Can't Remember the Name of that App :-)

Remember the days when the teacher let us play a review game to prepare for a test?  It often didn't involve any more technology than the lights that lit the classroom.   We were divided into teams of somewhere around 4 or 5 students, asked questions, earned points, and winners got candy.  Although this method of review and motivation still works somewhat, lets face it, students these days a bit more high-tech! So when this blog entry ran accross my Google Reader account, I was intrigured.  

Edutopia blogger, Diane Darow, searched for and review several iPad apps for learning.  Most were in the format of games (hence remember review games of yester years).   She also applied the revised version of Bloom's taxonomy to the apps.  This week she was looking at apps to help students remember facts.  The lowest level of Bloom's taxonomy.

I read the review of each of the apps, and thought they all sound fun and motivating.  I especially like the Rocket Math and MindSnack apps.   I may try a few of these out for myself!
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Works Cited

Darwo. D, K-5 iPad Apps for Remembering: Part One of Bloom's Revised Taxonomy. Edutopia, Retrieved August 11, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ipad-apps-elementary-blooms-taxomony-diane-darrow?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Tweets for Change

Edutopia blogger, Elena Leoni, recently blogged about her recent experience attending a #140edu conference.  She summarizes how the speakers of the conference spoke about changing education in the United States.  Some guest speakers spoke about how the education system serves a demographic that no longer exist in most of the US. Some guest speakers spoke about how the Internet is changing education continuously.  While others spoke about how to over come the "Yes, but . . ." people, and using gaming models in education.   Her experience sounded enlightening, something I bet most teachers could use this time of year, especially in the face of what is to come this new school year starting in about a month. 

The tweets from the speakers and attendees can be followed on Twitter.  She even mentions the date for the next #140edu conference.  This is definitely something I might look into for next summer.  I just not sure of the logistics.  Do you actually go to the conference or just follow the Tweets of these people?  I am a cloudy on how exactly this conference works.  Nonetheless, it does sound interesting.
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Works Cited

Leoni, E.  Reinventing Education One Tweet at a Time. Edutopia.  Retrieved August 11, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/140edu-real-time-internet-education-elana-leoni?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Uh-Oh Part 2

So how did this renting the textbook thing work out?  I have to admit it has been a mixed blessing!  I wish I didn't have to spend another 17 dollars on a book already own, however Kindle for the PC has some pretty awesome features.  These features actually made finding quotes and marking them pretty painless.   Kindle for the PC has a highlight feature, make a note feature, and copy feature.  It saves all your highlights and notes in page number order on a side bar.  It made organization of the information easy, peasy!  So while I was annoyed about having to pay for a book twice, I am pleased with the experience of using Kindle for the PC for reading and marking a textbook.  

In the Real World

How many times have you told your students, " You have to learn to work with people you don't get along with.  In the real world, grown ups have to do it all the time."  It is true, you may not always have the most awesome, fantastic, one of a kind co-workers, but you're a grown up, so you can deal with it. . . right?

How do grown ups deal with working with someone that might not be the best at working with others?   We all have had this experience (we seldom think we are the ones creating this experience :-) ).  

Edutopia blogger,  Holden Clemons, recently shared one of his similar experiences in a his blog entry "How to Work with the No Share Teacher."  After reading about his experience and recollecting some of my experiences, this is one of the life lessons where you have to dig down deep and do what is right.   In school, when someone wants your answers for their homework, if you say no you are only hurting the person who wants to copy.  As a teacher, when another teacher wants an easy out, and you say no, you could be hurting the other teacher's students.   I know it's frustrating and causes your blood pressure to rise.

Clemons does give a few tips to help mediate in this situation.  Make the other teacher's input feel welcomed, be open and honest, sit down and go over lessons rather than simply sending them electronically. 

It is hard to be a grown up sometimes, but hey, that is why you get 20 some odd years before you have to be one.

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Clemons, H.  How to Work with the No Share Teacher.  Edutopia. Retrieved August 6, 2011 from   http://www.edutopia.org/blog/no-share-teacher-holden-clemens?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Why is there a lower age limit on Facebook?

