4 Factors to Consider When Debating Cell Phones in Schools - Guest Post

4 Factors to Consider When Debating Cell Phones in Schools

Hilary Bird is a digital journalist who writes about the things that fascinate her the most: relationships, technology, and how they impact each other. As more and more people become more and more reliant on their tech devices, Hilary wants to help them stay safe and understand how these devices will reshape the way we communicate.

More than ever, cell phone technology shapes our relationships, habits, perspectives, and our learning. But do phones have a place in the classroom?

The debate has been raging for years, and some districts have taken to banning the oft-maligned devices altogether. However, that may not be the right call in every case.

Here are four factors to consider when forming your opinion about phones in the classroom.

The Role of Tech for Education
The appropriateness of cell phones in the classroom depends largely on how well they fit the lessons they’re helping teach. School may be one of the best places to teach technology management skills. In fact, explicit instruction in digital citizenship, online learning, and online safety may benefit students as they prepare for an increasingly digital future.

Unfortunately, screen time does have downsides. Some sources indicate that overexposure could be linked to insomnia and depression in teens, among other issues. As such, curriculum plans that include the use of phones might do well to keep device use moderate and interspersed with face-to-face learning.

Time Saved and Spent
Any teacher who has used technology can attest to its wonders. It can aid understanding and cut time spent on mindless tasks like grading, and provide instant access to class materials. Cell phone tech can even aid in accessibility—students with disabilities who are unable to take notes quickly could save a lot of time by taking pictures of a teacher’s slides, for instance.

The caveat here is that phones will only save time if they can handle the tasks required of them. Schools may need to adjust their internet plans depending on how much data the intended curriculum needs. Likewise, they may need to supply devices for students who aren’t able to use their own, which could be difficult to budget for.


Content

Recent reports indicate that moving learning into the mobile realm could open up pathways to explore new educational content. Phones with internet access connect students to thousands of educational videos, podcasts, games, tutorials, and other supplemental materials that can reinforce classroom objectives and facilitate learning. Teachers can also post assignments and reminders online for students to view before, after, and during class.

However, some inappropriate content is bound to find its way into classrooms using phones. This poses a risk to teachers, students, and administrators. To combat problematic content, staff and educators should remain diligent in monitoring students as they use devices at school, and teach kids online safety.

Social Connections
Cell phones also facilitate social connection, which has its benefits even in a classroom setting. Parents can contact their children with needed information or during emergencies as well. In addition, many teachers use social media to engage students with academic content. Online discussions about class material, outreach to content experts, and other strategies can build a real-world learning network for students.

But cell phones can pose some social risks. The CDC indicated that in 2017, nearly 15% of high-school aged students had been bullied electronically in the past year, and this cyberbullying will undoubtedly find its way into more schools as phones are allowed. Teachers and parents may have to work extra diligently to keep in-person lines of communication open so that kids dealing with cyberbullying feel safe enough to communicate it. Though on the positive side, phones could make it easier to document bullying when it does occur.

While there’s no single solution that will work for every classroom, educators don’t need to fear phone use in all forms. With proper management, cell phones can be useful teaching tools both inside and outside the classroom.

Related: 

Smartphone related articles

Technology I use on a Daily Basis 

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Guest Post: The Best Tech for Your Back-to-School Shopping List

The Best Tech for Your Back-to-School Shopping List

It’s back-to-school time, and for many of you that means it’s time to refresh your gear. Whether you’re buying for yourself or your children, there are plenty of deals on tech out there for students. Check out these useful gadgets to help your semester go as smoothly as possible.

1. MacBook Air
The MacBook Air remains one of the most popular Apple laptops. The lightweight, slim design makes it perfect for slipping into a backpack, and the keyboard and trackpad are comfortable and responsive, so you can use it for long study sessions with no problem. Throw in the relatively low price (starting at $999) and Apple’s education deals, like a free pair of Beats headphones, and this laptop makes a ton of sense for both students and their parents looking to get a long-lasting computer for a good price.

As a side note, don’t forget to make sure your internet connection is fast enough to keep up with schoolwork demands and match your shiny new computer. You can check your download and upload speeds with a free online tool to make sure everything is working the way it’s supposed to.


2. Vulcan Classic Backpack
The Vulcan Classic is the perfect bag for high school students that need to stay connected. This sturdy backpack can take a beating and keep on ticking, and it can also help your phone keep ticking too, thanks to a built-in USB charging port. You do have to supply your own power bank, but the built-in port allows you to keep the battery tucked away in the bag while you charge. Just plug your device in and you’re good to go. It comes in several colors, and at less than $50, the price is right too.


3. Rocketbook Everlast
If you’re used to handwriting your notes and don’t want to mess with Apple Pencils and iPads, you can try the Rocketbook. This unique notebook lets you handwrite your notes on actual paper with an actual pen. You can then scan them, upload them to various cloud storage services, and wipe the pages clean to start fresh. It works surprisingly well and offers a great bridge between analog and digital.


4. ViewSonic PA503S Projector
If you’re looking for a projector for your classroom on a budget, look no further than the ViewSonic PA503S. Having the right tech in your classroom is becoming a must, and a projector can help you share useful media with your students, like videos, websites, and apps. The ViewSonic boasts a commendable brightness and contrast for its price range ($299.99), and while it doesn’t support 1080p resolution, it will work fine for most classroom media needs.


Whether it’s freshman year and you’ve got nothing or you’re looking to outfit your classroom with useful tech that won’t break the budget, these gadgets can help start your next semester off on the right foot.

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Guest Post - How to Create Stunning Visual Aids for your Lessons

It is a challenge to seize children’s attention and not to let it go. Some teachers experience great difficulties in keeping students engaged and involved in the educational process due to objective reasons. Luckily, there exist some tricks to help resourceful teachers, one of them being visual aids. Looking at bright and colorful images, students are more likely to digest the material without boredom and remember it afterwards. But why are visual aids so effective and how to create them?

First of all, visual aids are helpful, because they show the data visually. Some facts, connections and outcomes are much easier to understand when they are represented as a picture. For example, some statistics, shown as a diagram will be much more winning than its detailed descriptions in words. Then, as visual images have the sense of modernity, they easily grab children’s attention for some time. Thus, they are useful for highlighting some essential points and setting true accents. And finally, visual aids and pictures boost children’s creativity. By looking at something beautiful and challenging, by perceiving the right way of data organization, students can get inspired and come up with new and outstanding ideas.

There are three most popular types of visual aids:

1. Sheets to hand out. They are pieces of paper with different tasks for students: from simple word games to sophisticated and quizzes and puzzles. Usually you are welcome to print them at school, if the head teacher supports the idea of modern teaching.

Such sheets look very winning if they contain bright images, doodles, cartoons, drawings and any other innovative ideas. They serve different purposes like encouraging students to think over some details or discuss them, check students’ knowledge or let them rest with the benefit for their brains. A lot of websites offers resourceful teachers the opportunities to download and print the material. Here are just some of them:
busyteacher.org
britishcouncil.org

softschools.com
superteacherworksheets.com

2. Posters and pictures. If you want to explain new material with the help of some visual images, illustrate your words with bright and colorful pictures.

Usually you use Photoshop to create a legible and eye-pleasing poster, but you can try its free and less sophisticated alternative Photoscape.

Remember that in creating posters bright shapes and arrows look especially great. As well as text elements, which must be precise, short and only about the core point.

3. Video sequences. But sometimes even picture images are not enough to convey the idea. In this case you can turn to videos
   If you have some photos to illustrate your words, just make a slideshow of them and play in the background to illustrate your words. For this purpose, you can use a tool like Freemake Video Converter as it allows not only to make a slideshow in one click, but also convert it to any – even the most rare – format.
   

Or make a cartoon with the help of online tools like GoAnimate. This approach requires much more mental efforts and time. But if you want to create a cartoon for preschool children, this visual tool will be very useful.

Overall, the use of certain visual tools depends on your purpose, creative inner-sources and opportunities. Anyway you should call all your creativity and resourcefulness to make your lessons outstanding and interesting for students, even with the help of visual aids, because even in this case the educator’s personality is what is reflected in all the aids.

Author’s Bio

Terry Smith is a former IT teacher from Geneva. Now he is a freelance developer and blogger. Terry loves sharing his expertise on popular teaching software, IT trends, and digital technology. Follow Terry on Twitter.

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How to Get Students to Pay Attention Using Technology - guest post

Remember the days when you would sit in a classroom listening to the monotone voice of a teacher buzzing in the air and fight a bout of sleepiness?  How many times did you have to mentally shake yourself awake or wish that bell would ring?

Today, however, teachers can engage their students in a variety of ways using technology.  Many teachers have found that the implement of educational technology in their learning environment encourages students to learn.  If you are looking for ideas to attract your students’ attention, here are some things to consider.

Learning Management Systems

Learning management systems use a variety of technology tools to keep students interested in the subject being taught.  These systems may combine the use of online videos, clickers, managing groups, and blackboards to encourage class participation.  Teachers can monitor students’ responses and upload related material within seconds to every student’s monitor or tablet.

One of the advantages of using learning management systems is that you can learn more about your students’ individual learning styles.  As you know, some students learn best through auditory methods while others learn better when they use hands-on methods.  These systems use a combination of teaching methods which engage students, regardless of their learning style.  You can incorporate colorful images, videos, and text that catch students’ attention and keep them entertained as they are learning.  Students can also use their monitor to send feedback and questions to you instead of raising their hand.  This facilitates more student participation since some students do not feel comfortable drawing attention to themselves in the classroom, and builds upon the teacher/student relationship. 

Educational Technology Instigates Learning

Using educational technology in your classroom will instigate learning among your students, encouraging them to explore the world around them and think about what they are seeing and hearing. Ideas of how to engage students that partner excellently with LMS are discussed thoroughly by Jeff Dunn on edudemic.com in a recent and well utilized article. His approach to learning is based around the ideas that though we have these tools to use, there are still ways to keep students engaged instead of distracted.

Personal Response Systems

Personal response systems, also simply known as clickers, are an effective tool in the classroom.  Similar to those used on game shows, you can show students a question on the large screen and then ask them to click in their answer.  The answers immediately alert you to concepts that the students are struggling with, so that you can slow down the day’s lesson to explain the concept in greater detail.  In this way, instruction becomes more customized and students will be able to comprehend issues that in a traditional setting they would have struggled with.

Desktop Sharing

Every teacher has at least one or two students (maybe more) in their class who never speak up.  For some students, the idea of speaking out loud in a classroom is just too stressful.  For others, they may worry that students will laugh at them, or they may struggle with putting their thoughts into speech.  Desktop sharing can bridge those gaps, giving students another alternative to speaking—writing.   Writing gives students time to think about what they want to say and then correct their speech as they write down their opinion, strengthening their writing skills. 

Presentation Technology

Technology can encourage the creative side of your students.  For example, you could form groups and then assign them to come up with a presentation of a specific concept, or topic, using technology.  This gives students the opportunity to apply what you have been teaching them and then expand upon the information, conducting independent research and putting that data into a visual presentation using a variety of programs.  Students learn to work together, preparing them for a work environment, and gives them experience with public speaking while letting them put their own angle on the subject.

For instance, if you were teaching a history class and the focus was on World War II, you could assign one group of students to put together a presentation on German battle strategy, one group to focus on American strategy, and one group to talk about British strategy. 

Author Bio

Brian Jensen works with Dell. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, cooking and spending time with his family. He has a passion for learning and writing about all things technology. He is currently researching Learning Management Systems and would recommend visiting dell.com for more information.

Engaging lessons, keeping students active and part of the class, and using projects. 

5 Recent Advances in Educational Technology - guest post

5 Recent Advances in Educational Technology 

Imagine going to school without getting out of bed. According to an article at washingtonpost.com, its actually not that uncommon - "70,000 school-age children wake up each morning for class and walk as far as the nearest Web-enabled gadget…" which is sometimes sitting at the side of their bed in the form of a laptop or tablet. It’s amazing to think about how 20 years ago, personal computers were only just beginning and now, it’s within arm’s reach of the majority of the youth in America. Educational technology seems to be progressing at warp speed, with new advances emerging every single day.

Classroom Management Software

Course management systems (CMS) are designed to provide a platform for teachers to reach thousands of students all at one time in one course. They allow for quizzes to be given through its platform along with the ability to create interactive forums with information provided from a myriad of different resources. They can be used to save time for both students and educators while accomplishing the feel of a one-on-one learning environment. Learning how to reach masses all at once is educational innovation at its best.

Learning Management Systems

Teachers and professors alike are always looking for ways to engage students and expand learning opportunities. Especially in higher education, where the need to offer classes outside of the classroom as well as offset campus overcrowding is more concerning, Learning Management Systems (LMS) have really improved upon opportunities to reach more students. These tools allow for more collaborative class settings on or off-line. For example, if you have an overly large group of students where it is difficult to have personal one on one time with each, LMS makes it possible to create lesson plans via video or wiki as well as track content through blogs and other easily accessible tools. This allows for more of an exclusive interaction. With LMS the internet keeps you connected in or outside the classroom. For more on LMS, click here.

Classroom Audio Systems

Studies have shown that one of the main issues students have with learning in a classroom is that they often cannot hear the instruction as well as is needed. Classroom audio systems provide the ability for teachers to project their voices loud and clear to all who are intended to hear. Teachers use this innovation to reach students at a level that they otherwise would not be able to do. This fairly recent development in the classroom has led to an unprecedented rise in test scores for all who experienced the effects before and after.

Field Trip App

New applications for computers, smart phones and iPads are surfacing every day. There are learning apps for just about every subject there is. The field trip app, for instance, helps to educate students on their surrounding areas. It provides historical significance, useful fun facts, and other educational information for practically any field trip destination.

Using Cloud Computing for Educational Technology

Another relatively new advancement in the field of education technology is the use of cloud computing to store documents. Google Docs, for instance, recently transitioned to Google Drive – a place to store Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents for retrieval anywhere that has access to an internet connection. No longer is forgetting a homework assignment even possible with this relatively new cloud computing technology.

Adaptive Learning

Adaptive learning is not necessarily a new concept; however, the realization of this concept is in fact relatively new. Innovative teachers use this technology to help them cater to personalized learning for students in need of more help than average. This means the development of tests and skill instruction is created specifically to cater to each individual’s exact learning needs. It is available for all ages, in all levels of learning and appears to be a fast-growing capability for innovative educators seeking technology to increase the effects of their teaching.

Author Bio

David Malmborg works with Dell. When he isn’t working he enjoys hiking, spending time with family and researching new technology. He is currently learning more about cloud computing and recommends visiting the dell.com for more information.

