Old Dog New Tech

Since the dawn of online video, I have been utilizing video to assess individuals and groups. I have used video as a springboard for discussion or to engage students in the goals of a rehearsal or performance. I wouldn’t say I used it all of the time but I have begun using it much more in the past few years. This podcast is about why I chose this media and how I am using it.

More LMS’s are working on making video easier to use and the applications are listening to the comments and concerns of their users. I hope you will pick one or two projects and try providing a video screen-cast of you grading their projects. You can personalize the assessment process and engage students in a research-based method that will enhance their learning.

Sources

Peterson, M. (2016). Digital Video as a Summative Assessment Tool. Retrieved from https://sophia.stkate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?arti cle=1187&context=maed

Wheeler, S. (2018). How I Use Video For Assessment In My Classroom -. Retrieved from https://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/how-i-use-vi deo-for-assessment-in-my-classroom/

Tools

Screencastify https://www.screencastify.com/

Screencastomatic https://screencast-o-matic.com/

Loom https://www.useloom.com/

Awesome Screenshot http://www.awesomescreenshot.com/

YouTube www.youtube.com

This past week my Marching Band went to the annual Marching Band Festival, received a Division I, we watched the video performance, and listened to the adjudicators comments. Then, I introduced ADDIE instructional design model and will be introducing SMART goals to my students to help them form goals for the remaining weeks. I used Google Slides and Google Drawing as choices for them to communicate their ideas. It worked very well, so I pondered why it worked so well this time but past experiences were not so successful.

Sources

Earl, L.M. (2013) Assessment and learning; assessment for learning; assessment as learning: Changing practices means changing beliefs. Available at: http://wlts.edb.hkedcity.net/filemanager/file/AandL2chapter/A&L2_(1)%20Lorna.pdf

Tools

Google Slides - create and edit presentations online, for free. https://www.google.com/slides/about/

Google Drawings - create diagrams and charts, for free. https://docs.google.com/drawings/

PDF Editing- www.pdfcandy.com

As I was reading a blog about 8 tech tools every new teacher should learn, I was struck by the number of additional articles that were lists of 8 or 10 things to do something like video, digital quiz, etc. and thought that is a great article especially if I want to to use video or make a digital quiz. What if that is not what I want to do? How do I know what I want to do?

So I thought I would look into this and review some tech integration rules to live by.

Sources

Alstad, C. (2016, January 20). 8 Tech Tools Every New Teacher Should Learn. Retrieved October 14, 2018, from http://blog.whooosreading.org/tech-tools-new-teachers-should-learn/

Byrne, R. (2017, February 04). 7 Blogging Tools for Teachers Compared and Ranked - Updated for 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2018, from https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2017/02/7-blogging-tools-for-teachers-compared.html?m=1

Kolb, L. (2018, September 28). Research-Based Tech Integration Strategies. Retrieved October 14, 2018, from https://www.edutopia.org/article/research-based-tech-integration-strategies

Puentedura, R., Ph.D. (n.d.). Technology in Education: Four Key Components. Retrieved from http://www.hippasus.com/rrpweblog/archives/2013/01 /30/TechnologyInEducationFourKeyComponents.pdf

Vega, V. (2013, February 5). Technology Integration Research Review: Avoiding Pitfalls. Retrieved October 14, 2018, from https://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-research-avoiding-pitfalls

In this short episode I focus on a couple of extension/apps, Extensity and Google Keep, that I find myself using a lot. In the SAMR model, I have reached redefinition in the fact that I use these two tools to do many things that I could not do without them.

I have found that getting used to tech in the classroom started to happen when I got used to it in my life. These two tools are an excellent way to get comfortable with technology and maybe feel a little more organized and productive. If you are like this teacher, you will pass it on to your students.

Check these out

Extensity

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/extensity/jjmflmamggggndanpgfnpelongoepncg?hl=en

Google Keep

https://keep.google.com/

One of my words for this year and last is reflection. Both for myself and my students, reflection is a powerful tool for enhancing learning, but where do you start and what do you ask? I have a few suggestions and methods of inquiry that (thanks to Daniel Pink and George Couros) might work for you. They have proven powerful for me and I see growth in my students too.

