from our learners? I do not think that a quiz or test adequately proves that a student has learned. Here is a great article about "teaching to the test." It talks about test taking skills not being bad independently, however it talks about the importance of alignment. How do you think PBL aligns with the standards we teach and how can it be better than a test? http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/teaching-to-the-test/
  • jfaguilar on 19 Jul 15
     
    I believe now with so much digital technology around us, it has made it easier to retrieve answers for those tests or questions. If students rely on this technology, they essentially "cheat" themselves out of their own education. I do strongly believe that students need to understand the consequences of their actions. As educators, we are responsible to engage them in their learning to understand what they are learning and that cheating is never an alternative.
  • myraguz on 19 Jul 15
     
    I believe the use of this web-based service to be invading privacy and unreliable. Schools that offer online courses cannot always rely on technology to asses if a student is cheating. Just as Mr. Carlton stated, if you are going to offer online learning, you need to find ways to ensure the integrity of the course including test taking. There are other web-based services that offer checking for plagiarism. There are definitely other ways to discourage cheating in online courses. All my online instructors have been doing a great job in informing of the consequences for cheating. The use of that type of software cannot be justified specially when the student feels uncomfortable.
  • Joanna Villarreal on 19 Jul 15
     
    Hi Ana, very interesting article. Being new to online courses, I have to say this is the first I hear of such software or services. I see how it may be justified, but to a certain degree. This particular software is quite excessive I must say. Ms. Choa (first student mentioned in the article) was given the option paying for the software, which she was against (and I would be too if I found myself in that situation) or paying proctor fees. I see how Juan's suggestion of having a testing center available would be another solution for that particular case. You asked if there is a better way to discourage (or minimize) cheating in online courses? It was also stated in the article how other software are being used to prevent students from opening apps or browsers during online exams. I think that would be a better method of monitoring/preventing cheating rather than having Proctotrack labeling/flagging me as a cheater for my poor posture.
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.
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.
ksspurgin

Check Out That Selfie: How to Use Social Media in the Classroom - US News - 9 views

www.usnews.com/...-social-media-in-the-classroom

classroom social media education technology teaching

shared by ksspurgin on 23 Jul 14 - No Cached
  • A recent survey from the University of Phoenix College of Education that surveyed more than 1,000 teachers found 47 percent of all K-12 teachers said participation in social media platforms could help enhance their students' education
    • ksspurgin
      ksspurgin on 23 Jul 14
       
      Since almost half of the 1000+ teachers surveyed agree that social media can improve learning, why aren't schools being more proactive about training and protecting their teachers when it comes to using social media for the classroom?
    • kbanda
      kbanda on 25 Jul 14
       
      The funds have a lot to do with it because the schools cannot allow for these types of trainings. Another reason could be the older teachers refuse to learn technology. Final reason could deal with the fact that there aren't enough computers for this type of learning.
    • ksspurgin
      ksspurgin on 30 Jul 14
       
      I hear you Kim but at the same time see these as excuses given by administrators who generally aren't very forward thinking. Region ESC's should be able to provide this training for free. I think Region 10 does but I would have to double check that. And as far as the older teachers refusing to learn, that's a teacher I don't need on my campus. I tend to be pretty blunt and have little patience for ANY "teacher" who refuses to learn.
    • Maria Ing
      Maria Ing on 03 Aug 14
       
      I wonder if other than financial reasons, if many administrators are worried for liability reasons. Even if they properly trained teachers would they still be worried about people crossing the line using social media. I know that our district has a pretty strict policy that as long as a student is enrolled in the district, they cannot be your "friend" on social media. It's too easy for negative things to come of it. I personally have a Facebook fan page for my classroom. My principal is on it and posts are public so everyone can see what is being said and posted. I invite students and parents to "like" my page so they can get review information & videos, test reminders and things of that nature.
    • Jose Davila
      Jose Davila on 04 Aug 14
       
      I strongly feel that teachers need to be up to date with technology and get to use it and etc... It is very important that teachers understand technology well so they can teach their students properly. The old teachers must be able to adapt with change for the better of their students. Technology is the way of life and it is very important that they embrace it and have a positive outlook on it. There are no excuses because technology will continue to be used everyday in life and will continue to evolve.
    • kbanda
      kbanda on 05 Aug 14
       
      I agree that some may not want to provide these trainings because they may need to use the money elsewhere or do not want to bring in technology to the school. Some see is as a negative thing but our society today has changed. We cannot get away from technology because it is the way of life nowadays and you're right Jose, it will continue to evolve.
    • Maricela Gonzalez
      Maricela Gonzalez on 28 Sep 14
       
