iPod Touch - The Incredible Mini-Computer

I was fortunate to receive a 3rd generation iPod Touch - 32GB as a gift from my wife this past week. I had been struggling with my iPod shuffle and playlists for about two years, and so I was finally able to convince her that I needed an upgrade. Ever since I took this device out of the package, I have been blown away! The list that follows are some of the features that would make an iPod Touch or better yet, a set of them essential for the classroom of the future.

1. Music - Through iTunes, students and teachers can import music for presentations, digital storytelling, or simply for listening while working on something during class.

2. Internet Access - The iPod Touch is WiFi enabled. Students and teachers could access the Internet from their iPod Touch using the Safari web browser that is preloaded on the device. Unlike some mobile devices, the iPod Touch displays websites exactly as if you were on a PC or MAC. Obviously, this type of technology has unlimited possibilities...imagine, no more fighting over computer lab time!

3. Email - Students and teachers could receive and send email from their iPod Touch.

4. Social Networking - Twitter, Facebook, etc. all have applications available through the iTunes App Store. Students and teachers could use these apps to stay connected with one another and keep up to date with upcoming school events, dates, and homework assignments.

5. Podcasting/iTunes U - Free podcasts, lectures, and intro college classes are available through the iTunes Store. Students and teachers could learn a foreign language, listen to a Physics lecture, or watch a Presidential press conference from the classroom. The variety of topics covered via podcasts would allow our students to learn and write about subjects that are of interest to them. They could even become inspired enough to create their own podcasts and share them with each other...

6. Calendar/Contacts/Notes - Students and teachers can organize their lives by using these features of the iPod Touch. These apps are simple and the easy-to-use touch interface makes entering data a breeze.

7. Apps - There are thousands of educational apps available for the iPod Touch. It would be impossible to speak to all of them in this post, but I will mention a few that would be useful...Google Earth, Google Maps, Skype, YouTube, Graphing Calculator apps, dictionary apps, thesaurus apps, Kindle for iPhone, Presidential history apps, state facts, etc. The choices are incredible and range from FREE to $24.99 in price.

Do yourself a favor and get an iPod Touch as soon as possible...I haven't even mentioned the thousands of apps and uses that would be considered non-educational by some.

The Power of Weebly

I had often thought that I wanted to create a website for my classroom, but I felt that this type of technology was slightly beyond my reach as a full-time 6th grade teacher. Recently, software applications have been made available that allow a teacher, or anyone for that matter, to create a professional looking website for your classroom. I chose to use Weebly to create a website for the Instructional Support and Technology Department at our school district. In the matter of a few hours, I had created a very user friendly website that had many of the features that schools and organizations pays thousands of dollars for...mine was free. I would encourage anyone that has been dreaming of creating their own website to visit the Weebly website and get started today. My website is provided in the links at the bottom of this blog.

www.weebly.com

Classroom Performance System - "Clickers"

We are currently in the process of completing our Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) for part of our new school improvement plan at each building in the district. I was asked to incorporate the use of a Classroom Performance System for one of the buildings and it has worked out beautifully. Instantaneous feedback and data collection and the software was very easy to load and operate. We have two systems in our district, but are looking to add more...students and teachers could very easily integrate their use in the K-12 classroom. Formative assessment would be made easy with a CPS by polling students, giving quizzes, and asking for feedback about assignments/projects while still providing anonymity for the students. We used the following system...

http://www.einstruction.com/products/assessment/cps/index.html

To Facebook or Not to Facebook

Should a school district's leadership be nervous about creating a Facebook page? We were looking at creating a Facebook page for our high school, and it seems that we have hit a road block...we would like to be able to post without receiving comments from fans of our page. I have not been able to find a setting that would allow me to completely turn off the comment feature...I am not sure that I want to. I think that providing information, reminders of events, and highlights of the great things that our teachers and students are doing far outweighs any negative press you may receive through the comment section of a Facebook page. Moreover, you could simply delete the comment or ban the person from being a "fan" of your page if you don't mind violating the 1st Amendment...If anyone knows how to turn the comments off, please let me know.

Blackboard

Our high school teachers and students are using an online learning environment called Blackboard to enhance the classroom experience. Teachers and students are able to use Blackboard to communicate, organize, and collaborate. Teachers and students are able to use Blackboard as a means for storage and sharing of files of various types. Students are able to turn papers in online and they can have ongoing threaded discussions with one another or the teacher in their class discussion board. Some teachers have begun to use the assessment feature of the program where students are able to complete quizzes or even tests online.

RM Easiteach

Throughout our school district, teachers are becoming familiar with a piece of software that has become as integral to teaching with an interactive whiteboard as your operating system is for running your computer. RM Easiteach is a lesson-design software that promotes the easy creation of interactive lessons through an intuitive interface with the user. Teachers, with various degrees of technological know-how, have found RM Easiteach easy to learn. Drop down menus, fantastic toolbars, and drag and release features make RM Easiteach simple to operate from the onset. Please see the links below for information and YouTube videos describing RM Easiteach and its useful toolbars.

http://www.rmeducation.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/RMEducationUS

Flip Video Camcorders

Late last year, I was introduced to Flip Video Camcorders by one of our 5th grade social studies teachers. He had borrowed a set from the local ISD and was using them with his students to prepare for mock congressional hearings. The students used these wonderfully simple to operate video cameras to record their presentations and to make adjustments to their prepared statements, the order of presentation, and to their own public speaking mannerisms. Students were having conversations, based on the videos, about what makes a good public speaker. They were talking with one another about eye contact, pace of speaking, citing specific examples, tone, etc. I would recommend that teachers check these highly effective devices out. A few Flip cameras, in the hands of your students, could have unlimited possibilities in any subject...

http://www.theflip.com/en-us/

$15 coupon available for becoming a "fan" of their Facebook page...

What Really Motivates Middle School Students?

I recently read an archived article from Educational Leadership, Sept.1995 by Richard Strong, Harvey F. Silver and Amy Robinson called What do students want (and what really motivates them)?

http://www.middleweb.com/StdntMotv.html

In this article, the authors make many recommendations for encouraging originality and motivating students including connecting creative projects to students' personal ideas and concerns and expanding the definition of audience. However, the recommendation that has perhaps the most merit when it comes to the integration of technology into the K-12 classroom is their suggestion to increase the choices that students have in constructing and expressing their learning.

By providing choice in the medium of expression alone, the teacher could enhance student motivation to learn, express themselves, and "produce work that is of value to others." Has anyone used software, video, music, or other applications to enhance student motivation through the integration of technology? I would love to hear your story...

Technology Applications for the K-12 Classroom - Purpose

As public education struggles with finding ways to motivate students and enhance the learning that occurs in the K-12 classroom in the face of a funding crisis of monumental proportions, it has become increasingly more important for teachers, students, parents, and other stake-holders to embrace the role that technology will and should play in the education of our children.

Our students live in a world that allows an unprecedented level of connectivity...the advent of the iPhone, iPod, and other "smart" devices have allowed our students to view access to information, media, and social networking as a normal part of their everyday lives rather than an aberration or luxury of 21st century living.

As part of the ongoing "re-imagining" of public education, it would be wise for administrators and teachers to carefully consider the role of technology integration. How can we use existing technology more wisely? How can technology save time, money, effort? If our students are using applications such as Facebook, Wikis, and Twitter, shouldn't we? Within this blog, I intend to highlight possible applications for various technologies in the K-12 setting. I look forward to hearing about how other public educators are successfully integrating technology into their classrooms.