Posts made in February, 2012

Solving the Mysteries of Creative Commons

Posted by on Feb 29, 2012 in school technology | 0 comments

#edtech #edchat

With more and more of my student’s work being put online — I thought is was about time to get to the bottom of Creative Commons. My superficial understanding was that is was a mutually agreed upon license that helped to bring some legitimacy to using others works (pictures, videos, writings, music, etc.) that can be found online.

Naturally, my first stop was my Atomic Learning account and I was pleased to find an entire workshop on the subject. The nice thing about Atomic Learning workshops is that you do not need to sit through a lot of stuff you don’t need just to find the few things you do. For example, with the Creative Commons Workshop there are over 53 minutes of lessons. I found what I needed to know by watching less than 10 minutes. I just looked for the titles of lessons that I needed.

Creative Commons Workshop

A few minutes later I was on my Flickr account changing the Creative Commons licence setting to more reflect what I actually wanted — now that I am an expert on the subject.

- Brad Flickinger, Tech Teacher, Bethke Elementary School

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Webinar: Forging the Technology-Curriculum Link

Posted by on Feb 29, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

#edtech #mlearning #edchat

15 FebI just heard from my wife that she will be on the panel for this webinar…

To ensure the best results for students, it’s important to be deliberate and thoughtful in the way technology is incorporated into the curricula. Just layering tech on top fails to take advantage of the technology tools’ full potential.

Join this complimentary webinar to hear how those ‘in the trenches’ are working together to find the best ways to integrate technology into teaching and learning.

Thursday, March 1st at 2:00 EST | 1:00 CST | 11:00 PST

Register now.

My wife is the district tech training and curriculum person for the district I am in.

- Brad Flickinger

Update 2-29-12: My wife just informed me that she is part of a webinar later in March and not tomorrow’s. Oops!

 

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Teaching Young Students to use Technology Responsibly

Posted by on Feb 23, 2012 in school technology | 8 comments

#edtech #edchat #mlearning 
 

We need to prepare our students to act responsibly when the moment of stupidity arrives. We should not just hand students technology and expect them to use it responsibly. They are kids after all.

Here is a fictitious story to show my point: imagine three fifth grade students check out a Flip video camera to work on a class project during lunch recess. They want to show the principle of an arc by showing a student swinging on a swing. So here the three of them are out on the playground using their “21st Century Skills” to make an awesome little video that will help their classmates learn a new concept. The teacher back inside eating her lunch could not be prouder — she incorporates tech into her lessons.
 
The shots get made and the three budding filmmakers go back to their regular recess play, with the Flip video camera tucked safely into one of their pockets.
 
However, a few minutes later a classmate slips in some hidden mud on the playground and she is now covered down her side in mud and crying, her pretty new jeans and jacket wrecked.
 
Grasping at the moment of opportunity, the one student with the Flip video camera starts to film the misfortune of his classmate. The mud covered girl runs inside to her teacher sobbing and humiliated. Minutes later the boy with the camera has a crowd around him as he replays the scene over and over again of the muddy girl for those who might have missed it. All the while commenting how he can’t wait to get it on YouTube.
 
You can now imagine the scene over the next few hours: parents and students in the principal’s office. “What were you thinking?” being said by parents, teachers, and administrators. And a young girl who never wants to come back to school. I think you get the picture.
 
How could something like this happen? What would make normally good students do something so bad?
 
Conditioning.
 
For years our children have been conditioned that if you really want to be popular with video (most views) then you need to show something embarrassing or rude. YouTube is full of these types of videos and there are even TV shows dedicated to this genre. I believe that part of teaching students how to use technology is to teach them how to use it responsibly. This goes for everything from blogging to video sharing. Aren’t we all sick of people making rude comments on blogs and news stories? Don’t get me wrong, I like a funny video just like the next person, but as we teach our students at our school; something is only funny if everyone involved thinks it is funny. We need to teach students that quality work can be popular too.
 
Sure there are Hollywood movies that are funny and rude and make a killing at the box office. But the movies that really move us and change us for the better are the really great movies. Funny is easy, but quality is hard. Our students can do quality work, we just need to teach them how and then expect them to do it.
 
Now back to the story fo the three fifth grade filmmaker. What can be done to prevent things like this happening in your school?
 
Here at Bethke Elementary students can only use technology without direct supervision of their teacher if they have a BETHKE STUDENT TECH PERMIT. I know it sounds very formal, but it is an easy to use document that helps to remind students to use tech responsibly. Our staff is trained that if they see a student using tech away from their teacher, they are to ask to see their permit.
 
You can see from the copy of our permit that the student must initial the statements that help them remember to use technology responsibly…
 
click to make larger

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Atomic Learning now Offers Certificates of Completion

Posted by on Feb 15, 2012 in school technology | 0 comments

#edtech

In our world of education, most teachers continue to educate themselves so that they can keep up on the ever-changing life as educators. Some things we get a little credit for and others we just do quietly behind the scenes. So it is nice when a company comes along and gives us a little credit where credit is done. Atomic Learning now offers Certificates of Completion for some of their courses.

Here is a link to a video that explains it:

http://www.atomiclearning.com/k12/movie/90567/play_window?type=Tutorial&sid=2218

Here is a quote from their blog:

Atomic Learning now offers Certificates of Completion for individuals completing a full tutorial series or training assignment.

Each certificate provides a summary of the time an individual has dedicated to self-improvement and is a great tool to:

 

  • Track Professional Development Hours
  • Build a Skills Portfolio
  • Create an Evidence of Learning Repository
  • Earn Recognition Among Peers

Learn more about Certificates of Completion in this overview video.  And, don’t miss your chance to win a $500 Amazon.com gift card! Check out the details of this exciting contest for certificates earned between February 15 – March 15, 2012 on this flyer.

- Brad Flickinger, Tech Teacher, Bethke Elementary School

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Amazing photos of elementary students using iPods for school projects.

Posted by on Feb 14, 2012 in school technology | 0 comments

#edtech #mlearning #elemchat

20120213 306

I just uploaded a set of new photos of elementary students using iPods for amazing school projects.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/56155476@N08/sets/72157629306333243/

- Brad Flickinger, Tech Teacher, Bethke Elementary

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