Friday, January 9, 2015
January 7 Affinity Group thoughts
Thank you so much for all your thoughts and insights at this months meeting. Please make a comment in the blog answering the following questions:
1. Share one blended learning resource you have used in your classroom/library.
2. Share a brief response on the article your read.
3. Share one tip or insight you learned from our group discussion.
Please post by January 16. See you at our next meeting on February 4.
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1. In my library, I have used Kizoa, an online video making tool, to teach students how to use the library during library orientation. I took pictures of the steps for getting a library pass, and then turned the pictures into a video. It is definitely one of the easiest sites that I have used.
ReplyDelete2.The article that I read went over different types of blended learning that have been implemented in different schools all over the country. Students at these schools spend at least a portion of their day learning independently in an online forum. Some of the schools used a rotation model where students spent some time with teachers and then rotated to stations where they used different online programs. Other schools were primarily online, only meeting for short periods of time with an advisory group. I really liked the idea of the small advisory group because in this group, students were taught how to use the technology effectively, in terms of making schedules and using the online software, so students were not left to fend for themselves. In another blended learning scenario, students only attended school 1-3 days per week, with the other days being left for online instruction at home. In this model, I was wondering if students are still required (or even able) to take physical education, art classes, music classes, and science lab. If students are only in the building one day per week, are all of those classes crammed into one day? Or are they just done away with completely. As much as the data is pointing to students doing well on standardized tests when they learn with these blended learning models, I have to wonder, are we sacrificing the well-rounded student for it?
3.One tip that I learned from our group discussion was I can used booksshouldbefree.com (which I actually found out is loyalbooks.com) to find free ebooks and audiobooks for my students, including books in other languages. Many of my students read in Chinese and I never have enough books for them, so this is a great resource for them.
-Kristen
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ReplyDelete1. Some resources I have used for blended learning in my elementary school library include an online database of ebooks, which was mentioned in the blended learning article I read, myon.com. Students love reading books online and can use this resource offsite as well as at school. The books can be read to the students with highlighting moving over the words that are read. It is a great tool for ELLs or low readers. I used a book on the Little Rock Nine when I was teaching about human rights. This time I showed the book on the Smartboard to the whole class. I also have used podcasts that are relevant to our topics and video, particularly from Teaching Tolerance, when teaching civics and history in the library.
ReplyDelete2. The article, "Different Faces of Blended Learning", I read discussed a few different models for blended learning. I felt that it would be very important for administrators to study these models and know their schools well in order to match the right model for the students (& teachers) in the school. For example, few districts would do well with the enriched virtual model in which students work almost solely from home but I could see it succeeding in some cases, especially in individual schools.
I learned from Kristen's questions about what happens with PE, art, music, etc. in blended learning. That is a very important consideration. Also, to consider is that there are collaborative opportunities for the students with their peers in the blended learning environment because that would replicate skills they need to have for work.
3. I am very interested in the website that was referred to in our group discussion, American Rhetoric, I have been exploring it a bit and it looks wonderful. There are transcripts, audio and video of famous speeches in history and speeches from movies as well.
Brenda Shufelt
1. I used Achieve 3000 and APEX Learning in my library. I have observed students using APEX Learning and they clearly underestimate the
ReplyDeleteamount of time it takes for them to complete the coursework. I agree with the quote by Mark Ray, director of instructional technology at Vancouver Public
Schools, that students need to develop work habits and organizational skills." I find the students at Flushing High School are lacking
in these skills and would greatly benefit from learning how to manage their time and prioritize tasks.
2. I think blended learning is the wave of the future and students should take one digital learning course in high school. Digital learning
helps students take ownership of their education and helps teach students how to be lifelong learners. The courses also can be tailored to
students individual interests and can be tailored to their individual learning styles. In our school we have a large population of ELL learners
and our databases offer materials at different lexile levels. With blended learning programs the materials given to each student can be
tailored to their reading level. They can progress at their own speed and those students who are more advanced can advance to higher level
coursework and learn how to independent learners.
3. I learned about the podcast Serial and have read articles about it. I am anxious to listen to it and see how it can
be applied to learning. I can see it being used in English classes and help students develop their listening skills.
Ellen Frank Bayer
Currently the resources that I use the most are Brainpop , videos from the NY Times website and podcasts from different radio stations. I like using these resources because my goal is to have the students be aware of the current events and also to develop listening and note taking skills. I believe these are two abilities they should develop before college.
ReplyDeleteThe article I read spoke about different models of blended learning . Some parts of it I found confusing, especially when it explained that in some schools they use the rotation model. I am not sure how that could be successfully done in a setting like my school. Nevertheless, I am convinced that blended learning is the way to go in the age of computers , and that is why I am attending these meetings. I am eager to improve the way I use technology in the classroom , and eager to start using new programs and strategies.
The most important thing I learned in this discussion is about the audio prog5rams that I have decided to use in my after school classes next semester.
I used Read 180 remedial reading program in the past with my students. It is similar to the rotation model program described in the article. There was a short whole class instruction in the beginning. Students were put into 3 groups based on the online pre-test. There was a short whole class instruction in the beginning. Then one group worked with a teacher, one worked independently, and one worked on the computers. Each group rotated, spending 15 minutes each at their station.
ReplyDelete“Flexible Classrooms: Blended Learning”. My first thought was that teachers are young, less than 30 years old. Since the blended learning model hasn’t been emplaced for a very long time yet, I am guessing that maybe this is how they were trained. In the article it says “under that model, it’s difficult to address the needs of top-and-bottom students- a challenge many schools face”. It must be a challenge to manage 92 students in one room, providing them with instruction in three different subjects, have them appropriately grouped, and design personalized instruction. It requires both great teaching skills and a high level of independent learning skills. It may imply that the positive outcomes of blended learning depend equally on a teacher and a student readiness.
It came up in my group discussion that a teacher must to be very conscious how to approach the blended learning. For example, if she/he records a presentation for students to watch at home, it has to be engaging. Also, things like tone of voice or how fast teacher is talking are very important. Otherwise students will not be willing to watch it or learn anything from it.
In my school library I use online databases and other electronic resources. I use Apex in my evening program with students that are about to finish high school. I believe this is one of the easiest ways students can be monitored as well as given opportunities to finish classes that they need to graduate. Blended Learning can bring various subjects to for a new generation of students by reawakening and re-imagining the content in a different way. Students will take center stage as they explore various content online. I really enjoyed listening to the many ways teachers use technology with students. This advisory group is splendid becauseit gives us all a chance to shareout in the various ways we use technology in our schools.
ReplyDeleteThe article we read was very intriguing. It gave me a way to understand the various types of blended learning styles as well as define exactly what I do in and outside of the computer lab. Some of the schools use the rotation model while other have students using computers stations all day.
One thing I also those was great about the group setting and discussion was learning about how you can use google docs as a tool for proofreading student work as well as the booksshouldbefree link
Julia