6 Emerging Trends in Education and Mobile Learning Steve Vosloo At the UNESCO Mobile Learning Week 2014 I sat on a panel titled Emerging Trends and New Technology – considered in the context of mobile learning. Below are the notes of the key points that I made. Note: The issue of Emerging Trends and New Technology begs the question: for who? For students in California, or for those in Kolkata? Developed country trends are very different from developing country trends. Overlapping of education trends and mobile-enabled opportunities The brief for the panel stated: We keep being told that technology is going to transform centuries-old teaching paradigms, but traditional approaches seem to have real resilience and staying-power. I don’t believe that technology is the single driver of education transformation, although it is certainly a key influencing factor. Mobile learning itself is a trend It is on the one-year horizon for the NMC Horizon Report (along with cloud computing). Social media bigger than ever, and growing Education response:
7 Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2014 Technology trends in both higher ed and K-12 classrooms continue to evolve and transform traditional learning environments. New learning analytics, mobile devices, open online learning, and 3D printers are some of the many Educational technology trends to be on the lookout for in 2014. Here’s a detailed discussion. 1) 3D Printing 3D Printers which enable makers to create whatever they can imagine and design have exploded into mainstream culture over the past year. The Poland and Hong Kong based GADGETS3D has launched an initiative called the “3D Printer in Every School” project in which they have designed a low cost, small 3D printer specifically created for the classroom. Click for full infographic 2) MOOCs MOOCs or massively open online courses have exploded in popularity over the past two years and will continue to grow over the next several. Click for full infographic 3) Big Data Click for full infographic 4) Digital Textbooks Click for full infographic 5) Gamification 7) Mobile learning
How to Be More Open to Learning New Technology: 8 Steps Edit Article Sometimes it can be hard to accept that you're behind the times. But it can become frustrating to maintain a stubbornness in the face of changing technology, as you'll soon be left at the mercy of those who do know. Whether you've stopped keeping current or you've just never been particularly interested in technology until now, if you've decided that the time has come to embrace the constant upgrades pay your bills online bill and keep up with friends living afar by internet, then you'll be glad to know it's always possible to learn new technology. Ad Steps <img alt="Be More Open to Learning New Technology Step 1.jpg" src=" width="670" height="503">1Think about the perks of learning more about new technology. We could really use your help! Can you tell us aboutinternet sleuthing? internet sleuthing Maintenance and Repair Origami
Top 10 Tips To Create Effective eLearning Presentations and Slideshows In this article I'll share the top 10 tips that will help you to effectively create eLearning presentations and slideshows. The following simple and straightforward tips will offer you advice on how to take your eLearning presentations and slideshows to the next level, even if you haven't had much experience working with eLearning presentations in the past. Each eLearning deliverable, regardless of the learning objective, in order to be effective has to be as interactive, immersive, and engaging as possible. Map out your strategy in advance. Finding the slideshow and presentation creation tool that is just right for you and your instructional design needs is key.
Amazon launches AWS Educate to promote cloud learning Amazon has announced AWS Educate in order to accelerate cloud technology learning in the classroom. Announced on Thursday, the program is designed for teachers and students involved or interested in the cloud technology field. Cloud computing is rapidly transforming the modern business landscape. Cloud computing can be used for data storage, disaster recovery, information analytics and as a means to outsource IT services and functions or utilize infrastructure as a service (IaaS), which can help corporations keep the cost of IT down. In addition, cloud computing is becoming an essential component in research and development, and is now a hot area for application development. However, a field can only progress if it has skilled staff behind it -- and Amazon plans to be involved in training the next generation of cloud developers. Following Amazon's approval of applications to use the software, AWS Educate is free for educational institutions. Dr. Read on: In the world of ed-tech
The Precious First Few Minutes Of Class The Precious First Few Minutes Of Class by Suzy Pepper Rollins Students file into class. “Your warm-up is on the board,” we announce. Two students fish for pencils in backpacks, one begs to get water, another needs to see the nurse, and attendance needs to be entered into the computer. “Ok, so let’s go over the warm-up now,” we call, “and then we’ll look at last night’s homework.” More minutes pass, as students dump out backpacks and empty pockets in a panicked search for a scrap of paper they swear was secured last night. But the opening minutes are also the time when students’ brains are their freshest and they tend to remember more of what’s been taught during this period than any other time of the learning episode. These precious minutes can quickly establish a prior knowledge connection, vital to maximizing learning. Rather than begin class with a passive warm-up, success starters have the power to get every student motivated about the lesson and successful right from the bell. 1. 2.
Take aim at innovation, with students in the center In September 2012, I packed up my Prius, left my patient wife, and drove around the United States for 89 days and 10,000 miles visiting 64 schools of every flavor and size to find out how they are preparing students for a rapidly changing world. I asked questions and recorded learning with more than 600 teachers, administrators and students. In setting up the complex matrix of this trip, many of my hosts asked, “What would you like to see when you are here?” As others have said, technology in learning should be as ubiquitous as air, and there is nothing innovative about students and teachers breathing. Technology is not innovation Nearly every school I visited was doing something dramatically different than they were just a few years ago. What would Dewey do? During my TEDx talk in February 2013, I defined innovation as “preparing students for their futures, not for our past.” Flipping the classroom is not enough But what if we really flipped learning? Passion, engagement, experience
How Teaching Is Changing: 15 Examples How Teaching Is Changing: 15 New Realities Every Educator Faces by Terry Heick It’s tempting to say that no matter how much technology pushes on education, every teacher will always need to know iconic teacher practices like assessment, curriculum design, classroom management, and cognitive coaching. This may end up being true–how education changes in the next 20 years is a choice rather than the inevitable tidal wave of social and technological change it’s easy to sit back and wait for. But it’s probably going to be a bit different than that. We’ve written before about the kinds of “things” modern teachers must be able to do. (Hint: It’s no longer about classroom management, testing, and content delivery.) 1. The Old: Administer assessment, evaluate performance, report performance, then–maybe–make crude adjustments the best you can The New: Identifying, prioritizing, and evaluating data for each student individually–in real time The Difference: Precision 2. Summary Incredible, no? 3. 4. 5.