The Growing Impact of Cloud Computing On Education - Guest Post

The Growing Impact of Cloud Computing On Education

These days, more colleges and universities than ever are beginning to offer classes online. In fact, gone are the days of students being required to step foot on campus in order to receive a degree. Instead, many schools are offering entire degree programs online, allowing students opportunities to achieve a higher education that they may not have had otherwise. And while there are certainly some challenges and drawbacks when it comes to online learning, the truth is that it appears to be here to stay in a world where technology is king. And as cloud computing becomes more accessible, more schools are expected to use it for offering online schooling.

What, Exactly, is Cloud Computing?

For those who are unfamiliar with the term, cloud computing refers to a technology or service that allows information to be delivered in real-time over the internet. In education, this has meant the possibility for teachers to upload instructional videos and tutorials, hold real-time classroom chats, administer timed quizzes and exams, and even have students submit assignments and projects. Essentially, cloud computing has made it possible to create a virtual classroom, where students can still collaborate with other classmates, speak with teachers, and enjoy a learning experience similar to what they would get in the classroom.

Cloud Computing and the Modern University

Cloud computing offers a number of benefits to a modern university campus, and it is one of the most cost-effective solutions. Cloud works great for university’s internal functions. Implementing cloud technology is easier than ever, and the system brings several benefits. It can also be especially important as a time management tool. Smaller universities can take advantage of exceptional functionality at a fraction of a total IT system’s cost.

What To Consider?

Prior to starting a program, it is essential that a university answers a number of basic questions.  Security, confidentiality, reliability and pertinent regulations are some of the issues that affect the choice of a particular cloud provider. Security is one of the most pressing concerns because a university’s private information is stored outside the campus. Cloud providers have been working beside leading businesses for years, and they usually have an extensive security program in place. In fact, most providers have far more security measures than a university does. The chief issue with security is the ownership of the college’s data and who has access to it. Security is less about protecting information than determining who should be able to use the actual data.

Developer Resources

Universities may also consider the evaluation of applications and infrastructure prior to embarking on a cloud computer system. A monitoring system is one way to ensure there are no vulnerabilities. These should be designed to offer access management, intrusion prevention and secure identity log-ins. Because many university administrators are concerned about new technology, there may be a struggle to adopt widespread cloud computing.

After the initial issues have been resolved, the intellectual architecture of the system must be designed. The actual cloud computing design depends on the size of a university and the institution’s data storage needs. Some colleges keep all of their data on the cloud, but others prefer to use a separate system for the administrative and educational functions.

Avoiding Pitfalls

Several benefits are associated with today’s cloud computing systems, but there are some pitfalls as well. Choosing a reputable cloud vendor is essential and is one of the hardest tasks. Because the technology is just developing, several providers claim experience, when in fact, they have very little.

Changing to cloud computing is easiest when universities take small steps at a time. Starting with a small change makes it easy for colleges to see the exact benefits of a particular provider. For example, many universities decide to utilize cloud providers for a single aspect of their operations. Implementing cloud computing to handle the business end of university functions is a great place to start, but there are major benefits that are derived when a college turns to an automatic enrollment cloud management system.

How Are Teachers Adjusting to Cloud Computing?

As with any new technology, there has been a necessary adjustment period for many teachers who have begun to use cloud computing. Since many colleges have begun to implement online classes, it has been necessary to find current instructors and professors at their schools who would be willing to learn how to use the technology and adapt it to their new classes in a way that is successful. Often times, this involves open-mindedness on the teacher's behalf. It also often requires lengthy training sessions, as there is a lot to learn with this new technology. In fact, some schools even offer a specific online teaching certification for those who want to make themselves more marketable as teachers.

And as with any new technology, there are also minor drawbacks to online education. One of the biggest criticisms of cloud computing used for education is that it does not foster the same collaborative learning experience as a real-world classroom setting does However, many teachers have begun to challenge this criticism by holding real-time chats with their classes, with some of them even video chatting for face-to-face interaction.

Overall, cloud computing has made a huge impact on our education system and will only continue to do so in the future.

About the author:

Victor Daily is a tech blogger and freelance content writer for an Australian VPS Hosting company. Hi enjoys sharing his knowledge and giving tips on tech-related topics.

4 Ways Technology Helps To Diversify Education

Written by Jonathan Trent— Writer for NextUC.com, providing expertise in everything from Microsoft Lync to video conferencing to online collaboration software.

As technology advances, a greater number of countries are embracing the use of it in classrooms. While the U.S. is moving in that direction there seems to be some hesitation in deciding what technology should be used. Other countries are focusing on how to integrate it while we determine if we should. Here is a list of four ways technology is changing the face of education.


