Blended Edu

Friday, June 06, 2008

NECC 08 Workshop

If you plan to attend NECC 2008 (National Educational Computing Conference, June 29-July 2 in San Antonio, or if you are working with any teachers who plan to attend, the following may be of interest to you or to them.

WIPTE (Workshop on the Impact of Pen-based Technology on Education) is sponsoring a series of mock classes that will be taught in Tablet PC classrooms at NECC on June 30.

The goal is to show, in a hands-on-manner, how Tablet PCs and supporting software can provide an engaging classroom experience while also sharing information about the annual WIPTE conference. There will be ten classes in total. The content will range from computer science to foreign language.

If you or anyone you know would like to learn more, you can see the sessions times posted on the WIPTE web site.

Related Resources

Labels: , , ,

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Podcasts and Classroom Use

Task pre-service student teachers to research integrating technology into classroom use and they will produce an overwhelming source of ideas!

To share their ideas for using Podcasts in the Classroom:
Teachers can use podcasting to share lecture information with students. Teachers can have students create podcasts to share information that they gathered. This type of assignment would have students use voice recordings, sound effects, and photos. This will definitely engage students if they are taught how to create one. Students and teachers can also use podcasting and add it to a website or blog. I think I'll do that with mine smile. Teachers and students who use podcasting learn content in a creative way. In addition, they are also learning new communication skills.

I like the idea that students can access information from the web and not have to only read. This could help with auditory learners, students who like to listen to music, and those students who love to use computers.
~Elena

A few examples of how podcasts can be a learning tool for learning are that podcasts make most educational needs accessible, such as lectures and speeches, audio-guides, case studies, audio-notes/feedbacks, music, news and course updates, etc..
~Clare

I looked at Brown University’s website—it was cool how they put up podcast about activities that took place and we can view them with a windows media player, itunes or download it into your iPod.
MY IDEA… This gave me that idea that in your class—you may use this to document special days/presentation in class or in the school and this can be a way to have parents view it at home or when internet access in nearby. It is a new way students may learn how to access information and/or have them create a podcast as a culminating project.

Some other ideas for podcast can be “How-to-do” podcasts- for example, grammar, writing a story or letter, read-aloud, storytelling, step by step completing a science project, making a blog or website, etc…
~Diane

When I was looking through some teacher blogs about podcasting I read about one teacher that uses podcasting for students to record their reading. This way progress can be tracked and teachers or specialists can listen to the podcast to see what areas need to be addressed.

I was thinking that it would be neat to have the students create portfolios that could be accessed by their parents at home. It would work just like engrade.com but lots of other things could be included. Students would also be able to access their recordings at home and work on improving their reading if they wanted to. Just like teacher portfolio or the paper portfolios in the classroom.

I was also thinking that a teacher could use podcasts as part of the weekly or daily routine. At the beginning of the year the teacher and students would/could listen to the same podcast together and learn how to take notes or listen for key words. Since Saipan has so many (mostly) ELL students I would start out with video webcasts so that students could see along with hear but quickly move into the listening only realm. The teacher could easily modify the lesson by providing some with worksheets to fill in as they listen while the higher level students would have a worksheet too but have to take better notes and fill in more information. Students would rather listen to a podcast from a specialist or celebrity than their teacher!

When I was looking through the social studies podcasts I got the idea that it would be fun to have the class do a year-long project about their community. It could be bundled together so that people could listen and learn about Saipan from the students’ perspective. I got the idea from listening to students in a social studies classroom question a guest speaker about his trip to Egypt.

I never realized all of the uses for podcasts in the classroom. Laurence mentioned a lot of great ideas that address multiple intelligence, thinking styles, and learning styles. One of the great things I learned from this assignment is that if done properly podcasts can reach students at their level and where they are at with their background knowledge. Wouldn't it be great to have time on Friday's for students to be able to put podcasts on their ipod to listen to over the weekend! They would not even realize they are learning! State of flow all on their own!

Maybe the new yahoo for teachers website will have podcasts bundled by levels and content so that a teacher could just put it on the computer for the students and not have to look at 50 different places before getting just 3 different leveled podcasts addressing the same content.
~Erin

Podcasts can be created from original material by students and teachers or existing audio files can be downloaded for classroom use. Creating a podcast allows students to share learning experiences. It provides them with a worldwide audience that makes learning meaningful and assessment authentic. Teachers can use the technology to provide extra and modified material to students to download and evaluate at a time that suit them. The flexibility that such time-shifting offers makes podcasting a valuable educational tool.

Podcasts are a great way for using student products to share learning, sharing school news with parents, faculty, community members, and other people, and for teachers to provide professional development with others. By providing students with an authentic audience, teachers increase motivation to write. Students improve fluency and listening skills. Podcasts give students a view of journalism in the making, tutorials, and encourages interactive collaboration with others that is creative, fun and FREE.

Here are some educational techniques we could use podcasts and incorporate them into our classroom and lessons/teachings.

* Talk and music shows
* Interviews with pupils and staff
* Story telling and audio books
* Tutorials and instructions
* Commentaries
* Sharing information with parents and the community
* Providing updates on forthcoming school events
* Sportscasts
~Laurence

Some sites they wanted to share with others looking to incorporate podcasts:

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Sunday, October 14, 2007

K12 Online Conference Credit

Just a quick reminder that the K12 Online Conference starts tomorrow! Join educators from around the world and explore all the ways social media can be used in the classroom. This is a great way to either dip your toes in the education 2.0 water or build on your existing technology skills.

You can also be able to earn either professional development and graduate credit for your participation in most of the K12 Conference sessions. You can learn more and get the required forms over on the K12 Online Conference wiki.

Additional Resources

Labels: , , ,

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Yahoo! For Teachers + Twitter

It appears that Earl, the Yahoo! For Teachers spokesowl, has discovered the joys of Twitter. And even though he would much rather "hoo" than "tweet"-- he still thinks Twitter is pretty slick.

He's agreed use Twitter as a way to keep everyone up-to-date with breaking community news, links to useful resources along a few random bits of information.

You can follow Earl by clicking here:

http://twitter.com/yahooteachers

Related Resources

Labels: , ,

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

K12 Online Conference 2007

Announcing the 2nd Annual K12 Online 2007 convention for teachers, administrators and educators around the world interested in the use of Web 2.0 tools in classrooms and professional practice.

The 2007 conference is scheduled to be held over two weeks, October 15-19 and October 22-26 of 2007, and will include a pre-conference keynote during the week of October 8. The conference theme is “Playing with Boundaries.”

Additional Resources

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Blog Buzz: Yahoo! For Teachers

I thought I'd share a couple great blog posts by some folks who got a sneak peak at Yahoo! For Teachers at the Adaptive Path UX Week conference in Washington D.C. a week or so ago.

We appreciate the positive feedback and credit the contributions of the teachers who partnered with us last summer to develop Yahoo! Teachers, as well as the many educators who had the opportunity to use Yahoo! For Teachers at our national summer workshops.

You can learn more about Yahoo! For Teachers, sign-up for an invite, and join your colleagues on the Peer Network map over on our website.

Official Yahoo! For Teachers Groups

Labels: , , , , ,

Monday, August 20, 2007

Ed Tech & Lifelong Learning

Mr. Circe, one of the teachers who participated in the Yahoo! For Teachers workshop in NYC, has recently started a professional development/lifelong learning blog called ed/el/tech.

In this lifelong learning & professional development blog, Mr. C keeps tabs on the latest and greatest web tools and provides some terrific insight into how you can integrate social media into your curriculum.

Be sure to save ed/ed/tech in your favorite RSS reader or bookmark it in del.icio.us--this is good stuff! Thanks Mr. C!

Labels: , , , ,

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Schwab Learning: Resources for Kids with Learning Challenges

Schwab Learning Foundation is a philanthropic foundation set up by Charles and Helen Schwab dedicated to providing resources, information, and research on learning difficulties. They also have a Spanish language mirror site.

