Group items tagged

"As expected, Google has flipped the switch on Google Keep, a dead-simple website and Android app for recording notes, checklists, images and audio. Also as expected, there's no shortage of tech pundits - still sore from Google's decision to shut down Google Reader - telling you to stay far, far away. As we witnessed with Reader, you can't trust Google to keep products around anymore, even popular ones, if they don't fit the company's long-term strategies. So maybe Google Keep won't exist in five years - it's still worth trying. "

"No amount of tech or any other educational innovation can make a difference if the users aren't prepared to take advantage of the opportunity."

Great Tech Expectations: What Should Elementary Students be Able to do and When?

"The best way to make technology a healthy and positive part of family life is actually to embrace it, educate yourself about it and go hands-on with new devices, apps, social networks and services wherever possible."

This post is hard for me to read (my eyes don't like the white on black) but I think the premise could be interesting - how can we harness tech to raise writing and reading standards of boys (and girls) Part 2: Raising Standards in Boys' Writing using the iPad for Gaming: Outcomes and Ways Forward By Mr Williams

Read about 'hidden efficacy' - why struggling can help us learn and learn better. Interesting metaphor here for teachers developing tech skills...

Attention Alert: A Study on Distraction Reveals Some Surprises Distractions from our brains hurt as much or more than those from our tech!

We want to ensure student safety as well as monitor and filter their online behavior. As Web 2.0 becomes more popular and educational technology online sites replace desktop software, this has become more of an issue. A lot of subscription-based or ed tech sites require a student email address to create an account which can become a BIG issue when dealing with CIPA compliance, because a majority of students to not have a school email account. Here are 20 Web 2.0 sites that do not require a student email address to create an account. This list is in alphabetical order. 

Assessment via tech infographic - by Stacey & Dana Watts in New Delhi

A wiki sharing student-generated Math Movies.

"A survey of teachers who instruct American middle and high school students finds that digital technologies are impacting student writing in myriad ways and there are significant advantages from tech-based learning. Some 78% of the 2,462 advanced placement (AP) and National Writing Project (NWP) teachers surveyed by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project say digital tools such as the internet, social media, and cell phones "encourage student creativity and personal expression." In addition: 96% agree digital technologies "allow students to share their work with a wider and more varied audience" 79% agree that these tools "encourage greater collaboration among students" According to teachers, students' exposure to a broader audience for their work and more feedback from peers encourages greater student investment in what they write and in the writing process as a whole. At the same time, these teachers give their students modest marks when it comes to writing and highlight some areas needing attention. Asked to assess their students' performance on nine specific writing skills, teachers tended to rate their students "good" or "fair" as opposed to "excellent" or "very good." Students received the best ratings on their ability to "effectively organize and structure writing assignments" and their ability to "understand and consider multiple viewpoints on a particular topic or issue." Teachers gave students the lowest ratings when it comes to "navigating issues of fair use and copyright in composition" and "reading and digesting long or complicated texts.""

Research into barriers to tech integration indicate a lack of design thinking could be a 3rd order barrier.

Research from the USA Department of Education - a meta-analysis of many studies looking at Online and Blended Learning. Mostly higher-ed focused, but still relevant points. From 2009-2010.

Andrew McCarthy's site with useful info on using tech for formative assessment.

Mobile tech helps us reconnect with traditional ways of learning: Oral storytelling Visual literacy Gestures, dance & the body

Ed tech advocate: We should use Skype! Learning advocate: We should connect our kids with other schools around the globe so they can have diverse conversations and learn with instead of learn aboutnother cultures.

Why not subscribe to our very own TechXplorer, Louise Phinney! She is blogging about what she does with tech at Tampines & AMK.

This FREE workshop is for parents, both the tech savvy and the less technically inclined, who would like to develop family expectations around the use of technology to play, learn and connect. By David Truss