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| Travis Allen |
Travis Allen and ISchool & Zeitgiest Young Minds Entry
In these two videos, Travis Allen is a high student that at the age of eighteen found a solution to education problems in the United States has brought a change in how we learn technology today. He presents the ISchool Apps that will help students learn in class without having to take notes on paper. Everything is supposedly in these different applications. Students will be able to check their e-mails, view the periodic table, study different planets, takes notes, and read books online. Teachers will be able to record lesson plans, view lunch menus, calendars, track grades and assignments. He is presenting a new form of learning, mobile learning.
My take on this is that its a great idea but does he really have everything figured out? It seems like there may be a few glitches.I was wondering what grade levels will this ISchool cover? I learned about the planets in elementary school and the periodic table in junior high. In this video, he never mentioned if students will be able to take their devices home or not. If they are not allowed to take home their work, then they will need another source to unlock important information. If they have a computer at home then that's fine or use the library instead. Wouldn't the students still have to write down notes if they aren't able to reach a computer? If something like this does actually happen will there be a need for teachers? My answer is yes because the ISchool obviously does not cover information that a teacher may be better at explaining. iSchool Initiative & ZeitgeistYoung Minds
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
Eric Whitacre's virtual choir is a video that illustrates how a choir sings to a song through the internet.
This is amazing to see a virtual choir. I didn't think that something like this was possible. At first glance, I thought this was a class that just recorded themselves for an assignment and posted it on youtube. Then, I realized that there were over a hundred people singing at once. I would love to know how he made this happen and if it is real.Virtual Choir
Teaching in the 21st century
To teach in the 21st century, Roberts believes that teachers are not the main source of knowledge anymore. Today there are so many online resources that are available through cell phones, computers, and ipads. Learning is changing, and teachers have to find a way to blend their own skills with the like of technology. I am proud to say that some teachers are doing just that. Roberts sees teaching in the future to be revamped and revised by many possibilities. I think that in order to stay updated with learning technology, teachers will have to be willing to learn and use new resources that are out there. In the past, I have noticed that for some, its easy to get set in their ways of teaching and some of their methods bring great results. But will these old school ways of teaching make it in the next ten to twenty years? I believe that there will still be some form of the traditional teaching and learning skills but they will be far more advance in technology through various devices. Teaching in the 21st Century
Dr. Lodge McCammon's Fizz
Dr. Lodge McCammon is a contemporary media specialist from Friday Institute of Raleigh, North Carolina. The video begins with an issue that he must address. The problem is that there are too many lectures in the classroom which is not engaging for students. Lecturing is insufficient, not engaging, and a one shot deal. Teachers then expect students to with the same lecture, to apply themselves in a way that is not engaging as an individual. To solve the issue he started a program called FIZZ to train teachers in the classroom. This idea is also called "Flipping the Classroom". A FIZZ Video Lecture allows students to view videos multiple times and it creates classroom time. As a result it creates a differentiating learning where students are applying their work while being engaged and excited about it.
As a teacher, I would be able to use this type of learning because I already have some experience with taking online courses. The only thing that I wouldn't do is use only online work for my students. I also want to blend a lecture in which they can follow with me online. I believe that this idea could possibly help those students who aren't so good with online classes and help them follow along with rest of the class.
Flipping the Classroom 4th Grade STEM involves Ms. Maufano from Hilburn Academy STEM Elementary School. She further explains the method of flipping the classroom by Dr. Lodge in which she uses for her 4th grade class. I think that her video is more helpful because it explains how a teacher could flip their classroom and why. I would also like to use her methods because its very organized and precise.
Shaniqua, as I read your first two paragraphs on ischool initiative I could not help but to agree with you abut their being glitches in Travis's plan to transform schools. You did such a great job of explaining Travis Allen's plan of ischooling and at the same time gave your take on the whole process. The only error I found in the first two paragraphs was in the very first sentence where you stated Travis Allen is a high student....I think that should be high school student. The Virtual Choir piece was breath taking was it not? I really enjoyed how you explained Teaching in the 21st Century. Like you stated, I too believe there will always be some of the old school ways of teaching around but hopefully far more advanced. Overall your post was full of great information on the sites provided and I thoroughly enjoyed reading over it. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteIf you had been able to attend the school Initiative Workshop on Monday I think you would have far fewer concerns that you seem to have. the central point is that if we do not use the best tools for learning we cannot achieve the best results. Others will. We cannot afford to fall behind.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Virtual Choir is real and has been repeated many times. Times they are a changing. Maybe Dylan should revise is song to be HAVE CHANGED!
" I have noticed that for some, its easy to get set in their ways of teaching and some of their methods bring great results. " Even your classmate keith Tardibuono falls into that category. In his Blog Post #5 he says: "I would definitely prefer my students to look up a term in the dictionary rather than on a phone, that is how I learned so I would argue they need to do the same. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the way kids have been learning throughout the years so why try to take away from the actual nature of learning and give it too computers." Even though his post is poorly written and incomplete, leave him a comment! (That is an assignment).
"I also want to blend a lecture in which they can follow with me online." Why lecture at all?
I had to work the morning of the iSchool Initiative and I know some of my questions from this blog would've been answered. I also completed this assignment before Travis Allen's visit to South. I apolgize for not being able to attend.
DeleteNo problem, I will look at Keith's blog and comment on it now. I believe that some of the old methods of learning can be used with newer and improved methods, but using only tradtional methods will only create students that will be left behind while others progress.
Well, when I say that I want to lecture and use technology, that means that I want to teach my students in various ways. Like your course, we only use technology. Some people aren't good with technology and I also want to make another option available for them to learn. This does not mean that they will not use technology at all, but I want to make a way where I could ease them out being comfortable with classes that only lecture. Even though technology has provided us with all the information we need students still need that one on one help from their instructor.
Hey Shaniqua,
ReplyDeleteWasn't the Virtual Choir great!! Just as Dr. Strange said, it is real and it is something that should be noted, because of how useful technology has become to us in today's society.
Your links are great, but you need alt and title modifiers for your picture.
Stephen Akins