Summary:
Students are running wild on the internet and the epidemic of plagiarism and illegal use of copyrighted material is spreading like the plague according to the article, Turning Digital Natives into Digital Citizens written by Dave Saltzman. Professors have created a lot of different tools to ensure that students are not stealing other people's work. Not only are professors worried that the work their students are turning in is not their own; they are equally concerned about teaching students how to protect their own work. Professors are teaching students using the Creative Commons website as well as Compfight.com, which helps students find images that are free from restrictions.
Reaction:
I felt this article was very helpful with the issues of copyright and the importance of teaching students about the rights of others as well as their own rights online. As students become more and more digital I believe it is the teachers responsibility to teach students about online etiquette and citizenry. If we are to expect them to use the internet and other media sources as research we need to teach them how to do it ethically.
Saltzman, D. (Sept/Oct. 2011) Harvard Education Letter Turning Digital Natives into Digital Citizens. Vol 27 (Num. 5). Retrieved from: http://www.hepg.org/hel/article/511
Showing posts with label technology in classroom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology in classroom. Show all posts
Monday, December 5, 2011
Game On.
This article from Edutopia called Teaching Tools: Using Online Simulations and Games encourages teachers to investigate how to use online gaming and simulations in the classroom. The article offers examples of how teachers have successfully done so. The most interesting to me was the Evoke. This was a graphic novel type adventure to help students understand the impact they have on the "changing world". This would be a great website to use in teaching kids about Sustainability Literacy.
The other two websites that they encouraged use of were World of Warcraft which is a very popular website for kids and SimCEO which helps kids understand the intricacies of the stock market.
I am still hesitant to encourage gaming any more than kids already do. It seems that kids have enough screen time and it's time to teach them how to interact personally and socially on a face to face level. However, it seems that if you get to the point where "you can't beat 'em; join 'em" there are a lot of engaging opportunities out there for teachers.
Boss, S. (5/10/10).edutopia. Teaching Tools: Using Online Simulations and Games. Retrieved from: http://www.edutopia.org/online-games-simulations-teaching-tools
The other two websites that they encouraged use of were World of Warcraft which is a very popular website for kids and SimCEO which helps kids understand the intricacies of the stock market.
I am still hesitant to encourage gaming any more than kids already do. It seems that kids have enough screen time and it's time to teach them how to interact personally and socially on a face to face level. However, it seems that if you get to the point where "you can't beat 'em; join 'em" there are a lot of engaging opportunities out there for teachers.
Boss, S. (5/10/10).edutopia. Teaching Tools: Using Online Simulations and Games. Retrieved from: http://www.edutopia.org/online-games-simulations-teaching-tools
Top Apps for children with Autism
I found this article to be very helpful. Parents with children who have special needs always appreciate something that might help their child learn and grow socially and academically. This article provides information about some applications for the iPad & iPhone that help engage students with autism socially and academically. It seems that parents are very excited about technology and how it has helped their child become a better student and citizen. The apps range from iPrompts and Proloqo2go, which help with every day tasks that are more difficult for the student with autism. Whether it be scheduling and the duration of tasks to help communicating verbally to apps to help with are pro-social and help with emotions such as ABA Flash Cards - Emotions and My Horse. There are also apps such as Talking Tom/Talking Rex that help sometimes difficult or mundane tasks more fun such as speech therapy.
All of the apps listed seemed very helpful and engaging for students, however the few that seemed most helpful were also the most expensive. While a lot of the apps were free or cost .99. iPrompts is $49.99 and Proloquo2go is $189.99. It seems sad that those who are already having to pay for therapies and doctors also have to spend more for apps that will help their kiddos.
This was the first article that really excited me about the possibilities technology could help bring into the classroom. Not only do the apps themselves help engage students, but the fact that the kids with autism would have iPads or iPod touches will help them to be seen as "cool" among their peers. That seems like a great added benefit.
Pierce, M. (12/5/2011) THE Journal. 8 Top App for Autistic Learners. Retrieved From: http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/12/05/apps-for-autistic-learners.aspx
All of the apps listed seemed very helpful and engaging for students, however the few that seemed most helpful were also the most expensive. While a lot of the apps were free or cost .99. iPrompts is $49.99 and Proloquo2go is $189.99. It seems sad that those who are already having to pay for therapies and doctors also have to spend more for apps that will help their kiddos.
This was the first article that really excited me about the possibilities technology could help bring into the classroom. Not only do the apps themselves help engage students, but the fact that the kids with autism would have iPads or iPod touches will help them to be seen as "cool" among their peers. That seems like a great added benefit.
Pierce, M. (12/5/2011) THE Journal. 8 Top App for Autistic Learners. Retrieved From: http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/12/05/apps-for-autistic-learners.aspx
Sunday, December 4, 2011
8 Ways Technology is Improving Education
The title of this article does not leave much for the imagination. The author systematically describes 8 ways that she believes that technology is improving education. The eight are:
Better Simulations and Models
Global Learning
Virtual Manipulatives
Probes and Sensors
More Efficient Assessment
Storytelling and Mutlimedia
Ebooks
Epistemic Games
The author summarily describes each of the eight suggested improvements. The two that I hadn't thought of before were Probes and Sensors - which the author describes as educational applications that can help students collect real-time data to apply to various physics and chemistry activities and lessons. Not being a science minded person, myself, I am sure that this real application to science would have been quite helpful to me as a learner.