Coding from kindergarten to graduation We interact with computing devices every day—so should we have a better understanding of the science behind them? An increasing number of districts are saying yes. This year, 25 states require computer science courses for high school graduation, compared to only 11 states in 2013, according to the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA). Districts are teaching basic coding to students as early as kindergarten, embedding computer science principles into core curriculum, and mandating computer science courses for graduation. The lessons teach students logical reasoning, algorithmic thinking and structured problem-solving—concepts and skills that are valuable in any discipline, proponents say. Computer and mathematical occupations are projected to add 778,300 new jobs between 2010 and 2020, after having added 229,600 new jobs from 2006 to 2010. An example of its growth could be found in the news. Uniformity, integration Start a computer coding program Play with free tools. St. A village
5 Powerful Questions Teachers Can Ask Students My first year teaching a literacy coach came to observe my classroom. After the students left, she commented on how I asked the whole class a question, would wait just a few seconds, and then answer it myself. "It's cute," she added. So that day, I learned about wait/think time. Many would agree that for inquiry to be alive and well in a classroom that, amongst other things, the teacher needs to be expert at asking strategic questions, and not only asking well-designed ones, but ones that will also lead students to questions of their own. Keeping It Simple I also learned over the years that asking straightforward, simply-worded questions can be just as effective as those intricate ones. #1. This question interrupts us from telling too much. #2. After students share what they think, this follow-up question pushes them to provide reasoning for their thinking. #3. #4. This question can inspire students to extend their thinking and share further evidence for their ideas. #5.
5 Ways to Help Your Students Become Better Questioners The humble question is an indispensable tool: the spade that helps us dig for truth, or the flashlight that illuminates surrounding darkness. Questioning helps us learn, explore the unknown, and adapt to change. That makes it a most precious “app” today, in a world where everything is changing and so much is unknown. To change that is easier said than done. How to Encourage Questioning 1. Asking a question can be a scary step into the void. 2. This is a tough one. 3. Part of the appeal of “questions-only” exercises is that there’s an element of play involved, as in: Can you turn that answer/statement into a question? 4. Obviously, we must praise and celebrate the questions that are asked -- and not only the on-target, penetrating ones, but also the more expansive, sometimes-offbeat ones (I found that seemingly “crazy questions” sometimes result in the biggest breakthroughs). 5. So ask yourself this beautiful question: How might I encourage more questioning in my classroom?
A Quick Guide To Questioning In The Classroom A Guide to Questioning in the Classroom by TeachThought Staff This post was promoted by Noet Scholarly Tools who are offering TeachThought readers 20% off their entire order at Noet.com with coupon code TEACHTHOUGHT (enter the coupon code after you’ve signed in)! This is part 1 of a 2-part series on questioning in the classroom. Something we’ve become known for is our focus on thought, inquiry, and understanding, and questions are a big part of that. If the ultimate goal of education is for students to be able to effectively answer questions, then focusing on content and response strategies makes sense. Why Questions Are More Important Than Answers The ability to ask the right question at the right time is a powerful indicator of authentic understanding. Asking a question is a sign of understanding, not ignorance; it requires both knowledge and then–critically–the ability to see what else you’re missing. As a marker of life, and an icon of health. Teacher Questions vs Student Questions
40 Uses For Smartphones in School As Alanis Morissette once said, ‘isn’t it ironic’. After years of struggle between teachers and students and the use of smartphones in school, new educational trends are actually encouraging the use of these devices. The mobile, cellphone or smartphone is not just used for WhatsApp, Facebook or Angry Birds, it can be used in a multitude of ways from an educational perspective. Don’t believe us? Before we continue, it is worth remembering that this does not mean we should suddenly change the way in which we teach and allow the use of the smartphones without control. A revolution in the classroom: Check facts: probably the most common use of all. These 40 uses of Smartphones in School are just the beginning. Don’t forget to download the brand new ExamTime iOS and Android app today. About the ExamTime Blog Our blog is part of GoConqr, a Free Website for Creating, Sharing & Discovering Learning Resources that help students and teachers achieve their learning objectives.
Say What? 5 Ways to Get Students to Listen Ah, listening, the neglected literacy skill. I know when I was a high school English teacher this was not necessarily a primary focus; I was too busy honing the more measurable literacy skills -- reading, writing, and speaking. But when we think about career and college readiness, listening skills are just as important. This is evidenced by the listening standards found in the Common Core and also the integral role listening plays in collaboration and communication, two of the four Cs of 21st century learning. So how do we help kids become better listeners? Strategy #1: Say it Once Repeating ourselves in the classroom will produce lazy listening in our students. Of course you don't want to leave distracted students in the dust so for those few who forgot to listen, you can advise them to, "ask three, then ask me." Strategy #2: Turn and Talk One way to inspire active listening in your students is to give them a listening task. Strategy #3: Student Hand Signals Motivating Words