Accessibility using tech tools

Today's Campus Technology post brings up an issue near to my heart..access for all people to educational technology so no one is constrained from equal access due to a disability. This is a discussion I had with our director of disability services last year when I was considering adding clicker tech to my classes. She pointed out that IT departments must consider all possible students when adding new class tools. "How can a blind person or someone with limited use of their hands use an iPod or clicker in class? Close your eyes, put your hands behind your back and then see how you can use your new tool." Points we all need to consider to make learning equal for all.

Interesting option for mobile Blackboard use

Campus Technology article about the new software Blackboard is unveiling. Very exciting because one part of Blackboard, IMHO, is the portability of the Blackboard classroom. I've installed the Blackboard app on  my iPod and haven't really been impressed with the functionality of the software. Bb needs to move to a more mobile/agile interface for multiple devices to be well-received by the today's students.

Thanks Jon

Good friend just sent me a new link
http://bigthink.com
And I seriously like this page for it's thought provoking perspectives....
Check this out
http://bigthink.com/ideas/30699

The geek in me......

who remembers my first PC, an IBM PS2 purchased in 1992 from Sears (your computer store???) that was my first real introduction to GUI interfaces and non-text based computing. (My first computer class was in programming FORTRAN with keypunch cards translated by a mainframe).

That being said, I have to admit, sheepishly, I'm anxious to see Watson take on Jeopardy champs. "I'll take Shakespearean plays for $400 Alex...." 

Strategic Goals: Formative + Summative = Rigor Found on Edutopia Today

Great video that helps to outline the idea of assessment/rigor in the classroom. The movie explains and highlights lesson plans that help to improve the rigor in the School of the Future (SOF) in several classes. I particularly found meaning in the writing assignments that turned into graphic novels. New directions to help improve both student engagement and more rigorous learning that is assessable via product from the lessons.

Teachers should all care about assessment

Hotter Than You Think: The Brave New World of Student Assessment 
Article found on the Edutopia RSS feed today really calls to activity taking place in the workplace and in my "philosophical" realm. As a person involved with curriculum development, I find it hard to believe that assessment is considered to be a "bad word" by some teachers. If you are teaching, don't you want to know if your students are learning? Effectively planned and executed assessment will show you the results of your work. A syllabus for a course outlines the course objectives--the "yardstick" against which your student achievement will be measured. If your students continually don't understand the lessons, wouldn't any teacher want to spend quality time reflecting on why and fix the problems? That is a simple description of what assessment is, in a nutshell, IMHO.

Health and learning: not hard to see the connection

Interesting article in Edutopia today discussing how student health and out of school behavior/exposures will affect student success. Not hard to understand but a struggle to institute. I feel suspicious or nonchalant families will not buy into school-based health care for their children for many reasons, even after understanding it would be best for their children.....thoughts?

Campus Technology article on use of iPads in higher education

While visiting one of the articles from Campus Technology in my news feed, I found the following article on evaluating the use of iPads in classrooms in higher ed. Since I have such interest in adding an iPad to my tech tools (ok I have to admit I bit today and bought one) I found the following article of interest.

http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2011/02/02/Evaluating-the-iPad-for-Education.aspx?Page=2

News feed story from Edutopia

What a great idea to take the uprising in Egypt and add it to your lecture as a real-time teachable moment. I remember one of my favorite teachers in high school did this on a regular basis. The impact this type of teaching makes on students is irreplaceable. As teachers who specialize in ed tech and with the wealth of tech news posted each day, there should always be tons of teachable moments in technology to share with our students.

http://www.boxoftricks.net

Searching for interesting links/videos online

Found a great blog during my YouTube search of technology videos. Box of Tricks blog by Jose Picardo. Mr. Picardo's perspective and ideas on technology in the classroom seem to fit well with my views. I examined his blog and not only subscribed but have also added his bookmarks to my delicious account. Looks like some great resources for my research and learning in the ed tech field.

the Internet is out of space--Oh my!

Thought this was an interesting story on CNN. Definately an eye-catching title....Really got my curiosity going so I had to read more. I'm sure that's the purpose of a headline, isn't it?
Internet is out of space ... kind of

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Social and emotional learning

The Edutopia posting about social and emotional learning struck several chords for me.
1st....the day for a typical PK-12 teacher is so filled with mandated subjects and competencies that adding another "subject" to the mix would stretch the jammed-packed day even thinner.
2nd....time for social and emotional learning could be a sub-part of the "group activities" already scheduled
3rd....I have always hated group work...don't like having my success beholding on someone else's application/dedication to the project...but this skill is not only valued but demanded in today's global economy.

Social skills are so highly valued that they should be part of a student's education. But I'm just not sure where this training fits best. Some social and emotional skills are part of a person's DNA...nature and nurture combined. I really feel the way the American educational system is disrespected on a regular basis is partly due to the vacuum found in this area in student education. Big problem but I don't see an easy solution.......

To buy or not to buy

So lately I've been weighing the pros and cons for buying an iPad. (Anyone who really knows me that all I'm trying to do is find a way to justify the purchase LOL). As a doctoral student with a concentration in educational technology, this should normally be enough to justify an iPad purchase---staying current with the newer forms of technology. But today I saw an online article about changes to the iPad that will be coming with the iPad2, scheduled to be released in April. Now, I bought an "end of the run" Kindle, and waited forever to purchase an iPod, so should I wait to buy my iPad or jump now?

Looking at the newsfeed today about the new iPods coming out soon got me thinking more about this impending purchase......