Technology Tools to Engage and Empower Students

As you know a technology tool that engages students is not enough unless the tool allows students to participate in meaningful instruction and learning. The author, Nicola Pino James,  lists 7 characteristics for useful technology tools.  He highlights 4 free examples found on the web. 

1. My Brainshark - allows students to make podcasts or voiceovers to PowerPoint or video presentations
2. PosterMyWall - creates high quality posters that could be used as a culmination of a project
3. Screencast-o-matic - used to create video or record what's happening on screens.  Can be used by both students and teachers.
4. Padlet - students & teachers can post stickty notes on virtual walls.  A good place for collaborative work.

All four examples have links to their websites.  Have you used similiar tool technologies?  What results did you get with your students?  Please comment below.

4 Free Web Tools to Boost Student Engagement.  Nicolas Pino James. 5.2.14.  edupopia http://www.edutopia.org/blog/web-tools-boost-student-engagement-nicolas-pino-james

Making "Things" Are Seeing a Rebirth

Years ago kids made things in their classrooms, clubs, and at home.  We changed direction in schools because of standardized testing and accountablility for those results.  Instinctively we humans are inventors, makers of things, and creators .  Today in schools we can do these things again, not only with hands-on art supplies but with project-based learning using technology tools.  Read this article to see how different school districts are using creativity in the classroom resulting in collaboration between students and teachers.

The Maker Movement Conquers the Classroom.  Greg Thompson. 4.20.14.  The Journal - Transforming Education Through Technology. 
http://thejournal.com/articles/2014/04/30/the-maker-movement-conquers-the-classroom.aspx

What Do We Want Technology to Do For Our Students?

This article is the first in a series by George Couros who will be presenting the "Myths of Technology."  This first post is entitled "Technology equals engagement."  Really?  We know from experience in our small group Title I classes that this can be true at first but not so later on.
What the author wants students to do with engagement is to extend that state to a state of empowerment - do something for yourself that is meaningful using the tools of technology.  Well said!  I'll be posting Couros's future myths as they come on board.

The Myths of Technology Series - "Technology equals engagement." George Couros. 4.30.14.  Connected Principals -Sharing, Learning, Leading
http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/10418

Our Students Need Time to REFLECT

Common Core requires us to provide deeper learning opportunities for students.  Our fast-paced society seems to demand speed everywhere and in every thing we do.  But how can we possibly expect our students to reach those deeper levels if we don't provide reflection time?  This article describes the author's experience in a class discussion. He quotes noted Paolo Freire's idea stating that reflection is an essential part of learning and of becoming an agent of change in the world.  Wonderful!  This is an important article for all teachers at all academic levels to read.  Have you experienced time to reflect yourself in teaching?  Describe your experiences below in Comments.

Let It Marinate:  The Importance of Reflection and Closing.  Joshua Block.  4.28.14.  edupopia
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/let-it-marinate-reflection-closing-joshua-block

Do We Need to Teach Conversational Skills?

Subtitle, "Students' reliance on screens for communication is detracting - and distracting - from their engagement in real-time talk." is the focus of this article.  That concept is important, I believe for many students in many populations depending on devices to communicate.  This article is excellent and should be read by most teachers.  My question, however, given the nature of our Title I population living in poverty is, "Do our students have personal communication devices to use?  This is a balancing act we teachers need to take - teach digital communication skills, but not forgetting conversation.  Both are equally important in the real world.  How would you conduct a job interview without good conversational skills? Would you get that job? 

My Students Don't Know How to Have a Conversation. Paulo Barnwell. 4.22.14.  The Atlantic-Education
http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/04/my-students-dont-know-how-to-have-a-conversation/360993/

A Student Researches Effects of Social Media

This article is most interesting because it discusses a 17 year old girl's graduation research project at school --researching the negative effects of social media on teenagers.  You need to read this to appreciate her findings which are quite revealing about what is happening to more than a few young people today. Lexi Duley chose this topic because she became aware of changes in herself.  Her research shows a number of disorders stem from spending too much time connected to technology.  This might be a good topic that could engage our teens in Title I classes.

Student examines negative effects of social media on teens.  Aurelie Krakowsky. 4.15.14.  StarNews Online in North Carolina

What Parents Wish You Knew plus Conversation Starters

This is a fantastic article and one I hope lots of teachers take the time to read and reflect.  The parents in our schools reflect our society with some difference in economic status, but not much.  Every home situation is different states the author Dr. Joe Mazza....parents not living together, grandma raising the children, families without transportation, single mom with 3 jobs, moved to the US from a foreign country, both parents working so schedules for conferences are difficult, and so on.  Do any of these sound familiar to you?  They should.  Dr. Mazza recommends more listening to the needs of our families than offering one-size-fits-all solutions on our part as teachers.  His last 2 sentences are classic. "Working toward a strong home-school partnership is hard, and you should never feel like you've reached the summit. This work is ongoing."
Please read this article and reflect.  We'd enjoy reading your comments.

12 Conversation Starters on What Parents Want You (Teachers) to Know.  9.24.13.  edutopia
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/what-parents-want-teachers-to-know-joe-mazza