An Introduction to Technology Integration | Edutopia

An Introduction to Technology Integration | Edutopia

I'm pretty sure this speaks for itself, I think this is solid. I am encouraged by this integration at the elementary level. I know my students can run with technology integrated assignments, I just have to be able to collaborate and implement meaningful assessments that allow my students to grow through the usage of technology. The schools shown in the video seem to have a great deal of resources to work with, I'm not sure we have these same types of resources at school. My students may be able to provide their own resources, but how do you approach that topic? Anyway, I don't need to let that hold me back. We are in education to overcome obstacles, right?

How to Use the Startup Model to Ignite Innovation | Edutopia

How to Use the Startup Model to Ignite Innovation | Edutopia

Ok, so the link I initially opened took me to a blog with listings of many other blogs, so I chose this one to share. I'll probably be sharing others soon. This startup model empowers teachers to connect with students/parents on a few different platforms. Also, I can see using the alum.us as a way to connect to students who have gone on to college or other parts of the world and have them share experiences with current students or even encourage some to see the benefit of education. The goalbook site is extremely inviting in that it allows teachers/parents/students to track progress in a particular content area.

Education World: Add Rigor: Upping Vocabulary Complexity

Education World: Add Rigor: Upping Vocabulary Complexity

I remember the title of this book from two years ago when my principal was beginning to use the word rigor in an effort to intensify content. Although it still exists, we don't hear it every time he addresses us now. I find myself guilty of many of the same habits in that sometimes I don't spend the necessary time on vocabulary when I need to work with my students' writing and reading skills. In this article, we find alternate ways to process and retain information - many of which remind me of C.R.I.S.S. training I received when I began teaching. I do agree with the technique presented, but also struggle to balance this without inundating students with the dreaded homework. I know there must be a way to work all of this into the curriculum, but struggle each year on completing the desired readings and writing assignments.

How Collaborative Learning Leads to Student Success | Edutopia

How Collaborative Learning Leads to Student Success | Edutopia

Apparently, I'm becoming a big fan of posts on Edutopia. The process f collaborative learning is one I enjoy observing as a teacher, especially when the task at hand is challenging enough to require input from each member of the group. As a learner in secondary school, I rarely if ever was given the opportunity to work with peers in the classroom. When I first learned of collaborative learning in the classroom, I immediately was drawn to it. I do realize that students must be closely monitored in an effort to stay on task at times, but I have also found that if the task at hand is one that challenges them, then they are more likely to stay on task. I know students appreciate working among their peers, and as long as they are achieving the targets I am as well.

Common Core Big Idea 5: Consider Meaningful Assessment | Edutopia

Common Core Big Idea 5: Consider Meaningful Assessment | Edutopia

I have enjoyed reading about the Common Core, because I work in one of the 4 states that chooses not to work in the confides of Common Core standards. Of all the information I've read, especially from Edutopia, I see many of the same areas of emphasis. We too have been working constantly to improve our assessment and skills to create authentic and effective assessments. I see that with or without Common Core standards, teachers need to emphasize rigor and evaluate the students appropriately.

Study Links Multiple Media Usage To Depression and Anxiety

I find this interesting on multiple levels, because identifying depression in high school students is an extremely difficult task to attempt. Anxiety aside, students are constantly multi-tasking or attempting to multi-task during the school day. If they are working on a computer (web or application) they are more than likely using their phone for something: music, Twitter, or messages. Based on this research, I don't think that necessarily makes them depressed, but I can see how it could lead to it. I find it funny that when one person is texting, it seems that regardless of the need, the other person will at least check for new messages on their own phone. Kind of like saying I would rather talk to anyone else than have to wait on you.  I'm as guilty as anyone about using technology, sometimes more than one at a time, but I do have moments when I miss the days before cell phones, tablets, and other handheld devices - when you had to run to the phone if you got a call or when you received letters in the mail.  These are the reasons people should be depressed, not because we have developed into an instant gratification society that needs constant contact with others, whether we know them or not.

Challenging the Model of 1:1 with BYOD | Edutopia

Challenging the Model of 1:1 with BYOD | Edutopia

I am intrigued by Paquette's writing on the usage of different devices in a classroom. I realize many schools do not have as privileged a population as mine does, but wonder how this could be implemented in a school where students seem to always have the latest technology at their disposal. Having the opportunity to use these many devices as learning tools would enhance a lesson as well as engage students better. Supposedly, our district is going to implement certain devices in the coming years (I'll believe it when I see it) so this would be a good jump start for my classroom.