      @kbanda- I think that you have a point, a lot of school districts especially smaller ones do not have extra funds to allocate to these types of trainings. In fact, they may want to be more proactive when it comes to technology and the use of social media in their teacher's curriculum, but there is a lot of liability to it if teachers aren't trained on this type of medium. It all comes down to the bottom line. Technology is in our TEKS and we must teach it…however, social media is not in our TEKS and until the day it is, then trainings for this type of technology usage may not be priority when it comes to balancing the school year's budget.
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 29 Nov 14
       
      @ksspurgin There can be many factors involved. I believe it can be money and time which means some schools do not have the resources. Another reason can be that social media can cause a distraction for the students. Also privacy is a huge concern. I know school districts can use Google Apps which limits the use of YouTube and Blogger to only the school, but some schools do not want to use Google Apps. I wonder if someone has a site out on the Internet that educates the teacher and parents on social media.
  • Controversy has surrounded teachers’ use of social media and whether posts -- both about students and about their personal lives -- can be used as grounds for termination.&nbsp;
    • ksspurgin
      ksspurgin on 23 Jul 14
       
      How is this different from (or similar to) the rules for teachers around the turn of the 20th century such as "Teachers will not marry or keep company with a man friend during the week except as an escort to church services.  (The only man a woman teacher could be seen with was her father or her brother)"? (source: http://www.ameshistory.org/contract.htm)
    • textraveller
      textraveller on 28 Jul 14
       
      This rule has changed? When did this happen?
    • ksspurgin
      ksspurgin on 30 Jul 14
       
      Yea, it was a while ago Chris ;)
    • Maricela Gonzalez
      Maricela Gonzalez on 28 Sep 14
       
      I think this article really touched base about what is rocky territory when it comes to what is appropriate student/teacher interaction. Therefore, this could be the reason why schools are not being as proactive on training and protecting their teachers when it comes to social media in the classroom. On the one hand social media is a wonderful outlet for students to learn, because they have grown up with the tablets, ipads, smart phones and they know "that language" per say. In my classroom, I engage my students on the regular by using Edmodo and I absolutely love it. It allows me the opportunity to set expectations, provide reminders, send well wishes, but most importantly turn my classroom into a true flipped classroom environment where learning doesn't stop when the last bell rings. As an educator, I have heard of so many unfortunate stories where a teacher or student may cross the line in communication and the teacher ends up reaping the bad consequences of that. Therefore, as the article points out, it makes sense that many teachers would be hesitant to even toil with social media outlets for supplementation of classroom curriculum. According to the article, "teachers are more often using web tools, such as YouTube videos and podcasts, or other types of technology -- such as laptops, interactive white boards or tablets -- over social media tools (http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/01/17/check-out-that-selfie-how-to-use-social-media-in-the-classroom)," which says to me that they try to stick to "safer" technological modes of communication, and interaction. I currently work for the largest Net Zero School in the nation, where the school districts expectations run high when it comes to implementing technology in the classroom, and I love that. I use and invite students and teachers to follow me on Twitter, however- I do not put anything personal on that account. I tweet or retweet a lot of links to excellent educational websites such as Edutopia. The reason
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 29 Nov 14
       
      There is a very thin line for this. Maybe the teachers or students should not post about their personal lives and keep it strictly school oriented. I know that it can be tough for the students, because students are more prone to talk about personal lives. Maybe one solution is to agree that teachers and students will use one platform, such as Edmodo for education. As far as posting personal post on other social networks, what constitutes grounds for termination needs to be clearly defined and training will need to be offered.
  • According to the survey, teachers are more often using web tools, such as YouTube videos and podcasts, or other types of technology -- such as laptops, interactive white boards or tablets -- over social media tools.
    • ksspurgin
      ksspurgin on 23 Jul 14
       
      Teachers often play it safe and for good reason! Effective training could free teachers to use technology to engage students in learning.
    • textraveller
      textraveller on 28 Jul 14
       
      The problem seems to be that some types of social media eliminate the separation between student/teacher that physical distance usually creates (i.e. going home at the end of the day.) If teachers receive training that makes them well-aware that they are erasing this boundary by interacting on FB or Twitter, then let them go for it. I second Brook's idea that having a separate, professional social media account for interaction with parents and students is probably wise. - C Hilgeman
    • ksspurgin
      ksspurgin on 30 Jul 14
       
      No doubt about that Chris! We did have a short training at our school 2 years ago about setting up professional social media accounts to use with students and parents. This is a MUST for educators!
    • Maricela Gonzalez
      Maricela Gonzalez on 28 Sep 14
       
