Classroom At-Large

Seems like they’re still underutilizing them, but it’s nice to see all the same.

Watch this.

Is that true? I’ve always accepted it because it helps me think about doing things in different ways. But the video is (a) well supported and grounded in research, and (b) there’s not a lot of evidence to support them.

A key point the video makes is that the predicted result of the theory (that a kinesthetic learner will always learn better if content is presented with movement) doesn’t happen. Our desire to believe that students learn more effectively in different ways can affect how we interpret events in the classroom. A good visual analogy presented to a visual thinker will help that student more than an auditory. But it doesn’t, at least in blind studies.

Regardless, it’s still valuable to present content in all of these different ways; that’s going to help any learner.

Thoughts?

cover of L8R G8R, by Lauren Myracle

I’ve posted articles about the benefits of texting in the past. Here’s another.

Highlight:

The research, part-funded by the British Academy, suggests that texting requires the same “phonological awareness” needed to learn correct spellings.

So when pupils replace or remove sounds, letters or syllables – such as “l8r” for “later” or “hmwrk” for “homework” – it requires an understanding of what the original word should be.

Read it and take advantage!

Here are some more that claim a benefit to texting, listed by research source, not author.

University of Alberta (Canada)

DeSalle University-Manila (Mildred Rojo-Laurilla)

British Journal of Developmental Psychology

Beverly Plester & Clare Wood

I’m biased to believe these claims. Is there any research to support the other side? A quick ten-minute search for empirical studies turned up nothing. Anybody?

I found this post on the Committed Sardine blog sharing the latest in the Educause 7 Things You Should Know About… series.

This is a very good series if you want to learn the basics about new technologies and how they are being used in the classroom. The latest fact sheets include:

• Next Generation Presentation Tools
• Google Wave
• Collaborative Annotation
• Telepresence

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091119111417.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29

Highlight:

Search engine use is not just part of our daily routines; it is also becoming part of our learning process, according to Penn State researchers.

There’s not much in the posting; it left me wanting more. The mention of how people are using search engines as guides for higher-order thinking and different learning styles use it in different ways made it leap out at me.

Updated to reflect computer technical skills.
Excerpt:
“One of the key revisions in the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy whas the change to Verbs for
the actions describing each taxonomic level.”
Intrigued? Read the pdf here.

Most of these you’ve likely heard before, but it’s a good read all the same. I especially like that the article introduces an idea, then explains how to implement it.

I’m going to try out #3 (teach kids how to collaborate before expecting success), as it relates to my PLC.

http://www.edutopia.org/classroom-student-participation-tips

It’s not about the tools, it’s about the mindset.

http://www.converstations.com/2009/09/bored-with-21st-century-skills-get-over-it.html

Jump to TED video here.

Thoughts? Agree? Disagree? Compelling arguments? Did he say anything that never occurred to you? Anything you find a little fishy?

It’s a good read (jump to the article here) with SEVERAL links to stories about research pointing to the benefits of new technologies for writers and how it’s helping students write.

I love the last paragraph:

This is really fascinating when you think about it. Historically, many people haven’t been that concerned about their writing, because it didn’t matter. But, the more it matters, the more seriously they take it. This certainly doesn’t mean that everyone has become a good writer — far from it (just view any open comment forum). But, when people really care about what they’re saying, they tend to get better at it, and the internet gives more people more reasons to care. As for all the bad writing out there? It’s not a sign of the destruction of written English. Those people probably wouldn’t be writing much at all without the internet. So it’s actually a step up, relatively, from what they would have been doing in an alternate internetless universe.