Schwab Learning is chock full of important resources to help parents connect, identify learning difficulties, along with strategies for working with the education system. Be sure to check out the vast collection of videos, books, and articles in their digital library.

In addition, Schwab Learning has developed an online community called Spark Top where children with various types of learning difficulties can connect and discover their "unique ways of learning, develop their strengths and self-esteem, and discover strategies to succeed in and out of school.

Spark Top provides a safe place for kids to interact, share their worries, concerns and successes, and get feedback from kids just like them."

I highly recommend both Schwab Learning and Spark Top to teachers, parents or anyone who works with children with learning challenges. Be sure to check out the SparkTop teachers resources too. There isn't a "one size fits all" learning style. We are complex creatures and we all learn in different ways.

Thanks to Lisa and Pearl for introducing me to the wonderful array of resources they provide to children, parents, and educators. If you have any questions--drop them a line! These are wonderful people who have dedicated their careers to helping children with learning difficulties.

Related Resources

Labels: , , ,

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

It's About Relationships: Yahoo! Teachers Groups

Yahoo! Teachers has set up a Yahoo! Group where you can connect with your colleagues, learn more about Yahoo! Teachers, and discover how other educators are using technology in the classroom.

They’ve even started a Yahoo! Teachers group on Flickr where you can meet other teachers who are using Flickr in their classroom. Yahoo! Teachers will also be posting photographs from all our events this summer on Flickr.

So please join the Yahoo! Teachers groups so you can contribute to the building of this new community for teachers.
  • Yahoo Groups + Yahoo! Teachers:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/yteachers_community/

  • Flickr + Yahoo! Teachers:

http://flickr.com/groups/yahoo-teachers/

Related Resources

Labels: , , , ,

Monday, June 04, 2007

Yahoo! Teachers Workshops 2007

Today Yahoo! Teachers announced the dates and locations for their 2007 Yahoo! Teachers workshops! You can learn more about the workshops and get an application by clicking here.

Come join your colleagues and learn how to use Yahoo! Teachers and the Gobbler in your classroom. This is an excellent opportunity to learn how to use social media tools to support student learning as well as connect and meet other passionate educators like you!




We had a great time at our 2006 Yahoo! Teachers workshop and expect this year to be even better! So this summer, come spend a day with Yahoo! Teachers.

Related Resources

Labels: , , , ,

Monday, May 21, 2007

Yahoo! Teachers Documentary: By Teachers, for Teachers


Excerpt from a documentary made during the Yahoo! Teachers, Summer Session 2006 camp held on the Yahoo! campus. Check out http://teachers.yahoo.com to see what educators and Yahoo! created together!

Be sure to check the Yahoo! Teachers site for information about upcoming workshops in a city near you!

Labels: , , , , , ,

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Yahoo! Teachers Open House @ Tapped In

On Wednesday May 16th there will be a 1 hour Yahoo! Teachers open house in our Tapped In Group Office (Yahoo!Teachers_Grp) at 4pm & 6:30pm Pacific Time.

Tapped In (TI) is free, but if you don't have a TI login and password you'll need to get registered in order to attend the open house. My TI handle is DerekB, so look for me!


Learn How Yahoo! Worked With Educators to Create Yahoo! For Teachers.

I'll be answering questions about Yahoo! Teachers and other Yahoo! tools you can use in your classroom. It's also a great opportunity for you to get ideas, support and connect with other teachers. It's going to be pretty casual, so drop by and say hello!

If you haven't already, check out Yahoo! For Teachers, an exciting new community built by teachers, for teachers.

You can watch the Sneak Peek video and see how Sue Wright, one of the teachers we've been working with to help develop this new service, has been using Yahoo! For Teachers and the Gobbler in her classroom.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Yahoo! Teachers Impresses Singapore PM

On Monday, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spent some time here on the Yahoo! campus to learn more about our innovation process and to take a look at some of the newest products being developed here at Yahoo!

In addition to the new Yahoo! oneSearch mobile service, the prime minister also got a sneak peak at Yahoo! Teachers. Karon Weber, our principal designer, showed him how teachers can use the Gobbler and Yahoo! Teachers to create, collaborate and connect with each other.

