Friday, May 2, 2008
Back from the edge...
Wow....Months have gone by since my last post. I have been so busy completing my graduate studies that I have not had the opportunity to post at all. Plus, I have been thinking about what would make a good post. There has been something on my mind about technology and learning lately and I have not been able to bring it out; but now I think I know.
In my current teaching position I have the enviable job of being able to work at finding best-practice ideas to incorporate technology into the classroom. It is a challenge at time and often gets hung up on technology. Why?
There are always problems...classrooms with limited technology; limited support; fear of the unknown; fearing of losing control of the classroom; lack of software, etc. the list could literally go on and on.
Really, it's not about any of that in my opinion. I had the opportunity to talk to a fellow traveler in tech integration today and he brought out what I have been thinking, the focus needs to be not on the problems, but the kids. Students are the reason we are here. They are so different today than my generation, which is only really a generation removed. I look at my own children. They get technology. Really, they just get it.
Teachers sometimes do not. Technology is not about writing notes on a computer or creating a PowerPoint that has lots of glitz. It's about bringing the new world to them. Allowing them to be global citizens, making contacts through global connections; understanding cultures through interaction, not memorization.
This is where we need to move. It's not about the latest software or hardware; it's about creating global citizens able to live in a global society. The question is, where do we begin in the classroom?
In my current teaching position I have the enviable job of being able to work at finding best-practice ideas to incorporate technology into the classroom. It is a challenge at time and often gets hung up on technology. Why?
There are always problems...classrooms with limited technology; limited support; fear of the unknown; fearing of losing control of the classroom; lack of software, etc. the list could literally go on and on.
Really, it's not about any of that in my opinion. I had the opportunity to talk to a fellow traveler in tech integration today and he brought out what I have been thinking, the focus needs to be not on the problems, but the kids. Students are the reason we are here. They are so different today than my generation, which is only really a generation removed. I look at my own children. They get technology. Really, they just get it.
Teachers sometimes do not. Technology is not about writing notes on a computer or creating a PowerPoint that has lots of glitz. It's about bringing the new world to them. Allowing them to be global citizens, making contacts through global connections; understanding cultures through interaction, not memorization.
This is where we need to move. It's not about the latest software or hardware; it's about creating global citizens able to live in a global society. The question is, where do we begin in the classroom?
Monday, February 4, 2008
Digital Storytelling
Get a Voki now!
OK...I am not breaking new ground here. Digital Storytelling has been around for a while and there are a lot of resources to help understand how they work. What I do believe, is that they are not be used enough. Students have a natural attraction to different media and digital stories offers them the opportunity to really bring out their creative side while also getting them to write. Take a look at this LINK for example. Here we have a group of grade 7 and 8 boys creating a quick story that is, A) in their interest area, and B)giving them a reason to want to write.
They also have an authentic audience to receive their product via the wikispace that has been created to house their material.
Using digital storytelling in any class; math to teach a math concept, social studies to show routes of explorers or science to show experiments and labs will engage the student in the classroom and provide a more meaningful learning experience.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Working with Students
I have been working lately with students creating some really interesting projects. I have read so much about how we need to give students authentic learning opportunities and differentiate instruction based on interests that I thought I should research how to actually bring this to life. Many teachers are using technology in the classroom, but my concern was are they just using it as an "insert technology here" add-on, or a true lesson where technology is seamlessly integrated into the classroom.
So in the spirit of actually giving a concrete example of what students are doing, here it goes!
Getting students to write has always been a problem. I know I never liked the idea of sitting down to write something in classes and that was a couple of decades ago. Nothing seems to have changed. However, put a student in front of their MSN screen or their Facebook profile and they will write like there is no tomorrow. Why? Because they have an audience; a worldwide audience. Even better, an audience of their peers; their peers worldwide.
What I created was a project similar to "This I Believe..." from National Public Radio. I know I spoke about this before, but this post is about the "nuts and bolts" of the project. I am sitting down with the teacher and brainstorming how this fits in their classroom. Then we are approaching the students with the idea, showing them concrete examples of what they can do. So instead of writing for the sake of writing they are now writing about things that truly interest them. Fact, fiction, action, adventure, life, death, friendship. relationships as long as it interests them, it's good.
Then their writings are to be read by them. We are using audacity to record. They will then turn them into MP3's and post them on our website along with the document that they wrote. Now I wish I could claim that I invented this. I did not. I am a reader of many blogs and this came from a blog by Ms Smith. She has used the "This I Believe" format in her classroom as well. The only difference in hers and ours is that we will be using the format from grades 6 to 12 in a variety of different ways. Check back soon for the link to our first essays!
So in the spirit of actually giving a concrete example of what students are doing, here it goes!
Getting students to write has always been a problem. I know I never liked the idea of sitting down to write something in classes and that was a couple of decades ago. Nothing seems to have changed. However, put a student in front of their MSN screen or their Facebook profile and they will write like there is no tomorrow. Why? Because they have an audience; a worldwide audience. Even better, an audience of their peers; their peers worldwide.
What I created was a project similar to "This I Believe..." from National Public Radio. I know I spoke about this before, but this post is about the "nuts and bolts" of the project. I am sitting down with the teacher and brainstorming how this fits in their classroom. Then we are approaching the students with the idea, showing them concrete examples of what they can do. So instead of writing for the sake of writing they are now writing about things that truly interest them. Fact, fiction, action, adventure, life, death, friendship. relationships as long as it interests them, it's good.
Then their writings are to be read by them. We are using audacity to record. They will then turn them into MP3's and post them on our website along with the document that they wrote. Now I wish I could claim that I invented this. I did not. I am a reader of many blogs and this came from a blog by Ms Smith. She has used the "This I Believe" format in her classroom as well. The only difference in hers and ours is that we will be using the format from grades 6 to 12 in a variety of different ways. Check back soon for the link to our first essays!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The 21st Century
I'm back! I could post to this blog everyday, but I am not sure if anyone would actually want to read every thought in my head. Recently I have been in a bit of a foul mood trying to push 21st century skills to 19th century practice. Don't get me wrong, there are wonderful learning opportunities happening for students everyday. I want them to be in all classes and they are simply..not. I was looking at the FETC website. FETC (Florida Educational Technology COnference) has screened the movie Two Million Minutes fora ll the attendees. What an opportunity.
While the movie focuses on the United States vs. China and India. It could be Canada, UK, or any western coutry instead of the U.S. This movie shows that if changes are not made, then we are going to see big changes in the future.
I think every teacher should see this movie. I think every student should see this movie. I think every parent should see this movie. You get the idea! It's just that important.
We can integrate with technology, inspire with praise and collaborate all we want, if there is not a fundamental change in teaching practice and student motivation, I think the 21st century high paying jobs are going to pass North America by.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Back to Education!
It's been a long winter so far, and really it has only begun. Lots of snow in thie area of the world and much mroe to come before the first flowers of Spring start to show. In the world of education nothing ever seems to stop. The video I have included today is not new. It's not eye-catching. It is however, eye-opening. if you haven't thought about how to prepare students for the years ahead this video is something to look at. Told from a student perspective, I think it really shows what we as educators need to realize about the 30+ students sitting in front of us everyday. Take a look at the video. I am working on a presentation right now on creating digital essays for an authentic audience. I will upload it when I am complete. I presented the idea to a group of students this week and they were interested in working on creating something out of their own personal essays. More to come!
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