Sources

George Couros 5 questions- https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/7552

Pink, D. (2018). When--The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink. New York: Riverhead Books.

*I refer to pp. 168-171...but you should read the book!!

Google Forms- https://www.google.com/forms/about/

Everyday I use Chrome browser in my classroom and some tabs I use all of the time and some I did a search during class. If you don’t want to use the history list to find the sites you use regularly or found during class or while developing a lesson, here are a few ways you can organize and quickly access the sites you need.

Sources

One Tab

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/onetab/chphlpgkkbolifaimnlloiipkdnihall?hl=en

Toby

https://www.gettoby.com/

Video (no audio) of Organizing Chrome Browsing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g0OQgB7YJYFkYhsJM3n0rC0oHZhAubSd/view?usp=sharing

We all learn in different ways. Determining learning styles is something some use to make specific decisions and even sink cash into developing programs. However, others feel that the learning styles are a myth. Where are you at with this?

Sources-

Black C. (2016). Science/Fiction HOW LEARNING STYLES BECAME A MYTH. Available at: http://carolblack.org/science-fiction/

Felder R. M. (2010). ARE LEARNING STYLES INVALID? (HINT: NO!). Available at: http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Papers/LS_Validity%28On-Course%29.pdf

Li Y., Medwell J., Wray D., Wang L.,Yulong Li, (2016) Learning Styles: A Review of Validity and Usefulness, https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1111359.pdf

Newton, P. M., & Miah, M. (2017). Evidence-Based Higher Education – Is the Learning Styles ‘Myth’ Important? Frontiers in Psychology, 8 doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00444.

Learning Style Assessment- Try this and discuss with your students

https://www.how-to-study.com/learning-style-assessment/

When I was in college I was given many typed papers concerning filing systems and ways to organize daily documents, papers and forms. Alphabetizing was a primary characteristic of most systems and for the most part these systems worked. Many of these systems became obsolete once I started using Google Drive and how I use t keeps changing because Google Drive keeps changing making it possible to use in many ways. So, I am asking how do you use Google Drive, because I keep changing my approach.

Google Drive is a great tool that can be used as you like. So many tools must be used for one or two purposes but Drive has many possibilities for simple or more complex use. It is up to you...so how do you use Google Drive?

That video I was talking about--https://youtu.be/KLAUdH74QK4

Tech treat of the week: www.answergarden.com

Episode 10!! So soon...10 episodes!!

So many say that students are most responsive to video. I think there is a lot of truth to this, so here are my suggestions for tech tools and integration ideas. So much of emerging tech incorporates video in some way. Students enter the classroom with more knowledge of this tool than we have so don’t be afraid to try one of these tools with help from a colleague or even better, tell your students you think this will be cool but you are a novice at using it. They will have the opportunity to be the teacher in a way and this creates fantastic learning opportunities.

Tools in this episode:

www.screencastify.com

www.screencastomatic.com

www.awesomescreenshot.com

www.padlet.com

www.flipgrid.com

www.EdPuzzle.com

www.playposit.com

Assessment is a main focus in education. Assessment as learning rather than of learning can enhance student achievement. Peer review is a great way to achieve this. I have some research, thoughts and tools that might work in your classroom. Try using Padlet and/or Google Forms for Peer reviewing the ability to share the data easily and keep the form for future use. I mentioned EdPuzzle in my tech tool highlight, next episode I focus on using video for assessment or peer review.

Sources and Tools:

Kearney, S. (2013). Improving engagement: the use of ‘Authentic self-and peer-assessment for learning’ to enhance the student learning experience. Assessment & Evaluation In Higher Education, 38(7), 875-891. doi:10.1080/02602938.2012.751963

Tools: Padlet, Google Forms, EdPuzzle, Playposit