I feel that the next biggest thing regarding educational technology will be grassroots video. I feel that with the increase in online classes and technology such as cell phones, webcams and laptops in the hands of young people these grassroots videos not only become relevant and engaging to students but also become an important teaching tool. For example students may be able to learn about the heart by watching a class in a different state dissect a heart.
I also feel that this will be an important reflective and formative assessment tool as teachers will be able to have students really show them what they have learned and how what they have learned applies to real life situations. Grass root videos are so versatile that I think they will be a part of everyday learning within the next five years.
Assignments
• Day 1
Read the Horizon Report (2008).
Post a blog on what technological trend you feel will become most prevalent in K12 learning within 5 years and why.
(see Rules of Engagement)
• Day 2
Please watch both of the Sir Ken Robinson videos linked below. Then post two slides on the shared presentation: 1) one way schools kill creativity, and 2) one way schools foster creativity.
Do schools kill creativity?
Creatively Speaking
• Day 4
Assignment 1 - Wikipedia - see post below.
Assignment 2 - Colliding Forces - see post below.
• Day 5 and Day 6
Live Broadcast - post a response to the blog below on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
• Day 7 and Day 8 - Surprise.....
Your assignment is optional - you will receive credit whether you email me yes or no, but you do have to email me. I do not believe in zeros, nor in failure as an option. However, you get what you put in, so I encourage you to say yes....;-)
If you email me yes, here's what you are committing to. Give me your email address at work, what grade level or content area you teach, whether you are an administrator, whatever. What school you are at and a short resume/introduction of yourself. I will leave your name and contact anonymous until I find another teacher/educator/administrator in PVUSD who might like to work with you on REACH, and in turn you with them. I will make an intitial email introduction of each of you to the other - from there, you are on your own to put into practice the communication, collaboration and creativity of 21st century teaching and learning, using information technology to bridge time and space constraints.
REACH (Real Experiences Advancing Childhood Humanities) is an initiative our district is implementing with other educators/administrators outside of our walls. We are connecting students/teachers/administrators, from differing classrooms, differing schools, cities, states, countries, using technology to communicate/collaborate/create in whatever ways possible and appropriate to postively impact student learning - totally up to you and your PVUSD counterpart on what you think would be useful - how big, how small, how deep, how thin, is up to you.
It does not have to be high tech, with tons of technology - in fact, the technology is not the point - learning with and about others is, being creative and taking a risk is the experience. One simple internet connection and a Google account can do wonders (you should now know that), to connect students, teachers, administrators, whatever. I suspect your kids, your school will be richer for the adventure and you will cross into something I believe is profound and necessary in education - REACH'ing beyond the walls......
So, if you want to REACH, give me the details and I will personally try to connect you with an appropriate counterpart. Then, you have the opportunity to extend your coursework learning into actual practice - the point of taking a class. Email me yay with details, or nay. What I wish for you is to REACH beyond this ASU class, throw optimism into the wind and see what emerges in your participatory networking experience.
Jeff......
Read the Horizon Report (2008).
Post a blog on what technological trend you feel will become most prevalent in K12 learning within 5 years and why.
(see Rules of Engagement)
• Day 2
Please watch both of the Sir Ken Robinson videos linked below. Then post two slides on the shared presentation: 1) one way schools kill creativity, and 2) one way schools foster creativity.
Do schools kill creativity?
Creatively Speaking
(see Rules of Engagement)
• Day 3
Assignment 1 - See Blog entry on Web 2.0 Directory below for instructions.
Assignment 2 - See Blog entry on P21 Skills below for instructions.
• Day 3
Assignment 1 - See Blog entry on Web 2.0 Directory below for instructions.
Assignment 2 - See Blog entry on P21 Skills below for instructions.
• Day 4
Assignment 1 - Wikipedia - see post below.
Assignment 2 - Colliding Forces - see post below.
• Day 5 and Day 6
Live Broadcast - post a response to the blog below on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
• Day 7 and Day 8 - Surprise.....
