Exactly What The Common Core Standards Say About Technology The Common Core Standards, the national academic standards for K-12 schools in the United States, have now been adopted by 47 of the 50 states in the U.S. This makes them the pre-eminent source of what is being taught in the vast majority of public schools in America. Much has been made in the blogosphere and across social media of the changes compared to former academic standards that were dictated at a state level. Reactions usually involve the added demand these standards place on text complexity and general rigor. Since they’re only available for English-Language Arts and Math, it’s difficult to get a full picture for how they will impact public education, but some inferences can be made based on the set of ELA standards. TeachThought’s focus is on the intersection of education and technology, and the Common Core certainly takes aim at in-depth student technology use. Common Core Standards W= Writing RI= Reading: Informational SL= Speaking and Listening W.4.6. RI.8.7. SL.11-12.2.
Our Thinking Has To Change This is a bit of a rant… This morning I was pinged on a tweet sharing the article, “Why new technologies could never replace great teaching“. For some reason, I was up early and read the article and then was WIDE AWAKE. Along with the author, I have a strong belief in the teaching profession. That being said, I believe that educators should in many ways be leading the world, not trying to catch up to it. How many businesses look to what education is doing? One of the quotes from the article really caught my attention: Put at its simplest, if future models of learning means encouraging young people to spend prolonged periods in front of faceless computer screens, exposed to largely unregulated material in an inherently unsafe environment, then that is clearly not the way forward. Wow…a lot of assumptions made there. There are a lot of people that are spending a lot of time on computers and connecting with people. “A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.”
Curated iPad App Directories - The iPad in Higher Education Curated iPad App Directories There are a tremendous number of high-quality curated directories on the web providing iPad app reviews, advice and other insights for education. Many of these directories are created by teachers who who have put together collections based on their own experience in finding the most effective apps for their own students. The following are links to several very useful iPad educational app directories, including both commercial and individual directory sites. The Apple iPad in Education | Apple.com Since the 1980's and the introduction of Apple II series of computers in schools, Apple has had a particular emphasis on educational applications. MediaShift: How to Get the Most Out of Tech Tools for Teaching This article on PBS.org’s MediaShift “Journalism Education Roundup” site features Dr. 15 Favorite iPad Apps as Selected by Teachers This site offers a useful collection of educational iPad resources for teachers, as selected by their peers.
What is ConnectEd? Ed. note: To highlight the importance of connected classrooms, the White House held a virtual "show and tell" with three schools that are embracing technology and digital learning. Watch the full hangout at wh.gov/show-and-tell. President Barack Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, right, talk with students while visiting a classroom at the Yeadon Regional Head Start Center in Yeadon, Pa., Nov. 8, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) Preparing America’s students with the skills they need to get good jobs and compete with countries around the world relies increasingly on interactive, individualized learning experiences driven by new technology. But today, millions of students lack access to the high-speed broadband internet that supports this sort of learning technology. The fact is, schools without internet access put our students at a disadvantage. Here’s how ConnectED works: Upgrading connectivity Training teachers
Why new technologies could never replace great teaching | Teacher Network | Guardian Professional At a recent British Council debate, Is teaching obsolete?, executive headteacher Pamela Wright, called for caution around technology in teaching. Here is a transcript of her argument. I am a passionate believer in the teaching profession. Teachers do not simply impart information and knowledge; teaching is not merely about systems, facts, figures and certainly does not exist to promote insularity and lack of social interaction. If any of these elements were true, then my argument would fall down immediately. So where do I stand as an educator, as a leader in education? The question I ask every day is what does the child need and what is the best way to ensure that every one of that child's needs are met? Our goal as teachers fundamentally is to encourage independent thought, independent enquiry and ultimately independent learning. Education is much more complex than that. Teachers don't simply teach concepts and skills. That said, technology can only do so much.
Infographic: 7 Techniques For Using iPads In The Classroom Infographic: 7 Techniques For Using iPads In The Classroom Posted by Derrick Rowe on Fri, Jun 14, 2013 @ 12:11 PM Whether you’re a teacher already making use of the iPad, or a teacher wondering what you could do with iPads in education as learning tools, there are many resources available. As mobile devices continue to find their way into the classroom, so do the ways in which you can use that device. App developers are taking full advantage of technology in the classroom and the BYOD trend. Mobile Devices like the iPad have proven to be extremely useful gadgets in supplementing a connected classroom learning experience. The Infographic below offers 7 general techniques in which the iPad can be used in the classroom. (The infographic is clickable for a larger view) As you can see, there are several ways you can incorporate the iPad into your teaching curriculum.
SchoolSpeedTest True Grit: The Best Measure of Success and How to Teach It Can you predict academic success or whether a child will graduate? You can, but not how you might think. When psychologist Angela Duckworth studied people in various challenging situations, including National Spelling Bee participants, rookie teachers in tough neighborhoods, and West Point cadets, she found: One characteristic emerged as a significant predictor of success. Why is Grit So Important? Using the Grit Scale that Duckworth developed with Chris Peterson, they found that grit is a better indicator of GPA and graduation rates. Add to this the findings (from Bowen, Chingos and McPherson's Crossing the Finish Line) that high school grades have a more predictive value of college success than standardized tests, and you may just see a shift from standardized test scores to high school GPA by some college admissions officers. What is Grit? Some would argue that grit is inherent in Albert Bandura’s research on self-efficacy, and that resilience is also part of it. Can Grit be Taught? 1.
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. 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.