How would I implement projects differently on 2.0? Way different. It is a big deal.
Background: Career Presentation via Powerpoint--typical student research and assembly folowing a project description.
Now: I would do a Wiki where at least 3 other students would offer constructive critique on the projects BEFORE the turn in. I am all about feedback and peer review. With the Wiki environment inserted in the Web 2.0 verision, a student can get multiple feedback on drafts and have more collaboration with peers and instructor. This would help guide the project and make it more robust prior to project turn in.
Benefits: simulates higher level of effort--students will not want to have their projects be subpar. They will want to "look good in front of their peers." Peer review carries weight. I remember learning a new product line and we had to present in front of a group of peers--you better bring your A game. Same holds true here. Also, this type of project interface is real. Realworld interaction via web/internet. These collaborative scenarious are what you see in the business world. Better get the students used to using them for the 21st century skills they embody
Problems: There are some problems with this addition, albeit minor. You can have poor commentary and input. This will not yield a high level product from the user. There is also the "yes man" attitude. The results here are equally dismal. Need to have high level, constructive criticism to boost the student to the next level.
Just like everything else I have blogged about here: Gotta keep it real-world. In life you have to take the good with the bad. In this implementation will take the good--which way outways the bad. That is my view and I am sticking to it.
Mr. S.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
The “Real” Benefits of Social Networking for Students, Teachers and Schools
For the Students:
I recently conducted an informal poll my MS students and asked them: “What do you study when using social networking sites (Facebook, Instagram, Pheed, Twitter)? The responses ran the gambit from “I do not study, just have fun…that is what it is there for,” to several interesting and more constructive responses. These took the forms of: 1) technology skills—research and information for projects; 2) being creative—finding different examples and influence; 3) different views—culturally diverse school leads to friendships; 4) communications stills—typing and expressing views is communicating.
As a technology/business education teacher, I was thrilled!!! it is not all fun, games and mindless drivel. There are constructive things that occur on these types of discourse for students. By students using social networking sites they are, in fact, practicing the kinds of 21st century skills which will build them up to be successful 21st century learners—for a lifetime!!
Potential Benefits for Students:
1) Development of communication skills;
2) Increased skill in using and adapting technology;
3) Increased exposure to varied views (culturally diverse friends, school settings);
4) Increased talent to work on group projects (perhaps, more so in HS, no MS);
5) Students can control their own image and emotions by putting out for public consumption what they think is important (this does have a down side if they go the opposite route).
For the Teachers:
This is more difficult to gage due to the policy of not “friending” students—comes with a host of issues. In a perfect world, teachers could shave with others (teachers and students) bookmarks, articles, blogs or websites. These could serve as separate projects or could be used as supplements to lessons covered in the classroom. At the high school level, it appears that educators are relying more and more on social networking sites to assist their students and fellow teachers in receiving important details for schoolwork or other events that are going on.
Potential Benefits for Teachers and Schools:
1) Increased access to resources;
2) Collaborate with other teachers—within their teams and globally;
3) Exchange lesson plans and information—with different stakeholders, increasing communication;
4) Acts as another avenue to reach parents and teachers regarding school events to supplement email;
5) The global component is intriguing and can form significant partnerships with other schools;
Increases visibility to a global level for cultural and exchange of thoughts/content.
Keeping it "Real-World"
Mr. S.
I recently conducted an informal poll my MS students and asked them: “What do you study when using social networking sites (Facebook, Instagram, Pheed, Twitter)? The responses ran the gambit from “I do not study, just have fun…that is what it is there for,” to several interesting and more constructive responses. These took the forms of: 1) technology skills—research and information for projects; 2) being creative—finding different examples and influence; 3) different views—culturally diverse school leads to friendships; 4) communications stills—typing and expressing views is communicating.
As a technology/business education teacher, I was thrilled!!! it is not all fun, games and mindless drivel. There are constructive things that occur on these types of discourse for students. By students using social networking sites they are, in fact, practicing the kinds of 21st century skills which will build them up to be successful 21st century learners—for a lifetime!!
Potential Benefits for Students:
1) Development of communication skills;
2) Increased skill in using and adapting technology;
3) Increased exposure to varied views (culturally diverse friends, school settings);
4) Increased talent to work on group projects (perhaps, more so in HS, no MS);
5) Students can control their own image and emotions by putting out for public consumption what they think is important (this does have a down side if they go the opposite route).
