Posts Tagged "21st Century"

Teaching with iPads: PD Course

Posted by on Jul 3, 2012 in school technology | 0 comments

#edtech #mlearning #ipaded

As I work on my new professional development course “Teaching iPads,” I have come to realize that iPads are not only good for teaching 21st-century skills but also assessing 21st-century skills. For example, during a recent lesson on the Renaissance I had students develop their 21st-century skill of communication and collaboration by working together in groups of three on one iPad as they used collaborative apps to help them plan a script for a video that they would later shoot with their iPads.

- Brad Flickinger, Tech Teacher, Bethke Elementary School

 

 

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Summer Training Sessions on Atomic Learning Available

Posted by on May 4, 2012 in school technology | 0 comments

#edtech #edchat

“Integrating technology” is often talked about, but not always taught about… what are effective strategies for integrating technology, where’s a good place to start, and how can Atomic Learning help?

Atomic Learning customers are invited to this free online training session to learn more about the key features of Atomic Learning for professional development, how-to training, and classroom tech integration. This session will cover:

- How to access just in time training

- An overview of professional development tools

- Resources to integrate today’s technology into your curriculum with one easy search

Learn how our resources can assist with all curriculum areas at each grade level, and share with you tools to enhance and build your classroom into a 21st century-rich learning environment.

Register for a session now by clicking a date below:

Mon, May 14, 2012 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM CDT

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Finding Lessons with 21st Century Standards

Posted by on Mar 25, 2012 in school technology | 0 comments

#edtech #edchat

I know that it is 12 years into the 21st Century and you would think that my lessons would be full of 21st Century Skills, but I still need help with a few lessons. So the other day when I was logged into Atomic Learning I noticed that they had an area where I could search by state standard or, hold on to your seat, by 21st Century Skills.

So I searched for the standard I was stuck on…

Use digital-imaging technology to modify or create works of art for use in a digital presentation.

Sure enough, the search came up with a few different lessons that I could do.

I had totally forgotten about PhotoStory3, so I checked out what they had and it worked perfectly with what I needed.

No. 14 on my 28 item to-do list is now done. Now if only I could get Atomic Learning to do an oil change on my car, I could get another thing done.

- Brad Flickinger, Tech Teacher, Bethke Elementary

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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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Teaching Kids with iPads – Part 4 of 5

Posted by on Feb 3, 2012 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

#edchat #mlearning #ipaded

Some times when I am speaking at a conference about iPads in education teachers will share a concern that they have about every student getting an iPad. They are worried than the students will just work in isolation and our society will become even more fractured and self-centered with students never learning to work together.

They imagine a room full of kids with headphones on just plugged into their iPads like a room full of zombies. I had this same concern when I started to design my lessons that used iPads. I made sure that most of the lessons involved team work and collaboration (a 21st century skill).

Take a look at these photos for proof.

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