The Flipped Classroom

A "flipped classroom" is the result of a teacher recording a vodcast or podcast of his/her lesson plan, and assigning the student the responsibility of listening/watching that lesson at home after school hours.

By "flipping the classroom", this allows the teacher to spend more one on one time with their students, who will in effect be doing "homework" style assignments in class.

This is very attractive.  The "catch" I see is the fact that not all students have a personal computer at home.

Now, if the teacher works in a school system that has the money to provide each and every student with their own Ipad, facilitation of a "flipped classroom" would be a peace of cake, and a very effective way of getting students to "own their learning".

However, if one does not teach in a school system where all of your students have their own computer, facilitating a "flipped classroom" would be a more difficult proposition.

A Matter of Implementation

I believe that Alan November is right to a great extent.  Students must own their learning.

Through the use of new technology, such as Skype, interactive classroom debates may be initiated between American classrooms and classrooms around the world.

The only obstacles will be, convincing administrators to allow experimentation with the pore-set curriculum, and getting teachers to change their lesson plans and to give up a small bit of control in such a way to facilitate the use of the new technology.

The trick to getting students to acquire ownership of their learning, is to engage them...to get their attention.  The new technology can accomplish that, as well as opening a whole new world to them.

It's just a matter of implementation.

Using Google Docs in the Classroom.

I believe that a child's educational experience can be enhanced through the use of Google Docs in the classroom.  Class projects made be worked on and edited together, to form a sense of community in the classroom.  Through the use of a "round table", if you will, a class consensus may be reached on the project, and every student in the class will have the opportunity to have input in the finished project.

Individual communication involving the teacher and the student may be enhanced by having the student do heir homework on a Google Doc.  The teacher can make edits to the assignment and instruct the student in a concise manner.

Google Docs can definitely be an effective technological tool in the classroom.

A Review: Marc Prensky's "Engage Me or Enrage Me" Lecture

What role should videos games play in education? Do you know of any examples of video games being used effectively in the classroom?


In his lecture, author Marc Prensky states that "Engagement is more important than content".  I disagree.  Without content, what are you teaching?  A good teacher makes the content engaging.


While I agree that Video Games can play a role in educating this generation of players, Prensky himself said that "the brain adapts to what's going on around it".  And while teachers need to "respect the players", players need to respect the teachers, also.  If teachers can work video games into their lesson plan without taking away from the "meat"of the lesson,  then they can be a useful educational tool.

The only games currently being used in classrooms at Southaven Middle School are games specifically designed as educational tools, such as "Punctuation Paintball" and "Tux of Math Command".

These and other tools created by The New Technology are proving to be very useful in engaging this new generation of learners.

However, the introduction of non-education specific, commercial video games into the classroom must be made judiciously.

Take the Time

Take time to enjoy the people in your life.  Here's a picture of my bride, Linda, and my grandson, Robert.
Our life travels too fast.  Take time with those you love.

Using Diigo in the Classroom.

 I believe that with Diigo, I could teach students how to better organize their web pages, and to teach them how to hare exciting information that they have found. 

By using Diigo, it could facilitate learning through discussion groups, enabling students  to share information with multiple peers at a single session.

Using Diigo, I personally could connect with groups like Educators, Educators in Second Life, and Twitter Freaks.

Diigo has the potential to be an excellent classroom tool.

Using Twitter

I just completed the Moodle Course about using Twitter.

I truly believe that twitter can be a useful educational tool.

@mccandlj I have completed watching the videos Pretty neat stuff.


User Name:  AllenFitzhugh

USING BLOGS IN THE CLASSROOM

As teachers will testify, today's student is more technologically apt than any previous generation.  Unfortunately though, with that technological aptitude also comes an attention span the length of a gnat's.

By assigning blog writing as an individual project, the old practice of keeping a class journal can be updated into a technological exercise, expanding not only the student's vocabulary and grammar skills, but their creativity, as well.

It will also be a great way for the teacher to find out how much of her/his hard work that they are absorbing during their time in the teacher's classroom.

Through simple Internet access, the teacher may check their students' blogs as often as he/she wishes, and will be able to stay on top of the stendents' progress.

Conversely, the teacher can write a blog as well, sharing his/her insights on the class' performance, and keeping them informed as to upcoming events.

As Canadian author Marshal McLuhan said, "The medium is the message."  By the use of the blog, the teacher can open new pathways to communication with their classroom.

Because, after all, effective communication is the key to learning.