Digital Aristotle

Maybe this is why some teachers are reluctant to commit to an online/digital classroom - they may think that in doing so they would become obsolete. I'm not sure I completely agree with Grey. Although I do believe people will be able to be guided/taught by a "Digital Aristotle", I do not believe that all students will want to do so. I'm not sure about others, but my biggest challenge is to motivate the unmotivated and challenge the motivated all within the same classroom. I can see how a "Digital Aristotle" will cater to each students' needs, but will it make a student want to learn? As he stated, there has always been a place to locate information, but not everyone has accessed this place (library). His thoughts makes me wonder, are more students reading now that they have digital devices that alleviate the trip to the library or bookstore? The thought excites me and scares me a little, I mean I do want have a job in the future, but if I can be a part of the process that encourages students to learn on their own, then I will enjoy education even more!

Five-Minute Film Festival: The Future of Education | Edutopia

Five-Minute Film Festival: The Future of Education | Edutopia

I have only had the opportunity to watch the first film on Future Learning, and while doing so I found myself getting exciting and wanting to be those types of teachers. I don't completely know how yet, but I want to engage my students (as I think most teachers do) in a way to improve their desires on learning. How do I get them excited about reading Arthur Miller's The Crucible? I find it intriguing on multiple levels, but in what way is a typical teenage student going to want to learn about the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism? I wonder if a webquest is enough or if discovering how treacherous each of these situations was will sink in at this time in society.

Codecademy is an interesting link. I'm not sure why most people would want to learn to write in code, but I do believe that this is a good way to learn it. I was enjoying the 10-15 minutes I had playing around with the tutorial, but I'm probably wired a little differently than some. In working on this site, I did learn and have a bit of a refresher on items I had worked with in the past. You might want to check it out.

Three Key Goals for Instructional Design

In the linked Ed World article, the author(s) quite clearly define three necessities in creating instruction: engagement, student responsibility, and rigor. I have heard these things more in the last few years than I had ever dreamed I would hear. In reading articles like this and others, I totally agree with where the tools are taking us, but I have a hard time implementing many different techniques into the many different lessons I already use. I know that with instructional technology, I should be able to extend the classroom and lesson and take the students farther, but sometimes I feel as though the effort put into using technology only slows our progress and tends to make certain lessons almost elementary.

Antone Gonsalve's article on tablets outselling laptops does not surprise me, but I am curious to see if more companies are going to adapt the same combination that Microsoft recently released. Either way, I am reminded of learning to type on a typewriter (Smith Wesson) and being hesitant to go into a computer lab in my freshman year of college, which is where I received my first email address, as well as, learned what the WWW is.

I have both a laptop and a tablet because I don't know how to become independent of the laptop when I feel that I must have a keyboard and the other typical functions of a computer. I realize that tablets have adapters with keyboards and other types of accessories, but I can't seem to have the same confidence with the lack of programs (Word, PowerPoint...). I like to think that I am able to be independent, but many of the typical types of functions seem more practical on a laptop. In other words, I have typed a paper or completed an assignment completely on a tablet.

Which brings me to another inquiry that arises with this topic: when students go to tablets or e-readers for textbooks, will laptops and computers be necessary in the classroom. I do know that I haven't unleashed the many capabilities of my tablet, because I don't know how, but how many accessories and adapters will be required to implement the many resources offered by the tablet.  Who knows where we will go in the classroom?

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readwriteweb/~3/4KZt87XWp8c/black-friday-projected-to-push-tablet-sales-ahead-of-laptops

Blogging befuddles me a little bit. I'm a person who does not talk a great deal, either with friends or new acquaintances, I am usually one who allows the other to talk, whether or not I'm actually listening is up for their interpretation. Regardless, I hesitate to blog, but now realize that I must remove this particular guard I constantly have up and express things on my mind. My students, as are all high school students, are curious about my life, and I rarely if ever offer up any information, yet I find a way to build a trusting student/teacher relationship with them. I wonder if it is necessary to change that aspect of my personality.

Ok, so I just spent what seemed like ten minutes reading about all of the possibilities in using technology in education, it was really 2 1/2 hours. I am completely awestruck with this link below. I have been trying to use the polling devices for formative assessments in an effort to improve classroom performance, but now I see a way to make this work. Students would be able to use their (smart) phones in order to give the teacher an opportunity to monitor their understanding of their targets being taught. I'm so happy to have come across the website socrative.com to have a new platform on which I can work with my students.

http://socrativegarden.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/new-teacher-paced-quizzes/

Visuwords does all the work for you in a sense that words are already mapped with synonyms, relative forms, and definitions/understandings. Vocabulary is such an important aspect of writing and reading that I think this site will help encourage students to work with the words in a different manner. Students will thrive from exposure to this graphic dictionary.

Visuwords™ online graphical dictionary and thesaurus

Practical Tips for Mobile Learning in the PBL Classroom | Edutopia

I've always wanted ideas on how to implement everyday technology such as cell phones into the learning environment. As teachers, are we able to trust students will stay on topic while texting? Or at least focused enough to complete the assignment at a proficient level? Is there a way to be able to show your text conversation (print it) so a teacher can visualize the interactions concerning educational growth?

Practical Tips for Mobile Learning in the PBL Classroom | Edutopia