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Contents contributed and discussions participated by Chris Aldrete

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Chris Aldrete

Could the College Campus Go the Way of the Bookstore? - Anthony Flint - The Atlantic Ci... - 1 views

www.theatlanticcities.com/...8084

shared by Chris Aldrete on 29 Apr 14 - No Cached
    • Chris Aldrete
      Chris Aldrete on 29 Apr 14
       
      Class, As I was reading this article I began to think about my experience as a student and a teacher. As a teacher I have utilized a couple of web 2.0 tools that have enabled the learner to think outside of the box. I have also created an atmosphere for creativity and engagement. As a student I have the online experience has led me to endless environments and tools. For college, as a student, I hardly utilize the library for learning. Most of my learning is done in my house, the car, outside patio at the campus (waiting for a study room), but most of it is away from the campus. I ask myself whether we really need all that infrastructure with classrooms? I can see class being conducted outside in a patch of grass. Most students have smart phones and a laptop/tablet where they can produce collaboration and work. Simply, I think the college campus will remain the same for most part but change should come. A majority of the students are still not very comfortable with taking classes online so I don't see a major shift. I do believe that some college's will move faster and make drastic changes.
Abel De La Garza

Could the College Campus Go the Way of the Bookstore? - 35 views

Education Technology classroom mooc learning future
started by Abel De La Garza on 20 Apr 14 no follow-up yet
  • Chris Aldrete
    #9 Chris Aldrete on 22 Apr 14
     
    Abel,

    I have not had extensive research or knowledge in MOOC courses and the foundation but I do have a basic understanding. Yet, if we take a step back and see the history of higher education you can see that not much change has taken place. MOOC's are a tool that will fit somewhere but not replace at this moment and not for a long time. The current higher education trend is and has been set for a long time. In order for a drastic change to happen in will need to take time, foundation and acceptance by majority. I just don't see that happening in the near future but maybe later on. MOOC's are a tool that we can use now and in the future and it will evolve but currently I see MOOC's like a craftsman tool and the current higher education system as a collection of toolbox's.

    I enjoyed the article and it is interesting! (Aldrete)
Chris Aldrete

Week 12: What You Need To Know About Babies, Toddlers And Screen Time : All Tech Consid... - 5 views

www.npr.org/...-time-kids-screens-electronics

shared by Chris Aldrete on 07 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • What You Need To Know About Babies, Toddlers And Screen Time
    • Chris Aldrete
      Chris Aldrete on 07 Apr 14
       
      I found this article amazing as most of us have children. I have realized that my four year old daughter uses the iPad more than her dolls. I also thought to myself how much screen time is too much? As I was reading the article I realized that it focused more on 2 years old toddlers and the amount of screen time they need. The article didn't come up with a number but did talk about the difference between a toddler staring at the screen while working on applications and interacting socially with the use of the screen. I personally don't have an issue with my daughter playing with the iPad and attempting to navigate it and learn how to use it. My daughter has attempted to learn different things on the iPad but it was ineffective so we used a grease board or an outdoor activity that allows her to understand the skill or knowledge. So my question is how much technology does a young child need? Is society forcing them to learn this way as a priority? Are we as parents or teachers replacing our creativity with technology?
    • Chris Aldrete
      Chris Aldrete on 11 Apr 14
       
      Jaime, I too have witnessed and been part of the baby sitter "tablet monster". I have now an entire year training my four year old table manners. I sit her down and teach her about the important basic table etiquette. Yet, in regards to the use of the tablet I must approve the application and I generally go through it with her at least once so that I approve and guide her to actual learning. The issue I have is the actual applications that are designed. I have a handful that I allow my daughter to utilize and in reality they are poor in quality. I do agree with you Jaime that each child is different and some can have more flexibility than others.
    • Chris Aldrete
      Chris Aldrete on 11 Apr 14
       
      Jose, Yes! Technology and technological appliances are like "popcorn" at the movies. The movies has not even started and we are entertained by eating popcorn. I sit down and eat the entire bowl of popcorn even before the movie even starts. My daughter's table use to be like the popcorn. I failed too as a parent. I would sit her down and do the entire process. I believe that the more tools we have the more responsibility we have as parents and teachers to properly execute the learning.
    • Chris Aldrete
      Chris Aldrete on 11 Apr 14
       
      Amanda, Physical activity is so important to children but I ask how much time is just enough? A balance is correct but what numbers do we work with? I am curious I allow my daughter about 30 min straight on the tablet. Then, I switch up the activity but in reality how much is she learning in those 30 min? What do you think Amanda?
    • Chris Aldrete
      Chris Aldrete on 11 Apr 14
       
      Lucretia, It is so true! My daughter's mother informs me that it is difficult for her to get our daughter from asking for the tablet. Yet, the times I have eaten lunch or dinner as a family I observe my daughter's mother texting away on facebook, twitter or one of the many social media. Toddlers do what you do because it is easier for them to pick up what they see with their eyes. Great Comment Lucreti! Yet, I have to ask what if our behavior is not followed? What if you have a toddler or child who conducts himself/herself in a different manner than what you display as a parent? How do you guide? How do you establish good habits?
    • Chris Aldrete
      Chris Aldrete on 11 Apr 14
       
      Lucretia, Great video clip! In regards to your comment I worry about creativity and problem solving skills. Creativity is drained if you plug a child in front of a tablet for hours because everything is given to them. All they have to do is observe, swipe, click and continue the same pattern. I occasionally have my daughter paint, sketch, cut, paste and work on general art skills and at the beginning she struggled to even follow the lines with a crayon. I have observed that technology must be used with a very specific purpose, plan and goal. Lucretia I really enjoyed the video clip!
Chris Aldrete

