Saturday, March 3, 2012

New Technology Applications TEKS

Thanks Amy Mayer for a great Prezi overview presentation of the new TA TEKS!

EdTech Teacher

EdTech Teacher:  Great site!  This post is another example of what we are trying to accomplish - look at the Standard, identify the concept and context for learning.  Then, see what technology resources, if any, would be appropriate for teaching/learning to facilitate an experience that would result in greater understanding/achievement. 

iLearn

iLearn -the internet is packed – not just stocked but packed – with student and teacher resources! Some are free and some charge a fee. Some offer learning games, some provide full courses. The variety is about as diverse as online learning itself. You can create online flashcards, practice your foreign language skills with a native speaker, or download teaching aids! Whether you’re enrolled in an online public school, supplementing a homeschool program, studying for the ACT, or simply interested in a topic your local school doesn’t cover — online resources are just waiting to fill the gap.

TeachersFirst

TeachersFirst is a rich collection of lessons, units, and web resources designed to save teachers time by delivering just what they need in a practical, user-friendly, and ad-free format. Busy teachers, parents, and students can find resources using our robust search tools.

The Digital Learning Imperative: How Technology and Teaching Meet Today’s Education Challenges

This is a publication by the Alliance For Excellent Education - their publicationsThe Digital Learning Imperative

2 Good Article Highlights:

Digital Learning Definition: "Digital learning is any instructional practice that is effectively using technology to strengthen the student learning experience. Digital learning encompasses a wide spectrum of tools and practice, including using online and formative assessment, increasing focus and quality of teaching resources and time, online content and courses, applications of technology in the classroom and school building, adaptive software for students with special needs, learning platforms, participating in professional communities of practice, providing access to high level and challenging content and instruction, and many other advancements technology provides to teaching and learning."

"Simply slapping a netbook on top of a textbook, however, will not necessarily lead to significant outcomes. Critical for learning success with digital learning is developing a comprehensive strategy that has a foundation of involvement and sustained career training for teachers—not occasional professional development—which concentrates not just on the technology, but also on the pedagogical skills needed to use the technology in teaching and learning. As Greg Whitby, an executive director of schools in Australia who is implementing a widespread digital learning program across a 40,000-student district in Sydney, stressed, ―"It’s first about the pedagogy, then comes the technology."
As this paper will demonstrate, effective digital media combined with powerful teaching, rich content, and engaged students has the potential to take learning in the United States to a much higher level and provide all students with experiences that allow them to graduate prepared for college and a career. "