More Accurate Assessment

Traditionally assessments are given to determine a student’s proficiency in a subject. The problem with previous assessment styles is they are dependent on a students testing ability. Some students can retain enough information to answer questions accurately while not fully understanding the meaning of the information or lacking a working knowledge of the concept. While others who may understand fully lack the skills to explain their knowledge effectively. New technology allows teachers to give assessments where students have to work through multiple steps of a problem so the teacher is able to see their thought process rather than just coming up with an answer. This way, teachers can access a child’s full understanding and see clearly where the breakdown in understanding is.


Clear, Realistic Simulations and Models 

While some things can easily be explained in a classroom or by using textbooks, some concepts are easier to understand if the children can see them. When explaining things like DNA structure or how molecules interact with other molecules technology can give you a visual that we have never had before. Digital simulations are most useful in explaining concepts that are too big or too small, or processes that happen too slowly or too quickly to demonstrate in a traditional classroom.


The World At Their Fingertips

Technology is providing a way for students to experience the world in ways that where previously not available to them, without expensive travel. They are able to visit historic sites virtually and learn about how people live in other parts of the world. Foreign languages can be learned from a native speaker by way of an easy video chat.


Class Size

The use of technology in classrooms may be the answer to the problem with class size. As more classrooms move towards fully integrated technology programs, teachers are able to help more students. When children are actively engaged in what they are learning through online programs, the teacher is not the only source of information in the classroom. Parents also have greater access to their child’s progress and are better able to support the schools efforts from home.

Related:

The How's, Why's and Value of Educational Technology

My Favorite Resources for Students and Educators

Differentiating with Web 2.0 Technologies

Technology I use Everyday as an Educator

Unfettered by Stuff - or "Why I don't lug stuff home every night"
Google for Educators

Evernote for Educators

The Death of Worksheets - guest post

The Death of Worksheets

Educational technology has the power to dramatically transform classrooms and enhance learning for students of all ages.  This blog alone contains links to hundreds of amazing apps, websites, and tech tools.  But what is it that those online resources should be replacing in schools?  

I hereby nominate... the worksheet.  “Death by worksheet” has become a common occurrence in schools, so much so that some teachers (and even students) can no longer imagine learning taking place without them.  Yet worksheets are static, unable to adapt to individual students’ answers as they work through a lesson.  Worksheets are also fake: students’ work on them is generally not spent solving real problems or communicating with real audiences.

It’s time for a new vision.  With the help of technology, we can replace the worksheet with the following:

• Adaptive, differentiated content:  The work we ask students to do should always be in their zone of proximal development.  Adaptive technologies exist that can give students harder or easier math questions, for example, based on their previous answers.  This should be the new norm.

• Project-based learning:  Turning the whole model of student work on its head, project-based learning allows students to learn through real-life, hands-on, complex projects instead of worksheets.  Which task is more genuine: having a middle school class run a government simulation where they actually take on governmental roles and work to pass laws and govern fairly, or having that same class complete a collection of worksheets covering that same government information?

• Multimedia content:  Students should given the opportunity to learn content by watching engaging videos, looking at photos, and listening to podcasts instead of simply reading from worksheets.

• Genuine audiences:  Student work should have real value and be directed to real audiences.  Instead of completing worksheets, students should be doing things like writing blog posts, creating podcasts, and designing artwork for others to actually enjoy.

What if you weren’t allowed to use any worksheets with your students for one week?  Completely banning worksheets from your practice for a set period of time will force you to find other methods of instruction, practice, and assessment for your students.  Who knows?  You might find that a short no-worksheet experiment leads to the end of “death by worksheet” in your class, perhaps even replacing it with the death of worksheets.

About the Author:
Neven Jurkovic’s interest in teaching mathematics with technology developed while pursuing a Master of Science degree at Southwest Texas State University. Apart from publishing a number of papers on the application of artificial intelligence in elementary mathematics problem solving, Neven is the creator of Algebrator, a widely used math tutoring software.  Currently, he lives in San Antonio, TX and is the CEO of Softmath: http://softmath.com/  

5 Different Ways Technology Has Made Learning Easier - guest post

Technology in education has been a hot topic for a while now and understandably so, especially as it continues to grow in importance in our personal, educational, and professional lives. Each facet of technology plays a different part in the way that both teachers teach and students learn. And the best part about it is that you can access a lot of it for free. These five technological breakthroughs have all helped improve education and the ease with which students comprehend lessons:



1. YouTube – Who would have ever thought that YouTube would have a place in the classroom? While it’s made its name off funny home videos and clips from TV shows, it also has allowed teachers to visually show something that they previously were confined to teaching from a text book. With a large number of students being visual learners, this offers the perfect complement to traditional lesson plans.




2. Apps – Apps have revolutionized the way we do things. The common phrase “there’s an app for that” couldn’t ring more true, and goes far beyond the normal GPS or Words with Friends games we’re all familiar with. Apps have far surpassed the confinement of being fun ways to pass the time and have evolved into different ways to help students learn concepts and brush up on educational skills, with apps ranging from helping with grammar/spelling/punctuation mastery to fine-tuning math skills.