      @texttravelor- I totally agree with you Chris. I try to implement the flipped classroom model into my curriculum structure, and I find that it is very difficult to separate the two. When I'm at home, I am always carrying around my iPad, attempting to be super teacher by answering all of my student's questions. I try to provide them with accurate and grammatically proper assignments online through Edmodo, and I find that there tends to be a thin line between my work and personal time. That "physical distance" that you speak of is often frayed, of which has caused me to lack in other areas. However, it's important to note that if one can find a happy medium between the two- as an educator one will greatly benefit. In addition, I definitely agree that separating professional social media accounts with personal accounts is also "wise."
    • Pedro Rodriguez
      Pedro Rodriguez on 29 Nov 14
       
      I believe social media can be used, but teachers will need trainings and administrators will need to be clear on how one needs to use social media. If I was an administrator, I would look at research to see which social media tool actually increases learning. I would even go as far as creating a pilot program to measure the learning. If it did not work, then I would say concentrate on the tools that do increase learning.
  • dbrookpark on 27 Jul 14
     
    Effective training for using social media in the classroom would be an essential for more teachers to start to use social media in the classroom. The administration should facilitate trainings for the teachers on setting up a classroom account and having the teacher monitor and approve all students posts would be a good start. As far as connecting with students and parents through social media, the only way that I think would be prudent would be to set up another separate account that is purely for connecting on a professional basis. The ability for the teacher to keep their personal and professional lives apart is very important. Brook
  • mrigal on 27 Jul 14
     
    Some schools are slowly catching-up to current technology trends. Some districts are afraid to fully incorporate technology such as social networking sites because of potential security liabilities. Districts must adapt to technologies such as networking sites because technology such as these are currently being used at home by students as their tools. Districts should bring students tools to school to enhance learning.
  • Vianna Madrid on 20 Oct 14
     
    I would love to incorporate social media into the classroom, but I do not see it happening anytime soon. Our administration is reluctant to opening our filters to social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the fear of inappropriate posts and distraction. There needs to be more training available to educate on the integration, use and opportunities social media has in the classroom.
cinthia_sierra

Five Ways To Bring Technology into the Classroom Without the Gadgets | Alisa ... - 7 views

www.huffingtonpost.com/...without-gadgets_b_5324611.html

education technology classroom

shared by cinthia_sierra on 15 Jun 14 - No Cached
  • Technology was originally idealized as the panacea for our nation's "failing schools"
  • The reality is in the middle: Technology is not a panacea, but used effectively and implemented purposefully, it can help transform how our children experience school.
  • For us, having our students engage in real-world learning experiences is a priority, so we utilized technologies like video-conferencing that enabled making those connections.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • at the iSchool we leveraged teachers' strengths by having some focus more on planning and curriculum development, some focus more on online course design, some on facilitating our challenge-based courses and some supporting struggling students.
  • Schools can combine resources to offer more Advanced Placement or credit recovery courses.
    • cinthia_sierra
      cinthia_sierra on 15 Jun 14
       
      This quote almost relates to the quality for quantity conception in education; it is not enough to use random technology without a purpose. Think about classes you've observed or reflect on your own: is technology use productive?
    • Cynthia Rios
      Cynthia Rios on 16 Jun 14
       
      There have been some classes which I have observed where the teacher is using technology but not the students. Technology is sometimes being used for the sake of using it and is not enhancing the students learning.
    • Lucretia Human
      Lucretia Human on 17 Jun 14
       
      True integration happens when technology supports the learning outcome goals. It must aid in the 4 key components of learning: active engagement, group collaboration, frequent interaction and feedback, and a conncetion to the real-world. Watch the following video to see how one school integrateds technology into every facet of learning. http://youtu.be/xCcwOmFF0HM
    • Lucretia Human
      Lucretia Human on 17 Jun 14
       
      True integration happens when technology supports the learning outcome goals. It must aid in the 4 key components of learning: active engagement, group collaboration, frequent interaction and feedback, and a connection to the real-world. Watch the following video to see how one school integrated technology into every facet of learning. http://youtu.be/xCcwOmFF0HM">http://youtu.be/xCcwOmFF0HM">http://youtu.be/xCcwOmFF0HM
    • cinthia_sierra
      cinthia_sierra on 15 Jun 14
       
      Consider your content area and former lessons and discuss how video conferencing can be utilized to maximize learning.
    • Cynthia Rios
      Cynthia Rios on 16 Jun 14
       
      I teach 8th ELAR, and we read Night by Elie Wiesel as part of a Holocaust unit.  It would have been amazing for my students to video conference with a actual Holocaust survivor.  This would have given them even deeper knowledge on the Holocaust.
    • cinthia_sierra
      cinthia_sierra on 15 Jun 14
       
      Would this even be possible at your district/school? Elaborate
    • Cynthia Rios
      Cynthia Rios on 16 Jun 14
       
      I don't know if this would be possible at my school.  Unfortunately, many veteran teachers are not as open to change.
    • cinthia_sierra
      cinthia_sierra on 15 Jun 14
       
