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Blogs on Classroom Technology

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The Ratzel Room Daily: Encouraging Kids to Think About Science in the Real World

Eric BrunsellMay 17, 2011

Tags Achievement Gap, Classroom Technology, Digital Divide, Environmental Education, Media Literacy, Project-Based Learning, , Student Engagement, Teacher Development, Middle (6-8), High (9-12), Science

The other day, I found a fascinating video and blog post about a mass of plastic debris encountered by a diver in Belize. Today, I found stunning images of an active volcano in Ecuador and a fascinating story by Mika McKinnon, about her experiences as a science consultant for the Stargate: Atlantis television series. I can't wait to see what science stories I find tomorrow.

One Small Change: A Sixth Grade Teacher Tries Technology to Inspire Science Learning

Mary Beth HertzMay 6, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Digital Divide, Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8)

INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN MOYER

For this week's STEM theme, I wanted to share an email interview I conducted with one of my 6th grade teachers who used some tech to enhance her Science instruction. Our school has little access to technology and this teacher did not have extensive PD or training before the lesson described, but simply expressed a desire to 'give it a shot.' Hopefully her story shows how even a small change in instructional approach through the use of technology can have a large impact for both the students and the teacher.

There is an "E" in STEM!

Eric BrunsellApril 25, 2011

Tags Career and Technical Education, Classroom Technology, Curriculum, Lesson Plans, Primary (K-2), Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12), English Language Arts, Math, Science

Quite often, STEM discussions focus solely on traditional science and mathematics courses. However, a growing emphasis is being placed on the role of engineering in K-12 education. A few years ago, the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council commissioned a study of the status of engineering in K-12 education. In their 2009 report, the commission outlined three general principles for engineering education.

Using the Video Game Model in the Classroom

Mary Beth HertzApril 19, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Curriculum, Game-Based Learning, Student Engagement, Technology Integration, All Grades

This post is cross-posted from my Philly Teacher blog, but I thought it fit this week's gaming theme and has a lot of applications for how we bring technology tools into our classrooms as well as for how we design tech-infused projects.

I have been thinking a lot recently about video gaming and what we can learn from it as educators. This is not a new concept or a new discussion. I've been seeing things happen in my classroom that really make me think there's something to this idea. My recent reflections and changes in classroom practice don't actually involve my students playing games to learn new skills or concepts (though there is research about the positive effects of this), but rather on the broader structure of games in relation to classroom practices. As I teach in a lab, this approach can definitely be applied to integrating technology in your classroom.

Siphoning the Fumes of Teen Culture: How to Co-opt Students’ Favorite Social Media Tools

Todd FinleyApril 7, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, , Student Engagement, Technology Integration, Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

In 1763, a royal decree was issued from Great Britain to the North American colonists: Do not?do not!?expand west of the Appalachian Mountains. The colonists resented the proclamation, inferring that the British were trying to contain them along the Atlantic Seaboard where control and taxation could be more easily imposed. The King believed his proclamation to be motivated by good intentions, protecting colonists from instigating any more costly wars with Native Americans, for one. But nothing could stop the westward expansion fever. Frontiersmen had already plundered the fish-rich rivers and fertile lands of the west, unspoiled by settlements and tobacco-ruined soil. No matter how many punishments the King and his court imposed, the rules would be subverted. Unofficially, the revolution had begun.

In 2011, social media is the new frontier. Adolescents are the early frontierspersons because they discovered and embraced social media first.

Student-Centered Learning Environments: How and Why

Paul BogdanMarch 29, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Learning Environments, Student Engagement, Teacher Development, Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

Editor's Note: Paul Bogdan was once an old-fashioned lecturing teacher centered secondary math teacher who left teaching for 14 years to build computer systems. He has come back and is reborn as a student-centered teacher trying to make a difference and trying to figure out what works in today's classroom.

Five Reasons for Integrating Technology

Heather Wolpert-GawronMarch 17, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Technology Integration, All Grades

We speak about the achievement gap between the different cultures in our schools. Meanwhile, however, many of the stakeholders in education have created a vast trench that lies between those who accept the inevitability of technology and those who still refute its place in our classrooms.

What Does "Technology Integration" Mean?

Mary Beth HertzMarch 16, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Technology Integration, All Grades

One reason why I love blogging is the chance to get a variety of responses to my ideas and thoughts. A reader of my last post commented:

"This article describes how to help children learn to use an unfamiliar computer program. Is that what 'integrating technology' means?"

This got me thinking: what do we really mean when we talk about "technology integration?" To me, the term means that technology is not taught as a separate class, but integrated into the classroom. It also means that students use technology to learn content and show their understanding of content, not just their expertise with a tool.

The Department of Education's Karen Cator Answers Your Questions about the National EdTech Plan

Betty RayMarch 9, 2011

Tags Assistive Technology, Classroom Technology, Comprehensive Assessment, Education Reform, Media Literacy, Multiple Intelligences, Performance Assessment, Project-Based Learning, Teacher Development, Technology Integration, All Grades

In November of last year, the Department of Education released its National Education Technology Plan (NETP) after 18 months of input from educators, government officials, and industry people.

Earlier this year here on Edutopia, blogger Audrey Watters reviewed the plan and solicited questions from the Edutopia community about the plan. We sent the highest-ranking questions to DOE's Karen Cator who answered each of them -- on video -- here.

A Day in the Life of a Connected Classroom

Andrew MarcinekMarch 8, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Technology Integration, High (9-12), English Language Arts

I read many blogs and follow many tweets that suggest we should all connect, share, and collaborate more often. I agree. However, many times we say it and it sounds good, but we never get to see examples while trying to keep up with the real time tweet deck. It quickly turns into platitude chat. So I decided to welcome you, the reader, into my classroom and showcase what a typical, connected class looks like.