Eclectic Technology

When we think of ways to boost knowledge retention in our learners, what works for students that are online also works for students in face2face classes. This post from SH!FT provides seven ways to help student retain knowledge. The visual above illustrates the concepts. The post provides additional information as well as links to

#1 - When possible, use diagrams. Many people are visual learners. Consider using graphic organizers to provide "holistic views, expressing relationships, and identifying contrasting data."

#2 - Incorporate unique and out-of-the ordinary images. Why? Images stay with us longer, and the more unique, the longer they tend to stay with us.

#3 - Dish out sensory details. The more details that engage the learner the better.

#4 - Use color therapy. Color works on many levels. Color can be used to organize, to grab our attention, and it can impact our mood.

The last 3 suggestions are below...but you will need to click through to the post to learn more about each.

#5 - Exaggerate.

#6 - Small bites, at one's own pace.

#7 - Spaced repetition.

As more schools increase the number of computers available to students the possibility of blended learning is enhanced. This post will provide many great resources. They have divided blended learning into five areas:

* What is Blended Learning?

* Getting Started with Blended Learning

* Tips. Tools and Strategies

* Blended Learning in Practice

* Additional Resources on the Web

If you think you need to learn more about blended learning for the K-12 environment you may want to check out a course that will probably be offered through Coursera in 2015. Information about it available here. I took this course last spring and found it provided a solid base to help create a blended course. You can also check out a unit I designed on the Phases of the Moon.

This report from the Carnegie Corporation predicts that the implementation of Common Core will decrease graduation rates significantly unless "we create small schools and do blended learning." Larry Ferlazzo shares a number of tweets, and also includes a link to the original document from the Carnegie Corporation.

This is information that should be shared, and it is surprising to me that main stream media is not publishing these numbers. We know that many schools (and states) are questioning the speed with which we expect students to meet this new standards, and for many teachers the scores of their students impact their job security. Take the time to read the post, and consider download the pdf of the full report (20 pages). There are many graphics located in the document that provide important statistics.

Are you interested in learning how to create and deliver a blended learning course? To learn about the four types of blended learning? This free online course offered through the Silicon Schools Fund, the Clayton Christensen Institute and Khan Academy is worth checking out. They have created an online course that is self-paced and includes the following areas:

* Introduction to Blended Learning

* Creating the Ideal Student Experience in a Blended Classroom

* Teaching in a Blended Learning Environment - Rethinking the Role of the Teacher

* Redesigning a School Towards Blended Learning

* Making Aligned Hardware, Software, and Space Decisions in a Blended Learning Environment

Each section has a number of videos and you may choose to participate in a discussion. If you are interested in learning more about blended learning this course may provide insights to increase your understanding and move you towards planning a blended learning class.

What are the ten blended learning design principles?
* Teacher at the Center

* Shared Vision and Strong Center

* Teacher Support

* Appropriate Technology to Match Learning Goals

* Ease of Use (Learner Experience)
* Rigorous and Engaging Curriculum

* Student Progress and Data-Processing

* Large and Deep Searchable Content Catalog

* Tools that Give Instant Access

* Open Online Platform That Does Not Limit

This infographic is geared to secondary education, but most of the principles listed above (and explained in more detail when you click through) also apply to schools whom would like to begin blended learning in the elementary school. The infographic also includes descriptions of a number of school districts that have implemented blended learning.

This is the first of four infographics that will be published on personalized learning. The focus for this is providing a definition, providing examples of what it may look like in a classroom, and providing solutions and resources.

Many of us believe that personalized learning is new, but according to this post it has been around since the early 1990s. For more information click through to the post.

Digital Learning Now has released a new infographic on blended learning and the teaching profession. The infographic explores how the teaching profession is in transition, ten benefits of blended learning for teachers, how blended learning may improve teaching conditions and how blended learning  increases career opportunities. To go directly to the infographic (which is available as a pdf file) click: http://www.digitallearningnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/FI-infographic_2013-04-19_FINAL.pdf

Are you considering using blended learning as a component of your classroom? This post suggests three great tools that may help you move forward on this journey.

* FrontRow provides differentiated math instruction for K- 8. It works across platforms and provides a pre-test (to place students correctly). Tutorials, videos, suggestions of students in their classroom to help are some of the many features provided. There is a free version and schools/districts may also choose to pay for access to more robust reports.

