Why BYOD Makes Sense: Thinking Beyond a Standardized 1:1 I was recently asked, "Why are you giving the teachers choice of a laptop? Why not just go all in with one device?" My answer, simply stated, is that homogenization of any tool is never a good idea in a context that is intended to foster creativity. The same argument is underway with the Common Core. However, this post is not about Common Core or educational politics. Standardization vs. A lot of schools make the mistake of trying to control every aspect of technology integration. The best analogy is the case for school uniforms, which has always sparked a debate regardless of the decade or century. As schools plan large-scale technology rollouts, they should begin by considering what would be best for the student population. Listening to the Stakeholders As the director of technology, it is my job to listen to administrators, teachers, students and parents, and find out what system works best for our schools. Choice and Trust And that's where we need to be in K-12.
7 Time-Saving iPad Tips For Teachers The iPad is a great tool for a classroom . It will soon be the case that any educator will feel as though the iPad is entirely necessary. One of the reasons for this is because it is a tool that quashes inequality in the classroom. Children with disabilities have been able to use iPads and work at the same speed as the other children. Use your thumbs If one splits the keyboard into two parts then they can easily type by using their thumbs. Definition The iPad has a built-in dictionary, and it is one that students can use themselves. Spoken word This is one of the features that help bring together a classroom of students with differing abilities. Mirroring An iPad can be connected to a screen or projector so that they mirror each other. Zooming This sounds a bit like an extreme sport, doesn’t it? Add to reading list Create (yes, create) content Creating content is what students should do most of all.
Video In The Classroom: Equipment Checklist Teaching has always been visual, but what was once communicated on fusty overhead slide projectors or whiteboards that get erased, is now distributed to students in full HD video that they can review whenever and wherever they need. And whether you’re using video in the classroom for personal reflection, or to create new content for your students, it has never been easier to give video a go. What Equipment Do You Need to Get Started? Of course, you know about digital camcorders, but if you’d like to get classroom technology that has multiple uses in a classroom, here are some of the tools that will make the task of creating great visual lessons easy and impactful (check out part 2 of this blog and get tips on filming and editing): TabletsNotebook ComputersSmartphonesSound Tablets On the verge of outselling all forms of personal computers combined, no device has ushered in the era of the visual classroom more than the tablet. Notebook Computers Smartphones Sound
21 Reasons To Use Tablets In The 21st Century Classroom 21 Reasons To Use Tablets In The 21st Century Classroom by Julie DeNeen, opencolleges.edu.au When I was a kid, I dreamt about our school desks as computer screens. How cool would it have been to be able to draw, write, and learn directly onto my own computer? Now, it is the age of the tablet. Yet, some educators are still skeptical. 1. In a subject like art, people might think, “How could a tablet be useful? It is, but what about an app that helps with color matching and combination, or tools for interior design where the child can map out their project in concept before getting to work? And how about access to Google’s Art Project? 2. App developers have continually surprised the public with the complexity of tools they are able to create for tablets. Music theory is fun when you employ the use of Piano Pro or others that allow students to try out an instrument without having to purchase a piano. 3. It is an affordable way to see the world without having to actually leave the room. 4. 5.
Handbok för IKT-pedagoger 10 Steps to a Successful School iPad Program Portions excerpted from new book, "iPad in Education for Dummies" by Sam Gliksman iPads have certainly become a highly desired commodity in education. Apple is reporting that schools are purchasing iPads by a ratio of 2:1 over MacBooks. However, that rush to purchase the latest technologies often precedes the careful planning and preparation that’s crucial to their success as educational tools. Stated simply, technology alone doesn’t have the capacity to improve education. It needs to be woven into a holistic approach to education that encompasses thorough planning and ongoing review of the skills and competencies required by the rapidly changing society that characterizes life in the 21st century. Well-planned technology deployments have the potential to have a remarkably transformative impact on schools and students. 1. Do you have adequate incoming Internet bandwidth to connect all the devices and use them at the same time? 2. Can you explain why you have decided to purchase iPads? 3.
The Use of Social Media in School Share this infographic on your site! <a href=" src=" alt="The Use of Social Media in School" width="500" border="0" /></a><br />Image source: <a href=" Embed this infographic on your site! The editors at Best Masters in Education decided to research the topic of: Teens are actively Tweeting, Posting, Liking, and Commenting all across Social Media and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. The use of social media in school can't be left to chance; it needs to be mediated. Skype, YouTube, and Facebook are the most popular social networking sites used in schools 2 Student Benefits: 1 Educator Benefits: 4 Parental Benefits: - Increase communication between teachers and students - Involvement in the classroom and the curriculum - Understanding class and teacher expectations - Transparency for schools and districts SourceS
11 Essential Tools For Better Project-Based Learning by Katre Laan from myhistro.com The rise of technology used in classrooms has made learning much more interactive. The emergence of iPads to browser-based tools in project-based learning, take teaching to a new level in the 21st century. Even the current trends in education include the use of new technology, from collaborative projects to blending traditional textbook teaching with innovative tools. For students, the core aim of project-based learning is to put theory into practice and gain new skills throughout the process. A major advantage of digital tools used is better engagement in the classroom. Browser-based tools and several apps used in education are especially useful for researching, storytelling and collaborative video making. Handy mobile devices allow students to be inspired when outside classroom by creating and sharing ideas and creations instantly. Here is a mini guide to some of the project based learning tools. 1) Mindmeister 2) Glogster 3) Myhistro 4) Pixton 5) Animoto