Partnership for 21st Century Skills - ED 305 class review

How did the mission of P21 become clearly defined?

Let's review the findings of the Are they really ready to work report: http://www.p21.org/storage/documents/key_findings_joint.pdf

Let's visit the P21 website: http://www.p21.org/

We are going to play in some Google drive products:

1. Google document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19fFrT-l1JdFIw-jyNMzIePiBM_nfk6n1aYzIHTzmM6I/edit
2. Google presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qfaxSmmi1bll-4Dvpdldl2yDd8sOEgmMmUy8UvsrYtI/edit
3. Google form: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?usp=drive_web&formkey=dC1jR2FzUTZYdXBldGFEUXZmck1PVEE6MQ#gid=0

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

The exciting world of ED 305

Today brings to start a new semester for ED 305 students at Athens State University! These pre-service teachers will learn new technological techniques and about the many resources available to them. I hope they are as excited about this semester as I am!!!

By the end of this semester in ED 305, you will have the knowledge and ability to...

• Design and Develop a teacher/class website
• Design collaborative exercises using Google Docs
• Create course specific digital imagery
• Design, develop and implement online multimedia
• Create interactive course lessons using SoftChalk
• Create and deliver presentations using presentation software
• Design and develop multimedia course lectures

The following is a list of previous student projects - YOU TOO will have projects like this in four short months!

• Teacher Website: http://meaganlspears.wix.com/m-spears-classroom
• SoftChalk Lesson: http://www.wendycowansteachingit.com/2014/10/amazing-student-work.html
• Video Productions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vimj22nKm4g
• Stop Motion Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqplqCRkX9A
• Lecture capture: http://www.screencast.com/t/U7Citw7dMdi5 
• Classroom blog: http://kristilynnkruse.com/other/classroom-blog/
• Digital newsletter: http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=14441a39950b3dad1b05e7bcf&id=be136e385a
• Deliver content in a virtual environment: https://athens.blackboard.com/webapps/bb-collaborate-bb_bb60/recording/launchGuest?uid=2362d04a-5169-4837-a12a-73d7f18ad59f 
• Create digital art: 
  
• 
  

Inquiry-Based Learning Project

ED 307 students completed a module on inquiry-based learning. To begin the lesson, a brief overview was provided, leaving students with many unanswered questions....

1. What is the student’s role in inquiry-based learning?
2.  What is the teacher’s role in inquiry-based learning?
3. What does research say about student achievement/success when using inquiry-based learning?
4. What are the best practices associated with inquiry-based learning?
5. What are the steps involved in using inquiry-based learning in the classroom? 

To answer these questions, students were encouraged to search the Internet for information, determine relevance and correctness of information, and then organize the information in a mind-map, using MindMiester. Students then created digital presentations of their findings.

307 students complete this assignment each semester, but the presentations linked below are some of the best ever submitted. These students did an OUTSTANDING job - I am very appreciative of their hard work - work that is definitely worth sharing.

1. Alisha: http://www.screencast.com/t/EQ8xrgWju 
2. Barbara: http://youtu.be/-626K_YAyDg
3. Savannah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQbywV6w5R

If you had questions about inquiry-based teaching/learning before watching these videos, I'm sure they are answered now. Way to step up 307 students!!!

A bit more about MindMiester - it's a must have resource for the classroom. Here's why -

1. It's a great mind mapping tool that allows multiple forms of media to be attached to the map (videos, links, etc.). 
2. Lots of design choices
3. Mind maps can be shared and used collaboratively
4. MindMiester includes a presentation component
5. Apple and Android apps available too
6. And there's a FREE version!! But for those who have a little $$ to spend, there are educator discounts.

Be sure to check it out.

Teaching with Technology Presentations

ED 305 students really stepped it up with their teaching with technology presentations. For this project, students are encouraged to implement best practices for creating and delivering digital presentations. Overall the 305 students did a great job. One area of shortcoming for most students was the use of graphics in the presentation - I think this is mostly due to the availability of open-source graphics that matched their content.

One area where just about every student did an outstanding job was with presenting the information. There was VERY little reading of content. Most students discussed their content in a manner that made the presentation enjoyable and easy to listen to and learn from. I've never had a group of students do so well on this particular area.

A few students that I would like to recognize for their submissions are listed below. While these presentations may not be perfect, I've detailed the aspect of the presentation that was particularly good. You will notice that most of these had a nice presentation rhythm, with few extended periods of time on a zoom.

• Dylan Fisher: http://www.screencast.com/t/VKECm2xv - Excellent format and presentation skills. Provided a very nice overview of types of assistive technologies
• Kristi Kruse: http://screencast.com/t/GSctobXpXIa - Great word and graphic use along with presentation skills
• Brooke Kuykendall: http://www.screencast.com/t/wpBu9moI1o - Excellent word usage and lots of zooms. Presentation skills were good also.
• Erin Navy: http://www.screencast.com/t/SGm5jfkx4 - Very dynamic with excellent word usage.
• Jacob Ryan: http://www.screencast.com/t/ZrH80UC3k - Just an overall good job. The presentation included all required elements and was designed fairly well and presented nicely.
• Meagan Spears: http://www.screencast.com/t/lULVVIJ4DSDe - Overall really good job.

Amazing Student Work

I had a very nice surprise awaiting me as I graded one of my 305 students Digital Citizenship lessons, created using SoftChalk. I am AMAZED at her work, which to say the least is WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND!

Enjoy this really great lesson:

J.W. - https://www.softchalkcloud.com/lesson/serve/29FKLsgaBo8pCE/html

Course Authoring with SoftChalk

ED 305 students have been learning how to create lessons using SoftChalk. They put a lot of time and hard work into creating a digital citizenship lesson. While all were good, a few rose to the top - thanks for your hard work!!

J.C. - https://www.softchalkcloud.com/lesson/serve/aRhodVWGxvO1in/html

B.K. - https://www.softchalkcloud.com/lesson/serve/i1tOIERenVsNhw/html 

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL

Technology Integration Frameworks

This week ED 410 students learned about technology integration frameworks. They presented learned information as a multimedia presentation. Enjoy the following presentation - the student does an excellent job presenting the information in a non-linear format that is enjoyable to watch.


http://screencast.com/t/0DuFhkqIiVqq

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

James 1:2-4 ESV 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL