14 Jul 11 From Mind/Shift: How Educators are Finding Ways to Mix it Up
How Educators are Finding Ways to Mix it Up
July 11, 2011
Things have changed dramatically in classrooms across the country. Teachers are experimenting in innovative ways, trying to find the best method of engaging students in learning. Last month, the Association of Educational Publishers presented Content in Context Conference, at which educators discussed the ways in which they’re mixing it up. Frank Catalano headed up some of the meetings, and wrote about the highlights from the sessions. Here’s his synopsis, as posted on EdNET Insight.
By Frank Catalano
We’ve all seen wish lists of what teachers want in digital resources and technology. We’ve all read the increasingly voluminous studies of what educators, in aggregate, have in their classrooms, schools, and districts.
But what, though, are they actually doing?
If some of the highest-profile applications of digital tech to K-12 learning are any indication, teachers are experimenting in ways as varied and individual as the instructor and classroom.
Their inventiveness became clear as I helped put together, and then moderated, the opening general session of this year’s Content in Context Conference, organized by the Association of Educational Publishers. Session organizers asked educators far and wide to go into more depth about what’s happening with digital in the classroom, used teachers’ own videos to illustrate, and added a panel to provide the administrator and policy perspective. (more…)
10 Jul 11 From Mind/Shift: 28 Creative Ideas for Teaching with Twitter
28 Creative Ideas for Teaching with Twitter (Thanks for the link Jason Jackson)
July 8, 2011
Enterprising educators are using Twitter in creative ways, to engage students inside and outside of class, to stay on top of education news, and keep in touch with peers and students. A recent post by Best Online Colleges enumerates 28 ways to use Twitter in class. They’ve asked me to repost, and I’m happy to share it. (more…)
07 Jul 11 From Mind/Shift: The Seven Golden Rules of Using Technology in Schools
A great article about Adam S. Bellow’s speech at ITSE 
2011:
http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/07/the-seven-golden-rules-of-using-technology-in-schools/
Here is his list of Seven Golden Rules of Using Technology in Schools:
- DON’T TRAP TECHNOLOGY IN A ROOM
- TECHNOLOGY IS WORTHLESS WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- MOBILE TECHNOLOGY STRETCHES A LONG WAY
- THE NEW ‘F WORD’ IS FEAR
- TECH TOOLS ARE NOT JUST A PASSING FAD
- MONEY IS NOT THE PROBLEM
- INVITE EVERY STAKEHOLDER TO THE CONVERSATION
Read the article for his explanation of each.
25 Jun 11 Dallas Morning News: Lewisville’s Texting-in-Class Program Gets Thumbs-Up from Teachers, Students
Lewisville’s Texting-in-Class Program Gets Thumbs-Up from Teachers, Students
By Wendy Hundley, Staff Writer
Published 29 May 2011 10:24 PM
World geography teacher Valerie Harris posed a question to her students last week at the Hebron Ninth Grade Center: “How is the Kashmir conflict more than just a religious battle?”
Instead of raising their hands to respond, the students quietly began typing their answers into their smartphones, laptops and tablet computers arrayed on their desks. Almost immediately, their words appeared on an interactive whiteboard at the front of the class.
Welcome to the world of digital learning. (more…)
16 Jun 11 Scientists ask: Is technology rewiring our brains?
USA Today: Scientists ask: Is technology rewiring our brains?
Great article from a few years back in USA Today. It gives some interesting insights into the impact technology is having on individuals today versus just a few short years ago. Scientists have gone as far as to say that the brain has literally been rewired. What do you think about it? Do you agree with the findings presented in the article? Do you notice that students today are lacking in social skills? Is technology making it harder, if not impossible, for people to be aware of non-verbal cues in conversation? Do you notice younger people having a struggle communicating face-to-face with others?
