Technology in Education - Some Big Ideas...
| Technology in Education - Some Big Ideas - by Nathan Smith |
Technology in Education - Some Big Ideas, by Nathan Smith, focuses on several main points. The first is that our current system of education has several inherent hurdles, which are described in the article. But even despite these hurdles, successful teachers are the ones who maintain focus on their students' needs. Two other issues discussed in the article are about the importance of student engagement in the learning process and how to plan to use technology in this process. We must begin by designing the experience we want our students to have (and the way we’ll deeply engage the students in that experience). Once there is a plan, we can embed content to be learned, and we can then choose the proper tools to help us achieve the desired end result. Content then becomes the context of the experience, not the outcome. Connecting with our students in meaningful, positive ways – making each of them feel wanted, important, safe, valued, and needed – is to me the real “art” of teaching. I call this aspect of teaching “the human touch.” Technology used in education needs to enhance the human touch. Finally, some great resources are listed at the end of this handout. Permission is granted to freely share this with educators.
Connected Learning - some thought-provoking ideas for education
"There is wide agreement that we need new models of education, and not simply new models of schooling, but entirely new visions of learning better suited to the increasing complexity, connectivity, and velocity of our new knowledge society. We now have the capability to reimagine where, when, and how learning takes place." ConnectedLearningTV.com
The Connected Learning site offers some thought provoking ideas on how modern technology can reshape the landscape of education. I highly recommend watching the following videos...
The Connected Learning site offers some thought provoking ideas on how modern technology can reshape the landscape of education. I highly recommend watching the following videos...
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More on engagement in education...In this poignant, funny follow-up to his fabled 2006 talk, Sir Ken Robinson makes the case for a radical shift from standardized schools to personalized learning — creating conditions where kids' natural talents can flourish.
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More on play and engagement...
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What do science and play have in common? Neuroscientist Beau Lotto thinks all people (kids included) should participate in science and, through the process of discovery, change perceptions. He's seconded by 12-year-old Amy O'Toole, who, along with 25 of her classmates, published the first peer-reviewed article by schoolchildren, about the Blackawton bees project. It starts: "Once upon a time ... "
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more. Find closed captions and translated subtitles in many languages at http://www.ted.com/translate |
Will Richardson's important message to teachers...
Why School?: How Education Must Change When Learning and Information Are Everywhere (Kindle Single) [Kindle Edition]
Traditional educators, classrooms, and brick-and-mortar schools are no longer necessary to access information. Instead, things like blogs and wikis, as well as remote collaborations and an emphasis on 'critical thinking' skills are the coins of the realm in this new kingdom. Yet the national dialogue on education reform focuses on using technology to update the traditional education model, failing to reassess the fundamental design on which it is built.
In 'Why School?,' educator, author, parent and blogger Will Richardson challenges traditional thinking about education — questioning whether it still holds value in its current form. How can schools adjust to this new age? Or students? Or parents? In this provocative read, Richardson provides an in-depth look at how connected educators are beginning to change their classroom practice. Ultimately, 'Why School?' serves as a starting point for the important conversations around real school reforms that must ensue, offering a bold plan for rethinking how we teach our kids, and the consequences if we don't.
Traditional educators, classrooms, and brick-and-mortar schools are no longer necessary to access information. Instead, things like blogs and wikis, as well as remote collaborations and an emphasis on 'critical thinking' skills are the coins of the realm in this new kingdom. Yet the national dialogue on education reform focuses on using technology to update the traditional education model, failing to reassess the fundamental design on which it is built.
In 'Why School?,' educator, author, parent and blogger Will Richardson challenges traditional thinking about education — questioning whether it still holds value in its current form. How can schools adjust to this new age? Or students? Or parents? In this provocative read, Richardson provides an in-depth look at how connected educators are beginning to change their classroom practice. Ultimately, 'Why School?' serves as a starting point for the important conversations around real school reforms that must ensue, offering a bold plan for rethinking how we teach our kids, and the consequences if we don't.
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A parent of two middle school-aged children, Will Richardson has been blogging about the intersection of social online learning networks and education for the past 10 years at Weblogg-ed.com (he has now moved his blog to http://willrichardson.com/). He is a former public school educator for 22 years, and is a co-founder of Powerful Learning Practice, a unique long-term, job-embedded professional development program that has mentored over 3,500 teachers worldwide in the last four years.
His TED talk, provided on the right, is thought provoking, and well worth watching. |
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And here are several more inspirational and/or thought-provoking resources...
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Chris Anderson: How YouTube is driving innovation
TED's Chris Anderson says the rise of web video is driving a worldwide phenomenon he calls Crowd Accelerated Innovation -- a self-fueling cycle of learning that could be as significant as the invention of print. But to tap into its power, organizations will need to embrace radical openness. And for TED, it means the dawn of a whole new chapter ... |
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Luis von Ahn: Massive-scale online collaboration - Duolingo
After re-purposing CAPTCHA so each human-typed response helps digitize books, Luis von Ahn wondered how else to use small contributions by many on the Internet for greater good. At TEDxCMU, he shares how his ambitious new project, Duolingo, will help millions learn a new language while translating the Web quickly and accurately -- all for free. |
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TED - Education Video Playlist
https://www.ted.com/topics/education Teachers of all kinds can find fresh resources -- and inspiration -- in this batch of TEDTalks. Some talks may shake your worldview: Sir Ken Robinson questions the very basis of our education system, while Erin McKean does the same for our most sacred of reference books, the dictionary. Others (like Dave Eggers) celebrate the extraordinary power of teachers and schools -- and share ways you can help them. Look here for pointers to amazing classroom tools and techniques. Alan Kay shares some software tools that help kids "get" math and science instead of just memorizing facts, while Richard Baraniuk points to his online repository of open-source and free textbooks. |
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Ayah Bdeir: Building blocks that blink, beep and teach
Imagine a set of electronics as easy to play with as Legos. TED Fellow Ayah Bdeir introduces littleBits, a set of simple, interchangeable blocks that make programming as simple and important a part of creativity as snapping blocks together. She has made the designs open-source and free for anyone to build their own. |
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TED - Award-winning teen-age science in action
In 2011 three young women swept the top prizes of the first Google Science Fair. At TEDxWomen Lauren Hodge, Shree Bose and Naomi Shah described their extraordinary projects-- and their route to a passion for science. |
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TED - Freeman Hrabowski: 4 pillars of college success in science
At age 12, Freeman Hrabowski marched with Martin Luther King. Now he's president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where he works to create an environment that helps under-represented students -- specifically African-American, Latino and low-income learners -- get degrees in math and science. He shares the four pillars of UMBC's approach. |
Finally - may I share something that inspires me? I watch this frequently...
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Gratitude HD - Moving Art™
A Moving Art original short. This inspirational video was well responded at TED conferences and filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg motivates those around him as happiness is revealed. Music is by Gary Malkin and narration is from Brother David Steindl-Rast. |
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Page last modified - August 29, 2018
