Post 9

Science + Technology = Creativity (and Fun)!: By Jared Mader and Ben Smith (August 2009)

Mader and Smith argue that scientists are stereotypically seen linear thinkers, only following a predetermined set of steps to answer questions. This is a problem when one is trying to teach kids to be creative and innovative. Mader and Smith suggest labs and hands-on exercises help students identify trends. Their suggestions are ultimately broken down into three areas:

1) Give them the tools:

This means providing students with the proper tools they will need in order to do scientific inquiry. From microphones, digital cameras, camcorders, and probeware. These tools would introduced during labs with clear expectations. These tools would be uses in a scaled way, introducing them as supportive, but ancillary to their learning. Soon they will be able to choose which tools to use during the course of their investigations.

2) Give them the time:

It is important to note that these more open ended assignments take more time than more structures ones as students explore the subject and their tools. Teachers should allow for this as students become more proficient in the use of their tools, during which time they will complete assignments More quickly.

3) Be vague:

Finally, Mader and Smith say that as students become familiar with their tools and are given adequate time, the teacher should give them assignments where the outcome is increasingly vague. So while the instructor should "dictate the number of graphs and tables of results that you want, and describe the procedure," but that the expected result will not be reveled.

Mader and Smith provide a website for such lessons here: http://www.edtechinnovators.com/EdTechInnovators/EdTechInnovators.html

I can easily see using this approach in my own classroom. While early on I believe a strong guiding hand would be needed in the instruction of the ways in which to use the equipment (particularly field equipment such as cameras, video recorder, or microphones which may be potentially quite expensive), but that as the student become more familiar with their uses and the possibilities of using them to learn, record, and express what they have learned I would be tempted to let them be creative as long as they demonstrated their competency in what they had learned. Whether this is as simple as a power point presentation, or more involved like Mader and Smith's example of the music video would be up to the students. This would hopefully create more enthusiasm from the students as well, being able to put more of themselves into such projects instead of simply filling out a worksheet.

Post 8

Searchme Simplifies Searching: By Kaya Hardin

Compared to the perhaps overly broad search of a search engine like Google, a tool like Searchme helps to categorize possible search results. Hardin uses the example of tiger, which could be used by students intending to search for the anime, Tiger Woods, or various sports teams. Searchme allows the search to be limited by catarogies, such as "wildlife, gold, computer and video games, music, computer hardware, scouting" and so on. In the case of s student doing a report on tigers then, would simply have to select the "wildlife" option.

Furthermore, the Searchme search engine allows users to view a screenshot of the website without having to visit it, bypassing long load times for sites which otherwise may have turned out to be fruitless.

Hardin explains that while the search engine is easy to use and excellent for students, particularly those not used to navigating larger search engine like Google, it does lack the number fo search results that these other more stablished ones have.

I could easily see using this in the classroom as an excelent way to introduce search engine to students, and for use for research projects. After all, from personal experience I know that a search engine such as Google can be difficult to navigate to the inexperienced. Therefore, using a more user friendly and downscaled version such as Searchme would be an excellent first step for those not familiar with the interface. All the more so when the search is being done on a topic which has numerous related topics of the same or similar name.

POst 7

Tracking Collaboration, By Jared Mader and Ben Smith (Sept./Oct. 2009)

Mader and Smith comment on the ways on which technology has changed the ways in which students are able to communicate and collaborate. Gone are the days when one had no other option but to meet up at someone else's home or the library to work on a group project. Instead, we have things like Google Docs, wikis, and email, and chatting. Mader and Smith make the argument that given this change in collaboration, teacher are now able to assess what was once impossible, the ways and degree in which students are collaborating.

Mader and Smith also comment on the benefits of such collaboration and technology. As they explained, technology such as Google Docs allows students to work on the same document at school and at home with no need to retype or print. Furthermore, all students on the group have access to the same document, allowing them to work on it at their leisure, ultimately culminating on one student turning in a pdf file to the teacher.