The entire Yahoo! Teachers team is honored to have the opportunity to share Yahoo! Teachers with Prime Minister Lee and look forward to sharing this new service with the rest of the teaching community this summer.

If you haven't seen our Yahoo! Teachers preview site, go check it out. Be sure to sign up for an invite and get connected on our Peer Network Map.

Labels: , , ,

Monday, May 07, 2007

Look Ma! No Downloads: Yahoo! Messenger for the Web

Last November at our second Yahoo! Teachers Workshop, we had the Yahoo! Messenger team pop over and share some tips, tricks and features of Yahoo! Messenger with our cadre of teachers.

Needless to say, our group of teachers were pretty impressed and quickly saw how Yahoo! Messenger can be used to collaborate with parents, students, and each other.

In fact, they were so happy to learn that Yahoo! Messenger had been mashed into Yahoo! Teachers, they could barley contain their urge to yodel.


Watch this short video to learn more about Yahoo! Messenger for Web

One of the really cool features of the soon-to-be-launched Yahoo! Teachers tool is that we've integrated Yahoo! Messenger to make it even easier for you to collaborate with members of the Yahoo! Teachers community.

Using Yahoo! Messenger, teachers will have real-time access to colleagues and their curriculum so they can ask questions and discuss ideas via Yahoo! Messenger right from Yahoo! Teachers . Think of it as a virtual teachers lounge!

Last week our friends over on the Yahoo! Messenger team released a new web-based version of Yahoo! Messenger that requires no downloads! Yes, you heard that correctly--no downloads. Here's the skinny from the Yahoo! Messenger blog:


"Ever wish you could use Yahoo! Messenger without having to download or install anything? Well, today is your lucky day: please give a big Yahoo! welcome to the all-new Yahoo! Messenger for the Web .

Now you can sign in from any web browser (PC or Mac!) and immediately start IM’ing with friends. This is great for when you’re on someone else’s computer or traveling and need to stop in an internet café.

Plus, time at work just got a lot more fun. If you or a friend is prevented from IM’ing at the office due to firewalls or other IT restrictions, you’ll love this new version. Because Yahoo! Messenger for the Web runs in a regular web browser window, it sidesteps these obstacles and lets you connect easily with your friends."

Pretty cool eh? So why not give Yahoo! Messenger for the Web a whirl? And if you haven't signed up for a Yahoo! Teachers invite, do that too!

Labels: , , ,

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Yahoo! Teachers: Your Passion, Our Technology



Yahoo! Teachers was launched today at the 2007 National Science Teacher Association conference in St. Louis. Check it out!

Don't forget to put yourself on the Yahoo! Teacher Network map and join teachers from around the country (and the world) in this new community!

Come join Yahoo! Teachers.....we're just getting started!

Labels: , , , ,

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Borders Educator Savings Week


Borders Educator Savings Week is March 22-27, 2007. Current and retired Educators save 25% on books, CDs, DVDs, and cafe purchases.

On Friday, March 23 all Borders stores will host a Special Educator Reception. For more information, click here.

This is a good excuse to stop grading papers and grabbing some books for that "it can't come too soon" summer vacation! Happy Reading!

Labels:

Thursday, March 08, 2007

International Women's Day

If you missed International Women's Day this year, its not too late to connect your students with the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET - Science, Engineering, & Technology and 4000 Years of Women in Science.

Have them create a project video of careers of interest or create their project idea on the impact of collective power of women in the world today. Then have them upload the video to YouTube for the world to see. Believe it or not, today's students are so tech savvy, you won't even have to show them how.

Labels: ,

Do you wiki?


Do you use a wiki in your classroom? Has it changed the way you teach? Share your thoughts on this topic or see what your peers have to say about it over on Yahoo! Answers.

Labels: , , , ,

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Podcasting- UVA's Global Future

It's just amazing that with a simple technology like podcasting, The University of Virginia, is able to provide information for the world to listen to that addresses its "Global Future- the Future of the University"....

