Maupin House Blog POST - to see if it works rofl
“We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist, using technologies that haven’t been invented, in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet,” said Karl Fisch, teacher for twenty-one years and author of The Fischbowl blog.
However, the teachers at Menifee County High School and Botts Elementary School are hoping to prepare their students for these unknown jobs and problems as much as possible by integrating the latest technologies into the classroom. The recent addition of eighty-one iPad computers in their classrooms, funded by a $50,000 grant from MSU, 21st Century Enterprise, and the Center for Regional Engagement, has given these teachers a great opportunity to experiment with new and exciting lesson plans.
The iPhone and iPad are no longer just toys, they are also learning tools, said Jeffery McNabb, assistant principal of Menifee High School. He said the integration of these tools will help students who have trouble processing information from books, because it will give them another chance to understand the material as it’s presented in a different format, the computer screen.
Steve Johnson, author of Digital Tools for Teaching believes the integration and use of technology in the classroom is essential for creating capable, digital-literate students. Students may not need an iPad to become so, but the ability for them to explore, create and learn through multimedia platforms in the classroom is pivotal for their success outside the classroom. Johnson says that connecting and communicating with people through multimedia is essential in today’s world. In the past, teachers were expected to teach students to read and write, but now, in order to create students who can compete in the global business world, teachers must also help their students achieve digital literacy.
In Digital Tools for Teaching, Johnson outlines thirty different e-tools that enhance creativity and transform ordinary lesson plans into exciting, creative challenges for students. Teachers and students will find that Johnson’s thirty recommended e-tools are easily incorporated into the four core subjects (math, science, social studies and language arts) and after a little practice, students will be navigating through the programs like pros. The constant connectivity of his reccommended e-tools, for example, Glogster, Ning, Prezi, and TodaysMeet, will help students work better on individual and group projects.
For example, the e-tool Glogster allows students to create and share their ideas through online posters with the capability to include text, graphics, video, and audio. To incorporate Glogster into a social studies project, Johnson suggests that students create a Glog that uses multimedia to highlight an important invention in history and the impact it had on society. The limitations of pen and paper dissolve and students are able to think more critically and creatively in multimedia terms.
Teachers can also create safe, online social networks for their individual classrooms with the e-tool Ning. Students and teachers can communicate with each other through a controlled environment that functions similarly to Facebook or MySpace. Teachers have complete control and must approve all content before it becomes visible. Johnson suggests using Ning for a science project. Students can conduct research and post photos, videos, website links, and any ideas that help illustrate a specific scientific concept, like weather patterns or using green energy.
With Prezi, teachers and students can create presentations that are more visually distinct and exciting than ordinary slideshows. Johnson suggests having students use Prezi to create more interesting book reports that really illustrate the major characters and plot points, instead of just turning in traditional reports. This e-tool will allow students to approach book analysis with fewer restrictions because they can use pictures, diagrams, video, and audio to showcase their reports.
The e-tool TodaysMeet gives classrooms the ability to create private chatrooms, which allows students to have deeper discussions about their thoughts and ideas on the concepts taught in class. It gives teachers many insights on how students feel about the material, while letting students dig deeper into the topics they are interested in. Johnson suggests that a chatroom could be used for a quick math game. Math problems could be posted by the teacher, and students could compete to submit the correct answers into the chatroom the fastest.
With just a little practice, students and teachers will be able to navigate through all of Johnson’s recommended e-tools; and, while having fun, students will be taking great strides toward becoming better equipped for this digital age.
For more examples of e-tools that can be integrated into the classroom, check out Digital Tools for Teaching by Steve Johnson.
However, the teachers at Menifee County High School and Botts Elementary School are hoping to prepare their students for these unknown jobs and problems as much as possible by integrating the latest technologies into the classroom. The recent addition of eighty-one iPad computers in their classrooms, funded by a $50,000 grant from MSU, 21st Century Enterprise, and the Center for Regional Engagement, has given these teachers a great opportunity to experiment with new and exciting lesson plans.
The iPhone and iPad are no longer just toys, they are also learning tools, said Jeffery McNabb, assistant principal of Menifee High School. He said the integration of these tools will help students who have trouble processing information from books, because it will give them another chance to understand the material as it’s presented in a different format, the computer screen.
Steve Johnson, author of Digital Tools for Teaching believes the integration and use of technology in the classroom is essential for creating capable, digital-literate students. Students may not need an iPad to become so, but the ability for them to explore, create and learn through multimedia platforms in the classroom is pivotal for their success outside the classroom. Johnson says that connecting and communicating with people through multimedia is essential in today’s world. In the past, teachers were expected to teach students to read and write, but now, in order to create students who can compete in the global business world, teachers must also help their students achieve digital literacy.
In Digital Tools for Teaching, Johnson outlines thirty different e-tools that enhance creativity and transform ordinary lesson plans into exciting, creative challenges for students. Teachers and students will find that Johnson’s thirty recommended e-tools are easily incorporated into the four core subjects (math, science, social studies and language arts) and after a little practice, students will be navigating through the programs like pros. The constant connectivity of his reccommended e-tools, for example, Glogster, Ning, Prezi, and TodaysMeet, will help students work better on individual and group projects.
For example, the e-tool Glogster allows students to create and share their ideas through online posters with the capability to include text, graphics, video, and audio. To incorporate Glogster into a social studies project, Johnson suggests that students create a Glog that uses multimedia to highlight an important invention in history and the impact it had on society. The limitations of pen and paper dissolve and students are able to think more critically and creatively in multimedia terms.
Teachers can also create safe, online social networks for their individual classrooms with the e-tool Ning. Students and teachers can communicate with each other through a controlled environment that functions similarly to Facebook or MySpace. Teachers have complete control and must approve all content before it becomes visible. Johnson suggests using Ning for a science project. Students can conduct research and post photos, videos, website links, and any ideas that help illustrate a specific scientific concept, like weather patterns or using green energy.
With Prezi, teachers and students can create presentations that are more visually distinct and exciting than ordinary slideshows. Johnson suggests having students use Prezi to create more interesting book reports that really illustrate the major characters and plot points, instead of just turning in traditional reports. This e-tool will allow students to approach book analysis with fewer restrictions because they can use pictures, diagrams, video, and audio to showcase their reports.
The e-tool TodaysMeet gives classrooms the ability to create private chatrooms, which allows students to have deeper discussions about their thoughts and ideas on the concepts taught in class. It gives teachers many insights on how students feel about the material, while letting students dig deeper into the topics they are interested in. Johnson suggests that a chatroom could be used for a quick math game. Math problems could be posted by the teacher, and students could compete to submit the correct answers into the chatroom the fastest.
With just a little practice, students and teachers will be able to navigate through all of Johnson’s recommended e-tools; and, while having fun, students will be taking great strides toward becoming better equipped for this digital age.
For more examples of e-tools that can be integrated into the classroom, check out Digital Tools for Teaching by Steve Johnson.