Juli Lorton's List: summer2011

Simulations, digital gaming, and social networking technologies have all definitely suffered the same public rela- tions problems that all new technologies do. However, there are countless examples of these technologies dem- onstrating their educational value to other industries, confirming the powerful learning opportunities and advan- tages they afford. It is our position that these technologies are safe, valuable tools schools must take seriously.

The Guardian at SXSW 2011
SXSW 2011: The internet is overOliver Burkeman went to Texas to the South by Southwest festival of film, music and technology, in search of the next big idea. After three days he found it: the boundary between 'real life' and 'online' has disappeared

"Mobile-learning strategies can reconnect students to their peers, challenge them with real-world data, and involve them in real-world conversations—all providing the relevance that students need for academic, social, and professional success."

We are interested in the use of technology in elementary education because as graduate education students at L.I.U. C.W. Post, technology is a big part of our everyday lives. However, rarely did we think of the use of modern media technology in classrooms because our exposure to technology in the classroom was so limited when we were the age of the students that we will eventually be teaching. Once this idea was presented to us in this class and others, to our surprise technology seems to have become a large part of the daily activity of today’s students and teachers.

Graphics-based presentation about some current tools used in classrooms

Bill Ferriter teaches 6th grade language arts in North Carolina, where he was named a Regional Teacher of the Year for 2005-2006.

I set out to give teachers a resource where they could find easy-to-implement ideas for using technology in their own classrooms. I hope that iLearn Technology is a great resource for teachers but also that they would find even one piece of technology that they are passionate about. I have found in my own technology walk, all it took was one really great website (www.starfall.com) and I was hooked. My belief is that technology meets students needs, engages them, and helps them to be the best learner they can be.

I work in the Upper Darby School District, where I teach learning support to sixth graders in Drexel Hill Middle School. I have too many certifications. I stunk my first year, but I got better. My favorite subject is Social Studies, although I don’t get to teach it as much as I would like. I teach some of the lowest students in the school but still try to maintain high expectations. I don’t believe in tangible rewards, because learning should be its own reward. I’m getting a little tired of teaching so many scripted programs, even when they’re well-designed. I use websites and online activities with my students whenever I think I can fit it in. I co-advise my school’s Student Council. I like attending conferences, but can only afford to go to cheap ones. Sometimes I try to help organize them. I use too many commas and parentheses.

Taking notes used to be a simple matter. You pulled out a pen and a pad of paper and you wrote things down. Over time, if you developed your own shorthand, you could take notes faster and more accurately. If you could read your own shorthand months later, you were a pro. Laptops changed the game but copying and pasting raised the risk of forgetting where information came from. Trying to keep track of websites, photos, text messages and more means note-taking today can be complicated but it doesn’t have to be, thanks to a growing number of free digital tools.

This is a web applications index - no detailed information about tools, but a nice set of categories.

I have to tell you that it was a tough call to make these decisions, especially when we’re talking every teacher no matter what grade level or subject, but I hope that you find a couple of gems to put away in your virtual treasure box. You may have others you’d like to add to the list. Please post them in the comments for all of us to explore.

This matrix taking from a college course website provides a nice overview of some online collaboration tools.