3. Drop Boxes – Internet drop boxes have all but eliminated the “dog ate my homework” excuse because everything can be submitted online. This makes it easier for the student to submit work, and makes it easier for the teacher to keep track of work because it’s all already in one neat place.




4. Individual laptops – A lot of schools are moving over to having individual laptops for each student, which has taken lessons to an entirely new level. It allows teachers and students to interact with lessons individually and as a whole, lets students have each subject’s notes and assignments in one place, and all but eliminates the need for lugging around textbooks to each class and home every night.




5. Social media – You can build fan pages for classrooms, stage Twitter chats for interaction outside of the classroom, and provide web pages that act as a resource guide for ongoing lessons, all through the use of social media. Social media allows us to interact on an entirely different level, and engages students because it’s something they already have an interest in.


Education has done an exceptional job thus far of evolving as technology evolves and grows, and it’s likely that the two will only become further intertwined as technology continues to grow and mature. Finding a way to integrate the two is essential to helping our students continue to learn with ease, and helps further guarantee their educational success.




Author Bio

Melanie Slaugh is enthusiastic about the growing prospects and opportunities of various industries and writing articles on various consumer goods and services as a freelance writer. She writes extensively for internet service providers and also topics related to internet providers in my area for presenting the consumers, the information they need to choose the right Internet package for them. She can be reached at slaugh.slaugh907 @ gmail.com.

Teaching literacy in the age of free digital entertainment - guest post

Although the rapid advance of technology has offered teachers a range of methods with which to revitalise the learning process to the benefit of pupils, it’s probably fair to say that there’s an ongoing battle to keep the attentions of pupils. After all, modern children are so adept at using a wide range of cutting-edge gadgets that simply retaining their attention is a considerable achievement in itself. There has also been widespread concern about the impact of technology – perhaps most commonly the rise of text speak – on literacy and linguistic standards. It’s important, therefore, for teachers to be aware of the challenges posed by technology as well as its potential benefits.

It might seem like an obvious point to make, but literacy really is of the utmost importance in those formative years of any child’s life. The sooner a child learns to read, the sooner they can move on to more advanced concepts, thereby setting them well on the way to a life of learning. Of course, those children who struggle to get to grips with reading may find themselves falling behind – and adult illiteracy is, regrettably, a common problem. Although children themselves can hardly be blamed for not thinking too carefully about how their adulthood might pan out at such an early stage of their lives, it is essential for teachers to ensure they devote the time and resources needed to promoting literacy.

However, there are so many demands on both children’s and teachers’ time that there is a delicate balancing act to be struck. Children and young people are used to almost instant gratification, which is why it’s so important for teachers to make sure they have the full attention of their pupils when trying to teach them the reading skills that are likely to prove so crucial in later life. One thing that teachers must remember is that they too have to ensure their techniques evolve over the years. A strategy that works for one generation of pupils is unlikely to work for the next unless it is adjusted to suit their needs.

Introducing technological innovations – such as interactive whiteboards, which have proven so popular among many teachers – can have a beneficial effect when it comes to retaining the attention of pupils who are well used to using technology from an early age. Although technology is no substitute for an outstanding teacher, it has been shown to have a beneficial effect in helping pupils engage with the subject matter. 

Guest Post: Jaimy is interested in the introduction of interactive whiteboards (IWB) and other classroom technology and writes freelance about these topics.

18 Google Chrome Extensions for College Students - guest post

18 Google Chrome Extensions for College Students

The internet has been an integral part of our lives, daily lives. It is like a necessity for all of us especially for businessmen and students. It is a way to communicate and socialize even with people whom you don’t know personally. And when it comes to studies, admit it or not, this generation doesn't use encyclopedias anymore,well except those that are found in the internet, we all depend on the power of web browsing! This is the new way of Studying!

1. Graph.tk - Having problems with your Math subject? Worry no more for this Google extension can do it for you! Yes! Graph.tk serves as an online graphic calculator that works on mathematical equations. You can also have those calculations printed for your personal use.

2. Quizlet - Who says flashcards are for preschoolers? It can be useful to college students too! And that’s what Quizlet is all about. It can be used to teach different terminology or words to students. It is also good for introducing new words to foreign students.

3. Wikihood - Dreaming of travelling all around the world but you just can’t? Wiki hood makes it possible for you. Know the different history, geographical information, culture, food, and attractions of your chosen destination.

4. Planetarium - After exploring the world, college students especially those majoring in Astronomy, might want to explore the universe. This Google extension helps you explore the diverse types of constellations and other planets.

5. Academic Earth - Tired of the lectures conducted by your professor? Why not try this extension in order to get a glimpse of how others tackle or view different lessons. Academic Earth is also an open-source library that contains highly educated information.

6. Remind Me - College students, like their parents, have a lot of things in mind. School, friends, and parties occupy their minds. This is why sometimes things just slip out of their minds. This extension will come in handy for all of you! Don’t let bad grades get you grounded from partying. Be reminded! 

7. Split Screen Split - screen makes multitasking easy. You can easily get different information from different sites at the same time. You can even watch a video while researching.

