Quick Notes From Tech & Learning June 2013

In 2012, over 20 million students use Google Apps for education, which is a 100% increase in 2 years.
(To put it into perspective, in 2010 there were 55 million K-12 students in the U.S.)

 The 2013 Big Ten
http://www.techlearning.com/features/0039/all-play-and-no-work/53827

Top Productivity Tools for Administrators and Educators
The entire list can be found here:
http://www.techlearning.com/features/0039/all-play-and-no-work/53831

From the list of 21 apps, the ones I found interesting:

- Audiotorium Class and Meeting Notes (no I didn't misspell)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/audiotorium-class-meeting/id362787978?mt=8
To see it in action:  http://youtu.be/vdF3xs3EOcY

- Edutecher
A Web-based program that helps educators integrate technology
http://edutecher.net/index.php

- Lego Movie Maker
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lego-movie-maker/id516001587?mt=8

- Poll Everywhere
Great formative assessment that replaces proprietary (i.e. you have to pay) student response systems.
http://www.polleverywhere.com/

- ShowMe
This program allows you to create lessons and tutorials using a whiteboard and share them with the world.  Available for iOD devices and free.
http://www.showme.com/

- Splashtop 2 Remote Desktop
Using your iOS device you can control your Mac or Windows PC.  I'm using right now in my classroom.
http://www.splashtop.com/home

- Symbaloo
Need to access all those Web sites, videos, articles on the fly?  This app is a visual bookmark-management tool.  Available to use on Mac, Windows PC or mobile devices.  Very handy.

- Thinglink
I'm loving this!  It adds interactivity to any still image.  Upload an image and add notes and links within the image.
http://www.thinglink.com/

Weebly for Education
If you are wanting your students to create Web sites for class, this is a good site.  Perfect for student e-portfolios and assignments.  Make certain you sign up for the educational version and you will receive up to 40 student accounts for free.
http://education.weebly.com/

Big Data, Big Expectations: Quick Notes on a Special Report

Big Data means better student outcomes and career readiness but before we map out the tools and technology of big data, we need to put its benefits into human terms to which we can relate.  Big data is more than just a tool to help top administrators make decisions.  It can positively impact every level of education.  First and foremost, we need to come to that true realization that our students are digital natives.  They are used to working with technology and electronics.  So, we should take advantage of students' technological fluency and seemingly unsolvable problems in education: How do you provide  remedial help without stigmatizing students, isolating them or embarrassing them in front of their peers?

Big data as working hand-in-glove with other technology initiatives that have developed over the past few years, including bring your own device (BYOD), pervasive wireless networks and advanced networking that connects institutions to the outside world.

Student polling has the potential to enrich and direct daily instruction.  Instead of waiting weeks to determine where the students are in terms of mastery of the subject, the teacher can have that data at his or her fingertips instantaneously.  The teacher might decide to retool the instructional lesson right at the spot.  We don't have to take the stack of papers to grade that night to figure out that as a teacher I might have missed an opportunity earlier in the day.

Leveraging data is simply expected these days.  We are more and more dependent on technology to do our jobs, and if you're using chart paper and Sharpies to analyze your data, then we're not doing justice for our students.  Access is a must and it begins with a wireless infrastructure that allows students to access the network.

Big data is full of  possibilities.  Some specific benefits anticipated by education leaders are:

- identifying at-risk students before the trouble starts

- Targeting research-based interventions in real time

- Improving professional development strategies

- Implementing student, teacher and instructor value-added growth models (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value-added_modeling)

- Improving student outcomes

- Achieving career readiness what is college and career readiness?

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/

PBS TEDTalks Education 5/7/13

It's MOOC time

It's Friday here and the beginning of another round of blogs for educational purposes. This blog was initially set up a couple of years ago for the purposes of my graduate studies in curriculum and instruction. It was a then and it is now a wonderful way to document my learning experiences. I've sporadically used it to continue gathering all things in the field of educational technology. I've linked the other sties I use to do this as well. And from time to time, I have used it to let off some steam. Today's post will be brief, answering the following questions: Where are you from? I am first generation American. My parents are from Colombia. I was born in New York, NY but spent many years in the San Francisco Bay Area. I currently live in Albuquerque, NM. What's your background? What is your native language? What others do you speak? My native language is Spanish, though I am fluent in both Spanish and English. What language(s) do you teach? I teach Spanish at the high school level. Where do you teach? I teach at an independent school, Sandia Preparatory School, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. What do you hope to get out of LTMOOC? I'm looking to experience the MOOC as a student and evaluate its potential at the secondary level. What hobbies or activities do you like to do? I enjoy travelling as well as working in our garden. My background is in History, Secondary Education, Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on technology. Looking forward to this adventure!

The 21st Century Skills Teachers and Students Need to Have (Authored by Mohamed Karbach)

The 21st Century Skills Teachers and Students Need to Have

On the Importance of Keeping Up With Technology

Whitby Writes on the Importance of Keeping Up With Technology

One view on the leadership qualities needed today in EdTech

Effective educational leaders must be aware that our schools do not belong to us. Their  role is to carry out those objectives set by the community and not our personal agendas.  Our schools must be a reflection of the values of the community.