Comments for Learning While Teaching http://www.coetail.com/larleth Just another COETAIL site Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:46:34 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on iPads in the Room! by Laura Arleth http://www.coetail.com/larleth/2011/12/13/ipads-in-the-room/#comment-86 Laura Arleth Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:46:34 +0000 http://www.coetail.asia/larleth/?p=121#comment-86 Nathan, I talked to my students today and they suggested I delete the game Contraptions if they misuse their iPad. This would be significant because it is a game where the levels build and because it is their favorite! I do not know if this would work for you -if you allow any games or free time on the computers. I do allow educational games before the school day begins (no Angry Birds) because I think it gives students practice managing work and play. Nathan, I talked to my students today and they suggested I delete the game Contraptions if they misuse their iPad. This would be significant because it is a game where the levels build and because it is their favorite! I do not know if this would work for you -if you allow any games or free time on the computers. I do allow educational games before the school day begins (no Angry Birds) because I think it gives students practice managing work and play.

]]> Comment on iPads in the Room! by Nathan Walker http://www.coetail.com/larleth/2011/12/13/ipads-in-the-room/#comment-84 Nathan Walker Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:37:40 +0000 http://www.coetail.asia/larleth/?p=121#comment-84 Thanks for you post Laura! I really latched on to your point about taking away a students iPad as a result of poor behavior. This is something that I have struggled with as well. We are 1:1 laptops, not iPads, but the theory is the same, and I am really not comfortable with taking away the tool the student needs as a punishment for misuse. So what is the correct solution? I am not totally sure, but would like to hear some suggestions if you have any. A good management plan needs to have an answer to that question, and I currently don't really have one. Thoughts? Thanks for you post Laura! I really latched on to your point about taking away a students iPad as a result of poor behavior. This is something that I have struggled with as well. We are 1:1 laptops, not iPads, but the theory is the same, and I am really not comfortable with taking away the tool the student needs as a punishment for misuse. So what is the correct solution? I am not totally sure, but would like to hear some suggestions if you have any. A good management plan needs to have an answer to that question, and I currently don’t really have one. Thoughts?

]]> Comment on Independent Education by Geoff Odell http://www.coetail.com/larleth/2011/12/11/independent-education/#comment-83 Geoff Odell Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:02:48 +0000 http://www.coetail.asia/larleth/?p=116#comment-83 Laura, I was reflecting on how much I've learned this year online, on my own. I have taken my photography to a new level mostly due to the hours I've spent reading articles and watching videos. I'm not afraid to take on big tasks in graphic arts because I know that when I run into a Photoshop snafu, I can google the solution and figure it out. So I can really relate to what you are saying. And this is the world our kids were born into. They don't know any different. I also relate to what you're saying about making education accessible to those other than the privileged. Khan has that same vision, doesn't he? I thought it was interesting this week at church. Our congregation was asked to help fund the purchase of cell phones for the graduates of an education project we fund. The rationale is that these phones are used very much like computers are for us. They open up a greater word with bigger opportunities. Very cool idea. Anyway, thanks for your thoughts! Laura, I was reflecting on how much I’ve learned this year online, on my own. I have taken my photography to a new level mostly due to the hours I’ve spent reading articles and watching videos. I’m not afraid to take on big tasks in graphic arts because I know that when I run into a Photoshop snafu, I can google the solution and figure it out. So I can really relate to what you are saying. And this is the world our kids were born into. They don’t know any different.

I also relate to what you’re saying about making education accessible to those other than the privileged. Khan has that same vision, doesn’t he? I thought it was interesting this week at church. Our congregation was asked to help fund the purchase of cell phones for the graduates of an education project we fund. The rationale is that these phones are used very much like computers are for us. They open up a greater word with bigger opportunities. Very cool idea.

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts!

]]> Comment on Independent Education by Benjamin J Sheridan http://www.coetail.com/larleth/2011/12/11/independent-education/#comment-82 Benjamin J Sheridan Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:56:31 +0000 http://www.coetail.asia/larleth/?p=116#comment-82 Wow, you summed up so much so well. I especially like your quote "An online network can provide equivalent or superior support to that of classmates". I think you could definitely say this for teachers as well. You touch on a very powerful concept when you say that " the future of education and teaching is that it may no longer be just for the privileged". I think technology has the opportunity to give everyone a voice and an opportunity to contribute. I wonder what Paulo Freire would say about technology's place as an empowering tool in education. By the way I love the "Google" postcard! Wow, you summed up so much so well. I especially like your quote “An online network can provide equivalent or superior support to that of classmates”. I think you could definitely say this for teachers as well.

You touch on a very powerful concept when you say that ” the future of education and teaching is that it may no longer be just for the privileged”. I think technology has the opportunity to give everyone a voice and an opportunity to contribute. I wonder what Paulo Freire would say about technology’s place as an empowering tool in education.

By the way I love the “Google” postcard!

]]> Comment on Technology Integration by Segregation to Integration – Te(a)ching and Le@rning http://www.coetail.com/larleth/2011/12/04/technology-integration/#comment-81 Segregation to Integration – Te(a)ching and Le@rning Fri, 09 Dec 2011 07:07:25 +0000 http://www.coetail.asia/larleth/?p=111#comment-81 [...] teach differently and appropriate support for them as they do so.  (See Laura Arleth’s great post for more on this).  I find that my fifth graders readily view their laptops as just another tool [...] [...] teach differently and appropriate support for them as they do so.  (See Laura Arleth’s great post for more on this).  I find that my fifth graders readily view their laptops as just another tool [...]

