Online Education as Graduation Requirement
Posted on October 28, 2008
Filed Under Ed Tech, Professional Reflection | Leave a Comment
Here’s an interesting piece of news that I can accross. In a recent question/ answer session with teachers, Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty stated that he would like to make taking at least one online class a high school graduation requirement in order to teach necessary online skills and prepare students for online classes in college.
“They’re going to do this anyhow - the only question is ‘Are we going to be ahead of it, or trailing it?’” Says Pawlenty
One of the things that we continue to hear about in progressive education is the idea of modular, customizable educational experiences. I think that this kind of modular education options are going to come largely in the form of multiple online options for high school and middle school students. I also applaud Gov. Pawlenty for working to be ahead of the curve instead of behind it. I’m also a supporter of the idea that each level of education needs to be aware of its role in the overall education process. As a middle school technology educator I am aware that my role is to prepare my students with the appropriate technological skills to be successful in High School. Gov. Pawlenty is taking the same position in that it is the role of high schools to be sure that their students are prepared with the skills they will need to be successful in college and the professional world, including quickly increasing online courses and professional training.
Read the full article at the Minnesota Public Radio homepage: http://tinyurl.com/5quxjd
Coolmath.com
Posted on October 27, 2008
Filed Under Ed Tech, Tools and Tips | Leave a Comment
Students and teachers are always looking for educational games that they can access in school computer labs. Coolmath.com is a great resource for online math materials including a collection of great arithmetic, logic, and spacial awareness games.
These games are not only fun to play, but are mentally stimulating as well. Personal favorites include Bloxorz, Breaking Bricks, Castle Defense, and Math Lines.
Check out coolmath-games.com for fun games that kids enjoy playing that are also mentally challenging.
~Tim
Merit Pay and Teacher Assessment
Posted on October 24, 2008
Filed Under Ed Tech | Leave a Comment
I keep reading about more and more districts looking at using merit pay to reward the top teachers for the work that they are doing. This is exciting to some and scary to others. The main item of contention in my opinion is the way that teachers are assessed. Most districts that are currently rewarding teachers are doing so based on the results of their students’ standardized test scores.
For years good teachers have been saying that they don’t mind being held accountable for the work they do, but that pinning their abilities to their students’ performance on a test is unfair.
Finally, research is showing what teachers already know.
http://tinyurl.com/58tzb6
~Tim
Web 2.0 Powertools
Posted on October 23, 2008
Filed Under Ed Tech | Leave a Comment
This past Saturday I had the privilege of giving a workshop on web 2.0 powertools for the San Gabriel Valley Computer Using Educators (SGVCUE) affiliate.
The workshop included discussion on teacher’s obligation to teach 21st century literacies, the academic uses of blogs, RSS, wikis, and podcasts in education. The discussion focuses mostly on the use of such online tools in the area of professional development.
Click here to view a video of the presentation.
or you can download the PDF slides with active hyperlinks here.
To find out more about the SGVCUE affiliate and register for upcoming workshops like the one that you see here visit www.sgvcue.org.
~Tim
Tech Literacy Exam in 2012
Posted on October 16, 2008
Filed Under Ed Tech | Leave a Comment
eSchool News is reporting on the first national Tech Literacy Exam that is expected to hit schools in 2012. A third party firm has been choosen to select the materials that will be covered as well as deciding on what grade levels should be assesed.
As much as I have been frustrated by what standardized testing has done to education, I am interested to see what changes this will bring to the integration of tecnology into the classroom. Will we see more teachers wanting more training in technology? Will we see more technology specialists, or tech trainers being hired at the district level?
Lots of questions… looking forward to the answers.
Tim
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Hi, welcome to my website. Check here to find articles that I have written about Education Technology and Music Education as well as Technology tutorials and product recommendations for teachers.
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