For the Teachers:
This is more difficult to gage due to the policy of not “friending” students—comes with a host of issues. In a perfect world, teachers could shave with others (teachers and students) bookmarks, articles, blogs or websites. These could serve as separate projects or could be used as supplements to lessons covered in the classroom. At the high school level, it appears that educators are relying more and more on social networking sites to assist their students and fellow teachers in receiving important details for schoolwork or other events that are going on.
Potential Benefits for Teachers and Schools:
1) Increased access to resources;
2) Collaborate with other teachers—within their teams and globally;
3) Exchange lesson plans and information—with different stakeholders, increasing communication;
4) Acts as another avenue to reach parents and teachers regarding school events to supplement email;
5) The global component is intriguing and can form significant partnerships with other schools;
Increases visibility to a global level for cultural and exchange of thoughts/content.
Keeping it "Real-World"
Mr. S.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
There will be NO plodcasts here!!!!
This is not a typeo. Podcast, at times can be plodding and dull. It is up to us as educators to uses these tools effectively, with purpose and make them relevant!!!!!!
The educational relevance is potentially high--for the right project and type of learner. For younger learners--and I am not solely speaking from an age standpoint but from an "academic maturity" one-- podcasts may not be the best technology, as it requires a certain amount of discipline to be autonymous and requires good listening skills.
From my perspective, perhaps the most exciting use of this technology is its application in project based learning. Students involved in creating podcasts must use higher levels of thinking and creativity as well as problem solving skills. They have the opportunity to use their imaginations by writing and acting out scripts while learning how to work with the technology itself. There are so many ways to get the students engaged: 1) Have them develop an audio review of keyboarding techniques for new students; 2) History of the computer, pick a technology, inventor and how it has impacted 21st century learning; 3) Develop a marketing idea for a new product or service that they plan to sell; 4) Overview of the stockmarket and why we should care. The list is endless for the authentic problems here.
In my opinion (again, I am a technology and real-world biggot), this offers an excellent platform for the students to learn and express themselves. As a teacher, I can also use it to provide feedback to the students and even send out links to parents. Facilitates communication. I have heard it is like "TiVO for lectures," which is true but it can be more student centered--as the paragraph above indicates.
Verbal lessons that students may miss or to get special tutorial background infomation. Study guides--deliver audio and video content. If students are sick, the lesson highlights (more on this later....) can be available for review. Instructors can use links on the sites for further exploration and content reinforcement.
Idea that students can learn anywhere at anytime--again the learner based limitations--not aged base. There are some middleshoolers that owuld thrive on this and I know some high schoolers that would site and still not pay attention.
Risk putting too much out there--cramming for exams by just listening to the podcast. Cheating if student do their own. Better approach would be to highlight the informational content. That way, the student still needs to use effective note taking and review techniques.
Love to see what data is out there on using both to see if studying or test scores improve. I would hope listening skills would improve.
Remember....keep it "real"
The educational relevance is potentially high--for the right project and type of learner. For younger learners--and I am not solely speaking from an age standpoint but from an "academic maturity" one-- podcasts may not be the best technology, as it requires a certain amount of discipline to be autonymous and requires good listening skills.
From my perspective, perhaps the most exciting use of this technology is its application in project based learning. Students involved in creating podcasts must use higher levels of thinking and creativity as well as problem solving skills. They have the opportunity to use their imaginations by writing and acting out scripts while learning how to work with the technology itself. There are so many ways to get the students engaged: 1) Have them develop an audio review of keyboarding techniques for new students; 2) History of the computer, pick a technology, inventor and how it has impacted 21st century learning; 3) Develop a marketing idea for a new product or service that they plan to sell; 4) Overview of the stockmarket and why we should care. The list is endless for the authentic problems here.
In my opinion (again, I am a technology and real-world biggot), this offers an excellent platform for the students to learn and express themselves. As a teacher, I can also use it to provide feedback to the students and even send out links to parents. Facilitates communication. I have heard it is like "TiVO for lectures," which is true but it can be more student centered--as the paragraph above indicates.
