Techforlearning

Banning iPods in school will not stop cheating. Simply knowing when to allow them in and turned on is how manage them. Set a classroom policy.

Whether or not your district has a policy on iPods set one for your classroom. iPods not allowed on during tests would be a good one. Ask students with iPods to put them on or underneath their desks.
To enforce it the policy make sure you are aware of the different ways that students can listen to them.

Make sure to walk around the classroom.  Look to see if they are leaning against their hands. If they are ask to open their hands to ensure a ear bud is not hidden in the student’s palm.

Also take a look at their collar and wrists for ear bud wires before the test begins so that they are not accused of cheating later because they were not asked specifically to remove ear buds from their clothing.:)

We’ll talk about text messaging in the next post:)

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When using technology with students explain the process and reason that particular tech tools are being used to avoid focus on the technology (beating the game or making cool sounds by clicking). Tell students to focus on the technology as the means to learn the material. If you inform your students of the learning objectives and explain your purpose for using the tech methods they will learn how to learn.

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In my Web 2.0 presentation I spoke about students learning at their own pace and project based learning. The challenge to high school students and teachers is that the educational system is set up where the grades students received on standardized test controls students college choices.

Until the assessment system changes to a project based model some teachers will stick with the fastest delivery system of the tremendous amount of diverse info that will show up on the exams which are multiple choice and essay.

I walked down the aisles of exam rooms this week and it reminds me how much I dislike this method of assessment I have not used this method at all year..

With these methods of assessment in place, time can run out on a child that is not at the level of multiple choice test.
Teachers will say there is not time for exploring other websites for content just memorizing the facts

What I would do as an integrator to pass the challenge of getting teachers to allow students to construct their own learning is make the resources to allow students to construct their own learning available. I’d look at the multiple choice questions that they are forced to answer develop projects around the content where they could solve problems and then still pass the Regents multiple choice exams. I think there is a challenge there, but I want to do it. Work would be play.

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We know that students are the leading stars in our show. But Audio, Video, and Screencasts have quickly earned a supporting role in education. Come join us to see how using this communication media can improve learning. Each type of casting will be defined with examples. Stick around to receive tips on planning successful videocast projects including: audio recording with Audacity, using iTunes to find and submit and rss to subscribe to class podcasts, planning for limited use of video cameras, capturing video to computers, XP Movie Maker vs iMovie, using screen capturing software, and using on line Apps: Google Docs and Video.

The Outline of my blog:
Introduction:

* Defining the different types of casts
* The value of using them
* Ways to use already created media on web

Main Focus:
Planning a Videocast project for your students

* Determine the learning objectives of creating the media
* Gathering recommended resources and materials
* Overview of Software
* The Process

Planning student recording times
Setting standards and checkpoints for brainstorming and scripting

* Citing images and copyright
* The Rubric
* The Fun

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