Blog Post Assignment # 5

Don’t Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? By Dr. Scott McLeod

Dr. Scott McLeod is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. He is the founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (Castle). He is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading academic experts on K-12 school technology leadership issues. He is a co-creator of the video series, “Did You Know? (Shift Happens). Dr. McLeod has received many honors and in 2011 he was a Visiting Canterbury Fellow at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and was recognized as a technology innovator by the Center for Digital Education. Dr. McLeod blogs regularly about technology leadership issues at Dangerously Irrelevant, Mind Dump, and Education Recoded and occasionally at The Huffington Post. 

In his post, Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?, he sarcastically blogs about the use of technology and social media. The “stuff” we shouldn’t teach our kid, when in reality this “stuff” should be taught to our kids if they are going to be successful in a world based on technology. I am going to admit, I am guilty of saying the exact words, “there's bad stuff out there... gotta keep your children safe”. As a parent, I do want to keep my children safe, but I know I can’t locked them up in a cage (even thought I would like to, sometimes). I want to encourage, and enhance their knowledge as much as I can. I want the best for my children and I want to help them excel, so they can be successful in life. So they too, can have a “leg up”. So, under proper supervision and direction, I have allowed my children to use the computers, social media, cell phones, etc. I am involved and aware of what they are using and what they are doing. I have talked to them and made them aware of certain risks. My oldest daughter, of course, is more aware than my younger children. My youngest two children do not access the computer by themselves. My husband and I are usually helping them, although it will not be long before they are doing it along; they catch on quick. Dr. McLeod says, “really 'cause I'm doing all of it with my kids”.  “With” is what makes the difference. Research studies and statics support this. Yes, there is “bad stuff” and “bad people” out there, but there is a lot of “good stuff" too.  If parents and teachers are educated on how to use all this “stuff”, as educational learning tools, it might not seem so scary. 

The iSchool Initiative By Travis Allen

The iSchool Initiative is truly impressive. I did not know all the capacities of the current iTouch. Can it be made a reality? Is it possible to get everyone on board ? Teachers and administrators are set in their ways and do not like change. Anytime there is change, there will be hurdles and struggles. There are always pros and cons to any idea. I think with the iSchool, pros outweigh the cons. It makes you wonder if iSchool should take the place of everything like handwriting, for example. Will future generations no longer need to write? That is probably another discussion in itself. However, the first step and probably the hardest is going to be getting teachers, administrator, and parents out of their comfort zone, and embracing mobile technology. It seems very inexpensive compared to what is spent on text and material that are not being used. 

While watching the video, it made me think about special needs education and the many possibilities it could open them. It seems everything around us is keeping pace with the rapidly growing world of technology; everything except our education system. I think iSchool is realistic and could be effective. Zeitgeist Young Mind's just goes to show how a difference can be made when you strive and pursue an idea. The students of today are already using mobile devices for everything else; it just makes sense to use mobile devices for school too.

Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir - 'LuxAurumque' is truly unbelievable! This is an excellent example how the internet can be used for a “good” thing. I was so amazed by this video that I had to go and watch more. The stats for the videos blew me away.

Stats for Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir 3 WaterNight

The stories and the amount of videos receive from people so many different countries are crazy! This just goes to show, you can do anything at anytime, anywhere, with access to the internet. The internet does have a bad reputation and I understand why. The internet is associated with so many negative things and most anytime we hear about the internet it is almost always bad. Where’s all the good stuff? Why don’t we hear about it? I think internet usage can be used for good or bad, it just depends on the individual and the purpose in which it is being used I think it is our responsibilities to show how the internet can be used in more positive ways.  Without the internet all these people could not have come together and this video would not have been made possible. What an interesting way to globally connect!

 Teaching in the 21st Century By Kevin Robert

How are teachers going to teach 21^st century kids? Since 1956, teachers have been teaching based on Bloom’s research. Bloom’s Taxonomy has change over the years. Today’s there is a Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy.Teachers know and teach based on the levels of Blooms taxonomy. The lowest level of Bloom’s Taxonomy is knowledge (recalling information). The higher levels being synthesis (creating something that did not exist before by integrating information), and evaluation (making judgments based on previous levels). Teachers may not be the main source of education anymore but kids still need teachers to teach them how to use these tools. Teachers are knowledge about the learning process still need to guide and give direction to students.

Digital Bloom

Some people may think of computers, phones, Twitter, YouTube, as entertainment for kids, and yes, they can be entertainment for kids. They also, get their attention and they are engage. So, if kids are engage by all these things, why shouldn’t we use it to teach them? In the video, Kevin explains the difference between entertainment and engagement. While entertainment being for enjoyment, short-lived, and an escape from problems; engagement is for learning, problem solving, and has long term results. You can definitely see the difference and see how it applies to the higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy. Being a 21^st century teacher means creatively changing how you teach and what you use to teach. So how can you tell if you are a 21st century teacher? Check Yourself! Checklist provided by Simple K12

21 Signs You’re a 21st Century Teacher

1. You require your students to use a variety of sources for their research projects...and they cite blogs, podcasts, and interviews they've conducted via Skype.

2. Your students work on collaborative projects...with students in Australia.

3. You give weekly class updates to parents...via your blog.

4. Your students participate in class...by tweeting their questions and comments.

5. You ask your students to study and create reports on a controversial topic...and you grade their video submissions.

6. You prepare substitutes with detailed directions...via Podcasts.

7. You ask your students to do a character/historical person study...and they create mock social media profiles of their character.

8. Your students create a study guide...working together on a group wiki.

9. You share lesson plans with your teacher friends...from around the globe.

10. Your classroom budget is tight...but it doesn't matter because there are so many free resources on the web you can use.

11. You realize the importance of professional development...and you read blogs, join online communities, and tweet for self development.

12. You take your students on a field trip to the Great Wall of China...and never leave your classroom.

13. Your students share stories of their summer vacation...through an online photo repository.

14. You visit the Louvre with your students...and don't spend a dime.

15. You teach your students not to be bullies...or cyberbullies.

16. You make your students turn in their cell phones before class starts...because you plan on using them in class.

17. You require your students to summarize a recent chapter...and submit it to you via a text message.

18. You showcase your students' original work...to the world.

19. You have your morning coffee...while checking your RSS feed.

20. You are reading this.

21. You tweet this page, blog about it, "like" it, or email it to someone else...

ReadingRocket

Reading Rocket website has just about everything for everyone; parents, teachers, principals, librarians, speech pathologists, counselors, etc. It has games, lesson plans, classroom strategies, podcast, assessments, etc. Reading Rocket has everything under the “kitchen sink”. What a great resource!

Meet the Author Podcast was probably one of my favorite resources available on Reading Rocket website. It’s a great way to introduce different authors to children. They not only get to see the author but their personality and passion. It brings them to life for the children. I think the best part of it all, it’s free!