Your assignment is optional - you will receive credit whether you email me yes or no, but you do have to email me. I do not believe in zeros, nor in failure as an option. However, you get what you put in, so I encourage you to say yes....;-)
If you email me yes, here's what you are committing to. Give me your email address at work, what grade level or content area you teach, whether you are an administrator, whatever. What school you are at and a short resume/introduction of yourself. I will leave your name and contact anonymous until I find another teacher/educator/administrator in PVUSD who might like to work with you on REACH, and in turn you with them. I will make an intitial email introduction of each of you to the other - from there, you are on your own to put into practice the communication, collaboration and creativity of 21st century teaching and learning, using information technology to bridge time and space constraints.
REACH (Real Experiences Advancing Childhood Humanities) is an initiative our district is implementing with other educators/administrators outside of our walls. We are connecting students/teachers/administrators, from differing classrooms, differing schools, cities, states, countries, using technology to communicate/collaborate/create in whatever ways possible and appropriate to postively impact student learning - totally up to you and your PVUSD counterpart on what you think would be useful - how big, how small, how deep, how thin, is up to you.
It does not have to be high tech, with tons of technology - in fact, the technology is not the point - learning with and about others is, being creative and taking a risk is the experience. One simple internet connection and a Google account can do wonders (you should now know that), to connect students, teachers, administrators, whatever. I suspect your kids, your school will be richer for the adventure and you will cross into something I believe is profound and necessary in education - REACH'ing beyond the walls......
So, if you want to REACH, give me the details and I will personally try to connect you with an appropriate counterpart. Then, you have the opportunity to extend your coursework learning into actual practice - the point of taking a class. Email me yay with details, or nay. What I wish for you is to REACH beyond this ASU class, throw optimism into the wind and see what emerges in your participatory networking experience.
Jeff......
Saturday, October 25, 2008
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11 comments:
Eric said...
This comment is to Rachel. Grassroots is certainly a real world way for students to learn. Kids are already as you wrote comfortable with cell phone use, online classes are convenient and in high use and webcams and laptops are only going to become more flexible in their use and powerful in terms of their capabilities. I do believe we will see a trend towards this type of learning. The sky really is the limit when you start sharing learning all over the country and the world.
Nicole said....
Rachel I agree that grassroot videos will be a key tool for online classes (especially with those types of classes on the rise). Students can view the videos and respond as well as getting the chance to make their own.
TK said...
Hi Rachel,
I feel the same way you do too. I'm thinking that everyone is aware that we are in the technology world and most of our teaching practice will be applying technology into our classroom and lesson.
Rachel, I definately think this is going to be an avenue that educators will use. I just wonder how quickly it will be available for schools and students to incorporate into their classrooms and into the hands of their students.
I agree grassroots video will be a very effective instructional tool in the future. School districts can support this by offering professional developement to teachers in how to access videos and create their own.
I think the grassroots videos are an interesting concept. I hadn't even considered them assessment tools, but it makes sense that they could become portfolios of student learning and and knowledge.
Sometimes I ponder the growth of "grassroots video" and there is a part of it that young people like that I just don't quite connect with. But, my world was dominated by the written word - their world is graphical, photos and video. I see it with my daughter and her friends who spend countless hours taking pictures of themselves, making vodcasts, etc.. Ability to process and analyze visual imagery is quickly becoming a compelling literacy. So compelling that I sometimes stir educators up by asking the question, "is the process of serial input/output of the written word going to be that important to these students when they're 30-50 years old?". If you can separate yourself from your love of the written word for just a bit and think about that, it does give credence to "grassroots video".
Your idea on videos is excellent. Imagine how true collaborative teaching would work. True experts could teach the classes and studnets acorss the world could learn. It does make me a bit concerned about job security though.
I agree. Grassroots video is a powerful tool. When kids are able to see rather than just hear, their understanding is so much greater. I use United streaming a lot in my class and the kids are always engaged by the videos. A neat trick is to have the kids watch the video, then have the sound turned down so they have to narrate it themselves. It is a good way for them to show their learning on the topic.
Great viewpoint! I agree with you, this does appear to be the "next biggest thing". The discussions that can come from this( your heart example) would definitely generate a higher level of thinking and understanding.
I liked the point about the videos being versatile. YouTube definitely backs you on this.
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