Technology in Education: What Works March 9, 2009 PTC Mtg. Colleen Ites, St. Theresa School [email_address]

The Rationale Under age 15 = digital natives / over age 15 = digital immigrants Digital natives directly apply new technologies learned; digital immigrants adapt new technologies to previous technologies, then absorb (ex. adults see PowerPoints as notecards; students simply see them as PowerPoints.) Digital natives expect multiple applications when using technology; current Stanford study discerning if cognitive brain mapping adapted for this Technology use keeps students actively engaged and offers opportunities for extended ownership of work Teachers (as digital immigrants) must be willing to show students learning processes using applications and become co-teachers with students; teacher’s role becomes guide and not informational expert Streamline process of information acquisition; help students determine the most effective way(s) to learn based on learning style and strengths, how to work collaboratively, and how to determine authenticity of information found on the Web.

Under age 15 = digital natives / over age 15 = digital immigrants

Digital natives directly apply new technologies learned; digital immigrants adapt new technologies to previous technologies, then absorb (ex. adults see PowerPoints as notecards; students simply see them as PowerPoints.)

Digital natives expect multiple applications when using technology; current Stanford study discerning if cognitive brain mapping adapted for this

Technology use keeps students actively engaged and offers opportunities for extended ownership of work

Teachers (as digital immigrants) must be willing to show students learning processes using applications and become co-teachers with students; teacher’s role becomes guide and not informational expert

Streamline process of information acquisition; help students determine the most effective way(s) to learn based on learning style and strengths, how to work collaboratively, and how to determine authenticity of information found on the Web.

The Process Researching what has worked for others: ISTE , CITE, professional education sites Choose most appropriate technology based on content area covered Select what will work with your specific group of students; be intensely aware of class dynamics Take baby steps; try out new applications before implementing, use as a differentiation tool, or develop for small group work

Researching what has worked for others: ISTE , CITE, professional education sites

Choose most appropriate technology based on content area covered

Select what will work with your specific group of students; be intensely aware of class dynamics

Take baby steps; try out new applications before implementing, use as a differentiation tool, or develop for small group work

Examples - Language Grammar PowerPoints hosted on-line, also containing interactive links while used GrammarGirl Quick & Dirty Tips NCTE worksheet hosted on-line; students use as a guide to creating character free writes SpellingCity.com Interactive literature skills games / units available on-line UK’s info all on-line; good resource Wikispaces.com : classroom wiki containing student-group created pages, mail piece, & discussion boards

Grammar PowerPoints hosted on-line, also containing interactive links while used

GrammarGirl Quick & Dirty Tips

NCTE worksheet hosted on-line; students use as a guide to creating character free writes

SpellingCity.com

Interactive literature skills games / units available on-line

UK’s info all on-line; good resource

Wikispaces.com : classroom wiki containing student-group created pages, mail piece, & discussion boards

Examples - Science Gizmo’s: tactile representation of scientific concepts (explorelearning.com) TV channel sites: interactive games and activities about various concepts Discovery Weather Channel Science Channel PBS kids iTunesU: lectures & experiments hosted in MP3 & MP4 formats; most downloads free TeacherTube / SchoolTube : YouTube-type application specifically for schools; experiments & student-created videos for explaining scientific processes

Gizmo’s: tactile representation of scientific concepts (explorelearning.com)

TV channel sites: interactive games and activities about various concepts

Discovery

Weather Channel

Science Channel

PBS kids

iTunesU: lectures & experiments hosted in MP3 & MP4 formats; most downloads free

TeacherTube / SchoolTube : YouTube-type application specifically for schools; experiments & student-created videos for explaining scientific processes

Examples – Social Studies United Streaming AEA’s research site National Geographic site GoogleEarth apps: integrating Google Earth into presentation or on-line worksheets; database of other teachers’ units as resources All news organization sites (CNN, ABC, NBC, PBSkids, FoxNews) National Archives site

United Streaming

AEA’s research site

National Geographic site

GoogleEarth apps: integrating Google Earth into presentation or on-line worksheets; database of other teachers’ units as resources

All news organization sites (CNN, ABC, NBC, PBSkids, FoxNews)

National Archives site

Examples - Math Gizmo’s: teaches abstract issues with tactile manipulatives (explorelearning.com) iTunesU : free downloads explaining processes, often with videos (mp4) TeacherTube / SchoolTube: excellent SmartBoard lessons to choose from, often explaining abstract concepts Internet4classrooms.com : collection of excellent lessons, including SmartBoard Scratch: programming language taught to students through program construction; forces students to learn problem-solving and collaboration skills ( scratch.mit.edu )

Gizmo’s: teaches abstract issues with tactile manipulatives (explorelearning.com)

iTunesU : free downloads explaining processes, often with videos (mp4)

TeacherTube / SchoolTube: excellent SmartBoard lessons to choose from, often explaining abstract concepts

Internet4classrooms.com : collection of excellent lessons, including SmartBoard

Scratch: programming language taught to students through program construction; forces students to learn problem-solving and collaboration skills ( scratch.mit.edu )

Examples - others Faith Formation: GodTube, usccb.org, EWTN’s site Spanish: SchoolTube, Univision’s site, PBSkids PE: GoogleEarth (taking the “Mile” clubs further) Music: iTunesU, AEA research site, digital writing programs Art: UnitedStreaming, virtual museum tours, use of digital apps (freeware similar to photoshop)

Faith Formation:

GodTube, usccb.org, EWTN’s site

Spanish:

SchoolTube, Univision’s site, PBSkids

PE:

GoogleEarth (taking the “Mile” clubs further)

Music:

iTunesU, AEA research site, digital writing programs

Art:

UnitedStreaming, virtual museum tours, use of digital apps (freeware similar to photoshop)

Collaborative learning - all GoogleDocs is an excellent way for students to transfer information between home and school Uses applications like “pared down” Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Works well as a collaborative tool for group projects too Each individual ads those who can see their docs; no “group” ads; individuals can be removed at any time Only set-up is sign-up for account

GoogleDocs is an excellent way for students to transfer information between home and school

Uses applications like “pared down” Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Works well as a collaborative tool for group projects too

Each individual ads those who can see their docs; no “group” ads; individuals can be removed at any time

Only set-up is sign-up for account

Further information For further information on Scratch and the language arts apps, feel free to visit my hosting page on slideshows at slideshare.net/cmites Other sites to review: Digital natives / digital immigrants Rationale supporting technology in schools Ms. Ites’ blogspots

For further information on Scratch and the language arts apps, feel free to visit my hosting page on slideshows at slideshare.net/cmites

Other sites to review:

Digital natives / digital immigrants

Rationale supporting technology in schools

Ms. Ites’ blogspots