      This would prepare students for online classes at the post-secondary level.
    • Lucretia Human
      Lucretia Human on 17 Jun 14
       
      I think that students would be helped by experiencing different teachers and teaching styles in order to have a well rounded learning experience. Sometimes students get very comfortable in a school with familiar surroundings and prior knowledge of teachers. When placed in this kind of atmosphere, the student will need to adjust and focus on the material being presented and the presenter.
    • Lucretia Human
      Lucretia Human on 17 Jun 14
       
      I think that students would be helped by experiencing different teachers and teaching styles in order to have a well rounded learning experience. Sometimes students get very comfortable in a school with familiar surroundings and prior knowledge of teachers. When placed in this kind of atmosphere, the student will need to adjust and focus on the material being presented and the presenter.
  • cinthia_sierra on 15 Jun 14
     
    Using technology wisely in order to improve instruction
cinthia_sierra

4 Tips for Getting to Know the Blended Instructional Model | Edutopia - 10 views

www.edutopia.org/...-blended-learning-victor-small

blendedlearning blended edtech technology classroom

shared by cinthia_sierra on 14 Jun 14 - No Cached
  • this same technology is banned from our schools to prevent students from using it inappropriately
    • Cynthia Rios
      Cynthia Rios on 14 Jun 14
       
      There are still many schools and districts with a strict no electronics policy.  What can you do in order for your students to be able to use their electronics in your classroom?
    • cinthia_sierra
      cinthia_sierra on 15 Jun 14
       
      Recently, our Dean of Instruction mentioned she wanted to post posters emphasizing the use of cellphones for the purpose of learning. I think this is a great idea since they are easily accessible and allow students to gather information much quicker than having to wait till they get home or making a trip to the library. I can be a responsible moderator and observer who ensures the proper use of these electronics in order to enhance learning rather than hinder it.
    • Sean Getchell
      Sean Getchell on 15 Jun 14
       
      I can't imagine that in this day and age they would still try and have a "no electronics" policy. I think most progressive schools would understand that electronics will be there whether they like it or not, so they might as well try to focus students on using them to accentuate their learning experience. If I were a student in a classroom, I would try a modified bring your own device (BYOD) to class. Whether it was a cell phone, tablet, or laptop (okay, maybe not a laptop, but definitely some of the smaller devices), and show them how it could be used to improve their learning (and collaborative) experience. I know it would take some time and understanding to get the students to use the devices responsibly, but nothing worth it is ever easy in my experience.
    • natalie_cepeda
      natalie_cepeda on 16 Jun 14
       
      In the campus I am in, the librarian hosts a training session for the BYOD program. It is highly encouraged for students to bring their devices. This year since it was my first year, I did not want to take too much on, but this coming year I am definitely taking on the BYOD Program to help students use their electronics in my classroom for Web 2.0 tools like Discussion Boards.
    • noramedrano
      noramedrano on 16 Jun 14
       
      At the campus I currently work there is no electronics allowed. I would like for students to be allowed to bring their electronic or given an electronic such as an iPad for learning purposes. Students can do many things with electronics, such as reviewing a specific area that needs improvement on a web 2.0 tool.
    • hillaryparrish
      hillaryparrish on 16 Jun 14
       
      At my campus (a PK-12 campus), electronics my be used before the first bell rings. During class, they may be used at teacher discretion. However, this has been abused because I have had parents say to me that their child was posting to Facebook during a specific class period daily. Of course, the child could be going to the restroom or somewhere else on campus to do this, but sometimes the privilege does get abused. I like the idea of BYOD for learning purposes.
    • Cynthia Rios
      Cynthia Rios on 16 Jun 14
       
      It is surprising that schools still have a "no electronics" policy which is the case of my school. Now like Sean and Cinthia added, electronics are in our schools whether they are allowed or not, and we should have our students use these electronics to enhance their learning. I've caught my students taking selfies and or sending Snapchats, but I wonder if we truly engage them and use technology to its fullest potential in our classrooms will students continue to abuse BYOD?
    • crystallee530
      crystallee530 on 23 Jun 14
       
      Our school district implemented bring your own technology (BYOT) at the beginning of the 2012-2013 2nd semester. Since it began in the middle of the school year, most students and teachers were still hesitant to use personal technology in the classroom because it was unfamiliar ground. The past year I used more BYOT in the classroom with strict supervision and high expectations for following the district technology rules and restrictions.
    • Maria Ing
      Maria Ing on 03 Aug 14
       
