Comments for New School Technology http://www.newschooltechnology.org Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:49:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Introducing Tech STARS by Steve Lee Ignacio http://www.newschooltechnology.org/2011/10/introducing-tech-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-180 Steve Lee Ignacio Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:49:17 +0000 http://www.newschooltechnology.org/?p=568#comment-180 Great idea. Sounds like quite a bit of adminstrative overhead on your part. I applaud your initiative and follow up. With so many schools stretched so thin financially, it's a shame that with the explosion of technology in education that the cost of professional technology support is often nothing more than an afterthought. How do you handle the issues that are above the limited support skills of your tech stars? Warranties, defects, missing components, major hardware and software failures? How do you solve the showstoppers where a lesson is halted because nobody in the immediate vicinity can solve the problem? Great idea. Sounds like quite a bit of adminstrative overhead on your part. I applaud your initiative and follow up. With so many schools stretched so thin financially, it’s a shame that with the explosion of technology in education that the cost of professional technology support is often nothing more than an afterthought. How do you handle the issues that are above the limited support skills of your tech stars? Warranties, defects, missing components, major hardware and software failures? How do you solve the showstoppers where a lesson is halted because nobody in the immediate vicinity can solve the problem?

]]> Comment on Introducing Tech STARS by Ann http://www.newschooltechnology.org/2011/10/introducing-tech-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Ann Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:17:59 +0000 http://www.newschooltechnology.org/?p=568#comment-179 Hi Mark, I finally had some down time to read this weekend. I like your site. It's very interesting. Hi Mark,

I finally had some down time to read this weekend. I like your site. It’s very interesting.

]]> Comment on Defining Student Engagement with Technology by SueK http://www.newschooltechnology.org/2010/04/defining-student-engagement-with-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-145 SueK Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:46:18 +0000 http://www.newschooltechnology.org/?p=97#comment-145 Mark,thank you for sharing your blog. The article was perfect for our first retreat. We had a healthy discussion on Bloom's digital technology and the difference between transitional and transformational. The examples were easy to follow as we discussed examples in our school and how to go from transitional to transformational. Thanks again. Mark,thank you for sharing your blog. The article was perfect for our first retreat. We had a healthy discussion on Bloom’s digital technology and the difference between transitional and transformational. The examples were easy to follow as we discussed examples in our school and how to go from transitional to transformational. Thanks again.

]]> Comment on Defining Student Engagement with Technology by Caz http://www.newschooltechnology.org/2010/04/defining-student-engagement-with-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-144 Caz Tue, 29 Mar 2011 19:37:39 +0000 http://www.newschooltechnology.org/?p=97#comment-144 It's all about balance! Planning purposeful activities with technology is a goal for good instruction (no different than planning for hands-on activities.) Technology needs to become a part of instruction... not the sole approach to lessons. The digital higher order of thinking helps to clarify the integration method. Thanks for sharing this blog! It’s all about balance!

Planning purposeful activities with technology is a goal for good instruction (no different than planning for hands-on activities.) Technology needs to become a part of instruction… not the sole approach to lessons. The digital higher order of thinking helps to clarify the integration method.

Thanks for sharing this blog!

]]> Comment on Celebrating 5 years of YouTube in classrooms by MTheo http://www.newschooltechnology.org/2010/05/celebrating-5-years-of-youtube-mourning-the-loss-of-film-strips/comment-page-1/#comment-44 MTheo Mon, 24 May 2010 20:09:19 +0000 http://www.newschooltechnology.org/?p=145#comment-44 Youtube is an amazing learning tool for all people, all subjects, and in all environments. I took guitar lessons when I was younger for about 5 years and was forced to quit after a bad sports-related hand injury. Eight or nine years later the injury isn't perfect but it is manageable and I've decided to get back into it. However, I really did not feel like taking expensive, in-person lessons again. I had to look no further than youtube. There are so many beginner, intermediate, and expert type guitar lesson channels on youtube that I was overwhelmed by all of it. Whether I wanted to work on scales, chords, or individual songs, it was available. I encourage anyone thinking about learning something new, but not quite sure about the commitment or difficulty level to try youtube and the incredible wealth of knowledge that people are sharing on all subjects. Youtube is an amazing learning tool for all people, all subjects, and in all environments. I took guitar lessons when I was younger for about 5 years and was forced to quit after a bad sports-related hand injury. Eight or nine years later the injury isn’t perfect but it is manageable and I’ve decided to get back into it. However, I really did not feel like taking expensive, in-person lessons again. I had to look no further than youtube. There are so many beginner, intermediate, and expert type guitar lesson channels on youtube that I was overwhelmed by all of it. Whether I wanted to work on scales, chords, or individual songs, it was available. I encourage anyone thinking about learning something new, but not quite sure about the commitment or difficulty level to try youtube and the incredible wealth of knowledge that people are sharing on all subjects.

