Apps for Education - Current Events #9

Joyce Valenza tipped me off to this amzaing website with information on apps for education. The website is APPitic.

From the website:

APPitic is a directory of apps for education by Apple Distinguished Educators (ADEs) to help you transform teaching and learning. These apps have been tested in a variety of different grade levels, instructional strategies and classroom settings.

I love Apple! I love apps! I especially love my iPad. I am always looking for good apps and this website is great. As I've gone through the website, I am amazed at all the apps there are that I've been ignorant of! If I am looking for a specific tool, I search the app store but I haven't ever gotten this kind of selection from my searches.
It's always so nice to have others so some of the work for you:-)

Current Events #8: Cameron Herold: Let's raise kids to be entrepreneurs

This is a TedTalk that I found on iTunes while I was working out. It was actually given in Edmonton back in March of 2010, but its 'current' to me.

Cameron, an entrepreneur,  gives an interesting talk on how schools preparing students for professional occupations like lawyers, doctors, nurses, teachers and are discouraging students to be entrepreneurs. He feels that it is in entrepreneurship that all the worlds needs are answered - if there is a problem, an entrepreneurial minded person will think of a solution. He doesn't say that everyone should be trained to be entrepreneurs; only those who show the traits of an entrepreneur. He then discusses those traits by talking about the traits he displayed as a child.

I chose this because I could relate to Cameron's experiences. My dad is an entreprenuer. He started is own machine shop back in the 1980's and we were raised working in that shop. The whole time I listened to this talk, I kept thinking of my dad who told us he wished he'd gotten an engineering degree along with this machining ticket. Though he has been successful, he feels the education he would have received as an engineer would have greatly assisted him in his work. So 'book education' and 'hands-on education' might be what we really need.

Congratulations to the following Educators!! You bet I'll be adding you to me PLN. Current Events #7

While I was working with Jing this week, I came across this document created by TechSmith - the company that owns Jing. The title made me really interested:

Educators to Watch

I love getting tipped off on people whom I should be learning from.

The document is AMAZING!! It profiles 21 educators. You are told why you should follow this person and all the information you need to add them to your PLN. Two key components in each profile is the technology that the educator uses and their goals. Each educator is quoted and obviously they've picked something profound for each of them:-)

I can't wait to start following as many of them as I can.

Educators to Watch

Current Events #6: Animation of Sir Ken Robinson talk - Changing Education Paradigms

This is an RSA Animate video of Sir Ken Robinson's talk on changing education paradigms.



I really enjoyed this video for a couple of reasons. First of all I am a visual learner so having Ken's words presented in pictures helped me understand his message. If I had just listened to the video I wouldn't have gotten near as much out of it. Second, his message is very powerful. I have heard bits and pieces of Ken's talk but I've never heard it all pieced together. I emailed it off to a couple of friends who have been asking about the changes they are seeing in Education.

About 4 minutes into the presentation Ken talks about ADHD. I was fascinated by what he had to say. The more I teach, the more I realize that we need to do a better job engaging our students in their work instead of blaming them for being bored.

I just feel inspired to be a better teacher.

New Generation of Readers - Current Events #5

I found an article in this month's (Oct 2011) edition of Teacher Librarian:

Nurturing a New Breed of Reader: Five Real-world Issues (pp.56-63)

This article discusses the need for school libraries to take into account the changing needs of students due to technology. It reviews devices (laptop, iPod, Kindle), resources for the devices (ebooks, interactive books), skills (studies have shown that interactive texts increase comprehension), attitudes (students like electronic books), and approaches to teaching (are we going to teach the same as we have in the past).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dekuwa/3267474040/sizes/m/in/photostream/

The article is meaningful to me personally and professionally. I really enjoy using various devices. I am a proponent of children (my own and my students) using devices. I like having research to back up what I feel is important! This article provided me with references to studies that demonstrate the benefits of students using devices and their resources.

School Access to YouTube?? Current Events #4

http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/10/youtube-launches-new-education-site-with-school-access/

Thank you YouTube! In a time when many schools boards aren't allowing access to YouTube it's wonderful that YouTube is piloting an educational site. All their educational videos will be able to be seen without ads or the chance of viewing inappropriate content.

I think this is so beneficial because TL's can spend less time advocating for web resources and spend more time sharing the amazing resources with students and teachers.. 

Current Events #3: Why 21st Century Learning?

This is a video created by The Texas Education Agency.

I Have a Question. Why 21st Century Learning?

I chose this video because friends, family and co-workers have asked me, "Why 21st Century Education?". This video answers the question in such a simple and clear way. It takes everything I have been learning about 21 Century learning and sums it up in 3:34 minutes.  


This is a useful video for me becasue it's a great video to use as I advocate for libraries and technology integreation. I just emailed it off to my friend who is wondering why her children are coming home with websites to play with, assigned by their teachers. She knows her children love this kind of "homework" but fears that we're just feeding an addiction!! I think this video will help her (and others) understand why schools are starting to change their approach to teaching. 

Current Events #2: Web 3.0 - Are you kidding me?? I'm still figuring out Web 2.0!!

I have been following Judy O'Connell on Twitter (@heyjudeonline) for awhile but didn't find her website until this well. I was looking for another post recommended by a classmate when I found this slideshow. It caught my eye right away when I read Web3.0. AHHH!! Not yet! I am still working on Web2.0 and enjoying it thanks! I don't need change yet. The Next Big Thing is Web 3.0. Catch It If You Can

View more presentations from Judy O'Connell

I am sharing it with you because it is a great presentation:
- it goes over what Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 are and then dives into Web3.0
- it has great explanations and visuals
- it has three embedded YouTube Videos that help to explain the concept (especially slide 38)

Though initially Web3.0 seems complicated it actually is very simple. Let me rephrase that: Web 3.0 provides a simple solution to a very complicated task. It's essentially a new way of searching the internet. Instead of having individual websites returned to you on a search, the search engine searches websites you already use to get precise information for you. It is supposed to decrease our surfing time.

This is meaningful for me because I really want to keep up-to-date on changes to the web. I find the changes so fascinating and yet overwhelming. I can see how amazing Web 3.0 can be and look forward to it, but I just can't take these new things in all at once. But I think that is what Web3.0 is suppose to do: help us simplify this information overload.

Current Events #1: Online School for Rural School Boards??

This past Monday I was listening to the radio when the following discussion story came up. (start at 27:00). It just fits in so well with our discussions on using Web2.0 in the class (or not in the class as you'll soon find out!)

CBC Alberta@noon
AND
News paper article

The Prairie Rose School Division has had many school closures over the past few years. Many students are now having to take over an hour bus rides to get to school and another to get home. The board is looking into online schooling for some of the communities. A board meeting is happening Sept.28 where the technology specialist will update everyone on the technology that will be available. I am really curious to see what technology the will be suggesting.


I was really excited to hear that one of the options is to have hybrid classes (Kist 2010)! This would allow for students to come to school a few days of the week and stay home and work from home the other days. This would be especailly helpful in the winter when the roads are bad.

This was really meaningful to me because I went to a rural school. I could see how beneficial it would be to not have to travel the long distance every day, especially in the winter. I would have enjoyed having hybrid classes. I would also enjoy being the teacher of such classes.

Kist, W. (2010). The Socially Networked Classroom. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.