Royal Reports » Archive
TCEA
This is the first year I won’t be attending TCEA, the Texas Computer Education Association conference, in Austin, TX. It has been my favorite conference since beginning my coverage of education and education tech gatherings. Texas teachers are part of the reason I love TCEA. I discovered that teachers also come to Texas for the event from all over the U.S. One year, I flew in with about 20 or more educators from Maine, who … Read entire article »
Filed under: K12
Make Online Course Alternatives Mandatory
Today, there’s a lot of pressure placed on schools to teach more math sooner. The first Algebra course that most of us took was likely during freshman or sophomore year. Today, there is preparation for those courses from the earliest grades, with an Algebra I course at the 7th or 8th. Let’s face it, math isn’t easy for most kids, and beyond that, it really depends on how it’s taught in order for students to … Read entire article »
Create Simply Brilliant Digital Lessons
Every once in a while, I come across software that is so simple-stupid to use that it makes me appear brilliant. Camtasia by TechSmith is one such software. Many educators have been using it for years, as well as other screenshot-video makers out there to create how tos and digital lessons. But recently, I was reminded of how crazy-easy Camtasia is to use—for everyone—and not just the techno pilots in your schools and districts. Sorry, … Read entire article »
Local Education Is The True Epicenter
If you really want to know education, look to your local schools and districts. The epicenter of an earthquake isn’t always where the strongest shaking occurs, so it pays to investigate what’s really happening closer to the action. So, while we ponder and make education predictions, local education administrators and educators are dealing with making the right choices for today and the future of learners—always keeping mindful of what the communities needs are—and well-scrutinized budgetary … Read entire article »
Does Standardized Testing Show What Students Can Do?
Standardized tests like beautifully written resumes don’t always predict the best learners or employees. Does it show what students can really do? Today, it’s normal for learning to be put on hold for more than a few weeks out of the school year. Furthermore, an anxious teach-to-the-test culture change can go well beyond that—to filter into almost every day a student spends at school. We’re not talking just about the testing that happens during the … Read entire article »
Kissing the Tablet
I think we forget that there are more tablet options out there than just the iPad. Android and Microsoft Windows tablets are closing the Apple gap. We also may forget that there are plenty of Windows and Android fans and users out there. Regardless the tablet option, though, it really comes down to a few important checkpoint questions for consumers and education: Ease of use? What can I do with it? Price? I think what everyone in the tablet market … Read entire article »
Tech Literacy Teachers
Recently, I got my hand slapped, just a little, when in an online presentation chat room I noticed someone having difficulty. The person was trying to be part of the discussion, but most of that discussion was happening on Twitter, rather than in the chat. She evidently was lost. So, I gave a quick Twitter lesson—had her download TweetDeck, and in moments she was on Twitter participating in the discussion and adding followers. Oh, the … Read entire article »
Team Mentoring with Tech
When I first began in education, my mentor was a lead teacher, who received a few dollars to show me around the school. His mentoring amounted to, “Here’s the stockroom, if you take anything, write it down, or Betty will have your head! And on this shelf you’ll find all of our filmstrips. If you can’t find one on a topic you need, come see me, it’s probably in my room. Remember that filmstrips are … Read entire article »
Classrooms as Digital Learning Studios
I love walking into a classroom that looks just a bit different than the way we see them depicted on TV or in the movies—straight rows just make better camera shots—I guess. I understand the face front approach, although I only used it out of necessity for mandatory standardized-test seating. Today’s technology educators are looking at classrooms in a different way. I was actually privy to a Dell BETT Think Tank discussion recently where educators tossed … Read entire article »
Phil Mickelson Talks Education
Phil Mickelson was kind enough to tee it up for an education talk with me. Note: Phil is a professional golfer and science education fan, who is championing the ExxonMobil Teachers Academy that he and his wife, Amy began more than 6 years ago. The Mickelsons are a class act, with a passion for helping science and math teachers bring experiential lessons and techniques back to their classes, schools, and district. Ken Royal: Phil, I’ve followed the … Read entire article »
Filed under: K12
Don’t Be Cheap!
I found myself humming Don’t Be Cruel by the King—thinking about this post—because cruel treatment is what you’ll get if you go cheap rather than spend appropriately to get the education technology you really need. I also need to say that I was thinking and humming to the chattering of my cheap electric razor. Yes, I went for cheap, and knew on first shave that my new razor shaved no better than a dull clam … Read entire article »
Filed under: Trends
Textbooks Take It on the Lam
There’s been a lot of buzz for some time about eReaders and eBooks for kids in classrooms, so for McGraw-Hill, Pearson, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to get involved with digital, and with Apple in particular, was a no brainer. I’m certain there were many teachers saying, “It’s about time.” And, no one will feel sorry for those outdated texts napping in warehouses, or in school storerooms next to filmstrip projectors. Don’t get me wrong; I love … Read entire article »
Thinking AR/3D Lessons
Here’s a lesson idea that would fit best at middle school and higher levels, but could fit anywhere. It is the type of lesson that would fit perfectly into interactive Augmented Reality (AR)/3D teaching and learning. The concepts could cover science and math, reading, language arts and writing, as well as individual and group activities—all in engaging, interesting and collaborative ways. And, it could involve book(s)/eReaders, software especially designed for whiteboards and other interactive devices. Goal: … Read entire article »
Filed under: K12
Starting Over
I know that starting over is a good thing. I’ve had to do it more than a few times in my life, and each time I learn a bit more. The best way to think of it, and the way that will make it easiest, is simply to think of the waves at the ocean. When you’re at the ocean, down by the muddy shore, you can dig your feet in. Think about how secure that … Read entire article »
Filed under: K12, Uncategorized
