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!

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.

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/

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.

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?

Need Graphics for Lesson Plan

Hi Team, do any of you know a good site that will give me awesome grahics for my lesson plan on Government - Bill of Rights? Thanks, E

Classroom Presentations Get a Makeover - ABC News

This is an older news cast, but it is a nice reminder that there is technology out there that can "spice up" PowerPoint!

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7464233

Classroom technology and engagement

Classroom technology and engagement

The discussion of how technology is used in the classroom has come up a lot during class. The issue is that technology has to be used appropriately. Meaning that technology has to be used to enhance the subject or make it more exciting for the learners. This article is a great reminder of the importance of using technology appropriately. The article discusses an interactive whiteboard. When students were asked what they thought, they only had good things to say about th interactive whiteboard. Yet, none of that excitement spilled over to the subject or how the whiteboard makes the subject more interesting.

Technology and Children

As I have been taking this class and looking at what is available in the way of technology, I am amazed at how little student use of is expected in the primary grades. The State Core doesn't even cover technology until third grade and then what has to be taught is limited. In third grade, students are expected to learn about computer safety, computer components and simple programs usage. I feel that as a first grade teacher, student can learn about technology. I try to have my students use different forms of software each week in the computer lab. Generally students have already been exposed to technology before they enter school. If we wait until third grade to teach about computers, we are missing out on valuable time for learning. As a teacher I would like to integrate more technology into my classroom as well as using the computer lab. I have talked to other first grade teachers to see what technology they have their students use and sadly, I haven't found any great ideas. I realize that for young students to use technology the teacher needs to prepare ahead of time. The more students are exposed to technology the more excited about learning they are. My students LOVE going to the computer lab and are excited to try new programs. I want to enhance the use of technology and have learned a lot in this class.

Changing the Way We Teach

Since I have begun this Master's program, I feel like I have learned many things that have helped me improve my teaching. Probably the most important one is the need to incorporate technology wherever I can, but not just to say I teach with technology. I don't seek after entertaining my students--I want them to be highly engaged while they learn. If using technology will assist me in accomplishing this, then technology it is. I am excited to see all the ways I can incorporate it into my classroom this next school year. Maybe I will be a techy teacher! Anything is possible, right?

Incorporating technology in the class

I came across a great web site integrating technology in lesson plans.

Within this site, you will also find some great ideas on class activities.

http://www.educationworld.com/

Multicultural education

Multicultural education is a field of study and an emerging discipline whose major aim is to create equal educational opportunities for students from diverse racial, ethnic, social-class, and cultural groups. One of its important goals is to help all students to acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to function effectively in a pluralistic democratic society and to interact, negotiate, and communicate with peoples from diverse groups in order to create a civic and moral community that works for the common good.

Do you believe teachers in the State of Utah have been trained in multicultural education?