 8. Connected Mind - Do brainstorming and idea mapping with this Google extension. Just store it in Cloud and view it as many times as you want. Sharing project ideas can be as fun and as interactive as this!

9. WiBit IT majors? - Have this extension make things easier for you. With WiBit, you can learn anything and everything about programming and other computer related topics.

10. Box - What will you do if you have a very important report then suddenly your hard drive just crashed? Will you just cry your heart out? Don’t ruin your day! This Google extension functions to save your data for future use without using your USB. Just access it and viola, your file is ready to use! 

11. Stay Focused - Facebook, twitter, and other networking sites just eat most of your time, leaving you with less time for your school works. Stay focused by blocking all those websites that affects your productivity. 

12. Typing Test - Got a lot to type but your typing speed just always get in the way? College students have numerous assignments and projects that mostly require print outs or powerpoint presentation. Whatever it is, it involves typing. Worry not for you can test your typing skills in order to improve more.

13. Dr. Web Anti Virus Link Checker -  Browsing and opening too much websites? Who knows which site has a virus? With this extension, you can have your link scanned first before entering the site. So before doing your researches, make sure that the site is not just a credible one but also a virus free site.

14. PDF/PPT Viewer - View you PDF and PPT files just by using this extension. You don’t have to download the said softwares in order to have a glimpse of that informative presentation. 

15. Studyers - Taking down notes has never been this easy. Studyers makes this possible for you. Don’t fail your tests because you lack important notes. And don’t forget to share it with your friends!

16. Harvard Referencing -  Want to feel like studying in Harvard! This reference extension can make your dream come true, well partially true. Get your generated references for your school works. 

17. Spongelab - Get a hold of your Science subjects with just one click. Spongelab is a global science community that offers games, interactions and information about the field.

18. Apture Highlights -  Got unfamiliar words that pop-out from your researches? Tired of copy pasting those words just to find their meaning? Why give yourself a hard time if it can be so easy. Just highlight the word and poof! There goes the meaning on top of the word. As easy as ABC.

 

There are numerous Google extensions intended to address our needs. Lucky for us, we are in a world where we don’t have to go to far places just to get the info we need. Let us take advantage of what Information Technology has to offer. Continue learning the easy way!


Author bio: Alexis Thompson is a former Mountain Backpacker and a 26 year old mother of 2 daughters, Sophie and Rhian. She is into almost all types of Music especially The Fray and Hillsong. She also has a passion in Singing and Scrap Booking. Follow her escapades on her Twitter.

Sensory engagement in the teaching environment - guest post

Promethean World

Sensory engagement in the teaching environment

Post contributed by Charlotte Watson for Promethean World.  Charlotte is a regular contributor to numerous educational sites. She specializes in student response systems as well as interactive whiteboard technologies.

Learning difficulties run in the family, so when my sisters and I were just children my mum made sure we were tested by the Dyslexia Institute. The tests quickly showed that my two sisters had severe dyslexia (a learning difficulty that creates difficulty with reading comprehension, spelling and short-term memory) and I was referred for further testing, eventually finding out I had a mild form of dyspraxia (a neurological disorder that can cause issues with co-ordination and motor functions).

My mum has suffered with her dyslexia and dyscalculia (difficulty with mathematical equations) all throughout her life and when she was in school she was just told she was slow, so she did everything she could to ensure we were given the help we needed in school.

The help was pretty poor (learning and motor difficulties were still looked on with a bit of a cynical eye back then), but I like to think we did alright. Luckily, the issue of dyslexia is properly addressed in schools nowadays – my nephew also has it and he’s being given the help he needs to receive as good an education as all of the other children in his class.

In terms of teaching dyslexic children, the main issue is that a dyslexic’s auditory and visual senses may be impaired, which means they’ll have trouble reading information from a board and listening to what the teacher says. I can’t count the number of times my sisters came home from school in tears because they just couldn’t understand what was going on in class.

By using a multi-sensory teaching method in schools, teachers can now tackle this issue. Multi-sensory learning is good for non-dyslexics as well, as it can help children to utilise all of their senses. However, it’s especially effective with dyslexics that have issues with visual tracking and auditory short-term memory.

The main methods of multi-sensory teaching are broken down into Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic, or VAK. Many studies have shown that combining these three senses make children much more likely to take information in. Utilising this triple-pronged approach to teaching ensures that every child in the class is able to understand what’s going on.

Much like any other child, children with learning difficulties often have a need to feel engaged with, otherwise the information won’t be absorbed properly. If a child doesn’t find the topic interesting, they’ll generally stop listening. Using tactile, auditory and visual information in class will make sure a child’s concentration is drawn back to the teacher and the subject matter again and again, and it also makes learning fun for everyone in the class. 

