Travis Allen made a video called The iSchool Initiative when he was a senior in high school. The main question that Travis asked viewers in his video was "Does technology belong in our classrooms?" He believes that schools should be technologically literate and incorporate iPods into the classroom. By implementing the iPod into the classroom, schools would save hundreds of dollars and also create a "green" school because the use of pencil and paper would no longer exist. Of course teachers could still plan lessons that required paper and pencil, but the need would not be as high.
The iPod has numerous of applications that can be downloaded. Apple has created many applications that have an educational purpose. Some of these include Chemical Touch, USA Presidents, a Graphing Calculator, Digital Constitution, World Wiki, Star Walk, and many more. Travis believes that with use of these educational applications along with the email and iHomework applications, students and teachers can use these iPods to learn.
Travis Allen is now touring the world with a group of 25 students in order to influence his idea of the "iSchool." This group is called Zeitgeist Young Minds. They want to the world to rebuild, rethink, and retool education for the technological world that we live in today.
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
In 2010, Jennifer Chamber introduced EDM 310 to Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir. The virtual choir sang "Lux Aurumque". The video was revealed on Early WKRG5 Early Morning News.
The choir was put together entirely online. The choir had never met or practiced together. All the singers followed the same guidelines that Eric Whitacre provided. They were singing from all over through the use of blogs and videos.
The fact that this choir was developed entirely online is important to future and current educators. Karl Fish once asked the question, "Is it okay to be a technologically illiterate teacher?" I do not know your opinion on virtual choir, but it is definitely an eye opener to me of how important it is for teachers to understand how to incorporate the use of technology into the lessons that they teach. One idea I had for myself would be to record myself each day when I give a lesson and post it onto my classroom blog. The purpose of this idea would be to help students who miss a day of school to stay caught up with the rest of the class. Also, it would allow parents who may not remember how to do certain math problems or remember everything about Alabama's history to refresh their memory. It is important that parents know and understand what their students are learning in the classroom so that they can help them at home.
Teaching in the 21st Century
Kevin Roberts made a video that instilled the question "What doest it mean to teach in the 21st Century?" In today's world technology has established a whole new environment in the classroom. In the past teachers only had textbooks, lectures, and a few hands on activities to help them create a lesson. Today teachers can use a SmartBoard, iPad, iPod, or many other new technical resources to catch the attention of their students. With these new inventions in technology and the use of internet, learning is more fun, creative, and exciting.
A 21st century teacher needs to be technology literate, in my opinion, because almost every classroom now has a SmartBoard, and I am sure that there are more inventions to come. For example, when I watched the video A Day Made of Glass, I saw where Corning has created their own activity table made of glass that connects to a tablet similar to the iPad. If a teacher does not know how to use the iPad, how will they be able to use this invention if or when it is ever adapted into the classroom? I physically cannot wait until the Corning activity table is affordable for classrooms, and if given the chance I will learn to use this table because I know how much my students could benefit from it.
Today's educators have to rethink the tools they use and the type of problems they ask students to solve. With the use of the internet I will make sure to teach my students how to use reliable sources and use the internet to the most that it can be. Portfolios are also a good way to help students progress in their work and reflect on it over time. I will use e-portfolios because they are easier to use and can be viewed easily online. Parents can also look at their child's work because an e-portfolio is online.
I liked the positions that Roberts addresses in the video. He says that teachers need to be relevant, challenging, and engaging. Engaging is different than entertaining. Teachers engage students to create active learning, a meaningful purpose, and to allow students to solve problems creatively. I will challenge my students to be engaged in their homework assignments. It is important to me for my students to explain, justify, and evaluate their answers.
I also want to allow students to use numerous resources when they are learning in my classroom. This will help my students to better their skills and intelligence. The use of numerous sources creates in depth conversations in the classroom.
I will be very lucky to become an educator of the 21st century because there are so many resources out there now. In today's society students can create their opinions through blogging, podcasting, animating, etc. The future only holds more opportunities and resources, and I cannot wait to see what will be developed through the years that I will be teaching.
Flipping the Classroom
In the video Why I Flipped My Classroom, I learned about the importance of applying and engaging students in the lessons that are being learned. Without the use of technology 90% of class time is spent on the delivery or review of the lesson. Only 10% of the class time is spent on the application of the lesson.
However, with the use of technology, these two ratios flip positions. Teachers can create videos of the lesson being taught for students to watch prior to coming to class the next day. The teacher can also set a website where the students can questions before class or chat about what they are learning with their classmates. With the use of the Internet, teachers can focus on engaging students by applying what they are learning while they are in class.
Dr. Lodge's view of Flipping the Classroom still has the same idea from the first video that I watched. His idea on flipping the classroom is called FIZZ. He believes there is too much lecture in the classroom that is non-engaging and inefficient. His plan is for teachers to create "FIZZ Learning Lecture Videos" that are to be watched at home.
Ms. Munafo made her own video about Flipping the Classroom based on Dr. Lodge's FIZZ idea. She believes that video lecture is fun and more exciting for students. The students are not bored in their regular classroom setting. This allows classroom time to be more engaging.
She believes that "flipping" works by having the students to watch lecture videos for homework two or three times a week. The teacher can replay the video at the beginning of the day in order to refresh each students memory and make sure they have watched it. From watching the video at home, the students then bring in their questions, thoughts, or opinions on the lecture. I believe this keeps the students more involved and organized with their learning.
"...has numerous of applications..." Remove the of.
ReplyDelete"Some students might try to take advantage of the privilege to having access to the Internet through the Wifi on the iPod. It is important that if a school chooses to use iPods in the classroom that they put blocks on the Internet to make sure students can only visit educational websites." The blocks are already there. The difficulty is getting the blocks removed so that learning can take place.
Travis and his iSchool Initiative team visited with EDM310 this summer.
"All the singers followed the same guidelines that Eric Whitacre instructed. " provided not instructed
"Kevin Roberts made a video that instilled the question "What doest it mean to teach in the 21st Century?" In today's world technology has established many new ways for teachers to teach." What did you mean to say in this sentence? This sentence tries to do too much. Break your ideas into separate parts.
Thoughtful.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your blog. It is well written and articulate. There are only a few glitches that I saw, some of which Dr. Strange has pointed out.
"teachers can focus on engaging students on applying what they are learning while they are in class." I would say by applying instead of on. This is about the only thing I could find to change. Well done!