Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Video Reflections
Reflect upon the videos you viewed for 1:1 learning and teaching, is there one idea or tool seen in the videos that is pertinent to your 1:1 classroom teaching pedagogy? Explain.
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The one key that kept recurring in the videos was the potential for the students to all be involved in research at the same time. Obviously, it is critical to prepare students to conduct research, but the 1 to 1 Initiative offers excellent opportunities for students to explore ideas and concepts at their own pace and at a various depths depending on their abilities and interests. The other advantage that was clear to me was the use of tablet computers. The classroom illustrations using them certainly made the case that this should at the very least be a consideration in the technology hardware purchase discussions in the future. That doesn’t mean that it is not possible to connect tablets, but the one less piece of hardware seems like a big advantage.
One of the ideas that I saw in the videos on 1:1 computing that I really liked was the access and use of real world applications for academic knowledge. For example, the students used knowledge of Greek literature to plan a portion of the Busch Gardens theme park. I could see asking students to use web tools to research for and plan an exhibit for the Smithsonian Institute on a given topic in American Studies. This is just one way to use these tools to show that history is still alive. Another way might be to have them use web tools to establish connections between current news stories and historical events. This is certainly a great time to make connections between the Great Depression and the current conditions of the U.S. financial sector.
I really like the idea of tablet computers. We do a lot of art analysis in our American Studies course, so it would be nice to have the capacity to circle/annotate paintings in class discussions, group work and even individual work. We also make connections between history and literature, so 1:1 computing gives students access to research that would allow them to see the connections easier.
I was finally able to get the videos running on my laptop. I love technology! I liked that the videos showed students across the curriculum utilizing the laptops in varied ways. It was interesting to see the different applications and hear the benefits of a technology focused classroom. The tablet computers seemed especially interesting to me. 4th graders would have the ability to work out math problems on their screens, complete rough drafts of written work as well as draw and label graphs, etc. I did wonder what else the 1:1 intiative brings to the classroom besides laptops. I saw children using flip video cameras, digitial cameras and I think a digital voice recorders. I also saw overhead projectors in the classrooms and wonder if schools are moving towards document cameras and projectors in classrooms to further enhance technology integration.
As I watched this video, I kept thinking that I wish more of the students at my school has this opportunity. It was exciting watching the students in this video completely engaged in learning. Not only were to students using computer but they were also using digital cameras and flip video cameras to create project. Isn't technology great. In this video I thought about many of the At-Risk students that are in our schools how this hands-on learning would be beneficial to them. I enjoyed watching the students want to do research on a variety of topics. What I never heard or saw was a student not wanting to participate. And they all were engaged in the activities.
2) Reflect upon the videos, is there one idea or tool seen in the video that is pertinent to your 1:1 classroom teaching pedagogy? Explain.
One of the tools I would like to try in my classroom is voice thread. I am hoping that I will have access to it this time around as I tried to use it before but could not gain access at school.
An idea I would like to get working efficiently in my classroom is to make it paperless. I currently use a specific drive with individual folders for each student but from my experience so far I have had students to ask me for a hard copy when I put files and documents in their folders. I guess, like everything else, students have to be weaned off the paper trail.
Marion
As a media coordinator in our elementary school I have seen the shift in how students are accessing information for research. There is less of a need for reference type materials with laptops available to our students. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesaurus, atlases, etc are all available to the students in the classroom. Our catalog is also available online so we receive lists of books needed in the classroom via email. We are in essence becoming a mobile media center. This allows the students an increase in quality and quantity of time spent working on projects.
After seeing these videos, I was fortunate enough to actually view a 1:1 Classroom in action at the Graduation by Design Conference in Raleigh this past week. As in the videos, what I was particularly drawn to was the student interaction and comfort level in communicating with each other and with their teachers. I believe this initiative not only addresses the relevance that is so important to students today, but also impacts relationships. Depending on the assignment, the concept of rigor is addressed as well. This type of learning directly meets the goals of 21st Century Schools set forth by our state.
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