Verbal lessons that students may miss or to get special tutorial background infomation. Study guides--deliver audio and video content. If students are sick, the lesson highlights (more on this later....) can be available for review. Instructors can use links on the sites for further exploration and content reinforcement.
Idea that students can learn anywhere at anytime--again the learner based limitations--not aged base. There are some middleshoolers that owuld thrive on this and I know some high schoolers that would site and still not pay attention.
Risk putting too much out there--cramming for exams by just listening to the podcast. Cheating if student do their own. Better approach would be to highlight the informational content. That way, the student still needs to use effective note taking and review techniques.
Love to see what data is out there on using both to see if studying or test scores improve. I would hope listening skills would improve.
Remember....keep it "real"
Monday, February 18, 2013
To Wiki or Not to Wiki? That is the question....
Love borrowing famous lines and twisting them up to get attention....OK, so I amuse myself--go figure, right?
From my perspective of keeping it real in the classroom, I professionally like the idea of wiki's. As long as they are carefully scaffolded and coached through the process and there are some "rules of engagement," there should be no reason NOT to. All teachers can uses them in their curriculums and it dovetails with keyboarding (a personal favorite). It gives the teacher the "technology cool" factor that students have said are lacking in today's educators. To much paperbased, not enough computers or lab time. Teachers are not up to date with today's kids, right? Perhaps....
There is a great quote floating around that all teachers should emulate. It is based from a financial stand point but it is relevant to all of us: “when students understand that every single class they participate in contributes directly to their life goals…” Wikis can tie into any curriculum--Art, LA, Math, Science, PE. They are often a first point of departure for research and are carefully managemed. Why not use them. Technology and keeping real-world curriculums will help students attain there life goals.
To wiki or not to wiki? I say wiki away--big time!!!
From my perspective of keeping it real in the classroom, I professionally like the idea of wiki's. As long as they are carefully scaffolded and coached through the process and there are some "rules of engagement," there should be no reason NOT to. All teachers can uses them in their curriculums and it dovetails with keyboarding (a personal favorite). It gives the teacher the "technology cool" factor that students have said are lacking in today's educators. To much paperbased, not enough computers or lab time. Teachers are not up to date with today's kids, right? Perhaps....
There is a great quote floating around that all teachers should emulate. It is based from a financial stand point but it is relevant to all of us: “when students understand that every single class they participate in contributes directly to their life goals…” Wikis can tie into any curriculum--Art, LA, Math, Science, PE. They are often a first point of departure for research and are carefully managemed. Why not use them. Technology and keeping real-world curriculums will help students attain there life goals.
To wiki or not to wiki? I say wiki away--big time!!!
Monday, February 11, 2013
Brainstorming and Blogs--Make It So
Alright....for my next post, I am going to put out some ideas for blogging in my classroom. These are geared towards technology, since I am a keyboarding teacher. Which one of these do you think students would enjoy the most? Why?
Brainstorm:
Brainstorm:
The Ups and Downs of Technology--What is good and what is bad and WHY do you feel that way
Improvements in Middles School Technology--What would YOU do?
Invention: Computer Technology—Pic one and discuss the relevance to society or detriment to socient. Impact to you and business. How will it evolve in the future?
Post or shoot me an email!
Until later, be sure you are keeping it real-word!
Mr S.,
The Chairman of the Board!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Introduction: Keeping it Real is Good
Hello everyone. I am David.
I teach middle school keyboarding and have been doing so for 6 years.
My context of teaching has always been "real world." I run my class from a business perspective where students do keyboarding projects (based on authentic problems) like business cards, advertisements and resumes.
I am looking for input and looking to share how you teachers "keep it real" in your classrooms!
Here are some sites to check out more abut me:
Teacher Web: http://www.lcps.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=12717
Pet Sitting Website: http://www.m2birdsitters.com/
Professional Website: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=21213746&trk=hb_tab_pro_top
I teach middle school keyboarding and have been doing so for 6 years.
My context of teaching has always been "real world." I run my class from a business perspective where students do keyboarding projects (based on authentic problems) like business cards, advertisements and resumes.
I am looking for input and looking to share how you teachers "keep it real" in your classrooms!
Here are some sites to check out more abut me:
Teacher Web: http://www.lcps.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=12717
Pet Sitting Website: http://www.m2birdsitters.com/
Professional Website: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=21213746&trk=hb_tab_pro_top
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