]]> Comment on Celebrating 5 years of YouTube in classrooms by Dr. Strangelove http://www.newschooltechnology.org/2010/05/celebrating-5-years-of-youtube-mourning-the-loss-of-film-strips/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Dr. Strangelove Mon, 24 May 2010 16:32:43 +0000 http://www.newschooltechnology.org/?p=145#comment-43 Thus far, there are three scholarly books available on the subject of YouTube: The YouTube Reader, (2009) Edited by Snickars and Vonderau YouTube: Online Video and Participatory Culture, (2009) by Burgess and Green and this one: Watching YouTube: Extraordinary Videos by Ordinary People (University of Toronto Press, 2010). Table of Contents Introduction 1. Home Movies in a Global Village 2. The Home and Family on YouTube 3. Video Diaries: The Real You in YouTube 4. Women of the ‘Tube 5. The YouTube Community 6. The YouTube Wars: Elections, Religion, and Armed Conflict 7. The Post-television Audience Conclusion -- Dr. Strangelove Thus far, there are three scholarly books available on the subject of YouTube:

The YouTube Reader, (2009) Edited by Snickars and Vonderau
YouTube: Online Video and Participatory Culture, (2009) by Burgess and Green

and this one:

Watching YouTube: Extraordinary Videos by Ordinary People (University of Toronto Press, 2010).

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Home Movies in a Global Village
2. The Home and Family on YouTube
3. Video Diaries: The Real You in YouTube
4. Women of the ‘Tube
5. The YouTube Community
6. The YouTube Wars: Elections, Religion, and Armed Conflict
7. The Post-television Audience
Conclusion

– Dr. Strangelove

]]> Comment on Defining Student Engagement with Technology by Julie M http://www.newschooltechnology.org/2010/04/defining-student-engagement-with-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Julie M Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:14:09 +0000 http://www.newschooltechnology.org/?p=97#comment-35 Just as most primary students are not ready for multiplying fractions, they are not ready for some of the higher order technology skills. It makes sense that their education would be scaffolded accordingly. Perhaps, then, educating teachers to use the new technologies should follow along those lines. Just as most primary students are not ready for multiplying fractions, they are not ready for some of the higher order technology skills. It makes sense that their education would be scaffolded accordingly. Perhaps, then, educating teachers to use the new technologies should follow along those lines.

]]> Comment on Defining Student Engagement with Technology by Lucy http://www.newschooltechnology.org/2010/04/defining-student-engagement-with-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Lucy Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:12:38 +0000 http://www.newschooltechnology.org/?p=97#comment-34 As others have stated, I think there needs to be a balance with the integration of technology. There may seem to be a push for teachers to use technology that has been purchased, which can result in a "forced" application into the classroom. Since all teachers are learning and "catching up" to their students in how to use the newest technology, I think we need to be realistic in what we can incorporate. Choose wisely and make it meaningful for students. As said before, it should be integrated well into the curriculum and seem seemless/appropriate. Find what's best for your students and their needs. As others have stated, I think there needs to be a balance with the integration of technology. There may seem to be a push for teachers to use technology that has been purchased, which can result in a “forced” application into the classroom. Since all teachers are learning and “catching up” to their students in how to use the newest technology, I think we need to be realistic in what we can incorporate.

Choose wisely and make it meaningful for students. As said before, it should be integrated well into the curriculum and seem seemless/appropriate. Find what’s best for your students and their needs.

]]> Comment on Defining Student Engagement with Technology by Heather http://www.newschooltechnology.org/2010/04/defining-student-engagement-with-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Heather Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:57:16 +0000 http://www.newschooltechnology.org/?p=97#comment-33 I agree that there is a time and place for both transitional and transformational experiences in the classroom. Due to my own personal comfort level, experience, and grade level, I have definitely relied more on transitional experiences. With all of the possibilities out there now, I see the impact transformational experiences could have in the classroom. However, as Katie mentioned, without extra support and extra time, those lessons can be very difficult in a primary classroom. I wonder if we would see more teachers embracing these lessons if future training was more focused on transformational activities specifically geared to the various grade levels, rather than having each training session try to reach such a wide audience. I agree that there is a time and place for both transitional and transformational experiences in the classroom. Due to my own personal comfort level, experience, and grade level, I have definitely relied more on transitional experiences. With all of the possibilities out there now, I see the impact transformational experiences could have in the classroom. However, as Katie mentioned, without extra support and extra time, those lessons can be very difficult in a primary classroom. I wonder if we would see more teachers embracing these lessons if future training was more focused on transformational activities specifically geared to the various grade levels, rather than having each training session try to reach such a wide audience.

]]> Comment on Defining Student Engagement with Technology by Colleen http://www.newschooltechnology.org/2010/04/defining-student-engagement-with-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Colleen Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:37:22 +0000 http://www.newschooltechnology.org/?p=97#comment-32 I think that it is important to integrate technology into our classroom instruction, especially since our society is becoming increasingly technology-focused. The students need to learn how to use a variety of types of technology in authentic situations. It should not feel forced and it certainly should not be a lesson created solely as a reason to use the technology. Rather the technology should be used in ways that are meaningful for students and promote critical thinking and the development of problem-solving skills. Although it may be difficult, we as teachers need to figure out a way to make the ever-changing technology meet the demands of our curriculum and standards. Once we become as savvy as some of the students at using new technology, we will discover that bringing it into the classroom and our instruction will not require that much more time or effort. The children will be able to easily make the transition and may even be able to help guide their teachers through the process. I think that it is important to integrate technology into our classroom instruction, especially since our society is becoming increasingly technology-focused. The students need to learn how to use a variety of types of technology in authentic situations. It should not feel forced and it certainly should not be a lesson created solely as a reason to use the technology. Rather the technology should be used in ways that are meaningful for students and promote critical thinking and the development of problem-solving skills. Although it may be difficult, we as teachers need to figure out a way to make the ever-changing technology meet the demands of our curriculum and standards.

Once we become as savvy as some of the students at using new technology, we will discover that bringing it into the classroom and our instruction will not require that much more time or effort. The children will be able to easily make the transition and may even be able to help guide their teachers through the process.

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