]]> Comment on The Power of Presentation (if it’s done right) by Jeff Utecht http://www.coetail.com/larleth/2011/10/17/the-power-of-presentation-if-its-done-right/#comment-72 Jeff Utecht Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:34:49 +0000 http://www.coetail.asia/larleth/?p=86#comment-72 OK…now comes the warning. Once you go down this road of visual presentations…if will kill all other presentations you have to sit through. A true presentation focuses on the presenter….not the PPT. If you are focusing on the PPT then that's when you know it's not a good presentation. The visuals add to the story…but they are not the story. Now…let's apply this to all the presentations that kids have to do in school. One great thing about making kids do a visual presentation is that they have to know their stuff….they can't turn to read bulletpoints or look at what's on the slide….they actually have to learn the materail. It's difficult but once kids see it and do it…they to see how powerful it is. I've been working on presentations with your HS students the last two years making it a focus of mine…and we've seen some great results…even spilling over into the way they are creating presentation for assemblies. Visual presentations….are fantastic! OK…now comes the warning. Once you go down this road of visual presentations…if will kill all other presentations you have to sit through.

A true presentation focuses on the presenter….not the PPT. If you are focusing on the PPT then that’s when you know it’s not a good presentation. The visuals add to the story…but they are not the story.

Now…let’s apply this to all the presentations that kids have to do in school. One great thing about making kids do a visual presentation is that they have to know their stuff….they can’t turn to read bulletpoints or look at what’s on the slide….they actually have to learn the materail. It’s difficult but once kids see it and do it…they to see how powerful it is.

I’ve been working on presentations with your HS students the last two years making it a focus of mine…and we’ve seen some great results…even spilling over into the way they are creating presentation for assemblies. Visual presentations….are fantastic!

]]> Comment on Intermediate Division AUP by Susan Sedro http://www.coetail.com/larleth/2011/05/30/intermediate-division-aup/#comment-33 Susan Sedro Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:45:20 +0000 http://www.coetail.asia/larleth/?p=64#comment-33 I so love this. I wish it were our AUP. In Mumbai at ASB they call these responsible use policies. I think that makes much more sense. I so love this. I wish it were our AUP. In Mumbai at ASB they call these responsible use policies. I think that makes much more sense.

]]> Comment on Social Media Mentors by Jeff Utecht http://www.coetail.com/larleth/2011/05/17/social-media-mentors/#comment-32 Jeff Utecht Mon, 23 May 2011 00:57:29 +0000 http://www.coetail.asia/larleth/?p=50#comment-32 I hope your predication comes true. The first wave of the Facebook Generations kids are starting to show up in our schools in K and 1st grade. Will they think of online differently? Will the parents see the benefits and drawbacks? Or are they just so use to sharing everything on Facebook that privacy as we know it will next exist at all for these kids. Somewhere there's a stat about how many pictures there are of a kid now before they're even in school. I think of my own brother who's child turns 1 in a month and there are 1000s of pictures of him online already....and there will be 10,000 be the time he's 13 and can control it himself. Is this good, or bad or just the way we live? I hope your predication comes true. The first wave of the Facebook Generations kids are starting to show up in our schools in K and 1st grade. Will they think of online differently? Will the parents see the benefits and drawbacks? Or are they just so use to sharing everything on Facebook that privacy as we know it will next exist at all for these kids. Somewhere there’s a stat about how many pictures there are of a kid now before they’re even in school.

I think of my own brother who’s child turns 1 in a month and there are 1000s of pictures of him online already….and there will be 10,000 be the time he’s 13 and can control it himself. Is this good, or bad or just the way we live?

]]> Comment on Social Media Mentors by Jessica A Hale http://www.coetail.com/larleth/2011/05/17/social-media-mentors/#comment-31 Jessica A Hale Sun, 22 May 2011 13:11:10 +0000 http://www.coetail.asia/larleth/?p=50#comment-31 What an incredible opportunity we have as educators and adult mentors to students in the online world! As I often tell my students, Sure you know how to socialize online but, do you know how to academically discuss a political situation online? Using social media academically in the classroom is a great way to mentor them in the proper etiquette. You are right on par, similar issues with a new spin. Great post! What an incredible opportunity we have as educators and adult mentors to students in the online world! As I often tell my students, Sure you know how to socialize online but, do you know how to academically discuss a political situation online? Using social media academically in the classroom is a great way to mentor them in the proper etiquette. You are right on par, similar issues with a new spin. Great post!

]]> Comment on Privacy by Linc Jackson http://www.coetail.com/larleth/2011/04/30/privacy/#comment-30 Linc Jackson Sat, 21 May 2011 03:05:00 +0000 http://www.coetail.asia/larleth/?p=44#comment-30 I thought the "Rate my Teacher" site was a little intimidating too. At the college level I loved it and I thought it was remarkably accurate. In the K-12 arena I wonder how often it gets abused. Still, I guess there is more to be gained than lost. In general the idea of giving teachers more feedback, different types of evaluations, on what they are doing successfully, is a good thing. Cheers Linc I thought the “Rate my Teacher” site was a little intimidating too. At the college level I loved it and I thought it was remarkably accurate. In the K-12 arena I wonder how often it gets abused. Still, I guess there is more to be gained than lost. In general the idea of giving teachers more feedback, different types of evaluations, on what they are doing successfully, is a good thing.
Cheers

Linc

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