Reflection for Best Practice

This course has covered several new and emerging technologies along with learning about Web 2.0 tools to enhance instruction in order to support student learning. As you begin to create a best practice for you classroom, keep in mind some of the following questions

1. How can technology influence student academic performance?
2. How can technology develop higher order thinking and problem solving?
3. How can technology improve student motivation, attitude, and interest in learning?
4. How can technology help to prepare students for the workforce?
5. How can technology address the needs of low performing, at-risk, and learning handicapped students?
For help with many of these question visit the online links below.
Online links and more Q&A’s

Please post a reflection by Monday 1/14/2008, describing your Best Practice and the impact on student learning. You Best Practice Video is also due this week. It would be great to have available before the due date of 1/18 in order to share at a school committee meeting on Wed. 1/16/2008. Thanks!!

Maximizing the Impact: "The Pivotal Role of Technology in a 21st Century Education System"

Click here for full report
Maximizing the Impact: "The Pivotal Role of Technology in a 21st Century Education System"

In a new report, Maximizing the Impact: "The Pivotal Role of Technology in a 21st Century Education System", the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills urged renewed emphasis on technology in education.

The report urges federal, state and local policymakers and other stakeholders to take action on three fronts:
1. Use technology comprehensively to develop proficiency in 21st century skills. Knowledge of core content is necessary, but no longer sufficient, for success in a competitive world. Even if all students mastered core academic subjects, they still would be woefully underprepared to succeed in postsecondary institutions and workplaces, which increasingly value people who can use their knowledge to communicate, collaborate, analyze, create, innovate, and solve problems. Used comprehensively, technology helps students develop 21st century skills.

2. Use technology comprehensively to support innovative teaching and learning. To keep pace with a changing world, schools need to offer more rigorous, relevant and engaging opportunities for students to learn—and to apply their knowledge and skills in meaningful ways. Used comprehensively, technology supports new, research-based approaches and promising practices in teaching and learning.

3. Use technology comprehensively to create robust education support systems. To be effective in schools and classrooms, teachers and administrators need training, tools and proficiency in 21st century skills themselves. Used comprehensively, technology transforms standards and assessments, curriculum and instruction, professional development, learning environments, and administration.

The report supports the Partnership for 21st Century Skills’ framework for 21st century learning, which calls for mastery of core subjects and 21st century skills. The report also highlights effective practices in states, districts and schools that are using technology to achieve results. And it provides guiding questions and action principles for policymakers and other stakeholders who are committed to maximizing the impact of technology in education.

Together, SETDA, ISTE and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills represent dozens of leading U.S. companies and organizations, six leadership states, education technology directors in all 50 states, 85,000 education technology professionals and 3.2 million educators throughout the country.

Click here to view the full report, Maximizing the Impact.

Wednesday 12/12 - Class

Please create your own TeacherTube Account http://www.teachertube.com/ Click on Free Signup - Remember username and password. This will allow you to upload your video and link to your wiki, blog and/or class wiki to share a best practice.

Go to the class wiki and on the sidebar locate MovieMaker and Video Tips

Please remember to bring your camera, video and cables to class this evening!
Sheri will have my Aiptek camera for the rest of the month, if anyone needs to share, please contact her.

Please keep in mind Copyright issues -
Here is a link to "The Educator's Guide to Copyright and Fair Use"
http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2002/10/copyright.php

** Video Best Practices should be posted by Monday January 14th OR no later than Friday, January 18th.. Please post your reflection by Monday January 14th in order to share with the school committee, on Wednesday January 16th.

Please monitor the blog for readings, etc before our next class.

Enjoy the holidays!
- Mary

More classroom ideas for wikis and blogs

FYI
Here are some more wiki ideas for the classroom.
http://teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/wikiideas1.cfm

More idea for blogging in the classroom
http://teachersfirst.com/content/blog/blogideas1.cfm

This Month's Teaching and Learning Magazine

The first night of class I had all of you sign up for a few free magazine subscriptions. Last month we discussed the Zamzar tool (download YouTube Video) to have available offline to cut down on the school bandwith issues.

Please post a commnet if you are recieving Technology and Learning Magazine. This months issue has a review on "clickers"

Clickers Rule! http://www.techlearning.com/showArticle.php?articleID=196604803
by Susan Bush and Susan McLester
Rapid responders are the new classroom essential.

More on the magazine http://www.techlearning.com/content/about/tl_current.php

Hopefully, the magazine will keep you well informed on technology trends long after the class ends.