Digital Badges

Visit the links below and give your opinion about the future of digital badges and whether or not you would use them, how you could use them, and if they have a future (5 to 10 sentences - 10 points). Note: This is one statement only, not a statement for each web site below.

I really like the idea of using digital badges.  I think that these will do well in this technology-increasing world.  Many schools are moving towards online classes and using digital badges is a great way to show success.  I like that you can create the badges so you can individualize them to show achievement in any way you choose.  I think these can be very motivating to students because they will want to receive as many of these badges as they can.  I would try to use these with young children because they are kind of like a virtual sticker, and we all know how much children love stickers!  I think they would be very motivated because they would want to show off all of their badges to their friends and family.  I definitely think these have a future, especially in education.  With so many skills that these badges can represent, the possibilities are endless.

 

Augmented Reality

Visit the link and answer the questions. (10 points)

Visit http://vlc.teacherworld.com/ar.html

1. Define Augmented Reality.

            Augmented reality is a view of the physical world overlaid by digital content.  It’s the practice of enhancing what’s already around us. 

2. Give an example of how you could use augmented reality in the classroom? Be specific.

            This can be used in the classroom by giving each student a form of technology, sort of like an iPad.  The teacher can create things on a bugger version and then display that on each of the students’ devices.  It would be like what the students did in the “A Day Made of Glass 2” video.  All of the assignments would be interactive and would show up on the devices.  This technology would also be great to take a virtual field trip somewhere.  It would be real pictures and information so it would be like they were actually standing there.

3. Do you see a future for this technology?

            I can definitely see a future for this technology.  We are already almost there with the use of Smartboard’s and iPad’s.  This is a little further, but I think that there is a future for it in classrooms one day.  This can really change the world of interactive and hands-on learning for students.  For example, the students in the video were mixing colors and creating white light within seconds.  This can really change the way of everyday life and learning.

4. What is the difference between augmented reality and virtual reality?

            Augmented reality is a view of the real world, while virtual reality is a view of a virtual world.

 

Disrupted Education

Many persons believe that online education, K–12 blended learning, and technology are going to change the entire school system. Michael Horn is a coauthor of "Disrupting Class" and many other blogs and activities relating to this topic. Visit his blog post and write a 5 to 10 sentence summary of the blog including your opinion of this concept. (10 points)

 

This blog summarizes blended learning and disruption in K-12 education.  After research, it’s concluded that organizations usually adopt technology as a hybrid- getting the “best of both worlds” by combining the old with the new.  In the future of education, the only way a disruptive innovation can take root and grow is in a hybrid or through eternal subsidy.  Online learning is ready to disrupt the traditional classroom.  For elementary schools, the disruptive models of blended learning may have little impact.  However, the disruptive models of blended learning are likely to replace the traditional classroom over the long term.  This concept is interesting to me.  I think that it can be a big part of the future of education with all of the increasing technology in the classroom.  However, I think that some schools cannot keep up with trends such as this because of financial issues.

 

Virtual Field Trips 

If time permitted, I would do more with this topic but for this class, I am only going to ask you to visit the links below and CHOOSE one virtual field trip that interests you and how you could use it in class. (5 points) Follow this format:

• Name and Address of Web Site for the Virtual Field Trip
• Why it interests you
• How you could use it in class (Education majors only have to answer this one)

 

Scholastic: http://www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/webcast.htm

I find it difficult to find really good virtual field trips because they often only show pictures.  I really like this one because it’s composed of four videos that take you on a tour of the Mayflower, a pilgrim village, the Wampanoag home site, and the Plymouth plantation.  I would use each of these videos at different times to show my students what it would be like to live at this time.  I would most likely do this around Thanksgiving time.  There are many other different things to be explored on this web site like photos, historical letters, daily life, and much more.  I would also explore these so the students got the full effect.  This web site also offers resources for teachers, so I would use this to create extension activities to engage my students.  The virtual field trip would be used for background information and to get an experience of what it would be like to actually live there.      