      Our campus still has a no electronics policy. We were supposed to get bring your own device (BYOD) implemented this past year but it never happened. I think they were not happy that they couldn't secure the network to where only students and teachers would be on the network. I'm not sure what they are going to do. But I see so much potential for students being able to use their devices in the classroom. I think next year, regardless if they have the policy implemented or not, I will try to start having students using their phones in class for activities if I can't get the iPads checked out, if it's for quick electronic surveys. Most have phones now and they are on them anyway for social media and texting (under desk, in bathrooms, when my back is turned), so I may as well make them use them for educational purposes.
  • Tip #1: Kids Aren't as Tech Savvy as You Think
    • Cynthia Rios
      Cynthia Rios on 14 Jun 14
       
      This very true, although many of our students seem to be Tech Savvy, their skills when it comes to technology are mainly for entertainment and social networking such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.  I recently gave a digital literacy survey to a student partner for another course and her results were very low.  This is the link to the survey:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/21cTechPart2 How do you think your students would perform on this survey?
    • cinthia_sierra
      cinthia_sierra on 15 Jun 14
       
      I think it would be a 50/50 depending on the population. I find that most of my GT, highly involved (gaming) students, and tech junkies can figure out almost anything. But for the most part, others' abilities rely heavily on the social networking tools used to communicate but little experience is shown for Web 2.0 tools or other technological uses.
    • Sean Getchell
      Sean Getchell on 15 Jun 14
       
      I saw this firsthand last week when I was doing a presentation for a high school summer school technology course. You have most students that are able to use social media technology effortlessly; however, if you get to Web 2.0, or some of the more complex tools, and they are clueless. Now some of the more tech-savvy students can figure anything out, but I was a little disappointed by the 30/70 difference in students understanding / students overwhelmed by new technology. I definitely thought it would be the reverse...especially with all of the gamers in attendance (though to be honest, I think they were the majority of the ones that were able to keep up with some of the more complex tech).
    • Cynthia Rios
      Cynthia Rios on 16 Jun 14
       
      Cinthia, I think you are correct in adding that it depends on the population. Do you think that students' socioeconomic status has a correlation to their digital literacy?
    • rcepeda610
      rcepeda610 on 06 Jul 14
       
      Yes, I agree with Cynthia, most of the student population is pretty good with social networking and entertainment. They spend countless hours sharing, uploading, blogging, exploring that they become quite the experts. But if presented with a different task they are hesitant and have difficulties completing the task.
  • Tip #2: Be Wary of Online Textbooks and Online Classes
    • Cynthia Rios
      Cynthia Rios on 14 Jun 14
       
      If you are to pick and choose from online textbooks based on the need, what other tools can be used in a blended classroom and how can you implement them?
    • cinthia_sierra
      cinthia_sierra on 15 Jun 14
       
      Apps and websites such as Whyville, playground, etc, can improve students' learning in order to deviate from the traditional textbook teaching method.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Tip #4: Get Your Students to Communicate with Each Other
    • Cynthia Rios
      Cynthia Rios on 14 Jun 14
       
      We recently read about discussion boards.  How would you use a discussion board in your classroom or what other collaboration tools are you interested in using and how?
  • Tip #3: PowerPoint is for Planning Lessons, Not Delivering Lectures
    • Cynthia Rios
      Cynthia Rios on 14 Jun 14
       
      How does this tip go in hand with what we have read in our textbook regarding PowerPoint presentations?
    • cinthia_sierra
      cinthia_sierra on 15 Jun 14
       
      Basically, powerpoints are to be kept as a simplistic method that engages yet guides the reader without overpowering the art of your presentation.
  • 4 Tips for Getting to Know the Blended Instructional Model
  • cinthia_sierra on 15 Jun 14
     
    Tips for an effective blended classroom
  • kdauphiney on 22 Jun 14
     
    This is the issue that some tax payers have with instructional learning and online classes. They think that the student will be placed in a room in front of a computer and expected to teach themselves. They really need to get know what blended instruction looks like and what it can do to enhance learning. There perhaps need to be more model schools that allow for public study, so that they can showcase how efficient and effective this new phenomenon is and just how much more can be offered to the students with the same tax money.
kjsanders

The Use and Capture of Images for Computer-Based Learning II - Section 1 - 4 views

www.agocg.ac.uk/...sect1.htm

Technology e-learning edtc6340 visual_literacy education teaching

shared by kjsanders on 03 Feb 15 - Cached
  • Pictures make use of a massive range of cortical skills: colour, form, line dimension, texture, visual rhythm and especially imagination (Buzan, 1990). Imagination comes from the Latin imaginare, meaning "to picture mentally". Images are generally more evocative than words and more precise in triggering a wide range of associations, enhancing creative thinking and memory.
    • kjsanders
      kjsanders on 03 Feb 15
       
