There are so many Web 2.0 Tools that it is hard to even think of most of them. This week, we are focusing on several of the ones that I think have application in the classroom. I love the blog with the teacher posting information or food for thought and the students respond...I think that students like to be asked what they think, even if they do not expound on it the way we would like. It is surely a good way to get them to write. Remember that you need to give them pretty detailed descriptions/examples of appropriate posts...you could even consider giving them a rubric for grading so they would know exactly what you expect. A blog like this one is very appropriate for adults and some older students. A blog like the one on Pow-Pak is great for schools as it is easy to use and the teacher must approve any comments before they will be published. This guarantees that you will not find inappropriate comments on your blog.
I am really going to try to keep writing this blog a couple times a week...I plan to use it as a journal of sorts. Hope I can stay with it!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Engaging Today's Students
Isn't this what it is all about? It is so important for us to engage our students, and it really is not all that easy compared to a generation ago! Today's students are used to having lots of things going on at once (music, texting, homework, Facebook, etc.) and most include an on/off button. Gone are the days when my Dad could look for me by following the phone cord!
The world our students live in is not necessarily in books or newpapers or network tv like many of us are. Therefore, we must engage them in their world. No, I am not saying just let them do what they choose...I am saying that we can reach them and engage them by putting our feet in their shoes. Once we get their attention, then we must create learning that will address standards, prepare them for high-stakes tests, and prepare them with 21st Century Skills that will prepare them for the world of work.
We need to strive for true active engagement. I found this cool diagram on the web that I want to share:
The world our students live in is not necessarily in books or newpapers or network tv like many of us are. Therefore, we must engage them in their world. No, I am not saying just let them do what they choose...I am saying that we can reach them and engage them by putting our feet in their shoes. Once we get their attention, then we must create learning that will address standards, prepare them for high-stakes tests, and prepare them with 21st Century Skills that will prepare them for the world of work.
We need to strive for true active engagement. I found this cool diagram on the web that I want to share:
I think this really gets one thinking about the students we "see" as engaged who probably really fall into the passive compliance or ritual engagement categories!
What does authentic engagement look like?
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
March 6, 2012
This will be the initial posting for this new Blog. I hope to take advantage of this space to pass on cool things I find and new information (sometimes not so new information!) and other things that I think will interest folks in K-12 Schools.
Those of you who already know me know that I believe that students will do things on the computer that they will not do with pencil and paper. Therefore, we really need to capitalize on this to get our students to do what we need them to do. Now, my hope is that I can find some things to inspire you...but I promise that I will not encourage you to have students do things that would be better on paper...let's hope I can help you to get to higher levels of work by using technology with your students,
I am also a huge fan of 21st Century Skills and P21. I believe that what they have found is true...that these skills-communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity-the 4 Cs-merged with the 3 Rs-reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic-are what we need to teach our students today. I believe that these 4 Cs are what employers want, whether the job is engineer, doctor, scientist, or McDonald's worker. We have spent so many decades now teaching students for the high-stakes tests that we have not found time to prepare them for the world of work! The good news is that these skills can be "taught" along with what we need to teach for the tests.
Enough for today! What do you think?
Those of you who already know me know that I believe that students will do things on the computer that they will not do with pencil and paper. Therefore, we really need to capitalize on this to get our students to do what we need them to do. Now, my hope is that I can find some things to inspire you...but I promise that I will not encourage you to have students do things that would be better on paper...let's hope I can help you to get to higher levels of work by using technology with your students,
I am also a huge fan of 21st Century Skills and P21. I believe that what they have found is true...that these skills-communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity-the 4 Cs-merged with the 3 Rs-reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic-are what we need to teach our students today. I believe that these 4 Cs are what employers want, whether the job is engineer, doctor, scientist, or McDonald's worker. We have spent so many decades now teaching students for the high-stakes tests that we have not found time to prepare them for the world of work! The good news is that these skills can be "taught" along with what we need to teach for the tests.
Enough for today! What do you think?
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