Monday, July 5, 2010
Good bye binders, hello IPads?
The instructional design group at my work brought up an interesting proposal today. Most trainings the ID group creates for us includes a facilitator guide. Some trainers choose to print the facilitator guide out and stick it in a binder. Other trainers choose to look at it straight from the computer. The issue that can arise from printed facilitator guides, is the chance of updates happening. To fix this from happening, the instructional design team feels that the use of technology, such as an IPad, would be beneficial. This way they could make updates and the trainers would immediately have access to the most recent facilitator guide.
I personally feel this would not be a beneficial investment for my department. The reason being that trainers should not be relying heavily on facilitator guides anyway. They should be studying the material before the training class starts. If an update does need to happen, emails have worked great so far. Why invest money into technology we do not need when there is other technology that would benefit the classroom even more!
I personally feel this would not be a beneficial investment for my department. The reason being that trainers should not be relying heavily on facilitator guides anyway. They should be studying the material before the training class starts. If an update does need to happen, emails have worked great so far. Why invest money into technology we do not need when there is other technology that would benefit the classroom even more!
Tech for Moms
I thought this post was interesting. Check out:
http://blog.marketingtomoms.com/2009/01/study-reveals-technology-habits-of.html
It reports the findings of both studies and surveys about how mom's use technology. There is a compelling top 10 reasons mom's use the Internet list. Here it is:
1. Checking/sending email (85%)
2. Paying bills/online banking (64%)
3. Reading news (57%)
4. Checking weather (56%)
5. Researching other products/price comparisons (49%)
6. Playing games (46%)
7. Shopping for her children (45%)
8. Shopping for herself (44%)
9. Planning travel (39%)
10. Researching health-care information (38%)
I would have to say that I go online for all of the reasons (minus #6, not much of a gamer). The Internet makes all of our lives easier, especially moms.
http://blog.marketingtomoms.com/2009/01/study-reveals-technology-habits-of.html
It reports the findings of both studies and surveys about how mom's use technology. There is a compelling top 10 reasons mom's use the Internet list. Here it is:
1. Checking/sending email (85%)
2. Paying bills/online banking (64%)
3. Reading news (57%)
4. Checking weather (56%)
5. Researching other products/price comparisons (49%)
6. Playing games (46%)
7. Shopping for her children (45%)
8. Shopping for herself (44%)
9. Planning travel (39%)
10. Researching health-care information (38%)
I would have to say that I go online for all of the reasons (minus #6, not much of a gamer). The Internet makes all of our lives easier, especially moms.
New Technology
The other day, I took my daughter and husband to Verizon to upgrade their phones. Danielle (14 yrs.) wanted a phone with a keyboard. My husband on the other hand just wanted something simple. The phone that Danielle wanted was on a buy 1 get 1 deal. Needless to say, my husband wasn't real excited about the idea of the new phone. It was a great example of how technology evolves and some people just can't change with it. I ended up with the new phone and my husband ended up with my phone. My daughter loves her new phone and is already doing things with hers that I haven't even figured out with mine. I'll learn it eventually. I am just amazed at how well the youth does with learning new technology. They just aren't intimidated by it.
Online Video on TVAAS and School Performance Charts
Hey teachers, the Education Consumers Foundation (ECF) as produced an online video explaining TVAAS and School Performance Charts. The purpose of this 10-minute video is to help consumers interested in school effectiveness understand Tennessee's TVAAS value-added system and the Foundation's own School Performance Charts. If you would like to see the video click on or copy and paste this site below.
http://www.education-consumers.org/
http://www.education-consumers.org/
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Online School K-12
Check out this website:
www.k12.com
I've thought about teaching for k12.com in the future. It offers both public and private school education for all grade levels. Students are basically attending online school and corresponding with their teachers mostly through the computer. The website claims the education students receive is a true 21st Century education and is just as good, if not better, than what they would receive at a traditional school. I was especially impressed with what the teachers have to say about teaching this way. They LOVE how technology has changed the way they teach and believe that it allows them to teach better than they could in a traditional way. All in all, this notion of an online classroom is very intriguing to me.
www.k12.com
I've thought about teaching for k12.com in the future. It offers both public and private school education for all grade levels. Students are basically attending online school and corresponding with their teachers mostly through the computer. The website claims the education students receive is a true 21st Century education and is just as good, if not better, than what they would receive at a traditional school. I was especially impressed with what the teachers have to say about teaching this way. They LOVE how technology has changed the way they teach and believe that it allows them to teach better than they could in a traditional way. All in all, this notion of an online classroom is very intriguing to me.
Technology Ideas?
I have really had a difficult time creating lessons that incorporate students use of technology, especially 6 and 7 year olds. I can think of a lot of cool ideas such as iMovie, or creating a brochure but, I struggle with coming up with ideas that are geared for younger children. I feel that they need to use technology and not just watch it being used by the teacher. Does anyone have any great ideas?
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