Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The XO Laptop, A Kids Perspective
A nine year old in the UK reviews the $100 XO laptop, which has been distributed to children in developing countries around the world.
Technology Integration Made Easy
Are you anxious to integrate technology into your curriculum this year, but are intimidated by the time and tech savvy necessary to plan technology activities or participate in technology projects? Today, Education World offers 20 easy and painless ways to integrate technology into your daily routine. http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech146.shtml
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Facebook Tracks You On & Offline!
If you've ever used Facebook and checked the option to "Remember Me"...read this article.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Cell Phones As Teaching Tools
From the title alone some may say "no way, they're a distraction that don't belong in the classroom." When one takes out the negatives we automatically associate with cell phones in the classroom you can see how they hold validity and great possibilities teachers could explore.
Cell Phones As Teaching Tools:
Calculators
Digital Cameras
Internet Access
Dictionaries
Cell Phones As Teaching Tools:
Calculators
Digital Cameras
Internet Access
Dictionaries
Monday, December 10, 2007
Laptop Initiative Research for Improved Student Achievement
As South Dakota implements the One-to-One Laptop Initiative and as schools contemplate beginning it in their schools, the request for research on the improvement of student achievement continually come forward as one of the major concerns.
McREL News Room Education hot topics what high-quality education research says about the effects of this initiative has on student achievement.
. 1. The effects of one-to-one computing initiatives on student achievement. According to a May 2006 report from Education Week, "almost one-quarter of school districts nationwide and nine states have invested millions of dollars in "one-to-one" laptop programs" — that is, laptop computers for every student.
These initiatives are expensive and require much effort. Are they worth it?
While few rigorous research studies have been conducted on the influence of laptop initiatives on student achievement, the handful of current studies conducted to date suggest that one-to-one computing has the potential to improve student achievement and engagement — especially teachers receive in-depth training on how to incorporate laptops into their classrooms.
Some examples of one-to-one initiatives and reported influence of these programs on student outcomes are described below.
Maine's Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) MLTI provides each student and teacher in grades 7–12 with a laptop and wireless network access.
A 2004 study of the program found "credible evidence that MLTI as a total program may be effective in raising test scores" (Muir, Knezek, & Christensen, 2004, p. 1). Silvernail and Lane (2004) surveyed Maine ninth-grade students who had used laptops in seventh and eighth grade but no longer had school-provided laptops in ninth grade. Their survey indicated that many ninth graders felt that "the quantity and quality of their school work had declined once they no longer had laptops" (p. 26).
Enhancing Missouri's Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies (eMINTS)Initiated in Missouri and expanded nationwide in early 2004, this large-scale endeavor provides a computer for every two students and high-speed Internet access, along with extensive professional development and ongoing support in integrating multimedia technology into teaching practice.
An analysis of 2004 student achievement data compared students in eMINTS classrooms with those in non-eMINTS classrooms. It found that "a significantly higher percentage of students enrolled in eMINTS classrooms scored in the "proficient" category." In addition, it reported that "analyses of MAP scores for Black students, special education students and students receiving Title I services suggest that eMINTS enrollment helped reduce the achievement gaps between these groups and other students."
School District 60 (Peace River North, British Columbia)In Peace River North, sixth- and seventh-grade students have been provided access to laptops in order to improve academic achievement, particularly in written expression. The initiative, dubbed the Wireless Writing Project, involves one-to-one wireless technology access for students.
A 2002–2003 study involving a pre-post writing assessment found that the percentage of students who produced writing samples that met or exceeded writing performance standards for their grade rose from 70 percent in fall 2002 to 92 percent the following spring (Jeroski, 2003).
McREL News Room Education hot topics what high-quality education research says about the effects of this initiative has on student achievement.
. 1. The effects of one-to-one computing initiatives on student achievement. According to a May 2006 report from Education Week, "almost one-quarter of school districts nationwide and nine states have invested millions of dollars in "one-to-one" laptop programs" — that is, laptop computers for every student.
These initiatives are expensive and require much effort. Are they worth it?
While few rigorous research studies have been conducted on the influence of laptop initiatives on student achievement, the handful of current studies conducted to date suggest that one-to-one computing has the potential to improve student achievement and engagement — especially teachers receive in-depth training on how to incorporate laptops into their classrooms.
Some examples of one-to-one initiatives and reported influence of these programs on student outcomes are described below.
Maine's Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) MLTI provides each student and teacher in grades 7–12 with a laptop and wireless network access.
A 2004 study of the program found "credible evidence that MLTI as a total program may be effective in raising test scores" (Muir, Knezek, & Christensen, 2004, p. 1). Silvernail and Lane (2004) surveyed Maine ninth-grade students who had used laptops in seventh and eighth grade but no longer had school-provided laptops in ninth grade. Their survey indicated that many ninth graders felt that "the quantity and quality of their school work had declined once they no longer had laptops" (p. 26).
Enhancing Missouri's Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies (eMINTS)Initiated in Missouri and expanded nationwide in early 2004, this large-scale endeavor provides a computer for every two students and high-speed Internet access, along with extensive professional development and ongoing support in integrating multimedia technology into teaching practice.
An analysis of 2004 student achievement data compared students in eMINTS classrooms with those in non-eMINTS classrooms. It found that "a significantly higher percentage of students enrolled in eMINTS classrooms scored in the "proficient" category." In addition, it reported that "analyses of MAP scores for Black students, special education students and students receiving Title I services suggest that eMINTS enrollment helped reduce the achievement gaps between these groups and other students."
School District 60 (Peace River North, British Columbia)In Peace River North, sixth- and seventh-grade students have been provided access to laptops in order to improve academic achievement, particularly in written expression. The initiative, dubbed the Wireless Writing Project, involves one-to-one wireless technology access for students.
A 2002–2003 study involving a pre-post writing assessment found that the percentage of students who produced writing samples that met or exceeded writing performance standards for their grade rose from 70 percent in fall 2002 to 92 percent the following spring (Jeroski, 2003).
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Audio/Music Software and Song Creation
Audio/Music Software and Song Creation
Click on the link directly above to read this entry on TIE's ConnectEd blog.Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Internet Scavenger Hunt
December is an extremely difficult time to keep students focused in the classroom as the holidays approach. Many elementary teachers like to incorporate the ways different countries celebrate the holidays. Below is one way an elementary teacher from Georgia not only incorporates the holidays but also the internet into teaching about Christmas around the world.
http://www.henry.k12.ga.us/pges/xmas_around.htm
http://www.henry.k12.ga.us/pges/xmas_around.htm
Technology Self Assessment Tool
At a time when technology is moving at warp speed and students often know more about the latest technology than teachers how can we keep up? The Massachusetts Department of Education has developed a check list for individuals and districts to assess their technology skills. After a review not only does it offer a self assessment but I believe it could be used as a teaching tool for students in regards to ethics, computers and the internet.
"The TSAT has been designed for:
Teachers: to determine their own levels of technology proficiency and to identify personal technology professional development needs.
Schools/Districts: to assess their professional development needs and to plan professional development activities that will help all teachers become proficient in technology.
The State: to gather and report data on technology competencies and technology professional development. "
http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/standards/sa_tool.html
"The TSAT has been designed for:
Teachers: to determine their own levels of technology proficiency and to identify personal technology professional development needs.
Schools/Districts: to assess their professional development needs and to plan professional development activities that will help all teachers become proficient in technology.
The State: to gather and report data on technology competencies and technology professional development. "
http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/standards/sa_tool.html
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
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