Video Conferencing in Schools - Guest Post

 

This was a guest post by Susanna cha, currently writing on behalf of LifeSize, videoconferencing software.
Video conferencing technology has a strong foothold in the business world, but it is still relatively new in the world of education. Just five years ago, video conferencing and tele-education in schools was rare, but it is now safe to say that the technology has successfully passed its testing phase in the educational market. As of 2009, it was estimated that nearly 30,000 video conferencing systems were in use in U.S. schools. However, the number of systems in use varies dramatically by state. States and school districts that have yet to adopt the technology either refuse to study the issue or fail to see how the benefits are outweighed by the cost.

Video Conferencing for Tele-Education
The primary benefit of video conferencing in schools is the same as the primary benefit of using the technology for business: it allows participants to interact with people and places without having to travel. In education, video conferencing has the additional benefit of opening up a variety of learning and tele-education possibilities. Tele-education comes in several forms, and a single video conferencing system can be used for all of them. A few examples of how tele-education can be used are as follows:

• Students can attend classes not available at their schools.
• Students who are unable to attend traditional classes may attend virtual classes.
• Remote teachers can collaborate with local teachers on special projects.
• Students can meet with remote tutors for private sessions.

Although tele-education is an important benefit of video conferencing in schools, other uses of the technology are also possible. Following are some of the creative ways schools have found for the use of video conferencing:

Virtual Field Trips
Field trips can eat away at a school district’s budget very quickly. Through video conferencing technology, educational or exotic locations can be brought directly into the classroom at very little expense. Many museums, wildlife sanctuaries and other educational organizations are already equipped with video conferencing tools, so it becomes merely a matter of scheduling a date and time for a live, interactive presentation.

Multi-School Collaborations
Video conferencing offers a unique opportunity for schools to collaborate with one another both inside and outside the district. Multi-school collaborations are not limited by distance, so they can even be carried out internationally. This use of video conferencing technology opens students to new cultures and new ideas that are not represented or explored in their own school. It can also allow schools to take part in competitive programs or contests, such as debates, spelling bees and academic quizzes.

Student Services
A final way video conferencing can be used in schools is to offer students special services. Vocational information can be provided by specialists to help students choose a direction for their life after school. Communication may also take place with college advisors for admissions counseling. In addition, library and research skills may be examined, or help may be obtained from distant libraries.

Video conferencing is a technology that has made a great impact on the business world, and it is set to make an equal impact in the world of education. By making the world just a little smaller, students are exposed to new opportunities and educational possibilities.

5 Great Smartphone Apps for the High School Science Classroom - Guest Post

5 Great Smartphone Apps for the High School Science Classroom
Technology is a crucial part of the modern classroom. Especially in science, teachers who embrace the use of new technologies provide their students with learning tools that are both fun and useful. Apps for smartphones are just the latest way to integrate learning and technology. Below are some of the best new apps for high school science classrooms.


Frog Dissection by Emantras Inc
Available for iPad and iOS for just $3.99, Frog Dissection is a great ethical alternative to the classic biology lab. For those students who conscientiously object to opening up an actual frog on their lab tables, the Frog Dissection app gives them the chance to explore anatomy in a new way. The realistic app mimics the actual procedure of dissecting using step by step instructions and virtual dissection tools. Clear 3D imaging allows students to see each organ in vivid detail. In addition to the dissection, the app contains information about classification, organ functions, and the lifecycle of frogs, as well as a comparison to human anatomy.


Atomium: Periodic Table by Henri Hansen
Chemistry students are constantly referring to the periodic table of the elements to find atomic masses, atomic numbers, and other important facts. With a periodic table app, students can have the information at their fingertips. Atomium, available on iOs and iPad for $0.99, is a great reference app that provides more information about each element than any student could hope for. It also allows users to regroup and recolor the elements according to properties. This is a great way to help students visualize the trends and patterns that are otherwise tough to see in a static table.


Science Friday BE by ScienceFriday Inc.
Most high school students are likely unaware of NPRs Friday talk show. The app for iPhone and Android is a great way to introduce students to the show that makes science relevant and fun. Teachers can use stories from the program as teachable moments and to further explore concepts taught in the classroom. A new aspect of the SciFri app is the show’s science and the arts section. It can help to engage students who are more interested in creative subjects. And best of all, the app is free.


Skeptical Science by Shine Technolgies
High school students are full of questions. One of the most contentious and political debates today is the one over global warming. Science teachers are often bombarded with questions regarding the ins and outs of the debate. With this free app, students can explore the whole range of doubts, questions, and skeptical arguments made regarding climate change. Skeptical Science keeps up to date with all new arguments made against climate change and offers counter arguments backed by hard science.


Vernier Video Physics by Vernier Software and Technology
Vernier has long provided teachers with technology for the physics classroom. Now, for just $2.99, students can visualize and analyze motion with this Vernier app. Students film the motion of an object  with their phones and the app displays the path of the object on a graph for analysis. This is a great tool for taking basic physics concepts into the real world.

Mary Ellen Ellis is a science teacher and writer for Teacher Certification Degrees, a career site for individuals interested in researching how to become a teacher in their state and featuring interviews with current teachers and leaders in the education field.






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Android for Education resources and apps