Rise of the Super-Digital Native | Marcus T. Wright - 12 views

www.huffingtonpost.com/...-digital-native_b_4915720.html

shared by Chris Aldrete on 24 Mar 14 - No Cached
  • If you can imagine this, if you agree that it will take a couple of generations before we really figure out the best ways to use technology for teaching and learning, there is still something you can do.
    • Chris Aldrete
      Chris Aldrete on 29 Mar 14
       
      I can't completely agree with this statement. I must say that a lot of us feel that we must catch up to technology but I don't agree. I don't feel it needs to be us that upgrade to technology but technology upgrades to our needs. Yes, we must learn how to use them in and out of the classroom but we tend to learn quickly whether you are in the baby boomer generation or the x,y,z generation. I feel we all learn at different rates but I don't think it matters what generation you are in. I do agree that we will always have more and more technology that we must learn but with evolution comes success. Teaching is one zone and learning is a different zone. Teaching is always going to evolve and we are always going to utilize the "new" tool in order to make it work. I don't think it will ever just be technology or one simple tool. I believe that history will always play a role. Plain textbooks and the chalkboard are still in effect today. I believe that as technology changes we should focus on what the learner needs and not the change of technology. Yet, I must say that teaching and learning in regards to technology is different. I feel that teaching will utilize technology a lot less than learning. I feel that learning will become more dependent on technology as it is easier, faster and comfortable for the learner. Teaching and learning will be impacted and dealt with in different forms by different people in regards to technology.
  • Chris Aldrete on 28 Mar 14
     
    Educating the Current Generation
Chris Aldrete

Establish Good Tech Habits Now to Last a Lifetime - OnlineUniversities.com - 5 views

www.onlineuniversities.com/...-habits-now-to-last-a-lifetime

shared by Chris Aldrete on 21 Mar 14 - No Cached
  • Backup, Backup, Backup
    • Chris Aldrete
      Chris Aldrete on 24 Mar 14
       
      I must agree that backing up your data is about one of the most important habits we don't exercise. I have lost a ton of files and folders that were properly stored but never backed up. I have this issue every time that I change computers or that I have a technical issue with my computer. Dropbox is one of my favorites to utilize on a day to day basis but if security is an issue and I want to keep everything together close to me I use an external drive. I have an issue with this as well though. Last year I had all my information inside my external drive and I would update it every time I would connect it. I would update it probably monthly or every two months. I accidentally dropped the external drive and it no longer worked. So now I just have all my information all over the web and in my computer. It is easy to bring up and access but I do ask myself why can't I have one place where I can access everything? Plus what happens if these servers crash or disappear? Very important habit to keep and utilize frequently for the sake of your data.
Chris Aldrete

NEA - Social Media Made Simple - 18 views

www.nea.org/53459.htm

shared by Chris Aldrete on 30 Jan 14 - No Cached
Rene Zuniga liked it
  • Gould Burgess’ students subscribe to her blog, which is run through Wordpress, so that all their homework materials are emailed to them when she posts them online.
    • Chris Aldrete
      Chris Aldrete on 21 Mar 14
       
      Such powerful tools and great use of them but I have to share my experience with the lack of resources that students have. I have recently asked all of my students during each class about the access of internet at home or a close location. About 50 percent of the student population does not have internet access or a computer at home. About 25 percent of those students and usually they are the ones that struggle do not have access to a close location that provides a computer or internet access. The power behind accessing a blog with all the students homework and exercising learning principles that enhance learning is amazing and effective. How much paper and money is saved by having students turn in homework through google docs? How easy and effective is it for the student and the teacher? No more lost papers? No more papers ripped half way or cheating involved? How about the use of collaboration and team work instead of cheating? How about the motivation behind learning in a way that the student is already comfortable with? Powerful tools and powerful ways of learning is what this teacher is providing. Working smarter and not harder!!!!
  • Teachers post free print outs, pictures of beautiful classrooms, and links to resources. Don’t forget to follow NEA Today!
    • Chris Aldrete
      Chris Aldrete on 21 Mar 14
       
      I am surprised that a lot of the students are familiar with this tool. Arts and crafts are an important part of life and a huge amount of learners incorporate it in their life. If it is part of the learners life then they must utilize it to learn. If they can use it to learn then why not allow them to use it academically. Today's learner is like any other learner from our past history. Engaged is the learner in music, art, dance, personal expression, painting, and related topics. Allowing the learner to utilize tools that express such interest can only lead to positive learning, motivation and higher order thinking when you connect one subject to another with the use of the tool. I like Pinterest myself and see the importance and effectiveness that it can cause in the classroom and why the learner in the K-12 system knows how to utilize it.
Chris Aldrete

Students, say goodbye to snow days -- and say hello to school at home - CNN.com - 15 views

www.cnn.com/...snow-days-virtual-schools

technology education social media

shared by Chris Aldrete on 02 Mar 14 - No Cached
  • Chris Aldrete on 07 Mar 14
     
    This article discusses how some schools are using technology to hold "virtual school days" and continue the learning process during periods of school cancellation because of inclement weather.
Chris Aldrete

4 Ways To Bring Gamification of Education To Your Classroom | Top Hat - 12 views

blog.tophat.com/ify-learning-in-your-classroom

gamification technology education

shared by Chris Aldrete on 10 Feb 14 - No Cached
  • Chris Aldrete on 06 Mar 14
     
    I found myself fascinated by the concept of gamification. The more I read about it, the more I can see it being applied to not only the classroom, but also to the corporate audience. By increasing engagement and retention of learning material, I see it as a win-win situation. Do you see it as a viable solution to your classroom? Why or why not? What ways do you currently use aspects of gamification in your professional life?
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