I have never questioned why you had to be older than 13 to have a Facebook account.  I always assumed it was a good idea not to have little kids on social media. Of course, I was waaaay over 13 when Facebook emerged!  It sort of became one of those truths you don't question like don't go swimming for 30 minutes after eating, don't use Wikipedia for a source in a formal paper, don't sit that close to the TV or your eyes will cross.  You know these "truths" you are told and they seem reasonable so you don't test them.  Why would you want to considering what could be the outcome: drowning, a failing grade, and crossed eyes?

Edutopia blogger, Audrey Watters explains in a reccent blog entry , "Rethinking COPPA in the Age of Social Media" why children under 13 cannot join Facebook.  Here's what I got from reading her:

1.  Children under 13 require special privacy settings that Facebook doesn't want to offer.

2.  Children under 13 require a parent's permission which can require credit card numbers, and/or a parent's email.

3. Parents also have to be given an option on whether their children's personal information can be shared with third parties.

4. Personal information also needs to be collected with "confidentiality, security, and integrity," meaning the privacy policy is posted on every page where personal information is collected.

So truth be told. . . .I have swam within 30 minutes after eating, and sat close to the TV ( I have never used Wikipedia, the fear of a bad grade is too much for me!).    Also according to Watters, 7.5 million children under the age of 13 are on facebook.  Much like these other truths that need to be tested, it seems like the outdated policies of COPPA need to be overhauled to provide better protection for the 7.5 million under 13 dare devils out there!

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Works Cited

Watters, A.  Rethinking COPPA in the Age of Social Media. Edutopia.  Retreived August 6, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/rethinking-coppa-social-media-audrey-watters?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Uh-Oh!

So, I'm officially on vacation and trying to manage my summer classes.  This seems like it would be totally doable since I'm just at my mom's, and yes, she does have a computer with the Internet.  Only, I forgot my textbook, and like any good nightmare, I need it for our final next week.  My husband suggested going home early to my response, "uh I don't think so!"  What was I going to do?  I could call my friend and ask her to mail it to me.  However, I have no idea where I put that book last week :-( .  Sounds too much like a pain.  I could call up the local college bookstore.  No luck, they don't have the book.  This is when it hit me.  I am an educational technology student!  I could download the rental version from Amazon.  Perfect!

Yes, that was my solution.  I paid approximately $17.00 to rent a book for 30 days that I already own.  I know its dumb.  Sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do!  I'm just glad that I am "tech savy" and knowledgeable enough to know about the online text rentals!

Are Online Learning Experiences For You?

I started high school in the Fall of 1997 and graduated in the spring of 2001.  After high school I continued my education at UNCW from 2001 to 2005.  During my education, I was never enrolled in an online class.  I thought that online classes where for slackers who didn't want to go to real class.  I didn't think I would learn much from enrolling in an online class. 

Fast forward to the year 2010, when I enrolled in CMU's online master's program in educational technology.   After a lot of research, I decided I would take the chance with online classes.  I had nothing to lose.  It was definitely more convenient than face to face classes.   I am happy to say my experience has been a positive and my opinion has definitely changed about online classes. 

Just like face to face classes, the possibility of having a negative experience with online classes does exist.   Edutopia blogger, Heather Wolpert-Gowran, discusses importance of the teacher in the online learning experience.  To sum up her main ideas Wolpert- Gowran created a checklist, of sorts, for the 5 most important components needed for a blended learning environment.

Checklist for Making a Successful Blended Learning Environment

1.  The first meeting of the class should be face to face or, at least, real time. Use software such as Wimba, or Skype to hold virtual class.

2. Assessments should be real time with a choice of face to face.

3. There should be multiple meetings throughout the course that are synchronously conducted.

4.  Differentiate your content delivery and discussion methods.

5. Keep class size limited (Wolpert-Gowran, 2011).

All of the components do make sense and seem logical.  However, some of them may not work in every type of program, especially ones that serve students from across a large area.  Many, if not all of this components, have been incorporated into almost all of my online learning experiences.

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Works Cited

Wolpert-Gowran, H.  Blended Learning: Combining Face to Face and Online Education. Edutopia. Retrieved July 28, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/blended-online-learning-heather-wolpert-gawron.