      Here's the link to the pdf for the full report: http://www.agocg.ac.uk/reports/graphics/capture2/capture.pdf
  • The capacity for recognition memory for pictures is limitless. Pictures have a direct route to long-term memory, each image storing its own information as a coherent "chunk" or concept (
  • However, the images or pictures must be meaningful to be retained (Freedman and Haber, 1974).
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • The presence of pictures relevant to the text will assist learning. Therefore, for each screen without an image, is there an image that is relevant to the information of that screen? If you can replace the text with an image, do so. Pictures not covered by the information in the text will not enhance the learning of the text. For each screen with an image what is the intended purpose of that image? If it does not have a purpose relevant to the text, remove it. The presence of pictures in the text will not aid the learning of the text which is not illustrated. Pictures can help learners to understand what they read and also to remember it. The memory's storing and recalling powers can be enhanced through the use of images for emphasis and association. Pictures can sometimes be used as substitutes for words or as producers of non-verbal information. Learners may fail to make full use of complex illustrations. Simple representations should not be discounted because they are not 'sophisticated' enough. Can the image be simplified without losing the point? If so, simplify it. Pictures may assist learners with poor verbal skills more than those with good verbal skills. By providing an additional visual explanation the holistic skills of the right side of the brain are brought into play
    • kjsanders
      kjsanders on 03 Feb 15
       
      Lists skills the use of relevant images can enhance and explains how  they benefit creative thinking and memory.
    • kjsanders
      kjsanders on 03 Feb 15
       
      Also, click on the Acrobat file link to print out the full report. Though some of this info is obsolete, there's lots of useful stuff. 
    • kjsanders
      kjsanders on 03 Feb 15
       
      This paragraph caused me to recall how Lynell Burmark talked words and how they're ineffective if we haven't first stored an image of what they represent. For example, when she asked readers to draw an Okapi before they knew what it was.
    • Rosalyn Martinez
      Rosalyn Martinez on 09 Feb 15
       
      WOW! I had the same recollection upon reading this paragraph. I even recalled the same example. The brain is an amazing organ and how it works just astonishes me. Pictures certainly help me recall information. I am definitely using more pictures in my lessons.
    • kjsanders
      kjsanders on 03 Feb 15
       
      Summary of reasons for using images instead of text.
  • Title Section 1: Images and learning Images have a direct route to long-term memory
  • kjsanders on 03 Feb 15
     
    Explanation of how images help route learning to long-term memory. The article talks about the 'cortical skills' images call into play. 
  • ...1 more comment...
  • tvisco on 07 Feb 15
     
    Great resource - it segues well with Lynell Burmark's comments in They Snooze You Lose about making powerpoint presentations mainly visual.
  • emrodriguez on 09 Feb 15
     
    This is a great article stating how important images are to learning. I like that you referenced chapter 2 on how words are useless if the learner doesn't have an idea of what it looks like. I like the article's notion that images are critical to a presentation and if it can be done, images should replace text as long as the learner understands the meaning of why that particular image was shown.
  • Rosalyn Martinez on 09 Feb 15
     
    Thank you for sharing! This was such an informative article. The brain is so intriguing. I, too, like that you referenced chapter 2. I believe images do play a vital role in our learning and recall of information. For me, an image helps make something concrete. Images help us make connections, use prior knowledge, and build on what we've just seen and learned.
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 &amp; Advice Education Health Money Travel Cars Law Firms News U.S. News Home education Facebook Twitter Education Rankings &amp; 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 &amp; Advice Education Health Money Travel Cars Law Firms News U.S. News Home education Facebook Twitter Education Rankings &amp; 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?
  • ...3 more comments...
  • 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.
Rosalyn Martinez

Differentiation Meets Digital Technology | literacy beat - 12 views

literacybeat.com/...differentiation-tech

differentiation technology education

shared by Rosalyn Martinez on 09 Feb 15 - No Cached
  • Differentiation is an elegant mindset that suggests to teachers a framework that permits them to engage students while focusing on learning results, and digital technologies offer many opportunities to differentiate instruction in meaningful ways.
  • three-phase approach to planning differentiated instruction: Where do we start planning for differentiated instruction with technology, What are considerations for who we teach, what we teach, and how we plan? How do I put it all together?
  • Planning differentiated instruction enhanced by technology is a perfect fit for the principles of understanding by design (Wiggins &amp; McTighe, 2005) in which teachers plan instruction based on the results they intend for their students.
  • ...14 more annotations...
  • This means that before any digital tools are chosen, before a single activity is determined, before assessment instruments are designed, the intended results must be decided.
  • It will be tempting to think something like, “I really love Prezi and Glogster” so I’ll design my activity around those two tools.” An analogy might be helpful here as a kind of caution about choosing the technology before moving forward with other aspects of instruction.
  • Once we have a firm grasp on what results we expect based on standards and objectives, we can begin to think about the best ways to challenge our students.
  • Curricular elements we can differentiate commonly include the processes of learning, the products of learning, and the content on which learning is based (Tomlinson, 2001).
  • High-quality differentiation typically means different students doing different things that lead to achievement of a common learning goal.&nbsp; Developing options is an effective way to put differentiation into effect.
  • Teachers develop options that meet identified learner needs while keeping key attributes of the target concepts and results in mind.
  • They can be simple tinkering (or micro-differentiation, as Tomlinson, 2001, asserts) or those digital tools can vastly improve how students learn and how they interact in our digital world.
  • How digital technologies are embedded in the learning tasks is vitally important
  • In the following example tasks, notice how the tools enhance the learning rather than restrict it; at the same time students are encouraged to use new literacy skills in learning as they complete the tasks.
  • In your classroom, what successful tasks have you designed with the end in mind that were built on solid principles of differentiation and use of digital technologies?
    • Rosalyn Martinez
      Rosalyn Martinez on 09 Feb 15
       
