Royal Reports » Entries tagged with "Lessons"
FluidMath: Game-like Digital Calculations
I recently had a conversation with a way too smart, young mathematician/entrepreneur, Don Carney, Ph.D., who gave me a one on one demonstration of something called FluidMath put out by Fluidity. I’d bravely taught 5th grade math, and even some at the 7th and 8th grade levels, so didn’t think what was left of my hair would hurt during his presentation. I told Carney that I wanted to be moved by his software, and wanted … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Higher Education, K12, Trends
Challenging Tech Needed: APPly Now!
A little over a year ago, I remember sitting with some very intelligent people, suggesting that education publishing needed to not only get into the app marketplace, but develop ways to use apps more deeply than click offs on a screen, or as placeholders for a bunch of mismatched resources. Beyond the silence—eyes rolled back and glossed over. They just didn’t get it. Many education companies believe that being able to say that you have … Read entire article »
Flipped, Blended, Disrupted Nonsense!
Where do these simple banners for teaching in this digital learning age come from? Certainly, they haven’t been floated first by Teachers. I asked my PLN to give me a definition for “Flipped Classroom”, and what came back was “Experiencing learning whenever and wherever you are and then taking it back to the classroom for discussion.” Furthermore I heard this: “humanizing classroom interaction through offsite content interaction as a prerequisite.” What’s so flipped about that? … Read entire article »
Digital Age Citizenship
I think sometimes we forget, in our haste to make things happen quickly digitally, that the human side of tech needs to be taught, too. While it may be about quick gratification in TV commercials, the reality is that most of us see technology as a universal way to communicate—whether you’re leading the class, or just in the class. I’ve heard all the stories about kids working the computing devices and the software without formal … Read entire article »
All My Teachers Have Tech, But No One Uses It!
I absolutely hate hearing someone say, “We have technology equipment, but my teachers don’t use it!” It drives me down Crazy Street! There is absolutely no way that scenario should have been played in that way. Note that I didn’t say played to an ending like that. If teachers have tech and aren’t using it, the problem isn’t in the tech, and it’s not with the teachers, it’s with the engine that should be cheerleading … Read entire article »
Shakespeare in Bits: Teaching The Bard
To be, or not to be” is the online question answered by Shakespeare in Bits, which is keeping the Bard of Avon’s words lively as well as digital. I was first introduced to MindConnex Learning’s online Shakespeare downloads with Macbeth. I thought it a brilliant idea. “If Birnam woods is coming to Dunsinane, I thought, then why not read it, hear it, and see it animated on a PC or Mac—or iPad. Well, now Hamlet … 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 »
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 »
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