The second improvement I hadn't thought of before or did not understand at first is Epistemic Games. What the author means by this is games that put students in specific roles such as city planner, journalist or civic engineer. Putting students in these roles helps them understand concepts deeper and causes them to really wrestle with decision making and problem solving skills in a fun, yet realistic way.
As a teacher I am looking forward to more efficient assessments. My children's school uses the Measures of Achievement Tests which are computer based tests that increase in difficulty as students answer questions correctly. These tests give real feedback in real time to students and parents. It is easy to be able to compare students and to do value-based assessments to ensure that no matter where students have come into your classroom, they leave having moved a little higher in their learning. These assessments will inform your instruction as a teacher so that time is not wasted and students reach their full potential.
Kessler, S. (November 22, 2010). 8 Ways Technology is Improving Education.Mashable Tech Retrieved from: http://mashable.com/2010/11/22/technology-in-education/
Better Simulations and Models
Global Learning
Virtual Manipulatives
Probes and Sensors
More Efficient Assessment
Storytelling and Mutlimedia
Ebooks
Epistemic Games
The author summarily describes each of the eight suggested improvements. The two that I hadn't thought of before were Probes and Sensors - which the author describes as educational applications that can help students collect real-time data to apply to various physics and chemistry activities and lessons. Not being a science minded person, myself, I am sure that this real application to science would have been quite helpful to me as a learner.
The second improvement I hadn't thought of before or did not understand at first is Epistemic Games. What the author means by this is games that put students in specific roles such as city planner, journalist or civic engineer. Putting students in these roles helps them understand concepts deeper and causes them to really wrestle with decision making and problem solving skills in a fun, yet realistic way.
As a teacher I am looking forward to more efficient assessments. My children's school uses the Measures of Achievement Tests which are computer based tests that increase in difficulty as students answer questions correctly. These tests give real feedback in real time to students and parents. It is easy to be able to compare students and to do value-based assessments to ensure that no matter where students have come into your classroom, they leave having moved a little higher in their learning. These assessments will inform your instruction as a teacher so that time is not wasted and students reach their full potential.
Kessler, S. (November 22, 2010). 8 Ways Technology is Improving Education.Mashable Tech Retrieved from: http://mashable.com/2010/11/22/technology-in-education/
Sunday, November 6, 2011
the iPad.. not just for Angry Birds anymore.
In his article Teaching and Learning: Using iPads in the Classroom, Ben Johnson details a number of ways that a teacher might use an iPad in their classroom. He discusses the fact that although the computer was supposed to revolutionize the classroom, in his opinion, it hasn't made that much of an impact. However, he believes with the mobility and cost of the iPad there is a much bigger chance for the iPad to have an influence on classroom quality. He goes on to explain why he believes that this tool will be innovative in the classroom including the opportunity for kinesthetic- bodily learners, who he believes to be the majority of learners, to learn in a way that is more applicable and engaging for them.
Johnson also explains a number of different applications available on the ipad that would bring technology into many otherwise mundane lessons; especially in the area of physics. These different apps would engage students in experiential learning not found in any other way.
The portability of the iPad is another feature that contributes to providing opportunities to teach with innovation and engagement and enhances it's effectiveness.
Personally, I am sure that the iPad has many different applications and would provide students with experiential learning not found in traditional methods or even with a stationary computer. However, as a realist, I know how expensive providing iPads for each student could be and because they are mobile - they would be difficult to keep them in the classrooms. I am not sure however whether those practical cons are worth stomping out the dreams of an idealistic teacher who has high hopes in using the iPad in her classroom. I am encouraged to give it a try with students who I would believe to be responsible and could benefit from such interaction. How fun to put technology in students hand who might otherwise not have access! I think with the right sort of accountability and funds a teacher could use an iPad effectively and engagingly and help students learn in a new and exciting way.
Johnson, B. (10/31/2011). Teaching and Learning: Using Ipads in the Classroom. Edutopia. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ipad-teaching-learning-apps-ben-johnson
Johnson also explains a number of different applications available on the ipad that would bring technology into many otherwise mundane lessons; especially in the area of physics. These different apps would engage students in experiential learning not found in any other way.
The portability of the iPad is another feature that contributes to providing opportunities to teach with innovation and engagement and enhances it's effectiveness.
Personally, I am sure that the iPad has many different applications and would provide students with experiential learning not found in traditional methods or even with a stationary computer. However, as a realist, I know how expensive providing iPads for each student could be and because they are mobile - they would be difficult to keep them in the classrooms. I am not sure however whether those practical cons are worth stomping out the dreams of an idealistic teacher who has high hopes in using the iPad in her classroom. I am encouraged to give it a try with students who I would believe to be responsible and could benefit from such interaction. How fun to put technology in students hand who might otherwise not have access! I think with the right sort of accountability and funds a teacher could use an iPad effectively and engagingly and help students learn in a new and exciting way.
Johnson, B. (10/31/2011). Teaching and Learning: Using Ipads in the Classroom. Edutopia. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ipad-teaching-learning-apps-ben-johnson
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