Using iPods in Instruction

Most of us think of iPods as merely a way to listen to our favorite music anytime, anywhere. I use mine to help me get through my runs at the gym. But lo and behold they have become much more than mere portable music devices.
According to the research brief I read, iPods are being used in colleges to download lectures, allowing the student to listen when it is convenient for him. It's also beneficial to the student to be able to rewind and fast forward through a lecture to repeat material he may not have understood the first time or to help him study for an exam.
iPods are also being used at the K-12 level. Some teachers are requiring students use them to store important information such as assignments, notes, and lectures. It has been found that students with ADD and ADHD do well to listen to lectures via the iPod because it cuts out any outside distractions in the classroom.
I think iPods are a great way to give advanced students more control over their learning. When they are done with their assignments, they can move forward to enrichment material to enhance their learning.

Seymour Pappert

Seymour Pappert was born in South Africa. He is a mathematician and an early pioneer of artificial intelligence. He is also co-founder of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT. His new book, "The Connected Family:Bridging the Digital Generation Gap" focuses on how computers have influenced learning in children. He also has a companion website for the book. www.connectedfamily.com

He is currently involved in a website he produced. www.mamamedia.com Mamamedia is a website that uses activities/projects to encourage learning in young children. The website helps teach children about technology and the Internet using language they can understand. Kids can not only play games and surf the web, but also create cards, buttons, t-shirts, and much more. I enjoyed this site and am recommending it to my own kids.

Blogging in the International Classroom

Miss El's Year 5 class at the English International School Prague has a great blog site. Miss El begins by welcoming her new students to their weblog and asking them to check out the weblog from her previous class to get an idea of what they will be doing. The students responded with posts of enthusiasm and excitement to make a better weblog than the class before them. Students are given their own page where they can post anything they wish including writing assignments. Miss El also gives topics for discussion, encouraging her students to blog. You can reach her site at www.eispweblogs.net

Using Blogs in the Classroom

Mrs. Berthelson is a Library Media Specialist at Briarcrest Elementary School in Shoreline, Washington. Mrs. Berthelson uses blogging to introduce books to her students. Each post contains a book and a brief synopsis of that book. She invites students to post their own comments on the books they have read. She also uses the site for the students to make their own recommendations on books. I think this is a great way for students to get a student perspective/opinion on reading materials. You can reach her site at http://schools.shorelineschools.org/briarcrest/blogs/berthelson

Blogging in the Classroom

Secret Life of Bees Online Book Club is set up for the parents of Literature students at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. The students were assigned a reading schedule for the book "Secret Life of Bees". The moderator for this discussion board is Don Ginty from the High School Literature Department. his purpose with setting up this site is to get parents involved in reading with their child. He sets up discussion topics and invites the parents to participate with their own insites. I think this is a great way to get parents involved in their child's learning. You can reach his site at http://weblogs.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/beesparents/

ACCESS

ACCESS (Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide) was established by the Alabama Department of Education. It allows for high school students to seek higher education courses that may not be offered at their own school. It's especially helpful to students of rural or underbudgeted schools, allowing them the same educational opportunities as others and preparing them for college.
ACCESS also allows educational opportunities for teachers to use in grades K-12. Teachers can access videoconferencing resources allowing their students to experience places and things they may never get a chance to experience otherwise through virtual field trips. Teachers can find a wealth of information to help them motivate their students.

Making Use of ALEX

When I begin teaching, I know that I will use ALEX as an important resource for my classroom. The ease with which I can find lesson plans geared toward any subject and grade level is invaluable. And since the site is for Alabama teachers, it has only the curriculum I need. I will be able to find not only educational lesson plans, but fun activities to supplement them as well. The professional development and grant opportunities will allow me flexibility for learning and growing.
The personal workspace will help me to establish a web page so that I can keep my students and parents aware of what's happening in the classroom. I will encourage the students to use ALEX by suggesting weblinks, projects, and activities that supplement their learning in a fun and interactive way. They can also find a ton of reference sites to help them in any subject.

ALEX

ALEX stands for Alabama Learning Exchange. And it is definitely a place for exchange of teaching ideas and resources. Teachers can browse courses of study and gain access to web links and lesson plans specifically designed for their grade level. An ALEX account allows access to a personal workspace where a teacher can not only create lesson plans, but store and share them as well. There is an area for professional development where teachers can go to find the latest news on teaching including grants available.

ALEX is not just for teachers, but for students and parents as well. Students can find access to many web links organized by subject and grade level. There are tons of links offering fun learning activities, downloads, and information on many different topics. The student web link section is also a great place for parents to go to find supplemental learning activities for their children. There is truly an abundance of useful information on ALEX for teachers, students, and parents.