Listen and hear how the "University of Virginia feels its' obligation is to be as “bold and revolutionary in our thinking and actions” as its founder, Thomas Jefferson, was in his time."

Thinking 'bold and revolutionary' will get their students prepared for their future!

Podcasting provides a revolutionary way to deliver information on the Internet. Now that The World is Flat anyone can reach out and have the world as their audience too.

Labels: ,

Monday, March 05, 2007

Miller Center of Public Affairs & Presidential Recording Program

Looking for audio recordings of US Presidents to share with your social studies classes? Check out the Presidential Recordings Program, brought to you by the Miller Center of Public Affairs and the University of Virginia.

"This site is designed as a service to the research community by making freely available all of the presidential recordings, along with relevant research materials, so that scholars, teachers, students, and the public can hear and use these remarkable tapes for themselves."

Or better yet, let your students listen to the recordings and share what they have learned with their classmates.



Labels: , ,

Congrats on debaird.net blog

With the look of what you have already posted on your new debaird.net blog, you have lots more to share with our readers...so blog away, we will be reading.

Labels: , , ,

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Now Live: debaird.net

Just a quick note to announce the launch of my new blog debaird.net! Yes, the name is quite original isn't it? I'll still be blogging here on BlendedEdu with MaryAnne sharing ed tech resources and reviews.

Over on the new site, I'll be blogging about Social Media, Gen Y, Education Technology, Community and other stuff. So come on by and have a read!

Web Resources

Labels: , , , ,

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

More Browser Based Software Tools

We've highlighted many Web 2.0 tools this past year such as YackPack, Flickr, Google Spreadsheets & Docs, and del.ici.ous for class resources, but here are some more worth checking out.

These tools can be used with very young students as well as college students. And since they’re browser based and free they’re available from any computer, any time.

So, if students begin their work in class or in the campus computer lab, they can access it from any computer later- whether at home or at the local java joes. With this generation- Think Mobile

Desktop Publishing & Spreadsheets
->
gOffice

Spreadsheets, Word Processing, Presenting, Sketching and more…
->Ajax13

Photo Manager
->PXN8

Instant Messengers
->Campfire
->Gabbly

Music Players
->Jinzora

Video Tools
->Jumpcut
->Vimeo

You just might find some new tools to add to your teaching toolkit and some you want to share with your students.

Labels: , ,

Friday, January 26, 2007

Yackpack Live

Yackpack has introduced a new feature that allows you to talk live to people in your pack! And just like the rest of Yackpack it's easy to use: you push and button and talk, and all folks logged into your pack can hear you!

Pretty cool, eh?

This new Yackpack Live feature is an easy and convenient way to introduce synchronous communication in a distributed learning environment. So why not try using Yackpack in your e-learning back of Web 2.0 tricks?

Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Web 2.0: A New Wave of Innovation for Teaching and Learning

This past year we have blogged about Web 2.0 and curriculum ideas to jump start your thinking about how to use tools like del.icio.us, YouTube, and flickr with your students.

This article from Educause “Web 2.0: A New Wave of Innovation for Teaching and Learning?” reflects the fast, growing developments of the Web 2.0 and provides ideas for using the software components in Higher Education. These ideas are also well suited for senior high school students.

The article mentions so many Web 2.0 tools your head will spin. If you haven’t read this article yet, it’s a must read to catch you up to date. Considering it seems like new social tools are emerging each week, you have a lot of catch up on.

Labels: , , ,

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Shoot, Practice, Share - YouTube

Being a ‘research practitioner’ I research new technologies as tools for use in curriculum and instruction, and recommend tools to use along with ideas on how-to incorporate these tools into teaching. In my research phase I try them out. In other words, “I practice what I blog” in Blendedu.

Over the break I spent time playing with YouTube. I was practicing, though the word ‘playing’ sounds like so much more fun.

We easily shot some video on our digital camera, and then uploaded it to YouTube.