      I like that the author gets to the point immediately. He defines "differentiation" for the reader and explains a three-phase approach to planning this type of instruction.
    • Rosalyn Martinez
      Rosalyn Martinez on 09 Feb 15
       
      The author is very helpful. He provides useful tips on getting started in the planning process of differentiated instruction.
    • Rosalyn Martinez
      Rosalyn Martinez on 09 Feb 15
       
      Check out these videos! They are extremely helpful & provide a great visual on how to plan differentiated instruction and how differentiation meets digital technology.
    • Rosalyn Martinez
      Rosalyn Martinez on 09 Feb 15
       
      The following are some great examples to help you get started on planning your differentiated instruction.
  • Rosalyn Martinez on 09 Feb 15
     
    This is a great article about differentiating instruction with the use of digital tools. Have you considered differentiating instruction? If so, please provide an example to share with the group as to how you differentiated instruction on a particular lesson and/or how you differentiated an assignment. If you haven't considered differentiation, please state how you feel about this topic now that you are better informed.
  • ...2 more comments...
  • marie_lara on 09 Feb 15
     
    That is a very interesting article! No, I have considered this as it is defined, or specified. Actually I suggested something like this awhile back when I was teaching a group of adult students in computer basics. Some of the drawbacks were brought up by others, such as it would require many more resources than we had available at the time.
  • Rosalyn Martinez on 11 Feb 15
     
    Thank you for your response, Marie! I'm certain there are drawbacks due to lack of resources, and I'm sure it's time consuming to set up. Still, I would really like to try this in the near future. Thanks again.
  • jnfreeman7 on 24 Feb 15
     
    Differentiation is hard to do in the first place. When you have students in your classroom that are on 4 different levels and your students are not self directed or self motivated learners there are not enough "you" to go around the room. Technology can allow you to be in more than one place at a time. My favorite way to use technology for differentiation is the flipped classroom model. It can allow for students to work at their own pace and gives the teacher more time and freedom to differentiate during class.
  • Rosalyn Martinez on 01 Mar 15
     
    I agree with you, Jeannine. Differentiation can very difficult especially when you have various levels of student learning. I was unfamiliar with the flipped classroom model. I'm glad you mentioned it. I've researched it and can see how it would help so many students. One idea mentioned in an article I read was to have students view short videos of an upcoming lesson. On the day of the lesson, students are then able to focus on the lesson itself and work on exercises & activities in the classroom. We do that in this class & it really does help. FYI - the article I read on this subject can be located at https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli7081.pdf.
Gladys Suarez

What Digital Literacy Looks Like in a Classroom - 6 views

www.edweek.org/...q_crowley_digitalliteracy.html

Technology education classroom teaching learning

shared by Gladys Suarez on 16 Jul 15 - No Cached
  • Gladys Suarez on 16 Jul 15
     
    If students are "glued" 24/7 to their mobile devices, why is it necessary for schools to teach digital literacy? Who should teach it? And wait ... what does it even mean to be "digitally literate"? If these are questions you've heard or asked, you aren't alone.
  • ...7 more comments...
  • Gladys Suarez on 16 Jul 15
     
    We might think that our students are digital literate, but are they? Take a look at your classroom, school, and district...are we preparing them to this 21st century digital technology awareness. Why aren't educators ready?
  • summerloeffler on 17 Jul 15
     
    I agree... it's so frustrating to learn that so many of my colleagues are not keeping up and being aware of what students are learning. You know how they say, 90% of learning comes from outside of the classroom. I feel that so many teachers are "programmed" in teacher training programs to focus on the old ways and that has not been effective in making learning fun for today's digital literate students.
  • asuarez1 on 17 Jul 15
     
    Summer, I agree with you. I think professional development needs to focus more on how to incorporate the tools available in the classroom I have always said that just because a student uses a device for games does not mean he/she is computer literate or knows how to safely use it for learning.
  • asuarez1 on 17 Jul 15
     
