18 iPad uses: How classrooms are benefiting from Apple's tablets Apple's iPads are quickly becoming a popular and powerful educational tool for classrooms. Beyond the immediate benefit of engaging students, iPads can improve education efficiency and standards. However, many teachers are unsure of how to use them effectively. Coupled with concerns over the costs involved, iPad implementation in schools is seen as an unnecessary and expensive risk. As the case studies below demonstrate, iPads are being used in education environments around the world with great success. Teachers can have paperless classrooms, take attendance, share interactive presentations and test their students—all on their iPad. So just what are they doing? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Similarly, First Words Animals aids with letter and word identification. 18.
Englishatbarlev 4 Ways To Stop Being Scared Of Online Learning We live in the Digital Age in which many of us spend a great deal of time each day using technology. Most of us are connected via a mobile device of some sort as we move through our daily routine, and we make use of electronic communication options, such as email, social media, and text messaging. There is an increasing number of us who are telecommuting, working our full-time jobs from home. We have even defined ourselves as “digital natives” or “digital immigrants” to help explain this brave new world. Within this context, education has embraced the move into technology as much as possible. Within this context, my colleagues and I have noticed something interesting: Our online students seem even more intimidated by e-learning than in the past. Preterm Information With technology often comes the ability for students to self-enroll in classes. Therefore, one of the most helpful steps faculty can take is to provide preterm information. Relevant, Functioning Content Constant Outreach
Teach Students to Separate Fact From Fiction When Researching Online Today's students complete most of their homework on a computer and do the bulk of their research online. When tasked with learning something new, they often equate research with “Googling”; assume that the information they find online is true; and produce cut-and-paste work that reflects little original thinking or regard for accuracy. Because the Internet provides direct access to huge volumes of information, students must learn how to filter and analyze their search results to distinguish reliable content and credible sources from incorrect, incomplete or speculative information. Lesson Description: For this lesson, students will go on a treasure hunt for information on a website dedicated to world explorers, only to discover that the facts provided on the site are wrong. Begin with a group discussion about students' preconceptions of the Internet. Divide students into pairs to research one of the 12 explorers listed on the “Treasure Hunts” page. The standards challenge students to:
24 Ed-Tech Terms You Should Know | EdTech Magazine If you’re a teacher or administrator who has been to an educational conference or sat in on a product demo featuring the latest classroom innovation, you know that the intersection of schools and technology is littered with buzzwords. From mLearning to mobile apps to asynchronous instruction, the ed-tech landscape is equal parts high-gloss marketing and roll-up-your-sleeves instruction. In the face of increased pressure to improve student performance, how can K–12 educators cut through the promotional hyperbole and put the focus where it should be — on classroom improvements? It helps if you speak the language. Are there any other terms you’d like to see on this list?
What can you do with an iPad in the classroom? It’s a tool, it’s a tool, it’s a tool. The iPad is not going to replace teachers or ‘fix’ education. There is a cost implication that must be taken into account and only an educator will know if it is right for their students. Indeed the cost-benefit analysis for an establishment must take into account a host of factors when considering iPad use in the classroom. Assessment for Learning The most valuable weapon in an educators arsenal is feedback. Applications such as eclicker, Socrative and Nearpod have the ability to provide instant feedback for every child in the classroom. Collaboration Setting a collaborative task is a tried and tested technique to allow students to question each other in the pursuit of an answer. Every educator has been left with completed work and no easy means to ensure the student has a copy to refer to in the future. The point is an educator can now set tasks to enhance learning, safe in the knowledge the students have the tools to complete what is required.
Student Action is Necessary for Student Learning « Serious Play Conference Fact One: Student Action is Necessary for Student Learning Welcome to the first entry on our new blog. First, let me say that I am so excited about our August conference, Serious Play. It will once again be hosted at DigiPen in Redmond, Washington. Last year’s event was focused on the no-nonsense goal of creating educational simulations and serious games. (No one hates hype more than I do.) This year we will shift to the CxO’s perspective, with again the same non-nonsense, practical approach. I will be writing this blog as we lead up to the big event. But I have a much more exciting goal for it as well. I would like to start with one of my favorites. The research In a now-classic experiment, Held and Hein (1963) exposed two newborn kittens to nearly identical visual information. The result was that only the active kitten developed normal depth perception. [Held, R., & Hein, A. Why is this so important? Now, however, we are in the midst of an education revolution.
Educators as Social Networked Learners This fall, I am getting the opportunity to design and teach a graduate course for Boise State University’s Education Technology Program entitled, Social Networked Learning. The majority of students in the program are K-12 in-service teachers who are seeking ways to enhance their teaching with integrated and emerging technologies. I am so excited about what students are producing for this course and in terms of meeting this goal that I wanted to share information about the course, a sampling of course activities, and example student work. Course Description This course explores collaborative and emergent pedagogies, tools, and theory related to the use of social networks in learning environments. The ideas, content, and exercises presented in this course are driven by two basic tenets: Today’s personal, social, political, economic worlds are all affected by digital media and networked publics. Learning Goals