Flipping the Classroom | Umass Boston EdTech Newsletter There has been much talk lately about the idea of “flipping the classroom” and two of our own faculty, Mike Milburn of Psychology and Brian White of Biology will be talking about/demonstrating their quite different approaches in a CIT/EdTech forum this week. The idea behind flipping is to use new technologies and resources to move some of what has traditionally gone on in classrooms into an online environment so that students can access the material or engage in the learning activities at any time, opening up classroom time for activities that can deepen students’ learning, whether they involve group problem-solving, teacher to student or student to student coaching and mentoring, or project-based activities. Here are some general principles of flipped learning, according to Jon Bergman, the high school chemistry teacher who may be most responsible for creating a movement around the concept: In the meantime, instructors make use of class time in different ways.
Webinar with Alan November and Dr. Eric Mazur This is a very special episode of our podcast series. It’s an archived recording of our first of what we hope will be many live webinars complete with audience Q&A at the end. In this conversation, Alan talks again to Dr. Eric Mazur, Area Dean of Applied Physics at Harvard University and 2011 Building Learning Communities Conference keynote speaker. Alan and Dr. Mazur revisit his work on flipped learning along with peer instruction that is guided by the questions and misconceptions students bring to class each day. Dr. Loaded: 0% Progress: 0%
MOOCs on Campus | Umass Boston EdTech Newsletter If you’ve been following news reports about higher education, you know that MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), using online technologies to offer courses open to the world, are capturing the imagination of education prognosticators who see them either as benefits or as threats to traditional universities and the students they serve. UMass Boston is offering its first MOOC this spring, “Molecular Dynamics for Discoveries in Computational Science,” taught by Nishikant Sonwalker, adjunct professor Physics and founder of Synaptic Global Learning , to be followed in June by a second MOOC on Coasts and Communities, and the Center for Innovation and Excellence in E-Learning (CIEE) in the College of Advancing and Professional Studies held a symposium on “The Sustainability of MOOCs in Higher Education” in December to prepare the way. It seems that the upside of MOOCs, the ideal, is that But so far there are downsides as well, including: What might be the gains? M. A.
Flipping...It's Not Just For The Classroom I've recently returned from a trip out to San Diego for #ISTE12. While there you could definitely sense several themes with the participants, sessions, and vendors. STEM was one. iPad and other Tablet cases, charging stations and protection plans was another. What is flipping? I am very skeptical of flipping. I do believe that there is a more practical application of the flip that doesn't involve the classroom. Faculty meetings. Someone on Twitter asked me the other day if I had any resources for making faculty meetings better. Think about it. Not enough time for PLC meetings? Not enough time for Professional Development? There are lots of practical applications for the Faculty Flip. So the idea sounds great but how do you share that information? Google Docs-Easy to start and use. Ning-A while back when Ning went paid it got a bad rap. No matter what you use, try it! photo credit: Hani Amir via photo pin cc
Sharing iTunes & iCloud Accounts in a Family Q: I’m wondering about the best way for my wife and I to use our iTunes and iCloud accounts with iOS 5.1. We each have our own iPhone but are currently sharing an iPad. I also have my own MacBook Air, but we both share a family iMac. Can we use the same iTunes accounts for our apps and music, but different iCloud accounts to keep our contacts and calendars separate? Also, how do we handle things like Photo Stream and sharing pictures? - Erik A: There are a few different ways in which you can approach this depending on your specific requirements. Firstly, keep in mind that your iCloud Apple ID and your iTunes Store Apple ID do not have to be the same. iCloud The key point here is that you actually can configure more than one iCloud account on a single iOS device or Mac, however there are some limitations to be aware of. Only one iCloud account can be used for Photo Stream, Documents & Data, Storage & Backups, Bookmarks and Find My Device. iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match
The flipping librarian One of the things I am getting ready to do in September is to help a growing number of interested teachers flip. Just in case you’ve missed it, many educators are thinking about flipping. What is flipping? Flipping the classroom changes the place in which content is delivered. Flipping frees face-to-face classroom time for interactive and applied learning, activities that inspire critical thinking, exploration, inquiry, discussion, collaboration, problem solving. According to teachers Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams, considered by many the co-founders of the movement, the Flipped Classroom begins with one question: What’s the best use of your face-to-face class time? In this short video, Sams explains the rationale behind his shift in classroom practice: For much more information and a conceptual model, read the work of Jackie Gerstein and follow her Flipped Classroom Scoop.it. Does flipping work? Of 453 flipped educators surveyed: Flipping for differences Flipping is not outsourcing 1. 2. 3.
How to Get Students Ready for Learning Scott McFarland: Hi guys. Scott: I was a student that probably could have fallen through the cracks pretty easily and I always vowed that if I was ever into education I was going to create a school in which all kids counted and that we did everything in our power for kids. Scott: How are you? Mom: Good how are you? Scott: Look at you go, Girl! Mom: I know, we're workin' it! Scott: There is no stopping you! Scott: I just really believe that more than ever before we need to teach kids the skills of self-regulating their emotions. Rebecca Heniser: The social-emotional learning allows me to be a teacher. Rebecca: I would like someone to choose how we're going to transition from our desks to the rug. Emeris: Thumb walk. Rebecca: Thumb walk? Emeris: Quiet and don't talk. Rebecca: One of the things that's crucial with a Responsive Classroom is allowing the kids to take the leadership role. Julian: The transitions make me feel relaxed and they help me calm down. Rebecca: This is our family time.
Research: How SEL Classroom Management Techniques Build Academic Achievement Respect, responsibility, and a community-based learning atmosphere promote success at Mount Desert Elementary School, a K-8 public school in Northeast Harbor, Maine. An important aspect of the culture at Mount Desert is allowing students and teachers autonomy to determine what works best in their classrooms for promoting students' learning. Credit: Alyssa Fedele Mount Desert Elementary School is a small, K-8 public school in Northeast Harbor, Maine, that has successfully created a strong learning community that is the basis of the school's academic success. Since 2006, this elementary school has consistently outperformed the state of Maine in the percentage of students at "Proficient with Distinction" or above on state tests, and has been awarded National Blue Ribbon Schools Program status for academic excellence in 2008. Responsive Classroom An Approach That Helps Build Positive Relationships Using Discipline Challenges as Learning Opportunities Credit: Rebeccas Heniser Making Math Relevant
The Connected Scholar | Office for Scholarly Communication A project to create a proof of concept for an online writing workspace that tracks sources and the development of ideas for students and scholars. Project Team: Susan Fliss, Kimberly Hall, Karen Storin Linitz Susan Fliss, Associate Librarian for Research, Teaching and Learning, Harvard College Library Kimberly Hall, Learning Technologies Manager, Teaching, Curriculum and Publications Solutions, Law Library Karen Storin Linitz, Manager, Teaching, Curriculum and Publications Solutions, Law Library Code Final Report September 2011 Update The creation of the Connected Scholar is now underway. The Connected Scholar currently has: A collaborative writing space that tracks revisions/changes and includes a chat feature based on the existing application known as EtherPad. Download the proposal:
Using Google Scripts Handout