The Education Technologies That Educators Believe Can Have The Biggest Impact On Student Learning (Survey Results)
Survey results indicate several specific technologies as those that we should be investing in and focusing on if we want to effectively leverage technology in education. Tough economic times have more people questioning what we are getting out of technology spending in our schools. Unfortunately, results are often being sought in overly broad terms, like improved grades and graduation rates, without trying to more directly relate technology program goals to specific outcomes. One thing that frequently seems to be either lacking or overlooked in many of the school technology programs we read about is input from those who are responsible for leveraging these technologies in instructional application. Are teachers integral to the planning, rollout, and accountability cycles for these programs? Last month EmergingEdTech ran a survey seeking input on this subject from teachers and their colleagues. Respondents Profiles – Who Participated? (Click the pic for a larger image) Mobile Technologies
The 100 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools Chosen By You
The Wordle of this list! (Click image to enlarge) One of the most popular posts on Edudemic in 2010 was The 35 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools Chosen By You and I felt it might be time for an update to that list for 2011. There were more than 900 submissions but many were duplicates.
3 Reasons an Administrator Needs an iPad
For over a month now, I have been testing the capabilities of my iPad, and I have to admit, it has now become a seamless part of both my professional life and personal life. I would encourage all administrators to consider investing in an iPad for three reasons. 1. 2. 3. Getting an iPad should be a "no-brainer" for the administrator. Short List of Must Have iPad App List for Administrators Skype for iPad Dropbox for iPad Docs-to-Go for iPad GoTasks for the iPad Google App for the iPad
Challenging Educational Technology
I'm a big supporter of educational technology. This blog is primarily dedicated to sharing tips, tricks, and ideas on how to successfully use technology to increase student engagement, critical thinking, and mastery of learning objectives. From time to time I think it is important to examine my assumptions on life, to ensure that I'm not missing something. To this end I have begun to read and follow several critics of educational technology. While at first glance these individuals may seem to be critical of technology in the classroom, or technology in general, a closer examination reveals that they really aren't. Each of them is deeply committed to encouraging critical thinking and evaluation amongst students. Jerrid Kruse is the author of the blog "Teaching as a Dynamic Activity." 1. Nicholas Carr is not an educator, but has written several books regarding the impact technology is having on society. Where do you go to challenge your assumptions and ideas?
Apps in Education
SlideShark - Convert & View PPT on Your iPad
From the same people that created My Brainshark comes SlideShark. SlideShark is a free app for converting and viewing PPT files on your iPad. SlideShark converts your PowerPoint files without losing any of your original formatting, transitions, or animations. To use SlideShark just upload your PPT files to your free SlideShark account, SlideShark converts the files for you, then you can access your converted files on your iPad at anytime using the free SlideShark app. The video below provides an overview of how SlideShark works. Applications for Education If your school is one that is trying to implement an iPad program, SlideShark could be a handy app for you.
Next steps: getting ready for inquiry
Although we are still adjusting to the routines in our literacy centers, we are ready to begin using the iPads in our content area instruction and inquiry. A little background: our faculty has both studied and been featured in a book/DVD series by Stephanie Harvey and Harvey "Smokey" Daniels entitled Comprehension and Collaboration: Inquiry Circles in Action. Inquiry-based learning has led to increased student choice and engagement, deep and meaningful questioning, and real-world advocacy and action. Our iPad grant proposal centered around incorporating the iPad into all the stages of student inquiry for our first and second graders, in addition to supporting their literacy development. Our first step will be to use multimedia to inspire student questioning and build background knowledge. Students will be using the app Simplenote to list the questions they have as they view the images and slide shows.
Learning and Teaching with iPads
Preparing Your School for an iPad Implementation
Planning is imperative for any technology initiative - iPad or otherwise. You need to ensure that you clearly understand and communicate how the technology integrates with your overall pedagogical objectives. Too many institutions purchase technology and then search for ways to utilize it ... or leave it collecting dust on the shelf. Planning needs to consider both infrastructure needs and the educational applications of the new technology. Without the proper preparation, technology initiatives are liable to become expensive failures. Campus Infrastructure Considerations Signal Strength: If you’re using wifi iPads then you’ll need a strong and reliable connection to the web. Pedagogical Considerations: Pedagogical Models:Have you discussed how the use of iPads will be integrated into your educational processes? Your iPad implementation plan requires careful thought and preparation.
How to Grow a Blog
Last month, in preparation for my K12Online Conference presentation , I re-read Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Good Business. Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning . In it, he states that the experience of flow – when the person is totally immersed in an activity and genuinely enjoying the moment – comes from “the steps one takes toward attaining a goal, not from actually reaching it.” He adds that: People often miss the opportunity to enjoy what they do because they focus all their attention on the outcome, rather than savoring the steps along the way. In education, however, the product – the grade, the final draft, the test mark – still often takes precedence over the process of learning – the sense of personal journey without which the final destination is meaningless. In my classroom – a predominantly blogging classroom – things have to be different. In order to create that classroom, however, I need to continue to tweak my classroom practice. Keep in mind, this is not easy.
Education Program - Free Digital Storytelling Software for Educators
At Mixbook, we offer discounts for bulk and volume custom yearbook orders for Elementary School Yearbooks, Middle School Yearbooks, High School Yearbooks, as well as education centers and academic programs. Transform your sports team, student and school photos into lasting memories with our premium, professional quality custom school yearbooks. Whether you’re looking to capture the baseball team photos, create a custom school yearbook or class project photo book, or celebrate your student’s art projects in a class calendar, Mixbook has hundreds of unique and easy to create photo products that can be customized to your heart’s content. Creating photo keepsakes for your students and teachers has never been easier than with the Mixbook editor.