To begin, find something that you want to video such as your new puppy playing or your cat curled up in a breadbasket. Choose something you want to video and something you want to share with others. That’s the reason behind YouTube. It's a new tool to share video with your friends. Plus it is a great tool for your students to use in their science lab classes, in Criminal Justice, Sociology, or Math. Then practice uploading the video you created. It’s very easy and with practice you can then walk your students through it.

So…
1) Choose something to video you want to share with others
2) Practice uploading the video
3) Send the URL to others to share

It’s really that easy..so share.

Labels: ,

Begin Anew - Try Photobucket

2007 is a very exciting time to begin to use the new technology that surrounds us. It is an exciting time to begin anew. There are so many sites and so many new ways to use these new tools.

Take some time to reflect on Blendededu and our previous posts about all the new Web 2.0 sites that are available for us to use and think of ways you can use them with your students in your classrooms or in our own work. Pick one and learn to use it, and then share your enthusiasm with your students.

One that I pick to try is Photobucket.com. My son shared this site with me over our holiday break and he insists he likes Photobucket over Flickr. Humm? Humm. That is a stretch for me, since I love Flikr, but I will definitely learn to use Photobucket and see what’s got a young 20-year old so hooked.

Learning something new is a good way to kick off a Happy New Year.

Labels: , ,

Monday, January 01, 2007

Teaching Toolbox: del.icio.us Tutorial

Video originally uploaded on YouTube by jutecht on March 8, 2006.

This is a fantastic video tutorial on using del.icio.us in the classroom! Social bookmarking tools like del.icio.us are a great and easy way to find those hidden threads of community knowledge.

Give it a try--soon you'll wonder how you lived on the web with out it!

Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

YouTube: K12, Colleges, and Gen Y Learning Styles

YouTube is one of the most popular video sharing sites on the web and has provided members of its community with lots of ways to interact with each other, including YouTube Groups.

These video sharing groups are a great way for students and teachers to share projects, classroom activities, or even instructional materials.

YouTube+K12 Edu

For example, the K12 YouTube Group provides community members with a platform for "learners (teachers and students) to post their creations in a safe area and allow for easier searching."

This is a fantastic use of social media and more evidence that the web is emerging as an alternative learning structure, drawing on the collective knowledge and wisdom living in the larger and informal and lifelong learning network.

The K12 YouTube Group is new, so right now the selection is relatively low, but hopefully (and this is where we all come in) the catalog of instructional videos will grow as more and more people participate by sharing their video with the YouTube community.

Gen Y + Social Media = Learning

One of the most interesting videos being shared in the K12 Group is The Learning Blogosphere which provides a look at how instructors can use social media to support digital learning styles.

While our current pedagogy is based on a student being a passive learner (the student sits quietly while the teacher lectures), today's Gen Y student has been raised in an always-on, interactive, multimedia and technology saturated environment.

As a result of this shift, students tend to respond better to learning environments that incorporate social media (blogs, wiki, podcasts, video) elements that allow them to be more actively engaged in their own learning process.

YouTube U

YouTube has also recently tapped in to the higher education community by providing students with a community based home on YouTube called YouTube Colleges.

Hopefully, these new college video communities on YouTube will also provide a means for instructors to post lectures and allow students with opportunities to learn according to their own schedule and learning needs.

These new groups allow students with a valid ".edu" email account from their school, to join a group centered around their collegiate community and keep up on everything from "...Greek life to local bands to the big game, you can watch, upload, and share what's up, all on YouTube."

Web Resources

Labels: , ,

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Gen Y: Digital Learning Styles

“Perhaps our generation focused on information, but these kids focus on meaning -- how does information take on meaning?" - John Seeley Brown

In the 21st Century classroom, the student wants to control the how, what, and when a task is completed. Social media and other web-based technologies are well suited to provide avenues for students to engage in a social, collaborative, and active dialogue in the online learning environment with their peers and instructor.

A study conducted by the UK-based NESTA FutureLabs (2005) reported that the education “should be reversed to conform to the learner, rather than the learner to the system.” Moreover, the NESTA found that social media should be used to enable learners to study and be assessed according to their own learning style (BBC, 2005).