* MobyMax provides access to both ELA and Math for students in Grades K-8. There is a free version as well as a version that costs $99 per classroom (and provides additional tools) as well as a cost for a school. Students earn badges throughout this program. For more information click through to the post.

* Skoolbo also provides ELA and Math resources for students in elementary school. They state “our particular favorites are the ones below 8 years of age..” because they see the most improvement in this age group. Currently Skoolbo is providing free registration to schools in the U.S. who register prior to Dec. 31, 2014.

These are all great tools and you may find one that meets your needs. Each is aligned to the Common Core standards.

Why would we want to use next gen tools in our classroom? One reason is they provide a richer experience for our students, richer content, potentially richer discussions, and more as well as the fact that these tools are often multi-disciplinary and multi-sensory.

The 25 tools listed here address large parts of the curriculum as well as grade levels. Five are listed below. Click through to the post to learn more about them and twenty more.

* PBS for Educators has many resources available. This post highlights three specifically: Point of View (which is geared to older students); SCI Girls (think STEM); and Daily News Story (as you probably guessed we are talking current events).

* Big History Project goal is to develop a full curriculum for high school. At this point they have four key areas: the universe, or solar system and Earth, Life and Humans, with a total of seven "threshholds."

* Do you want your students to publish work online? Consider checking out EduBlog, KidBlog and Blogger?

Have fun exploring and teach your students (and yourself) some next gen tools!

This infographic looks at ten trends occurring in Blended Learning:

* The Student-Centered Learning Experience

* Soaring Numbers of Digital Learners

* Building Higher-Order Thinking Skills

* Realizing Benefits for both Teachers and Students

* A Framework for Data-Driven Decision-Making in Education

* Personalized Learning Accompanied by a Lean, Blended, Interactive Approach

* Productive Gamification

* The Mobile World is Where Learners Live Now

* Students' Personal Access to Mobile Devices

* More Broadband, Please!

You may also access a white paper that "provides a snapshot of some of the dominant trends in the ever-evolving blended learning landscape, and takes a look at how innovative approaches are boosting achievement in elementary mathematics classrooms."

The blended classroom is beginning to happen in many school districts. This infographic provides a great overview of blended learning. In addition to the section shown above, which looks at how teacher-led instruction connects to quality digital learning time to group work and projects (and the ongoing cycle) you will find sections on:

* Turning Computer Time into Quality Learning Time

* Empowering Teachers with Real-Time Student Performance Information

* Tying It All Together

Online learning happens in a variety of ways. This post looks at some of the critical features that must be included for an online or blended class to be successful.

This infographic provides four key points about e-learning. When you click through to the post you will find detailed descriptions for each of the four ways technology is changing how people learn.

* What does it mean to move from individual to collaborative learning?

* What is this shift from passive to active or brain based learning?
* Technology and differentiated instruction - how does technology assist with this?  (Please note one paragraph is duplicated in this section.)

* Multitasking - Does it work?

The infographic is very simple and it worth reading the text (which is above the inforgraphic when you click through).

Here is a new tool (at least to me) that allows you to create online content. In fact, you can get an educator account and have students also create content (but make sure to have permission from parents for students under the age of 13).

You can get an educator account or your school may want to sign-up. School wide features include:

• Lesson tracking (allowing you to see students progress)
• Lesson sharing and collaboration
• Common Core, NextGen Science and custom standards – helping you align lessons

You can easily

• Add, insert and delete resources from the web
• Group resources, lessons and organize your students
• Add questions to videos

Take a few minutes to click through to the website and check it out. You may find yourself creating a new lesson!

Are you considering implementing blended learning? If you are check out this new infographic from Digital Learning Now that looks at implementation process.

Check out this new guide from Digital Learning on how to implement blended learning. The image above is an from an infographic, which explores the following areas (after discussing what blended learning is):

* The Process - This area has four sections, Create the conditions for success (what do you do before you launch), Plan (what are the key decisions that must be made), Implement (what are the keys to success) and Improve (what are the next steps).

* Top Features of a Blended Platform

* Steps in the Right Direction

* 10 Drivers of Blended Learning

* Get Blended

This link will take you to the page where you may access the five reports that have been published (at this time). This report is available as a full report, as an executive summary and as an infographic.