This week's blog is about emerging technology. I wrote this blog with the help of Kyle Miller at http://kymiller.weebly.com.
What I got out of this video was the importance of creating authentic, problem based learning assignments for students. Students need to feel an ownership of the problem they are solving and that their work is valuable. Students want to interact with others around the world and try to fix problems in their community. If students own their work, and feel that it is important, they will spend huge amounts of time and energy on it.
Laptops and use of the internet are important tools to give students. Since students want to be global citizens who connect with and aid others, the connection is vital. The Maine laptop program (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25782209/) also shows evidence that internet and computer access are improving test scores and helping students’ writing skills. It also seems important that teachers be trained to help students utilize the technology provided to its best effect.
I don’t know what school district I will be teaching in, so I can’t speak to what will be available in different places, but Akron Public Schools gets help from the Lebron James Family Foundation Wheels for Education Project. Recently, Lebron James gave APS one of the largest e-libraries in the nation. So with the use of laptops or tablets from various sources (I know APS gets Title I technology funds) teachers there can really make reading accessible to students. This also underscores that it’s possible to get grants or funding for technology you need for your classroom! There are many organizations and state/federal funds available if you can access them.
A chrome book is a computer that is basically designed to work with Google Chrome- it’s sort of a tablet/laptop hybrid. They are designed to be used while connected to the internet, however, there are some apps and programs that can be used offline. Everything you do on a chrome book is saved in the cloud- much like anything you do in Google Docs- so it’s not necessary to save things on the chrome book’s hard drive. This also makes sharing things very simple!
I think a chrome book could be a great classroom tool. I’ve never gotten to use one, but the ability to keep everything in the cloud would be ideal for students to share information with their peers all over the world. From what I can tell, chrome books are the ideal tool for using Google to its best advantage. Very cool.
Due to “apps” becoming a pervasive part of our world over such a short span of time, an inquiry into how emerging technologies are shaping the world of education cannot be satisfied without analyzing how applications are redefining our understanding of education. Both the Android Market Place and the App Store provide myriads of apps that can enhance the educational experience. iBooks and iTunes U provide powerful learning tools for students with interactive lectures and books. For example, ibooks provides a large data-base of free primary sources that can be useful in history lessons. Likewise, apps within app store can be narrowed by grade level and subject once a grade level is selected. For example, after narrowing the grade level to “high school” and the subject to “history”, I found several great historical based apps such as, Timeline Civil War and Trail of Tears. Furthermore, Zip grade is perhaps a perfect app for increasing the productivity of teachers since it allows teachers to grade and record grades with their iPhone.
Meanwhile, in the Android Market Place, I found several good educational apps. For example, Star Chart would be a great app for allowing students to explore universe. But after perusing both the Android Market Place and the App Store, it seems that the Apple App Store is clear winner in terms of educational resources.
There are some great blogs out there that provide useful information for integrating apps into the educational experience. One in particular is TeacherCast, since it provides reviews over apps, which can be useful consumer knowledge before purchasing any apps.
Finally, after googling “emerging technology in education”, I discovered several exciting emerging technologies that will reshaped the educational landscape. The first is 3d printing, which can be useful learning tool for students who excel in hands on learning experiences. Likewise, analytic apps that measure study habits and learning efficiency are breaking into the educational world, which can complement meta-cognitive activities. Also, apps that integrate games and education are being developed to make learning a more exciting experience. Finally, augmented reality apps that provide users with detailed information about their environment are emerging, which could be useful for field trips to historical places or for observing astronomical bodies.
Because many educational theorists suggest that learning - activity that involves making permanent changes to our systems of knowledge - cannot be achieved apart from social interaction, it is essential that emerging technologies facilitate social learning. Several core companies such as Facebook, Edmodo, Ning, Wikispaces among many others are attempting to bridge this gap that exists between social learning and technology. Particularly, Edmodo has provided a social networking format for teachers and students to interact. Teachers can provide information about assignments, and students can even upload completed assignments for grading, which can significantly increase the productivity of teachers. Likewise, Skype in the Classrrom is a great tool for social learning since it allows cross-cultural experiences to be easily integrated into educational experiences.
I don’t know what school district I will be teaching in, so I can’t speak to what will be available in different places, but Akron Public Schools gets help from the Lebron James Family Foundation Wheels for Education Project. Recently, Lebron James gave APS one of the largest e-libraries in the nation. So with the use of laptops or tablets from various sources (I know APS gets Title I technology funds) teachers there can really make reading accessible to students. This also underscores that it’s possible to get grants or funding for technology you need for your classroom! There are many organizations and state/federal funds available if you can access them.
A chrome book is a computer that is basically designed to work with Google Chrome- it’s sort of a tablet/laptop hybrid. They are designed to be used while connected to the internet, however, there are some apps and programs that can be used offline. Everything you do on a chrome book is saved in the cloud- much like anything you do in Google Docs- so it’s not necessary to save things on the chrome book’s hard drive. This also makes sharing things very simple!
I think a chrome book could be a great classroom tool. I’ve never gotten to use one, but the ability to keep everything in the cloud would be ideal for students to share information with their peers all over the world. From what I can tell, chrome books are the ideal tool for using Google to its best advantage. Very cool.
Due to “apps” becoming a pervasive part of our world over such a short span of time, an inquiry into how emerging technologies are shaping the world of education cannot be satisfied without analyzing how applications are redefining our understanding of education. Both the Android Market Place and the App Store provide myriads of apps that can enhance the educational experience. iBooks and iTunes U provide powerful learning tools for students with interactive lectures and books. For example, ibooks provides a large data-base of free primary sources that can be useful in history lessons. Likewise, apps within app store can be narrowed by grade level and subject once a grade level is selected. For example, after narrowing the grade level to “high school” and the subject to “history”, I found several great historical based apps such as, Timeline Civil War and Trail of Tears. Furthermore, Zip grade is perhaps a perfect app for increasing the productivity of teachers since it allows teachers to grade and record grades with their iPhone.
Meanwhile, in the Android Market Place, I found several good educational apps. For example, Star Chart would be a great app for allowing students to explore universe. But after perusing both the Android Market Place and the App Store, it seems that the Apple App Store is clear winner in terms of educational resources.
There are some great blogs out there that provide useful information for integrating apps into the educational experience. One in particular is TeacherCast, since it provides reviews over apps, which can be useful consumer knowledge before purchasing any apps.
Finally, after googling “emerging technology in education”, I discovered several exciting emerging technologies that will reshaped the educational landscape. The first is 3d printing, which can be useful learning tool for students who excel in hands on learning experiences. Likewise, analytic apps that measure study habits and learning efficiency are breaking into the educational world, which can complement meta-cognitive activities. Also, apps that integrate games and education are being developed to make learning a more exciting experience. Finally, augmented reality apps that provide users with detailed information about their environment are emerging, which could be useful for field trips to historical places or for observing astronomical bodies.
Because many educational theorists suggest that learning - activity that involves making permanent changes to our systems of knowledge - cannot be achieved apart from social interaction, it is essential that emerging technologies facilitate social learning. Several core companies such as Facebook, Edmodo, Ning, Wikispaces among many others are attempting to bridge this gap that exists between social learning and technology. Particularly, Edmodo has provided a social networking format for teachers and students to interact. Teachers can provide information about assignments, and students can even upload completed assignments for grading, which can significantly increase the productivity of teachers. Likewise, Skype in the Classrrom is a great tool for social learning since it allows cross-cultural experiences to be easily integrated into educational experiences.
Here's Microsoft's vision of 2019. It's coming!