Technology empowers differentiated instruction

One thing I have noticed over the last 2 years is that the integration of technology into at risk classes - such as locally developed classes - really improves learning.

This article entitled "Technology empowers differentiated instruction" supports this. Quote from article "the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), experts provided several examples of classroom projects that can help all students learn while keeping them engaged."

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New Report on the Digital Youth Project

The following quote is from a  report  entitled "the Living and Learning

with New Media:Summary of Findings from the Digital Youth Project" commission by MacArthur Foundation - November 2008

"Social and recreational new media use as a site of learning. Contrary to adult perceptions, while hanging out online, youth are picking up basic social and technological skills they need to fully participate in contemporary society. Erecting barriers to participation deprives teens of access to these forms of learning. Participation in the digital age means more than being able to access “serious” online information and culture. Youth could benefit from educators being more open to forms of experimentation and social exploration that are generally not characteristic of educational institutions."

Read full report. Quite interesting.

Report with Good Stats

The following link gives excellent data and statistics. The report was done by the National School Boards Association (US) and is title:Creating & Connecting: Research and Guidelines on Online Social – and Educational – Networking.

For example:

"Nine- to 17-year-olds report spending almost as much time using social networking services

and Web sites as they spend watching television."

http://www.nsba.org/SecondaryMenu/TLN/CreatingandConnecting.aspx

Future Trends - Portability and Cloud Computing

Future trends - Portability and Cloud Computing

 

Recent articles on technology indicate the move in the future is towards increased portability, wireless and cheaper devices to get onto the Internet (mini laptops and PDAs). Also there is a trend towards Cloud Computing (such as Google Apps) where application programs such as word processors and spreadsheets and documents are located on Internet servers - not on a computers hard drive. These trends not only improve learning but are a less expensive alternative to traditional computer workstations, hard wiring, software licencing and computer servers

 

"Cheaper laptops are part of the accelerating trend to greater portability. The cell phone is growing keyboards (or should they be called "thumb boards"?) and laptops are getting lighter and smaller. Meanwhile over-the-air Internet access is morphing from Wi-Fi to WiMax, as well as traveling over the same pathways as cell phones. These are the other components of cloud computing -- the wireless connections that define the cloud"

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The following article is about program that uses mini laptops in a school:

"The laptop program has always been well received," South Meadows Principal Lisa Nickel said. "Once the novelty wears off for the kids, it is seen as a great learning tool. It does not replace great teaching, but rather enhances it."

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Using Youtube to Teach Math (or anything)

When my son went to his formal he wanted to know how to tie a tie. Solution Youtube.

We have started to use youtube videos (some we produce ourselves) to help students learn everything from podcasting to math concepts.

The article below entitled "Need Help With Class? YouTube Videos Await" discusses how Youtube math tutorials can help students.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/12/11/208825bctecyoutubetutoring_ap.html

Google Apps - a free spreadsheet for math students

I implement Google Apps Education Edition in my school.  

 

One of the best things about Google Apps is it gives any student with a gmail account a free spreadsheet. I polled students in math classes and only about 1/3 has spreadsheet software at home. Teachers now can assign math homework that requires the use of a spreadsheet - because now all students will have access to a spreadsheet at home. The spreadsheet also is very good at graphing and is used in both math and geography classes. The Google Apps spreadsheet can both export and import Microsoft Excel files.

Math teachers do not need Google Apps Education Edition to be set up for their students to access Google Docs spreadsheets.  Math teachers only have to ask their students  to get a free gmail account (they automatically get a free spreadsheet as part of the gmail service).

Web 2.0 Tools

Here is a link to 2.0 tools.

Many them are great. The one challenge is that if KPR educators all decide on different tools (for example there are 5 recommended tools to create wikis) then it becomes more difficult to provide PD and support for each other.

http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/About+This+Wiki

Some years ago I had the chance to get a tour at River Oaks Public School in Oakville - which had one of the top reputations in Canada and the world - (many international educators toured it) in the successful use of technology in the classroom. See Wikipedia article on it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Oaks_Public_School

I interviewed the Jerry Smith, the principal and asked him what is important for the successful implemenation of technology in schools. He said one of the most important things to do is standardize the use of the technolgy so both students and teachers can teach each other how to use it. He  also said it very important to choose technolgy that will last into the future. From the list of web 2.0 tools in the above link how many will still be around in five years ?