Score! Lots of Technology in class = Better Prepared Students...

...sort of.

This article explains the link between technology-heavy classrooms and students that are prepared with "21st Century Skills".  This skills are defined as:  "skills in accountability, collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, ethics, global awareness, innovation, leadership, problem solving, productivity and self-direction."

Another main aspect of this article centers around teachers' readiness to utilized technology and teaching of so called 21st century skills based on their courses in college.  I think most teachers would agree that the majority of their coursework had little usable effect in the classroom (with the exception of student teaching).  It seems that most teachers' skill and especially prowess with classroom technology comes from being in the classroom and trying things out.

Technology & Cheating in Class

Clearly I think technology has enhanced teaching a great deal, but it has also made it much easier for dishonest (or crafty) students cheat in class.  I read this article, which outlined a number of ways schools are working to combat cheating in the classroom.  One of the more amusing "fighting back" methods is not allowing students to chew gum during tests as it "could disguise a student speaking into a hands-free cell phone to an accomplice".  It seems like many of these are definitely more geared toward large, lecture-based courses in college.  If classroom teachers are up and monitoring students during assessments, much of the cheating can be prevented, caught or just discouraged. 

It does happen though.  

I think some of the best things that all school officials can take from this type of article are resources like turnitin.com, something that is available in my school.  Students are required to upload research (and other) papers they have written.  Turnitin.com then analyzes it and gives the instructor a report on the percentage of similarity between the students' work and sources online.  

image source

From writing answers on scraps of paper to photographing tests for friends, students unfortunately will try to cheat.  

• The best thing teachers can do is be vigilant.  Students don't want to get in trouble-if they think you'll catch them, they are less likely to cheat.  
• Show your students respect.  If you can develop a positive relationship with them, and then express disappointment in choices that you don't like, students will make more positive choices.
• During tests, walk around and watch your kids.  
• Read what they turn in-don't just 'stamp it' or put a check on it.  

How do you combat 'techno-cheating' in your classes?

Making Life Easier.

When I saw this, I immediately thought of a colleague (MC), who does a lot of work with scanned things (as PDFs).  

I've blogged about tools like this before, but Convert PDF to Word is really handy.  It's very easy to use and is quick, too.

Just go to the website, browse to your PDF file and then add your email address.  It converts and emails to you very quickly, once it comes you can edit the text, which makes the PDFs much more usable.

Enjoy!

Flash Drive? I'll pass...

Last week I blogged about the eBook, Tools for the 21st Century Teacher. One of the delightful items I read in the eBook was Dropbox.  Dropbox is an online storage site-which isn't new, but the great thing is that they offer a free 2 GB account-it's like having a flash drive that you don't have to carry around with you-fantastico!

I know what you're thinking...if it's online how can I use it?  It's actually pretty easy.  You download the Dropbox application (Windows/Mac/Linux) and use it to dump all of your files that you want into it.  From there, you can access your files via their website and (drumroll, please...) they have an iPhone app!  So, I have my work files (PowerPoints, Word Docs & PDFs) in Dropbox and now I can completely get them all on my phone (which is pretty handy for me).  

I've always been somewhat paranoid that the server at work will go down and I'll lose my files.  I have them backed up on an external at home, but this is nice for me to be able to access whenever (and wherever) I need to.

I highly recommend trying this one out. 

Increase Technology Use in Your Class

Michael Zimmer has written an ebook called Tools for the 21st Century Teacher.  It's pretty great.  It goes through new technology stuff that you might be able to use in your classroom-some of which I've used and some are new to me, too.  It's a short, pretty good read.  I'll be reviewing different parts of it over the next couple of weeks.  Take 10 minutes from your planning today and read through it-maybe you can try something new today. 

Open publication - Free publishing - More 21st century

Did you know?

In the our division's SR&R (Student Rights & Responsibilities), they talk about a group of students being classified as a mob.  I always find that pretty amusing.  Calling someone a mob typically isn't a compliment, but I've found a mob I can get involved in...Micromobs!  Micromobs is pretty close to what I was looking for when I started a Twitter for my classroom.  Once you start  your own mob, you have people join it.  Then, you send messages to  your mob-instead of having to email them individually, Micromobs emails them for you.  The reason behind my wanting one is to keep in contact with parents.  Twitter has worked really well with students, but it isn't the best with all parents.  About 95% of my students' parents use email regularly, so having a mass emailer would be pretty great for me.

The only drawback to using Micromobs is that participants have to set up an account (which is pretty easy)-outside of that, it seems pretty good.

Week in Rap

Wow.  Just wow.  I am so excited about The Week in Rap.  I'm just disappointed that I've just learned about this now (at the end of the year), but it is definitely something I plan to implement in my classes next year.  Essentially, it's a weekly reader (I used to love those things), but in rap video form.  It goes through the major world events of the week and explains them at a student-accessible level.  It takes the oil leak and explains where people are worried it will go, with graphics.

This is a great way to work current events into your class on a weekly basis in an engaging way students can enjoy and relate to.  I recommend checking it out!

Here's the one from last week:

Week In Rap 5.21.10 from Week in Rap on Vimeo.