The 21st Century Learner

It is not always easy to understand what 21st century learning is, or what it looks like.  I think this video gives a great look at what the 21st century learner can look like.  Think about how your own learning experience was growing up....how is it different from today.  I am excited as I feel the learning is so much more involved and fun today!

Sharing knowledge in a very creative way!

I just had the opportunity to see this video.  I thought I would share as I thought it was informative and creative.  It really shows or models ( I think) exciting ways to relay information or knowledge.

Hope you enjoy!

Educational Research

I have been away from blogging for far too long!! Busy with life and more courses, it is hard to find the time for a new post.
I am currently taking an educational research course and the book we are using is amazing. Yes, I did say amazing and educational research in the same sentence :)
I have never really thought about how much went in to research, the different types of methods, validity, etc. etc. I wanted to share this book as I think it is great for first time researchers.
Educational Research, An Introduction, by Meredith D. Gall, Joyce P. Gall and Walter R. Borg is really a great introductory book.  It is very informative, but easy to understand.  They provide great examples or cases to describe different methods or topics.  I will have to say that I am glad to have added it to my library for future reference.
Let me know what you think :)

Bringing 21st Century Learning to Your Classroom

I really liked the idea of this video. I would love to blog in the classroom!!

TPACK - Are you familiar with this model?

I wanted to share this model/image of TPACK, Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge because I feel it gives a clear view of how to incorporate technology with the content pedagogically.  I think most people initially struggle with the integration of technology, thinking it is something all on its own.  Really, technology (when used properly....I think) is best used when it is integrated into content areas.

It is funny, when I think back to when I was in high school....which wasn't that long ago :) "Computers" was a class.  I believe we learned the basics, had typing tutorials (thank God, as I know how to type), but there wasn't any curriculum from other areas integrated.  I guess back then, just using a computer was the technology.

Now, I think sometimes the basics are forgotten and we jump right to the advanced lessons.  I still have students ask me how to get on websites....not even knowing what the "E" for Explorer is.  I have stopped taking for granted that all students know their way around a computer.  I have also stopped assuming that all teachers know how to incorporate technology into their teaching of content/curriculum in a meaningful, effective way....hence the image above.

For lack of trying to say this better myself, I have included a quote from a website I found very helpful in understanding TPACK.  "True technology integration is understanding and negotiating the relationships between these three components of knowledge. A teacher capable of negotiating these relationships represents a form of expertise different from, and greater than, the knowledge of a disciplinary expert (say a mathematician or a historian), a technology expert (a computer scientist) and a pedagogical expert (an experienced educator). Effective technology integration for pedagogy around specific subject matter requires developing sensitivity to the dynamic, [transactional] relationship between all three components."  ( http://tpack.org/tpck/index.php?title=TPCK_-_Technological_Pedagogical_Content_Knowledge)

I just thought this was very helpful and I thought I would share :)



(image from http://tpack.org/)

Animoto

Animoto is another one of my favorite programs to use. It is online, and free if you sign up for an educator account. The educator account allows you to create longer movies, otherwise you are limited to 30 second movies.

It is a great way to put a slide show of images and text together...with music. You can remix the images as many times as you like until you find what you are looking for. I find it very user friendly and easy to share with others.

Just a note, if you want to add text, it has to be on a slide without an image. Up until now, I have not been able to find a way to add text to an image. I think some people prefer Movie Maker because you can add test to images. I prefer Animoto because it shuffles the images in several different ways and creates something great.

I find when I first start using these programs, it is good just to play around and experiment with what you can do.

I have created several Animoto videos/slide shows and have been happy each time.

Think how great it would be if you made one with your students. Maybe take pictures throughout the year and put them all together in Animoto, burn a DVD and give to each student as a year end gift....just a thought :)

Xtranormal

Xtranormal

City Project

I was unable to embed the video that I created for a project I did with my students, so I provided the link....hope it works. 

So I am always talking about engaging the 21st century learner, but I never actually included examples that I do.  I was reading Terri-Lynn's Blog  (fellow grad student) last night about Photostory 3 and realized, "hey, I use that too."  Then I started thinking about all the fun resources I do use. 

Xtranormal is a lot of fun!!!  It is a program that allows you to create movies simply by adding text.  They have a variety of settings and characters and even some movements you can add to your characters.  I have used it with students as an introduction to a unit.....see the city project link, but I also have created some just for fun.  Try it out!  Maybe instead of another e-mail, you can create a movie for someone :)

Enjoy!!