Digital Badges

I recently attended a Webinar where the presenters had a series of badges displayed beside their names. I found that a great way to display to the workshop participants some of the accreditations of the various presenters.

I think it would be nice to give our students some of these badges to demostrate completion of assignments in modules and/or units of learning. I will discuss this with my learners this fall.

What are your thoughts about badges?

Here is the link to the article:

Education Week: 'Digital Badges' Would Represent Students' Skill Acquisition

http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2012/06/13/03badges.h05.html

Digital Citizenship

I was first introduced to the concept of "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants" (Marc Prensky, 2001) in EDU642, and I found the article of great interest to me as an educator.

I deal with "immigrants" from all over the world in my capacity of instructor of  English as an additional language (EAL). After reading Prensky's article, I felt I was the one who was the immigrant -- albeit in a digital world.

Yesterday, as I attended a series of workshops in a webinar marathon in the EdmodoCon 2012, I was introduced to a new term: "Digital Citizenship." I now feel that all of us, educators and parents alike, ought to read, understand and apply this information daily both personally and professionally.

Here is the link with information on "Digital Citizenship":

http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/

Digital Approval

As I read today's Winnipeg Free Press, I came across the following article originally posted in the Washington Post: "A Facebook court battle: Is ‘liking’ something protected free speech?" - The Washington Post

The article is about someone who lost his job because he "liked" the page of a candidate who was running in the same election as his boss.

The article mentions the First Amendment and the 21st Century debate about the "ubiquituous digital seal of approval," and it proposes the question: "Is "liking" on Facebook protected free speech?"

I would like to hear your thoughts on this issue when/if you read this post.

Here is the link to the original article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/a-facebook-court-battle-is-liking-something-protected-free-speech/2012/08/08/538314fe-e179-11e1-ae7f-d2a13e249eb2_story.html

Edmodo - Our Social Learning Platform | Edutopia

Edmodo - Our Social Learning Platform | Edutopia

Today, I attended a Webinar marathon (EdmodoCon 2012) that included the following topics:

• iPads in the classroom
• Engaging the Classroom with Edmodo Apps
• Using Edmodo to Enhance Collaboration
• Back to School: Best Practices for Getting Students on Edmodo
• Building Global Communities
• 1:1 Computing and the Limitless Classroom
• Making PD fun and relevant with Edmodo
• Teaching Digital Citizenship
• Edmodo for Young Learners
• Flipping the Classroom
• Game Based Learning

I was at the computer before 9:00 this morning, and did not leave till 7:30 this evening. Quite an experience!

I knew very little about Edomodo before today, so I have searched for an Edutopia article to include in this post, so you can learn a little more about this social learning platform.

I welcome your thoughts!

Google Nexus: Useful for Whom?

I recently read the article: "An iPad-Toting Mom Reviews the Google Nexus 7" (link below) and I wondered whether the Google Nexus would be useful for me. I sent out a quick email to a selected few individuals asking their thoughts about this device, and I will post below the reply that helped me with my final decision.

"Google Nexus - tablets are sleek and fun, but they're an expensive little piece of machinery (especially since many of them have monthly fees for internet access). They're most useful for people who need to keep track of documents and get online in random places, but who don't want to cart around a laptop. Before purchasing one, think about what you'd really be using it for." by JJZP

If you are reading this post, could you please let me know the advantages of having one? Thank you!

"An iPad-Toting Mom Reviews the Google Nexus 7"

http://www.readwriteweb.com/mobile/2012/07/an-ipad-toting-mom-reviews-the-google-nexus-7.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+readwriteweb+%28ReadWriteWeb%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Radio and Podcasting

Richard MacManus published an article on ReadWrite Web entitled "Radio Killed the Podcasting Star," in which he says: "Podcasters are to radio what bloggers are to newspapers: independent voices taking attention away from mainstream media."

He takes an interesting approach to podcasting -- then and now -- and gives us a bit of history on the topic. He refers to Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy, as the closest example of a podcaster "star," and he walks us through podcasts and podcasters that have made an impact on the radio industry.

After having had the opportunity to experience creating and listening to my own podcast, I can certainly see the reasons why the stars of the field are few and far between.

Here is a link to the complete article dated August 06, 2012: 

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/radio-killed-the-podcasting-star.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+readwriteweb+%28ReadWriteWeb%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Radio Killed The Podcasting Star

Curiostiy: Learning Verb Tenses in the Real World

This recent article in ReadWrite Web "Watching Curiosity Every Which Way " by Fruzsina Eördögh is not only timely and very interesting, but as a language instructor, I can also say that it is a chapter of a two-year real-world evolving "live" resource on application of "verb tenses."

English language learners can use this resource to point out the verb tenses as the story unveils -- what was, what has been, what is currently taking place with Curitosity and what is yet to come.

English language instructors can also use this story to instill the love of question formation in the classroom and predict the "what ifs" and find the real-world answers to the questions as Curiosity continues its journey.

In addition, learners can view the many ways they can learn/read about Curiosity in Socialmedia, and use the means to the information as a topic for discussion in class.

Fascinating!

Here is the link to the complete article:

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/nasa-stuns-with-mars-landing-and-social-media-campaign.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+readwriteweb+%28ReadWriteWeb%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Sharing Rubric and Sharing Resources

Lesson Plans and Assessments from YES Prep | Edutopia

This Edutopia article by Grace Rubenstein mentions teacher-created resources which enable less privileged children in Grades 6-12 complete college and better the future of self and family.