    Gladys, why teach digital literacy is a hot topic! Part of that is digital safety! Our school had a federal agent come talk to the students about online predators and digital safety in general. We would all be surprised at what the kids don't know about online safety.
  • Gladys Suarez on 18 Jul 15
     
    Ana, it sure is! I most definitely agree with you because I know of many teachers that are scared to incorporate technology into their classrooms. It is mostly because they are scared (of misuse--by students). Also, they feel that they are not properly trained and they don't find the time to use technology. Most educators think it is a waste of time. As years go by I am seeing that students now a day get extremely motivated when they get to use technology in their classrooms and they sure learn a lot of information. Great that your school brought someone to talk to students about digital safety!
  • Gladys Suarez on 18 Jul 15
     
    How can educators get help in incorporating technology into their lessons? Students want the technology to be available, teachers think it is a waste of time...Educators are not updated...
  • Joanna Villarreal on 18 Jul 15
     
    Great article, Ana!!! I love how you selected an article that mentions topics that are covered in class.It is very important that student and teacher are digital literate. I've never heard the terms "digital natives" "digital literate" or digital immigrants," but I've heard others that imply the same. These "digital natives" may be able to navigate the digital world yet do not know where to go to look for sources lets say to help them with their homework. Sadly, there are "digital resistance" teachers/districts that are at fault. Yes, I made my own term for folks who are scared to use technology with their students and I can understand why. The internet can be very dangers, but that is why we should be encouraged to learn and teach internet safety. Just this week, the Professional Development admin at our district told me about sites that educators can use to "clean-up" videos from any marketing ads. We all know how these videos come with ads that sometimes may be inappropriate. There are some many tools and we are not taking advantage of them. Either we do not know or it is easier for us not to know about them. On another note. I loved the funny powerpoint video. It goes hand in hand with the text we are reading about. I may show share both the book and the video with my Boss who always gives me a hard time about my powerpoints.
  • Marie Evans on 18 Jul 15
     
    Digital Literacy! Just because students are raised immersed in technology does not mean they know how to use it appropriately! Students need guidance to learn how to use technology effectively and appropriately. Perhaps if one thinks about being dropped off at the front door of the Library of Congress, without a guide, map or information desk!! How overwhelming would that experience be???
  • Gladys Suarez on 21 Jul 15
     
    It would be overwhelming indeed. An educator should introduce digital literacy as if the student is new to the topic. Through hands-on activities and daily use, students should become great digital experts with tools they love.
jnfreeman7

A Simple Comprehensive Guide on The use of Personal Learning Networks in Education ~ Ed... - 3 views

www.educatorstechnology.com/...rehensive-guide-on-use-of.html

Professionsonal Learning Networks PLN education

shared by jnfreeman7 on 09 Feb 15 - No Cached
  • &nbsp;seek out
  • other learning venues that could be experts in their field or other&nbsp;professionals&nbsp;with whom they can exchange&nbsp;information
  • A Personal Learning Network ( PLN ) is a way, a process, a network of interrelated connections you make for the purposes of discovering, collaborating and sharing ideas and resources.
  • ...25 more annotations...
  • easy to set up
  • communicate
  • share
  • discover
  • learn
  • connections
  • &nbsp;resources
  • remove physical barriers
  • life long learner
  • students
  • connect
  • &nbsp;post about their learning experiences
  • share
  • seek help
  • compare
  • latest and hottest trends
  • collaboration
  • blogs and websites that interest you and subscribe
  • start participating in discussions
  • allot a specific amoutn of time t
  • Some &nbsp;PLNs platforms to start with
    • jnfreeman7
      jnfreeman7 on 09 Feb 15
       
      Are you apart of any of the listed PLNs? If not, which ones are you apart of?  What are your favorites and why? My favorite is Twitter. I check my twitter feed every night to see what is going on with the people and hashtags that I follow. This is where I get so many of my technology resources and ideas for teachers.
    • jnfreeman7
      jnfreeman7 on 09 Feb 15
       
      These verbs are so important when you look at growing as a teacher.  Getting connected is important to further your career.  If you only communicate with those you see everyday, how can you expect to be exposed to new things?
    • jnfreeman7
      jnfreeman7 on 09 Feb 15
       
      I never really thought about the use of PLNs for students.  I'm not sure why it never crossed my mind.  It is just as important for them as it is for us as educators.  
    • jnfreeman7
      jnfreeman7 on 09 Feb 15
       
      Challenge: Join or begin to follow one blog, website, twitter feed, community, etc...
  • jnfreeman7 on 09 Feb 15
     
    This website has a lot of great information on personal learning networks.It is an awesome resource for information on why they are important and how to start one. I think it's easier to understand my annotations by actually looking at the article. Here is a link to the annotated version. https://diigo.com/07biu
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