Online learning theory and pedagogical practice also centers on the concept that learning needs to be situated in a social and collaborative context. Discussion among peers can make the often invisible community threads more visible and accessible, and may lead students to find others in the group who share the same interests.

Gen Y students are hard wired to look at the variety of available technologies and then construct their own learning path, and content based on their intrinsic learning needs. As students go through process of choosing, utilizing, integrating and sharing content it provides opportunities for them to be actively engaged, provide and receive feedback, as well as acquire, share, and make use of community knowledge.

More importantly, this new digital pedagogy emphasizes providing students with a broad range of technology tools then allowing them to use them as a means to construct their own understanding and knowledge.

As a result, students are highly motivated to discuss content, solve problems together, and apply new concepts which relate to their own practice. This approach also provides student’s with access to flexible, self-paced, customizable content, on-demand opportunities for learning, along with the ability to create and share student-generated content.

The use of social technologies provides students with an opportunity to self-assess their understanding (or lack of) of the current course topic with their peers.

Moreover, as students utilize social technologies to share their thought processes and provide feedback to their learning community, they are able to help each other work through cognitive roadblocks, modify their perceptions, and negotiate their own views while simultaneously building a collaborative peer support system.

In addition, collaborative project-based learning environments help students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills—both essential skills for students to compete in a global knowledge-based society.

Web Resources

Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Mobilize.org: Save Our Social Networks

Mobilize.org has launched a new campaign in response to Congress' attempt to control social networking sites.

Through their partnership with the Youth Policy Action Center, Mobilize.org is hoping to get as much grassroots action as possible around this important issue, especially from the online community.

Web Resources

Labels: ,

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Learning Styles 2.0: Digital, Social, and Always On


“We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.” -Peter Drucker

Raised in the "always on" world of interactive media, the Internet, and digital messaging technologies, Generation Y has different expectations and learning styles than previous generations.

What happens to student learning when a course is revised to incorporate self-directed learning opportunities? The learning that students achieve goes far beyond the boundaries of what they are taught because individuals create meaning for themselves beyond solely the intent of the teacher.

Digital learning styles include fluency in new media, online communities, guided mentoring, video games, or collective reflection via weblogs, podcasts, moblogging, wiki, Flickr, and other forms of social media.

Effective online learning design should provide engaging content which allows the pupil to draw connections between the context of the learning objectives while utilizing various forms of social media. Another vital design element is the users ability to mediate their level of communication within the virtual learning environment.

Understanding and incorporating these digital learning experience attributes into your frontline and online curriculum will increase student motivation and enhance the delivery of instruction while meeting the needs of today's digital learning styles.

Digital Learning Experience Attributes

  • Interactive: Engaging content and course material that motivates them to learn through challenging pedagogy, conceptual review, and learning style adaptation. Students expect to pick and use various types of media and create a personalized “mash-up” of content. Students also use social media as a way to express their identity and creativity through creation of user-generated content.

  • Student-Centered: Shifts the learning responsibility to the student, and emphasizes teacher-guided instruction and modeling. The role of the teacher is to help novices clear cognitive roadblocks by providing them with the resources needed to develop a better understanding of the topic. This requires the student to take a more active role in their own learning process.

  • Authentic: Learning and knowledge acquisition takes place only when situated in a social and authentic context. Teachers should find ways to reconcile classroom use of social media to the authentic way teens are using outside of the classroom. The use of technology (video games, blogs, podcasts) use should be tied to a specific learning goal or activity.

  • Collaborative: Learning is a social activity, and students learn best through observation, collaboration, intrinsic motivation and from self-organizing social systems comprised of peers. This can take place in either a virtual or in-person environment. Collaborative work and peer feedback supports motivation by giving students a sense of active involvement within the learning community.

  • On-Demand: Student's have the ability to multitask and handle multiple streams of information and juggle both short and long term information and/or learning goals. Course content should be made available "on-demand" so the learner can view course materials when, where, and how (PC, mobile or handheld device) they want to view the content.
These trends in online and lifelong learning are being fueled by changes in the cha