These teacher-created resources mentioned in the article are no less rigorous or challenging, writes Rubenstein, than existing ones, and they also require great effort and responsibility on the part of the learners. Moreover, the sharing of the teacher-created rubrics (for the assessments based on these resources) with the learners make it clear for the students what they have to work toward achieving.

The topic of “sharing rubric” and “sharing resources” seems to come up frequently in this new age of digital learning and teaching. We have our work cut out for us this year if we are to implement at least a few of these great ideas learned from the various Edutopia articles we have "shared" in this platform!

Improving Academic Achievement: Improving Academic Content

Improving Academic Achievement for Disadvantaged Children | Edutopia

I am fortunate enough to be professionally involved in a field that has always paid close attention to “emotional intelligence” (now called social-emmotional), and has always considered its importance in teaching and learning.

In this Edutopia article by Maurice Elias, he mentions the importance of the social-emotional approach as he outlines four points in the message of James Comer, advocate for the rights of African-American and Latino children and others less privileged -- these points are quite meaningful to professionals in the field of English as a second language like me.

I was particular interested in point three as follows:

"Academic content must be linked to and driven by the lived lives of students in schools and communities."

We have all read about the importance of the use of meaningful, real-world content in our classrooms, and we all know the importance of using it properly. In this age of digital learning, there is absolutely no excuse why academic content cannot be “linked to and driven by the lived lives of students in schools and communities” as supported by James Comer.

I welcome your thoughts on this issue.

Communication: Shared Resources

Six Tips for Teachers: How to Maximize Shared Resources | Edutopia

As mentioned to one of our colleagues in a previous posting, in my workplace, we have four groups of approximately 6-8 instructors (four levels) all sharing the same resources -- be these textbooks for the four skill areas or equipment.

Point four on the list of tips mentioned in this article deals with communication with colleagues. At my workplace, we make this sharing of resources work well with the help of a paper-and-pencil sign-up sheet placed at a strategic location.

When someone needs a resource previously signed out by another colleague, there is always room for negotiation. One often lets a colleague use a particular resource when she/he "really needs it" that particular time. In turn, we get to do the same when something comes up and we have to seize it for that "aha moment!"

I would be interested in learning how you deal with shared resources in your workplace.

Object(ive) Writing and Rubric

Object(ive) Writing: A Creative Exercise for the Composition Classroom | Edutopia

This is a very interesting way to "rediscover writing" and linvolve learners in writing activities and become risk takers in doing so.

As mentioned in this article by Kerri FlinchBaugh, in order to encourage students to take risks and embrace writing activities (subjec(tive) writing), teachers can get their students involved in constructing the rubric if the finished writing piece is to be used for grading as part of a summative assessment.

When learners take ownership of their learning – and know what they will be graded on – the chances of involvement in the activity are much greater.

How do you feel about object(ive) writing and the rubric designed in collaboration with the writers?

Enhanced Teaching and Learning Experience

The Brave New Breakthrough of Online Learning | Edutopia

As articulated in this Edutopia article by David Markus: “guiding students through collaborative projects requires considerable focus on innovative solutions.” Unfortunately, in my industry, at least locally, technology is still not viewed as an essential component in the classroom. In addition, as David Markus describes “…meaningful collaboration between teachers is still an unmet goal for most online educators."

If you have a chance to read this article (this is my second time reading and my third blogging about it), you will have a chance to see Holly Mortimer in action  Idaho teacher Holly Mortimer(2),  and you will be able to decide for yourself if this enhanced learning teaching/experience is something you would consider for yourself.

There are a number of skillls required on the part of both educator and student for one to succeed at online teaching and learning (focus, motivation, determination, etc.). I would like to hear what your thoughts are both as a student in this class and as an educator in your classroom. 

Connected Educator Month

Making the Most of Connected Educator Month | Edutopia

What a billiant idea this  Connected Educator Month(1), an initiative of the  U.S. Department of Education which officially starts today.

What a useful way to spend the day, just before heading back to the classrooms -- this certainly will get everyone one step closer to not only just recognizing, but experiencing the "shift" as mentioned by Richardson in his book on WebTools.

This is something worth considering in our own workplaces...

Online Teaching and Paradigm Shift

How Holly Mortimer Took Her Teaching Career Online | Edutopia

This is a short video outlining the experience of a teacher who chose to teach high school (three different schools/classes) entirely online.

What caught my attention was her explanation of the paradigm shift as follows:

• FROM: what you are going to teach and how you are going to teach it
• TO: what the students are learning, how they are not learning and how they are not engaged

She add that the shift is from content to students, and promp -- immediate -- feedback is key to get the student population involved and motivated.

She explains the importance of seizing the moment when a student reaches out with a question and how crucial it is to offer immediate response.

She says that in online teaching the level of accountability is much higher, there is a lot more data to digest and many different marking matrix.

If the following applies to you, Holly says that online teaching is definitely for you:

• enjoy creating online curriculum
• feel enthusiastic about having displays in the classroom
• like designing lessons, tests and evaluations

In my opinion, the above applies to both face-to-face and online teaching, and I feel I am ready for my next journey -- whenever it presents itself.