Mader and Smith also comment on email, which they describe as helpful, if potentially a bit slow for use in projects which are time sensitive. They offer texting as a quicker tool, though which limits the amount of information which can be sent. Finally, they mention chatting as likely the best tool to use which allows for real time discussion with few limits on what can be sent. Of course the problem with chatting is that it requires all students be online together to be effective.

Finally, Mader and Smith comment on wiki pages, which are suggested to be the most effective tool for online collaberative work. The wiki page allows for word processing submitting of assignments from anywhere there is a computer after all. Furthermore, it keeps track of all submissions and edits for the teacher to see, including what student contributed what.

I find all of these technologies to already be of great use to me, and could greatly help my students in the future. In an age where we are continuing to develope out student's ability to work together effectively, it would thus be advisable to introduce these technologies into teh classroom to not only keep students up to date (as if most of them needed it), but also as an alternative to those with busy schedules.

Post 6

"Walk, Fly, or Teleport to Learning: Virtual Worlds in the Classroom" By: Maureen Brown Yoder (Sept/Oct. 2009)

In light of an estimate that by 2011 there will be 20 million children using "multiuser virtual environments" (or MUVEs), up from 8.2 million, Yoder argues that this technology should be used help teachers engage their students. These virtual environments offer "social, technical, and practical life skills in a setting that keeps them engaged, inquisitive, and playful." Yoder also notes how such a format could allow for greater national and even worldwide collaboration.

Yoder's primary experience with these MUVEs has been through "Second Life," where she explored the educationally oriented "islands," stumbling across "constructivist teaching and experiential learning within virtual wonderlands." Of these includes and ISTE islands, one such island where teacher and share information with each other. Another interesting feature of Second Life is it's teen grid, which only allows those 13-17 year olds (and their teachers, pending background check) are allowed.

Another MUVE that Yoder goes over are ones developed by Global Kids and Gamepill. these include agame which allows players to discover the events of Hurricane Katrina, as well as the game Ayiti, which focuses on a developing country and the challenges children might face there, including decisions related to work, education, community building, personal purchases, and health care, with the goal of keeping the family healthy, happy, and educated. Yoder argues that it is games like this which allows students to learn about global issues. In this way not only can these games act as fantasy, but as a way to reengage with the realities of the world by telling the stories of real people.

Second Life has also been sued to facilitate science education, in particular in teaching students about sustainable building and energy alternatives. In one case, students who were suspended or otherwise did not do well in class became motivated to participate, with many students participating late into the night. The results of analysis of such projects indicate an increased desire to study science, particularly in it's application to real life.

The applications of this technology in my own classroom could be quite a helpful boost to many students, perhaps especially to those students who are too shy to participate during class, as well as for those students who lack the ability to otherwise see such environments first hand. For both of these cases, previous limitations are lifted, if only in this virtual sense, giving the students more freedom to move about and express themselves. It is my belief that this will lead to an increased ability and desire to learn.

Post 5

Should Public Schools Be Required to Offer Online K-12 Education? (Feb. 2009)
By John Adsit and Tom Layton

John Adsit argues that the offer for online K-12 education should be required. He points out that much of what we think of as high school education today has gone largely unchanged since the late 1800s, which allowed little room for the various forms of learners we know exist today.

Adsit argues that making sure an online education for students is available helps to ensure that all children are able to get the most out of education. Such education also allows for students to take courses online that they would otherwise not have access to, like advanced coursework or foreign languages. In addition, students who move around often are provided with a continous form of education. Students who have time contraints, are hospitalized,homschooled, or have much of their time dedicated to travel often are also able to keep up with schoolwork this way.

Tom Layton disagrees. While he does like the idea of making classes available online to all student, he believes the concept falls short of being law worthy. Layton argues that such a measure would likely go unfunded, leaving schools in violation of such a law, with no way to cmply. Instead, provate corporations would utilize these programs, stealing children, and thus revenue away from pubic schools.

I could easily see more online education being used in the K-12 setting in teh future. However, I doubt it will have a terible large enfluence on most public schools. insetad, I believe public schools will utulize more online options, while still requireing in-class participation. After all, face-to-face interaction is an imporrttant part of education which purely online environments do not allow.