 

Social Networking in Education

Visit How to Use Social Media in Education (Part 2)

Write a 5 to 10 line paragraph of what you learned from this and your opinion of the use of social media in the classroom. (10 points)

 

Overall, when students are engaged, they learn better.  Students are always using social media, so they would love to use it for educational purpose as well.   YouTube is a great resource to allow children to watch your lecture more than once to really understand the material.  When using social media like Facebook, I learned that students can actually be nicer as they are accountable for their actions because it uses real names and identities.  Social media like Twitter and Instagram can help connect with people everywhere.  You can share and learn information about people all over the world as well as share classroom experiences with your family.  I think the use of social media in the classroom can be very beneficial, if used the right way.  Children love social media, so why not include something they love in the classroom?  I think this can really help them stay engaged and connected with the world.

 

Web Site Resources

I bookmarked 20 web sites at my Diigo account that I would like you to take a look at as a future resource.  Visit each web site and write the name of the web site and a ONE sentence description of what it does. Indicate if you have been to the site before.

ERIC: I have been here before and I think this is a great resource for reliable information about educational topics.

EduHound.com: I have never been to this site, but it is great for me as a future educator to find ways to incorporate technology into my classroom.

NASA for Educators: I have been to this site before and I think it has a lot of great resources and information for teachers to find lesson plans and materials to support science and math lessons.

Tagxedo: I have never been here before, but the web site allows the user to turn words into word clouds and then customize them from there.

Voki: I have never used this site, but it lets you create speaking avatars and use them to engage students in a variety of different ways. 

TeacherTube: I have been to this site before and it is a safe educational online video community for teachers, students, and parents to visit.

screenr: I have never used screenr, but it allows users to download the software and create screencasts for free. 

SaveTube: I have never used this site, but I have used sites similar to this, and it allows you to download videos from the web to your computer.

RubiStar: I have never used this site, but it allows teachers to create rubrics for free. 

Puzzlemaker: I have been to this web site before, and it allows the user to create a variety of different puzzles for free by simply entering a list of words.

PowerPoint Games: I have never been to this site, but it offers a variety of different PowerPoint games for students to play in a variety of different subjects.

3DTextmaker.com: I have never used this site, but it allows the user to create a 3D text banner for free, save it, and use it wherever.

bubbl.us: I have been to this site before, and it allows you to create mind maps and share them. 

Glogster EDU: I have never used this site, but it allows the user to create educational multimedia glogs as well as access other educational glogs. 

LessonPlanz.com: I have never been to this site, but it is a free online resource for lesson plans and lesson plan resources for all grade levels and subjects.

TeAchnology.com: I have never used this site, but it allows educators to create web site while using the sites free resources to enhance your web site. 

Ideas to Inspire: I have never been to this site, but it offers a lot of ideas for lessons from teachers all over the world.

Discovery Education: I have been to this site, and it offers teachers with free resources including programs and contests, interactive games, puzzles, lesson plans, videos and more.

Pinterest: I use Pinterest all of the time, it allows educators to share and view classroom ideas with everyone.

LiveBinders: I have used this site for this class; it allows you to collect resources online and store them neatly and easily to view later.

 

Technology Trends for 2015

The following article surveys 4 Educational Technology specialists to get their opinion of tend for 2015. The topics for each are listed below. Visit the article and summarize in 3 to 5 sentences what the panelist conclude and if they agree. (39 points)

What's Hot and What's Not in Ed Tech for 2015

 

BYOD: All of the panelists like the idea of BYOD.  Drexler states that schools must plan carefully in order for it to be successful.  Johnson mentions that it is cheaper for schools to fund students who don’t have devices rather than give devices to every student. 

Social Media: All but one of the panelists stressed that although social media can be good for certain educational topics, there is much controversy.  There can be issues with Internet safety and social interactions.  Harris states that social media and teaching just don’t work together.  He explains that there is no way to infuse real instructional objectives and assessment.  

