Posts Tagged "technology"
TCEA 2011: Lasting Impressions
I recently traveled to Austin, and while I was there I was able to attend and present at the TCEA conference for a couple of days. Amongst all the passionate educators, innovative technology, great presentations, and outstanding Austin food was a powerful message delivered by Leigh Anne Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”. Since I had to depart from Austin early, I wasn’t able to see her in person – but thanks to good friends and modern tech, I was still able to hear her message.
Effectively, Leigh Anne Tuohy’s message reminded me that the reason we value “one-to-one learning” is that it’s personalized and individually relevant based on need. “1:1” is a popular coin phrase in the edtech world today, but it should never be forgotten that before 1:1 technology devices were 1:1 relationships. As Mrs. Tuohy said, “Lots of kids are falling through the cracks because they are valued incorrectly,” and technology in itself really has little impact on changing a life.
Technology may help create, sustain, and enhance relationships, but the real impact in changing lives comes from developing 1:1 relationships. Technology may be a chosen tool to develop relationships, but it’s merely a means to an end. Correct me if I’m wrong, but we should ultimately value Skype, iPads, cloud computing, and the like because of their ability to enhance teaching, learning, and relationships – not just because it’s awesome tech.
Read More(Re)Defining Mobile Learning
Knowing where we’ve come from will help us understand where we’re headed.
Mobile learning in its purest form isn’t a new idea, although it is a new coin phrase that’s catching a lot of buzz. What exactly is mobile learning?
While we’ve yet to establish a universally-accepted definition of mobile learning, I’ve chosen to adopt a shortened definition found on Wikipedia:
Mobile learning is any sort of learning that happens when the learner is not at a fixed, predetermined location, or learning that happens when the learner takes advantage of the learning opportunities offered by mobile technologies.
One word that’s commonly (and understandably) misinterpreted is technology. Technology isn’t just confined to electronic devices; “technology is the usage and knowledge of tools, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem…”
For example:
Read MoreKinect in Education: The New Technology Focal Point?
I’ve never been more excited about the potential for a single piece of educational technology. This considered, I’m going to make a bold prediction: within the next few years, the technology driving the Xbox Kinect will be a technology focal point in our classrooms.
UPDATE (4/14/2011): Check out KinectEDucation, a new community dedicated to exploring the use of the Kinect in education.
For those unaware, Microsoft’s Kinect is a console adapter for its Xbox 360. The dual camera system will allow for gesture based gaming, in addition to voice recognition for controlling software. It’s a controller-free setup, allowing gamers to completely immerse their body into the game – arms, legs, hands, and feet.
This experience is now (unofficially) being ported to PCs by Kinect hackers. As a result of being ported to PCs, I predict that the Kinect will provide an engaging, cost effective, and intuitive experience for educators and students.
Keep in mind that this just the beginning. Once Kinect development on the PC becomes mainstream and officially supported by Microsoft, I would expect to see software designed specifically for the needs of education.
Until then, here are some ways people are using the Kinect with their desktop computers. Whether you’re a parent, student, teacher, or administrator, these videos will help gear up your imagination to dream of the implications this could have in education:
Read MoreBundling Rigor, Relevance, Relationships in Technology: The Package Deal
Focusing on rigor and relevance should never come at the expense of relationships. We (myself included) often become bedazzled by the latest gadgets and software and fail to really reflect on how these enhance sound pedagogy; instead we (possibly unknowingly) expect them to replace sound pedagogy.
This four-point checklist will help keep your priorities in check when evaluating the alignment of your proposed technology with “the three R’s” (rigor, relevance, and relationships).
3 Ways To Get iPads in Your Classroom
How can you get a classroom set of iPads in your classroom?
Although there are many options available, below are three methods that have succeeded in the past for educators who have sought to integrate new technology in their classrooms. Keep in mind that these methods don’t only apply to receiving iPads. They can be used to receive any type of desired technology; however, iPads are hot right now, and for good reasons.
I have a successful history with helping individuals and school districts obtain mobile devices for their learning environments. Learn more about me and please contact me for additional guidance.
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