Digital Badges: All of the panelists think that digital badges are a great tool, but two of them say that they don’t think schools will change their traditional methods to use them.  Drexler states that they have potential and is excited where they will go with education.  In the end, they all agree that school districts are not currently using this form of technology in the classroom.

Open Education Resources: There is a little bit of controversy with OERs.  One panelist mentions they aren’t hot yet, one says they are losing steam, and two believe they are still hot.  It sounds like Harris is not on board with the idea as he says, “educators need a higher platform for organization and discoverability”.  On the opposite end, Murray thinks that OERs have become a way of life.

Tablets and Desktops: All of the panelists are unanimous with their thoughts on tablets and desktops.  They agree that tablets are becoming very popular in the classroom because of their mobility.  They say that desktops are old, outdated, and they typically serve a purpose in computer labs.  With tablets popularity and decrease in price, more schools are leaning towards them.

E-Portfolios: Two of the panelists seem on board with e-portfolios while one panelists doesn’t think that schools will use them instead of bubble sheet standardized testing.  Drexler mentions that there are many new resources available for e-portfolios.  In regards to the classroom, Billings says that they are gaining ground in schools that focus on career and college readiness.

Learning Managements Systems: All of the panelists agree that LMS is not as popular today.  Murray explains that although schools are using LMS, they are not using it for its full potential.  Johnson mentions that they are unable to adapt, especially at the course level.  A reason for this may be that LMS offerings are too complicated to use, as Harris explains.

Learning Analytics: All of the panelists agree that school districts aren’t using learning analytics.  Two of them stress that this is due to privacy concerns from parents on collecting so much information on their children.  Murray mentions that schools first need a data-literate staff with the proper training and tools.  It sounds like this will not be a trend in schools.

Augmented Reality: It sounds like all of the panelists can see the potential for augmented reality in the classroom.  Murray mentions that schools will need a wide range of tools for this to have a major impact on instruction.  Harris really only sounds like he can see the benefit of augmented reality for field trips.  Drexler sounds completely on board with this topic.  Overall, it sounds like they think there is potential for augmented reality.

Personalized Learning: All of the panelists agree that personalized learning is a way to individualize instruction.  It allows teachers to differentiate instruction and work toward 1-to-1 teaching and learning.  Harris explains that he thinks it’s great to personalize reading and research so all students can benefit in the classroom.  This is a great tool to meet the needs of all students.

Game-based Learning: Two out of three panelists believe that game-based learning is not hot.  Harris explains that these games fail to address the real power of play as a natural form of learning.  Billings believes that these games don’t fit into school time-based classes.  Drexler believes that there is great potential for these games to have the qualities of adaptive, personalized, and blended learning.

Student Data Privacy Concerns: All panelists agree that this topic is very hot right now.  They mention that there are many legislations, bills, and state policies that are trying to address this issue.  Johnson believes that this topic is becoming far too political instead of being focused on learning. 

Apps for Learning: All of the panelists agree that this topic is hot, but it takes a lot of effort to find quality apps and align them with the curriculum.  These apps can provide teachers with a great tool to integrate technology into teaching and learning, but it remains underutilized and under planned.  They all agree that there are many apps, but it’s important to find quality ones.

 

The Digital Future

This is on of my favorite videos about the future. It was made by Corning Glass to advertise their products. The technologies you see in this video exist. You will see them emerging shortly as they become cost effective. This is a fitting video to end this class. After you view this video, write a 3 to 5 sentence description on your reaction to this. (3 points)

 

This video was amazing to watch.  I didn’t realize there was actual technology like this out there.  I think this technology can really benefit our everyday life, as well as children in the classroom.  With this technology, students are able to learn anything and everything right at their fingertips, with the touch of a button.  I hope I am able to use technology like this in my classroom someday.